JPH06268653A - Multimedia network and device controller - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To connect multiple audio / video devices to one network and to change the connection status dynamically. [Structure] Each of the devices 108a to 108c includes a signal input / output port 102a to 102c and a command input / output port 1.
The nodes 101a to 101c are respectively connected via 03a to 103c. Node 1 connected by each transmission path 107
01 is provided with a network control device 105 for converting the data format and a control device 104 for multiplexing the signals of the ports 102 and 103, respectively. When the multimedia network is configured in this manner, the device 108
Command address and signal can be input / output to / from the device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multimedia network for connecting video equipment, audio equipment and the like, and a device control apparatus for centrally managing the multimedia network.

[0002]

AV for video equipment, audio equipment, etc.
A multimedia network is used to connect and use the device with a computer. For example, in a video library system that centrally installs and manages video equipment and audio equipment, a broadcasting station, video post production, and the like, a plurality of video equipment may be shared by a plurality of controllers. A network may be used to centrally control the lighting on the stage.

In the conventional video library system, broadcasting station, and video post-production, equipment is basically connected by a one-to-one cable in order to transmit a video signal and a control signal. There is. Further, in a large-scale system, the control signal of each device is switched by a rotary switch in order to effectively use video devices and audio devices (hereinafter referred to as devices) or to perform centralized control. Further, the image is transmitted using a routing switcher or the like which works in conjunction with this rotary switch.

In such a multimedia network, the degree of freedom for rearranging the devices is low, and when the layout is updated, it is necessary to significantly change the cables. For example, suppose that the number of video equipment is increased, and if the video equipment is to be used effectively as a whole, it is necessary to further increase the number of signal transmission lines for transmitting control signals and video and audio signals. Generally, a transmission line of an unnecessarily large scale is secured in advance so that rewiring of the transmission line is unnecessary. However, this method requires a large initial investment and cannot guarantee that the system will be expanded.

As a conventional method for solving such a problem, there has been proposed a network in which control signals are connected by a network and a device to be controlled can be dynamically changed without using a rotary switch. SMPTE / IEC
There is ESBUS standard. Especially in computer systems,
There are increasing applications for controlling such devices. When the number of devices is one or more and the control computer is controlled by one or one program, many proposals have been conventionally made.

[0006]

However, in each of these, the control side is limited to one computer or one program, and it is difficult to control one device by a plurality of computers. This is because multitasking operating systems are generally ineffective for slower devices and require new shared systems.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and the invention of claim 1 of the present application does not use a conventional rotary switch or a routing switcher for remotely switching a video signal, The purpose is to realize a multimedia network that enables dynamic device relocation.

Another object of the invention of claim 2 of the present application is to realize a device control apparatus capable of sharing one device from a plurality of computers or programs.

The conventional device control device sends back either confirmation of command reception or confirmation of command execution. In the conventional device control program that confirms only the reception of the command, the device control command is transmitted, and the response is returned as soon as the reception is completed. Therefore, as soon as the response is received, other work can be started. This is a preferable specification in terms of program design, but the end point of command execution is unknown,
A polling operation is required to know the end point.

When operating a plurality of devices in cooperation, it is an essential function to know the end point of the operation. For example, suppose that there are two video disk devices A and B, and when the reproduction of the video disk device A ends, it is desired to start the reproduction of the video disk device B immediately. At this time, in order to know the end of reproduction of the video disk device A, it is necessary to check the state of the device by the polling operation. Even if the device control program is released from the device, this imposes a great limitation when the computer starts the next operation.

On the other hand, in the device control program in which a response is returned at the end of command execution, the end time of the command can be accurately known, but the program is not released from the device until the end. Since this is a large limitation in designing the program, other operations are performed after expecting a response from the device that the command execution is completed after the command is sent.
However, if the command is not transmitted to the device, or if the command is not properly received, the command execution end response is not returned even after a lapse of time. Therefore, it is most desirable for the host computer or program to have two responses: command acceptance and command execution end.

The invention of claim 3 of the present application solves such a problem, and confirms the acceptance of the command and the confirmation result of the execution of the command to the host computer, and the computer controls the synchronization of the device. An object of the present invention is to realize a device control device that enables the above.

According to the invention of claim 4 of the present application, the command system on the input side is standardized for each type of device connected to the device control apparatus, and even if the type of connected device is different, a host computer or a program can be used. From
It is an object to realize a device control device that can write a program so that devices of the same type are connected.

The invention of claim 5 of the present application standardizes an intermediate interface specification for converting an input command and an output command, so that a device-dependent part and a part for command conversion can be separated. The purpose is to realize.

An object of the invention of claim 6 of the present application is to realize a device control device in which the device control device acts on behalf of the control that the host computer should originally perform, and a control completion report can be returned to the host computer.

According to the invention of claim 7 of the present application, even if the input port and the output port are respectively dispersed on the network,
An object of the present invention is to realize a device control device that operates as one device control device and improves the degree of freedom of device layout.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8 of the present application, when there are a plurality of device control devices in the network, it is possible to dynamically change the allocation of the input port and the output port and the control device. It is an object of the present invention to realize a device control device capable of operating a device and a computer.

