KR101300949B1 - Control method of external A/V devices connected to Display - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control method of an external device connected to an image display device.

The method for controlling an external device according to the present invention displays the corresponding icon and menu in an activated or deactivated state so that it is easy to check whether the external device is connected to the video display device, and also provides an integrated remote control to the image display device. It is configured to control play or stop of connected external device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to control an external device connected to the image display device with a simple operation without replacing a separate remote control or changing the mode of the remote control and the external input mode to the image display device.

Control method of external device, HDMI, CEC, Graphical User Interface

Description

Control method of external device using image display device {Control method of external A / V devices connected to Display}

1 is a view schematically showing an environment composed of devices to which high definition multimedia interface home appliance control (HDMI-CEC) is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a connection relationship between an image display device and an external device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an external device connected to an image display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a graphical user interface displaying connection information of an external device on an image display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view illustrating an example of a banner menu for identifying an external device currently connected to an image display device and operating.

The present invention displays the connection information of a plurality of external devices connected to a high definition multimedia interface home appliance control (HDMI-CEC) to the video display device on the screen of the video display device, and controls the operation of the external devices with the remote control of the video display device. The present invention relates to a control method of an external device using an image display device.

Connect a plurality of external devices capable of providing a predetermined audio and video (AV) signal such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player, a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) and a set-top box to a video display device such as a television receiver, and the like. The video display device selects an AV signal provided by one external device among a plurality of external devices so that the processing and the user can watch.

When the video display device and the external device are connected by RS-232C, whether the external device is connected or not is not displayed on the screen of the video display device. The graphical user interface has a complicated structure of several steps, which is inconvenient for general users to operate.

In addition, when the operations of the image display device and the plurality of external devices need to be controlled separately, the user may be troublesome. For example, when a video display device selects and processes an AV signal provided by one external device, a user operates a remote controller of the corresponding external device to turn on the external device and receive a broadcast signal. Or the AV signal stored in a predetermined storage medium to be reproduced by the video display device. The user should turn on the power of the video display device with the remote control of the video display device and select and process the AV signal provided by the external device.

In other words, when the user controls the operation of the video display device and the corresponding external device, the user has to use separate remote controllers to control the operation.

Meanwhile, according to the development of digital technology, a high definition multimedia interface (hereinafter, abbreviated as HDMI) capable of transmitting uncompressed digital AV signals between devices has been proposed. The HDMI is an uncompressed digital video / audio signal interface standard that provides an interface between an image display device and external devices.

The HDMI supports a CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) protocol defined in HDMI 1.0. As HDMI supports the CEC protocol, it becomes possible to control the operation of external devices through video display devices.

However, when a plurality of external devices are connected to the video display device via HDMI-CEC, the remote control of the video display device does not control the plurality of external devices. There is a problem that the operation of the image display device and a plurality of external devices must be controlled.

An object of the present invention is to display the connection information of the external device through the OSD menu screen in the video display device to select the external device in the OSD menu screen, after selecting the external device, without using the OSD menu screen, one remote control The present invention provides a control method of an external device using an image display device to control an operation of an external device by inputting an operation command of the selected external device.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling an external device using an image display device includes displaying a plurality of external devices connected to an image display device on a screen by the image display device. Selecting one external device according to a user's command, and the image display device inputs an operation command of the selected external device, and transfers the input operation command to the selected external device to perform an operation according to the operation command. Characterized in that it comprises a step to perform.

The video display device of the present invention may be a TV receiver, a monitor, or the like, and the external device receives a satellite or terrestrial broadcast signal such as a DVD, a VTR, a DVR, a set top box (STB), or a predetermined storage medium. And an external device for reproducing the AV signal stored in the video display device and providing the same to the video display device.

In addition, the image display device of the present invention and a plurality of external devices are connected by an HDMI cable.

In addition, the screen display of the plurality of external devices of the present invention is characterized by displaying on the OSD menu screen.

In addition, the screen display of the plurality of external devices of the present invention is characterized in that the display when the user's external device display command is input.

In addition, when the selected external device of the present invention is a composite device, it is characterized in that to select one of the devices that are provided with a combination.

The selecting of the external device may include inputting a user's selection command from an OSD menu displayed on the image display device, generating a power on command of the external device from which the image display device is selected, and selecting the selected external device. And transmitting the AV signal provided by the selected external device to the video display device.

The present invention may further include generating a power-off command and transmitting the power-off command to a previously selected external device when there is an external device selected before the power-on command of the selected external device is transmitted to the external device. It is characterized by.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the transmission of the operation command determines whether the operation command can be performed by the selected external device, and delivers the operation command only when the external device can perform it.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in more detail the objects, features and advantages of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between an image display device and an external device to which HDMI-CEC is applied according to a control method of the present invention. Here, reference numeral 100 denotes an image display device such as a television receiver for receiving and processing a television broadcast signal or processing an AV signal input from outside to allow a user to watch.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a plurality of external devices such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player, a DVR (Digital Video Recorder), a set-top box, and the like. The plurality of external devices 110 receive a satellite or terrestrial broadcast signal or reproduce an AV signal stored in a predetermined storage medium and provide the same to the video display device 100.

The video display device 100 and the plurality of external devices 110 are connected to each other by an HDMI-CEC cable 120 and are configured to transmit predetermined AV signals and control signals to each other.

2 is a view showing the configuration of an image display device 100 and an external device according to the control method of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the image display device 100 includes a tuner unit 202, a controller 204, a demultiplexer 206, an audio decoder 208, a video decoder 210, a switching unit 212, a speaker ( 214, an OSD (On Screen Display) unit 216, a display unit 218, an HDMI-CEC unit 222, a memory unit 220, and a command input unit 224.

The external device 110 includes a controller 302, an HDMI-CEC unit 304, and an application unit 306.

The tuner 202 receives a broadcast signal corresponding to a channel selected by a user from a signal received through an antenna, extracts a demodulation and transport stream (TS) packet, and delivers the extracted TS packet to the demultiplexer unit 206. do.

The TS packet output from the tuner 202 includes a multiplexed audio signal, a video signal, and the like. The demultiplexer unit 206 separates audio and video signals from TS packets output from the tuner unit 202.

The audio decoder 208 decodes the audio signal separated by the demultiplexer unit 206, converts the audio signal into a signal audible by the speaker 214, and outputs it to the outside.

The video decoder 210 expands the compressed video signal separated from the demultiplexer 206 and outputs the compressed video signal, and then converts the compressed video signal into a displayable signal on the display unit 218. The video signal processed by the video decoder 208 is output to the outside through the display unit 216.

The switching unit 212 switches the AV signal output from the audio decoder 208 and the video decoder 210 and the AV signal output from the HDMI transmitter / receiver 222a. For example, the controller 204 controls the switching unit 212 when watching a television broadcast through a broadcast reception function provided in the video display device 100 itself, thereby controlling the audio decoder 208 and the video decoder 210. The control unit 212 passes the AV signal output from the control unit and passes the AV signal output from the HDMI transmitter / receiver 222a when the external device 110 is selected by the user.

The command input unit 224 receives a control command for controlling the image display device 100 and the external device 110 from the user and outputs the control command to the microcomputer 222e. The command input unit 224 may be an infrared signal receiver that receives an infrared signal transmitted from the remote controller 226 and transmits the infrared signal to the controller 204.

The HDMI unit 222 or 304 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) channel and a Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) channel.

Each of the HDMI-CEC units 222 and 304 includes an HDMI transmitter and receiver 222a and 304a, an HDMI connector 222c and 304c, and a microcomputer 222e and 304e. The HDMI transmitter / receivers 222a and 304a of the image display device 100 and the external device 110 may transmit uncompressed video or audio signals to each other through a TMDS channel, and to the CEC protocol through a CEC channel. Send the relevant signal.

The microcomputers 222e and 304e basically transmit and receive CEC signals through the HDMI connectors 222c and 304c, and perform signal processing related to the CEC protocol. Signal processing associated with the CEC protocol includes frame re-transmission, line error handling, frame validation, and the like.