[0018]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a network system comprising a plurality of nodes and a transmission line for mutually connecting a plurality of video / audio devices (hereinafter referred to as devices). There are multiple command input / output ports connected to the device for inputting / outputting device commands, and signal input / output connected to the device for inputting / outputting signals. Connected to the control device and the control device that multiplexes the output port, the device command input / output to the command input / output port and the signal input / output to the signal input / output port, converts the data format of the network signal, and transmits And a network control device that couples specific devices via a route.

The invention of claim 2 of the present application is a device control apparatus in which a single device and a plurality of computers are connected to each other, and a plurality of input ports which are respectively connected to the plurality of computers and which input host commands. , Asynchronous computer host commands input through multiple input ports, an output port connected to the device for outputting device commands, a scheduler having a first-in first-out or last-in first-out memory for storing the device usage order And a device for controlling the operation of the device based on the command held by the scheduler and outputting the device command to the output port.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is a device control apparatus in which a computer and a device are connected to each other, and an input port connected to the computer for inputting a host command and an output port connected to the device for outputting a device command. Output port, a state monitoring means for holding a signal indicating the operating state of the device, and a command execution end data output by the state monitoring means when a host command for controlling the device is received from the computer via the input port, And a control device for returning a signal indicating command reception from the computer to the computer, respectively.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device control device in which a single computer and a plurality of devices are connected to each other. The device control device is connected to the computer, and an input port for inputting a host command and a device are connected. , A plurality of output ports for outputting the device command, and a control device for converting the host command system on the input side given from the input port into a command number corresponding to the type of device,
And a conversion unit that converts the command number output from the control device into a device command corresponding to the device address and gives the device command to the device via a specific output port.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a device control apparatus in which a single computer and a plurality of devices are connected to each other. The device control apparatus is connected to a computer, and an input port for inputting a host command and a device are connected to the device. , A plurality of output ports for outputting a device command, and a control device for converting an input side host command system given from the input port into an intermediate command unified for each type of device,
A plurality of device driver means for converting the intermediate command output from the control device into a device command and outputting the received device command to a specific output port, respectively.

The invention of claim 6 of the present application is a device control apparatus in which a computer and a device are connected to each other, and an input port connected to the computer for inputting a host command and an output port connected to the device for outputting a device command. Output from the computer, a memory for storing the state data in the control target of the device based on the instruction of the computer, a comparison means for comparing the current state of the device responding with the target state stored in the memory, and the input from the computer. And a control device that controls the operation of the device instead of the computer based on the state data and the comparison data of the comparison means output through the input port.

The invention of claim 7 of the present application is a device control apparatus in which a plurality of computers and a plurality of devices are connected to each other, and a plurality of input ports which are respectively connected to the plurality of computers and which input a host command, Connected to multiple devices respectively, and connecting multiple output ports that output device commands, multiple input ports, and multiple output ports through a network to convert the data format of the network signal, and convert between specific devices. A plurality of network control devices to be coupled to each other, and a control device provided between specific network control devices and converting specific host commands distributed and arranged on the network into device commands corresponding to device addresses. It is characterized by.

The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is a device control apparatus in which a plurality of computers and a plurality of devices are connected to each other, and a plurality of input ports which are respectively connected to the plurality of computers and input host commands. Connected to multiple devices respectively, and connecting multiple output ports that output device commands, multiple input ports, and multiple output ports via the network to convert the data format of the network signal, A plurality of network control devices for connecting between the plurality of network control devices and a plurality of network control devices are provided between any one of the sets, respectively, and convert host commands of a plurality of computers arranged on the network into device commands corresponding to device addresses, And a plurality of control devices that output device commands. It is an.

[0026]

According to the invention of claim 1 of the present application having such a feature, when the network control device instructs the operation of a specific device, the data format of the signal of the network is converted and the data is transmitted via the node. Combine specific devices stored in one network. The control device outputs the device command to the specific device via the command input / output port. The device generates a signal for receiving a device command and outputs the multiplexed signal and data through the signal input / output port. In this way, the device address can be specified to determine the input / output pair, virtual connection setting can be performed, and the input / output pair of the connection destination can be changed as necessary.

According to the invention of claim 2 of the present application, in order to control and operate a single device from a plurality of computers, the control device accepts asynchronous host commands from a plurality of input ports respectively, and the scheduler receives the device commands. Remember the order of use. Then, scheduling is performed based on the data held by the scheduler, and the operation of a single device is controlled via the output port. In this way, device schedule management can be performed by a plurality of computers or programs for a device with a long signal output time.

According to the invention of claim 3 of the present application, in order to operate the device under the control of the computer, the status monitoring means monitors the operating status of the device input through the output port. When the control device receives the host command via the input port, it sends back the command execution end data output by the state monitoring means and the signal indicating the command reception from the computer to the computer. In this way, the control device can monitor, on behalf of the computer, the operating state of the device and the end point of the command.

According to the invention of claim 4 of the present application, in order to control a plurality of devices from a single computer, when a control device is given from an input port, the host command system on the input side corresponds to the type of device. Converted to the command number. Next, the conversion means further converts the command number from the control device into a device command and gives it to a specific output port. This allows the input command to be parsed and translated into device commands for the actual device connected to the controller.

According to the invention of claim 5 of the present application, in order to control a plurality of devices from a single computer, the host command system on the input side provided from the input port by the control unit is unified for each device type. The converted intermediate command is given and the signal is given to the device driver means. The device driver means further converts the intermediate command into a device command and outputs a signal to a specific output port.
This allows the command system to be separated into a device-dependent part and a device-independent part inside the device controller.

According to the invention of claim 6 of the present application, the memory stores the state data in the control target of the device based on the instruction of the computer. The comparing means then compares the current state of the device response with the target state stored in memory. The control device can control the operation of the device on behalf of the computer based on the state data input from the computer and the comparison data of the comparison means output via the input port.

According to the invention of claim 7 of the present application, any one of the plurality of computers to any one of the plurality of devices
To control the platform, the network controller converts the data format of the network signal. Further, a specific computer and a specific device, which are distributed and arranged on the network, are connected. The controller then controls the operation of the particular computer and device. This allows multiple devices in the same network to be shared and operated.

According to the invention of claim 8 of the present application, any one of the plurality of computers to any one of the plurality of devices
To control the platform, the network controller converts the data format of the network signal and connects the specific computer and the specific device arranged on the network. A control device provided between any one of the plurality of network control devices can simultaneously control the operations of a plurality of computers and devices.

[0034]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a multimedia network according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a node 101a is a connection point in a communication network of a multimedia network, and has a signal input / output port 102a and a command input / output port 103a. A control device 104a and a network control device 105a are provided in the node 101a, respectively.

The signal input / output port 102a is the node 101.
A is a port for inputting / outputting video and audio signals to / from a device which is an AV device. The command input / output port 103a is a port for inputting / outputting device commands to / from the node 101a. The control device 104a is
This is a circuit that multiplexes a signal from the signal input / output port 102a and a command from the command input / output port 103a, and inputs / outputs the signal to / from the network control device 105a. The network control device 105a is the control device 10
The multiplexed signal input / output to / from 4a is transmitted / received to / from another node through the transmission path 107.

In the multimedia network, in addition to the node 101a, other nodes 101b and 101c are connected to each other via a transmission path 107. The transmission path 107 is a network that transmits signals to the nodes 101a to 101c. The device 108a is an audio / video device (AV device) such as a video disk device, a video tape recorder, a video monitor, etc., and is connected to the node 101a via a signal input / output port 102a and a command input / output port 103a.

In the node 101b, like the node 101a, the control device 104b and the network control device 105 are also provided.
b are provided respectively, and the device 108b is connected via the signal input / output port 102b and the command input / output port 103b. A control device 104c and a network control device 105c are provided in the node 101c, respectively, and a device 108c is connected via a signal input / output port 102c and a command input / output port 103c. Note that the network control devices 105a to 105c can freely connect or disconnect between two points at different positions.

In FIG. 1, for example, the device 108a is a video disk device, and the device 108b is a video monitor for reproducing video and audio signals. First, when a signal for instructing reproduction of a specific program of a video disc set in the device 108a is output from the control device 104a, the command is transmitted to the device 108a via the command input / output port 103a. Device 108
Playing a, NT including video and audio signals
The SC television signal is output. This signal is input to the control device 104a via the signal input / output port 102a. A command from the device 108a is input to the control device 104a via the command input / output port 103a.

These two input data are supplied to the controller 10
It is multiplexed by 4a and converted into one line of data. In general, the command has an extremely small number of bits as compared with the video and audio signals, and thus can be superimposed in the blanking period of the television signal. When the signal multiplexed in this way is given to the network controller 105a, packet data is created by the format conversion of this signal, and another node 101 is transmitted via the transmission path 107.
It is input to the network control device 105b in b.

The controller 104b separates the received data into a command and a signal again. The command is output to the device 108b via the command input / output port 103b, and at the same time, the signal is input to the device 108b via the signal input / output port 102b. Then, the desired program is output to the video monitor. With such a configuration, a plurality of AV devices can be accommodated in one network via the node 101, and the dynamic rearrangement thereof can be performed.

A device controller according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device control apparatus in the second embodiment. In the figure, the device controller 201 is composed of input ports 202a to 202c, a controller 203, a scheduler 204, and an output port 205. The input ports 202a to 202c are host computers 206a to 206 provided outside the device control apparatus 201.
c is an input port for connecting the control device 203 and the control device 203 to input / output various data.