The microcomputer 222e of the image display apparatus 100 transmits a user's control command input through the command input unit 224 to the controller 204, and the controller 204 has the image display apparatus 100. Controls overall operations, including basic operations.

In addition, the CEC-related data may be processed to control the external device 110 according to a user's command.

When a predetermined play command or stop command of the remote controller 226 is transmitted by the user through the command input unit 224, the microcomputer 222e transmits it to the controller 204. The controller 204 determines whether the command is an executable command of the external device 110 to control the external device through the CEC channel of the microcomputer 222e and the HDMI connector 222c.

The memory unit 220 stores the type information of the external device 110 connected to the image display device 100, the connection state information, and information on the operation function of the corresponding external device provided from the external device 110.

The application unit 306 of the external device 110 may be a part that performs a function unique to the external device 110, such as reproduction of an AV signal from a storage medium, or reception of a satellite broadcast or terrestrial broadcast.

3 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an external device control method of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 204 of the image display device 100 determines whether power is turned on (S300).

When the power of the image display device 100 is turned on, the controller 204 determines the connection state of the external devices 110 connected to the image display device 100 (S302). Here, the image display device 100 and the external device 110 are connected to each other by, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), and the information on the operation function is transmitted to the external device 110 through a CEC channel. In response to the request, the controller receives the type of the external device, the connection state information, and the information about the operation function of the external device according to the request, and stores the received information in the memory 220.

The stored information allows the user to check whether the external device 110 is connected, even if the image display device 100 and the external device 110 are disconnected after the storage of the information. And information about operational functions may remain in the memory 220.

In this state, the controller 204 determines whether a display command of the OSD menu for selecting the external device 110 is input through the command input unit 224 (S304).

When the display command of the OSD menu is input as a result of the determination, the controller 204 controls the OSD unit 216 to generate an OSD signal of the OSD menu, and displays the generated OSD signal on the display unit 218 (S306). .

For example, a DVD and a set top box are connected to an image display device having a function of receiving a television broadcast signal, and an HDR device is connected to the memory unit 220. It is assumed that the type information and operation function information of are stored but not currently connected.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the controller 204 is connected to the image display device 100, and thus, in case of 'DVD viewing' and 'HDR viewing', which are external devices selectable by the user, the menu and icon are activated. A set-top box STB, which is a menu that cannot be selected because it is displayed at 410 and is not connected to the image display device 100, is generated as an OSD signal in an inactive state 430 and displayed on the display unit 216.

When the OSD menu 400 is displayed on the screen of the image display device 100 as described above, the controller 204 determines whether an external device selection command is input through the command input unit 224 (S308).

The selected external device may be a composite device having two or more functions. For example, assuming that the user selects a multi-device such as a 'DVD combo' in the OSD menu 400, the sub functions may include 'DVD home theater' and 'combi recorder', as shown in FIG. As described above, the user may select only the left and right buttons and the confirmation button in the menu of the same step instead of the menu of the lower step (410, 420).

If the external device 110 selection command is input as a result of the determination, the controller 204 determines a state before the external device selection command is input (S310). As a result of the determination, if an external device having a different previous state is selected and being operated, the controller 204 transmits a command to turn off the power of the external device (S312).

In this state, the controller 204 stores the selection information of the corresponding external device in the memory unit 220 and transmits a command to turn on the power of the corresponding external device through the CEC channel of the HDMI connector 222e ( S314). In addition, the controller 204 changes the external input of the image display apparatus 100 (S316) to allow the image display apparatus 100 to input and process the AV signal transmitted by the selected external apparatus 110.

The selection information among the information stored in the memory unit 220 is information on which external device is currently selected in the image display device 100. After the selection information is stored, the user can select the external device 110 at any time. It is possible to check information about. For example, when the OSD menu is not displayed on the display unit 218 of the video display device 100 during the playback of the AV signal of the disk, which is a storage medium of the DVD player, the predetermined 'OK' button signal of the remote controller 226 When input, the controller 204 determines the selection information stored in the memory unit 220, and controls the OSD unit 216 to generate an OSD signal. As shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to confirm that the current external device has selected 'DVD' and the DVD home theater is selected from the information of the banner menu 500.

As another method of confirming the selection information, if the display command signal of the OSD menu is input again while the OSD menu is not displayed on the display unit 218 of the video display device 100 during the playback of the DVD player, the OSD menu is displayed. The display unit 218 may display the cursor on the currently selected external device so that the user may check the currently selected external device.

Here, for example, it is assumed that the user selects the first external device.

In this state, the controller 204 determines whether an operation control command of the selected first external device is input (S318). The control command, for example, when the first external device is a DVD home theater, play, stop, rewind, fast forward, skip, volume control It may be a command such as (Volume Control).

As a result of the determination, when an external device control command is input through the command input unit 224, the controller 204 determines whether the control command is a command that can be executed by the first external device (S320). For example, if the first external device is a DVD home theater and the control command is volume control, whether the first external device can be executed may vary depending on the speaker setting of the OSD menu 400. According to the present invention, it is possible to set whether to select a TV speaker or a home theater speaker by the user's selection in the OSD menu 400 (440, 450). If it is set as a TV speaker and the control command for the first external device is volume control, the control unit 204 of the video display device 100 is connected to the first external device through the CEC channel of HDMI. The volume of the video display device 100 itself is controlled without transmitting a volume control command.

As a result of the determination, when the input control command is a command that can be executed by the first external device, the controller 204 transmits a control command to the first external device through the CEC channel of the HDMI (S322).

As described above, in the present invention, it is easy to grasp information on whether an external device is connected to the video display device through a graphical user interface (GUI), and the control of the external device also uses the integrated remote controller screen. It can be implemented by simple OSD menu operation.

On the other hand, the present invention has been described in detail through a representative embodiment, but those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains various modifications within the scope of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. I will understand what is possible. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

As described above, according to the control method of an external device connected to the video display device of the present invention through a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), it is easy to grasp information on the external device connected to the video display device, and to watch television broadcast and the video display device. To solve the inconvenience of having to learn how to operate various devices and the functions of multiple remote controls for the operation of external devices connected to it, the integrated remote control allows users to easily use the functions of external devices connected to the video display device. It is effective.

In addition, in the same step of the OSD menu on the screen of the video display device, it is possible to select a media function such as a composite device by using only the left and right buttons of the remote control, thereby realizing a more graphical user interface environment.

Claims (9)

Displaying, by the video display device, a plurality of external devices connected to the video display device on a screen; Selecting one external device according to a user's command among the displayed external devices; And The image display device inputs an operation command of a selected external device, and transmits the input operation command to the selected external device to perform an operation according to an operation command, and the selecting of the external device includes: Inputting a user's selection command in an OSD menu displayed on the image display device; Generating, by the image display device, a power on command of the selected external device and transmitting the generated power on command to the selected external device; And And controlling the video display device to input an AV signal provided by the selected external device. According to claim 1, wherein the external device; A method for controlling an external device using a video display device, the external device receiving a satellite or terrestrial broadcast signal or reproducing an AV signal stored in a predetermined storage medium and providing the same to the video display device. The method of claim 1, wherein the image display device is connected to a plurality of external devices; Control method of an external device using a video display device, characterized in that connected to the HDMI cable. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen display of the plurality of external devices; A control method of an external device using an image display device, characterized in that displayed on the OSD menu screen. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen display of the plurality of external devices; Control method of an external device using an image display device characterized in that the display when the user's external device display command is input. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected external device is a composite device; Control method of an external device using a video display device, characterized in that for selecting one of the devices provided in combination. delete The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting a power on command of the selected external device to an external device; And generating a power-off command and transmitting the power-off command to the previously selected external device when the external device is previously selected. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation command is transmitted; And determining whether the operation command can be performed by the selected external device, and transmitting the operation command only when the external device can perform the operation command.

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