The control unit 203 has input ports 202a ...
The circuit receives the host commands from 202c, ranks the input commands, and outputs the commands in order. A scheduler 204 connected to the control device 203 manages a schedule of a plurality of commands,
For example, it is composed of a FIFO (First In First Out) memory.
The output port 205 is a port for outputting the device command of the control device 203 to the device 207. The host computers 206a to 206c are workstations for multimedia, for example.

The device 207 is a video disk device for reproducing NTSC format video and audio signals, and its device command is set as follows. "PLAY, start address, end address" ... Playback from the specified start address to end address. "REW" ... Rewind. "FF" ... Fast forward. An SMPTE time record or a frame number is often used as the address. Here, the address means the frame number of the video disc, and when the command is completed, the "END" message is returned. The configuration of the device controller does not change depending on the address format.

Now, it is assumed that the command "PLAY, 0, 3000" is output from the host computer 206a.
It takes 100 seconds to complete this command "PLAY" because one frame is 1/30 seconds.

Consider a case where the command "REW" is output from another host computer 206b during execution of this command. Currently from the host computer 206a,
Since the command "PLAY" has been sent, the control device 203 transfers it to the scheduler 204 immediately after receiving this command. The scheduler 204 writes this command in the built-in FIFO memory. Further, the command "REW" sent next is also written in the FIFO memory. The control unit 203 reads the command at the head of the output side of the FIFO memory and outputs it to the device 207 via the output port 205.

Eventually, the first input command "PLAY, 0, 3000" of the FIFO memory disappears upon reading. When the control device 203 confirms the completion of the previous command transmission, the reading of the top data of the FIFO memory is started again. If there is no command at the head of the FIFO memory, it waits until an input command arrives. In this way, the scheduler 204 makes the execution of the next command "REW" wait until the preceding command "PLAY" is completed. In this example, since the command "REW" is newly transmitted while the command "PLAY" is being executed, the command "PLAY" is transmitted.
Command is output to the beginning of the FIFO memory after
Is stored.

In this embodiment, the scheduler 204 uses F
Although the IFO memory is used to manage the first-in first-out priority, it is also possible to manage the schedule with last-in first-out priority by using a FILO (last-in first-out) memory. In this case, the scheduler 204 only needs to immediately give a command inputted later to the control device 203.

A device control apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device control apparatus in the third embodiment. In the figure, the device control device 301 includes a control device 302, a state monitoring means 303, an input port 304,
It is composed of the output port 305. The device controller 301 includes a host computer 306, a device 3
Similar to the second embodiment, 07 are connected to each other.

The control unit 302 takes in the host command of the host computer 306 input through the input port 304, and outputs the device 3 through the output port 305.
This is a control device for sending a device command to 07. The state monitoring means 303 is a circuit that receives a signal from the control device 302, starts an operation, monitors the return data from the output port 305, and detects the command end of the device 307. The input port 304 and the output port 305 are the same ports as in the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device controller 301. When the operation starts, the device control apparatus 301 waits for a command from the host computer 306. At present, the device 307 is a video disk device similar to that shown in FIG. 2, and the host computer 306 sends a command "PLAY, 0, 3" to the device controller 301.
000 "is transmitted. When the device 307 is given this command, the device controller 301 immediately sends back a command reception message "ACCEPT". The host computer 306 sends the message “ACCE
As soon as I receive the PT, I start working on other jobs.

Next, the control unit 302 transmits the above-mentioned command from the host computer 306 to the device 307 via the output port 305, and at the same time, the state monitoring means 3
03 is activated. Next, the state monitoring means 303 monitors the device 307 through the output port 305 and waits for the message “END” returned from the device 307. When the device 307 eventually reproduces the predetermined video and audio signals and finishes executing the command, the device 307 returns the message “END” to the device control apparatus 301. When the status monitoring means 303 confirms this message "END", it sends the input port 30 to the host computer 306.
The message "END" is transferred via 4 and the initial operation is completed. Device 307 has frame number 300
It takes about 100 seconds to reproduce to 0, and normally the host computer 306 cannot start other work. In the present embodiment, the state monitoring means 303 substitutes the host computer 306 for the state monitoring operation, so that the program of the host computer 306 can be simplified.

A device controller according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device control apparatus in the fourth embodiment. In the figure, the device control device 401 includes a control device 402, a conversion unit 403, an input port 404, and two sets of output ports 405a and 405b. Further, the device control device 401 includes a host computer 406.
However, unlike the third embodiment, two sets of devices 407a and 407b are connected respectively.

The control device 402 is a control device which takes in a host command from the input port 404 and gives the command to the command converting means 403. Conversion means 403
When a command is input from the control device 402, the command is converted using a memory, and the conversion result is given to the devices 407a and 407b via the output ports 405a and 405b.

The host command viewed from the host computer 406 is set as follows. "Device address, PLAYBACK, start address, end address" ... A command for instructing reproduction between the start address and the end address. "Device address, REWIND" ... Command to instruct rewind. "Device address, FASTFORWARD" ... Command to instruct fast-forward.

The device address is a number that specifies which output port is connected to the device. For example, when a command is sent by instructing the first device, 1 PLAYBACK 0,3000 <derinder> is obtained. Here, the delimiter is a special character indicating the end of one command, and uses a line feed code "CR". Here, one of the devices 407 is the device 20 of the second embodiment.
7, which is the same as device command 1. That is, "PLAY, start address, end address" ... A command for instructing reproduction between the start address and the end address. "REW" ... A command for instructing rewind. "FF" ... Command to instruct fast-forward.

For the other device 407, the following device command 2 is set. "PL, start address, end address" ... A command for instructing reproduction between the start address and the end address. "RW" ... A command to instruct rewind. "FFD" ... A command to instruct fast-forward. Therefore, the command sent by the host computer 406 is different from the command operated by the actual device 407, and the conversion means 403 needs to convert the command.

Here, it is assumed that the device 407a operates with the device command 1 and the device 407b operates with the device command 2. Now host computer 40
A host command is output from 6. This command is given to the control device 402 through the input port 404. At this time, the controller 402 finds the device address from the input command, analyzes this command (syntax check), and converts it into a number. This makes it possible to judge which device 407a, 407b the input command is sent to. In this embodiment, if the first code of the command is a number, it is determined as a device address. The rules for compiling into numbers (tokens) corresponding to this command are as follows.

"PLAYBACK"; 1, "REWIN
D ”; 2,“ FASTFORWARD ”; 3, and the command thus analyzed is given to the conversion means 403 together with the device address and the command argument. That is, "PLAYB
The character string "ACK" is converted into the number "1". The command argument is, for example, a frame number of video and audio on the video disc.

The conversion means 403 has an array type memory (index memory), and stores the command conversion table shown in FIG. The conversion means 403 is passed from the control device 402 as a device address and a command number as an index, and is also passed a command argument, so that a required device command can be obtained by searching the command table using the parameter. Next, the device command and the command argument extracted from the command table are reconstructed to create a final command, and the devices 407a and 4 are output via the output ports 405a and 405b.
It is given to 07b.

For example, it is assumed that the command "1, PLAYBACK, 0, 3000" is output from the host computer 406. This command indicates controlling the device 407a connected to the output port 405a, and when input to the control device 402, it is decomposed into the following commands. Device address; 1 command number; 1 command argument; 0,3000

Next, when this result is input to the converting means 403, since the device address and the device number are stored in the memory, the signal of the command "PLAY" is obtained by searching the command table. Further, by combining the command arguments output from the control device 402, the actual device command "PLAY, 0, 3000" is generated. This command is given to the device 407a via the output port 405a, and the command is executed.
In this way, the command conversion flow is as follows:
The order is from command number to device command.

As described above, according to this embodiment, for example, the video disk device (device 407a) of company A and the video disk device (device 407b) of company B are connected to the device control device 401, and their respective control commands are transmitted. Even if they are different, the host computer 406 can identify them. That is, the host computer 40
From the viewpoint of 6, if the devices are of the same type (for example, a video disc), the commands are unified into one, and it is made to appear that only one type of device is connected to the end of the device control device 401. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect that it is not necessary to rewrite the program of the host computer 406 even if the device is changed.

A device controller according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device control apparatus in the fifth embodiment. In the figure, the device control device 501 includes a control device 502, device driver means 503a and 503.
b, input port 504, output ports 505a, 505b
It is composed of In addition, the device controller 501 has a fourth
As in the embodiment, the host computer 506 and the two sets of devices 507a and 507b are connected to each other.

The control device 502 is a control device which analyzes the host command of the host computer 506 via the input port 504 and sends the command to the device driver means 503a or 503b. Device driver means 50
3a and 503b have an array type memory,
2 inputs the command, converts the signal, and outputs the signals to the devices 507a, 5a through the output ports 505a, 505b.
This is a circuit for outputting a device command to 07b. still,
Input port 504, output ports 505a and 505b, host computer 506, devices 507a and 507b
Since each is the same as that of the fourth embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

Since there is no conversion means corresponding to the conversion means 403 of the fourth embodiment, an intermediate command for connecting the host command and the device command is required. This intermediate command is set as follows. “Command 1, start address, end address” ... A command for instructing reproduction between the start address and the end address. "Command 2" ... A command for instructing rewind. "Command 3" ... A command for instructing fast-forwarding. That is, the intermediate command is a token that can be expressed by numbers.

The host command viewed from the host computer 506 is as follows. "Device address, PLAYBACK, start address, end address" ... A command for instructing reproduction between the start address and the end address. "Device address, REWIND" ... Command to instruct rewind. "Device address, FASTFORWARD" ... Command to instruct fast-forward.

Here, the device address is a number for specifying which output port 505 the device is connected to. Here, one of the devices 507 is the same as the device of the second embodiment, and is device command 1. Then, the other devices 507 are set as follows.

Device command 2 "PL, start address, end address" ... A command for instructing reproduction between the start address and the end address. "RW" ... A command to instruct rewind. "FFD" ... A command to instruct fast-forward.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device controller 501. When the device control device 501 starts operating, it receives a host command from the host computer 506. Here, it is assumed that the device 507a operates with the device command 1 and the device 507b operates with the device command 2. A host command is output from the host computer 506. This command is given to the controller 502 through the input port 504. At this time, the control device 502 is "ACCEPT".
Is sent back to the host computer 506 and the address (CHK) included in the host command is detected,
This address is written as an argument in a memory (not shown). The controller 502 then finds the device address from the input command. Then, this command is analyzed and converted into an intermediate command. This intermediate command is transferred to the device driver means 503a, 503b in association with the device address together with the command argument.

On the other hand, device driver means 503a, 50
3b searches the built-in memory and performs the same command conversion as in FIG. Device driver means 503a, 503b
Since the intermediate command and the command argument are respectively passed from the control device 502 to the, the necessary command can be generated by searching the command table using the parameter. Then, the device command and command argument extracted from the table are reconstructed, and the final device command is output to the device 50 via the output ports 505a and 505b.
7a and 507b. Then, the device 507 returns a response “MATC indicating that the device command is input.
“H” is returned to the control device 502.

For example, it is assumed that the host computer 506 outputs the command "1, PLAYBACK, 0, 3000". This command returns output port 505a
It is shown that the device 507a connected to is controlled.
When this command is input to the control device 402, it is decomposed into the following commands. Device address; 1 Intermediate command; 1 Command argument; 0,3000

Next, the control device 502 confirms that the transmission destination is the device driver means 503a and gives this command. At this time, the device driver means 503a
The command table is searched using the intermediate command to obtain the command "PLAY". Further, the command arguments output from the control device 502 are combined to generate an actual device command "PLAY, 0, 3000". Since this command is not "CHK", it is given to the device 507a via the output port 505a, and the command is executed. When the device 507 finishes the reproduction operation up to the frame number 3000, the response “DONE” is returned to the control device 50.
2, the device control device 501 receives the next command. In this way, the flow of command conversion is in the order of host command-intermediate command-device command. By thus setting the intermediate command and releasing it as the interface specification of the multimedia network, the device driver unit 503 can operate independently of the control device 502.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, when the multimedia network vendor wants to keep the control command of the device 507 confidential, the publicly known intermediate command is used instead of the host command to use the device original command. It is possible to operate the device driver unit 503 without disclosing the command system. Therefore, in the device control device 501, the control device 50 that performs command analysis
2 and the device driver means 503 can be independently developed by another person.

A device controller according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device control apparatus in the sixth embodiment. In the figure, the device control device 601 includes a control device 602, a comparison means 603, a memory 604, an input port 605, and an output port 606. The input port 605, the output port 606, and the host computer 607 and the device 608 connected to the device control device 601 are the same as those in the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, the control unit 602 fetches the host command from the input port 605 and
8 is a control device for sending a device command to the device. The comparison means 603 receives the signal from the control device 602 and starts its operation, and the status data from the output port 606 and the memory 604.
The end states of the commands stored in are compared. The memory 604 is a memory for storing the status data of the device 608 at the time of command end given from the host computer 607. The device 608 is, for example, N
It is a video disc device for reproducing TSC format video and audio signals, and its device command is set as follows.

"PLAY, start address, end address" ... Reproducing from a specified start address to end address. "REW" ... Rewind. "FF" ... Fast forward. "ST" ... Read the status and return the address at that time. "CHK, address" ... A command to store the state checked by the host computer.

The command “CHK, address” can be instructed to the control device 602 without being transmitted to the device 608.
The host computer 607 writes an address, which is status data, in the memory 604 by this command. It is assumed that the host computer 607 transmits a command “PLAY, 0, 3000” to the device control device 601 and further wants to know the timing when the address becomes 2800.

When these commands are given, the device 608 returns a message "END" at the end of reproduction, accepts an inquiry about the status data at an arbitrary timing, and returns the status data at that time. When this command is given from the host computer 607, the device control device 601 immediately returns a command reception message "ACCEPT". When the host computer 607 receives the message "ACCEPT", it can immediately start other work. Further, when the host computer 607 wants to detect the timing when the address becomes 2800, the command “CHK, 28
00 "is transmitted. In this case, the address 2800 is recorded in the memory 604.

Next, the control device 602 immediately sends the received command to the device 608 via the output port 606, and at the same time, puts the comparison means 603 in the operating state.
The comparison means 603 queries the device 608 via the output port 606 about the status and waits for the address message returned from it. Eventually, the device 608 returns the address of the disc which changes with the reproducing operation for each inquiry. When the comparison means 603 reads this reproduction address, it compares it with the contents of the memory 604. Then, if the recorded content of the memory 604 and the returned reproduction address match, the comparing means 603 returns the message “MATCH” to the host computer 607 via the input port 605. If they do not match, the state inquiry is repeated again. In this way, the device control apparatus 601 can automatically check the state of the device 608 at the request of the host computer 607.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the degree of freedom in program design of the host computer 607 is increased, and real-time control is also advantageous. The device control apparatus 601 is more closely connected to the device 608 than the host computer 607. If we define the period of continuous connection with a device with a long signal output period as real time,
Even if the host computer 607 does not have a real-time function, the device control device 601 can perform real-time control, and the system as a whole can perform real-time control.

A device controller according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device control apparatus in the seventh embodiment. In this figure, the device control device 701 is
Control device 702, network control devices 703a to 703
3c, 704a to 704c. Input ports 705a and 705b connected to the network control devices 703a and 703c, respectively, and output ports 706 connected to the network control devices 704a and 704c, respectively.
Since a and 706b are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, their description will be omitted. Also, host computers 707a and 707b connected to the input ports 705a and 705b, respectively.
Also, the devices 708a and 708b connected to the output ports 706a and 706b, respectively, are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The control device 702 has an input port 705a,
The host command from 705b is sent to the network 710.
It is a control device which receives via the network 711 and outputs to the output ports 706a and 706b via the network 711. The network control device 701 can specify the transmission partner of the received data. For example, the host command of the host computer 707a is transmitted via the input port 705a. This command has the same command format as the device controller 501 of the fifth embodiment, and is configured to send the command by designating the number of the device 708. Upon receiving this command, the network control device 703a converts it into a valid format on the network 710. The networks 710 and 711 may have any format as long as they can transmit data to a target node.

The command assembled into a format that can be transmitted on the network 710 is transferred to the network controller 703b. Network control device 703
b passes this command to the control device 702. Since the command input to the control device 702 is composed of a combination of the device 708 number and the command, the device number is identified and the device 708 is confirmed. Next, the control device 702 extracts a device command from the received command and sends it to the network control device 704b. At this time, either the network control device 704a or 704c on the device 708 side to which the data is to be sent is designated.

In this way, the network controller 704b
Output data is transmitted via the network 711 and the network control device 704a or 704c. Since this transmission data includes the device command, it is transmitted to the device 708 via the specific output port 706. still,
Although the networks 710 and 711 are different, they may be shared. As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, the host computers 707 and the devices 708 distributed on the network can be shared and used by the respective host computers 707.

A device controller according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device control apparatus in the eighth embodiment. In this figure, a device control device group 801
Is composed of control devices 802a and 802b and network control devices 803a to 803d and 804a to 804d. The network control devices 803a and 803c
The input ports 805a and 805b respectively connected to the network controller 804a and 804c and the output ports 806a and 806b respectively connected to the network control devices 804a and 804c are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. Also input port 8
Host computers 807a and 807b and output ports 806a and 806, which are connected to 05a and 805b, respectively.
The devices 808a and 808b respectively connected to b are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

The control devices 802a and 802b are control devices that receive command inputs from the input ports 805a and 805b, respectively, via the network 809 and send them to either output port 806a or 806b via the network 810. Network control devices 803a, 80
3b, 803d, and 803c are connected in series on the network 809 in this order. Network controller 8
03b and 803d are connected to the control devices 802a and 8
02b is connected. Similarly, the network controller 80
4a, 804b, 804d, 804c are connected in series on the network 810 in this order, and one end of each of the network control devices 804b, 804d is connected to the control device 80.
2a and 802b are connected.

The devices 808a and 808b are devices that are logically connected to the device control device group 801.
The host computers 807a and 807b are computers that are logically connected to the device control device 801.
Here, the theoretical connection refers to a relationship in which a virtual connection is made through a network, although the connection is not actually made directly. The host computers 807a and 807b explicitly specify the transmission destination of the command and transmit it to the network control devices 803a and 803c. That is, the addresses of the network control devices 803b and 803d respectively connected to the control devices 802a and 802b are made to match the addresses of the control device 802 on the side used by the host computer 807, and this address is set to the network control device 803.
a and 803c, the connection relationship is established. In this way, the command transmission to the specified device 808 can operate in the same manner as in the seventh embodiment. Thus, according to the seventh embodiment, the input port 805 and the control device 8
02 and the output port 806 can be dynamically changed and used.

[0088]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1 of the present application, a plurality of audio / video devices can be accommodated and operated in one network.

According to the invention of claim 2 of the present application, a single audio / video device can be shared and operated by a plurality of computers.

According to the invention of claim 3 of the present application, the reception of the host command from the computer and the audio
The end of command execution of the video device can be automatically returned to the computer.

According to the invention of claim 4 of the present application, even if a plurality of audio / video devices are provided, by unifying the command system, the audio / video devices can be operated by a common program.

According to the invention of claim 5 of the present application, the command system of the device driver and the control device provided in the device control device can be made independent, and the versatility of the device control device is improved.

According to the invention of claim 6 of the present application, by providing the memory and the comparing means, the device control device can monitor the state of the audio / video equipment instead of the computer.

According to the invention of claim 7 of the present application, a plurality of computers and a plurality of audio / video devices distributed on the network can be operated in common.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8 of the present application, it is possible to dynamically change the connection state of a plurality of computers and audio / video equipment distributed on the network.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a multimedia network according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device control apparatus of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device control apparatus of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device control apparatus of the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device control apparatus of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a command conversion table in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device control apparatus of a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device control apparatus of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device control apparatus of a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device control apparatus of a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device control apparatus of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101a to 101c nodes 102a to 102c signal input / output ports 103a to 103c command input / output ports 104a to 104c, 203, 402, 502, 60
2, 702, 802a, 802b Control device 105a-105c, 703a-703c, 704a-
704c, 803a to 803d, 804a to 804d
Network control device 107 Transmission paths 108a to 108c, 207, 307, 407a, 40
7b, 507a, 507b, 608, 708a, 708
b, 808a, 808b device 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, device controller 202a to 202c, 304, 404, 504, 60
5, 705a, 705b, 805a, 805b Input port 204 Scheduler 205, 305, 405a, 405b, 505a, 50
5b, 606, 706a, 706b, 806a, 806
b output ports 206a to 206c, 306, 406, 506, 60
7, 707a, 707b, 807a, 807b Host computer 303 State monitoring means 403 Conversion means 503a, 503b Device driver means 603 Comparison means 604 Memory 710, 711, 809, 810 Network 801 Device control device group

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04L 12/40

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A network system comprising a plurality of nodes and transmission lines for mutually connecting a plurality of video / audio equipments (hereinafter referred to as devices), the network system being connected to the device and receiving a device command. A plurality of command input / output ports for outputting, a signal input / output port connected to the device for inputting / outputting signals, and provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the command input / output port, and the command input / output port A control device that multiplexes a device command to be input and output and a signal that is input to and output from the signal input / output port, and is connected to the control device to convert a data format of a signal of a network and to perform the identification via the transmission path. And a network control device for connecting devices to each other. . 2. A device control apparatus in which a single device and a plurality of computers are connected to each other, and a plurality of input ports connected to the plurality of computers, respectively, for inputting host commands, and connected to the device. , A scheduler having an output port for outputting a device command, a first-in first-out or last-in first-out memory for storing the use order of the device, and asynchronously accepting a host command of the computer input through the plurality of input ports And a controller for outputting to the scheduler and outputting a device command for controlling the operation of the device to the output port based on a command held by the scheduler. 3. A device control device in which a computer and a device are connected to each other, the input port being connected to the computer for inputting a host command, and the output port being connected to the device for outputting a device command. Status monitoring means for holding a signal indicating the operation status of the device, and when the host command for controlling the device is received from the computer via the input port, command execution end data output by the status monitoring means, And a control device that sends back a signal indicating command reception from the computer to the computer, respectively. 4. A device control apparatus in which a single computer and a plurality of devices are connected to each other, the input port being connected to the computer to input a host command, and connected to the device to output a device command. A plurality of output ports, a control device for converting the host command system on the input side given from the input port into a command number corresponding to the type of the device, and a command number output from the control device as a device address. And a conversion unit which converts the device command into a corresponding device command and gives the device command to the device via the specific output port. 5. A device control apparatus in which a single computer and a plurality of devices are connected to each other, and an input port connected to the computer for inputting a host command; and an output port connected to the device for outputting a device command. A plurality of output ports, a control device that converts an input-side host command system given from the input port into an intermediate command unified for each type of the device, and an intermediate command output from the control device into a device command And a plurality of device driver units that respectively output a signal device command to the specific output port. 6. A device control apparatus in which a computer and a device are connected to each other, the input port being connected to the computer for inputting a host command, and the output port being connected to the device for outputting a device command. Based on an instruction from the computer, a memory that stores state data of a control target of the device, a comparison unit that compares a current state of the device that responds with a target state stored in the memory, and the input from the computer. Control device for controlling the operation of the device on behalf of the computer based on the state data and the comparison data of the comparison means output through the input port. apparatus. 7. A device control apparatus in which a plurality of computers and a plurality of devices are connected, each of which is connected to each of the plurality of computers and which inputs a host command, and each of the plurality of devices. A plurality of output ports that are connected and output a device command, the plurality of input ports, and the plurality of output ports are connected by a network, the data format of the signal of the network is converted, and the specific devices are coupled. A plurality of network control devices, and a control device that is provided between the specific network control devices and that converts specific host commands distributed and arranged on the network into device commands corresponding to device addresses. A device control device characterized by: 8. A device control apparatus in which a plurality of computers and a plurality of devices are connected, each of which is connected to each of the plurality of computers and which inputs a host command, and each of the plurality of devices. A plurality of output ports that are connected and output a device command, the plurality of input ports, and the plurality of output ports are connected via a network, and the data format of the signal of the network is converted, and between the specific devices. And a plurality of network control devices that connect the two network control devices, each of which is provided between any one of the plurality of network control devices, and converts a host command of a plurality of computers arranged on the network into a device command corresponding to a device address, And a plurality of control devices that output device commands. Device control apparatus according to claim and.