WO1998037463A1

WO1998037463A1 - A system and method for controlling a peripheral device

Info

Publication number: WO1998037463A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/003011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Saib; Michael M. Lee
Original assignee: Sony Electronics, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-02-25
Filing date: 1998-02-11
Publication date: 1998-08-27
Also published as: AU6280498A

Abstract

A system and method for mitigating inaccurate recording of a show broadcast for a home entertainment system (200). The home entertainment system (200) may include an electronic device (210) including a transmitter controller (355), a remote transmitter (240) and a peripheral device (230) to record the show. In one embodiment, the chances of inaccurate recordings are reduced by the following operation. First, upon the electronic device (210) receiving programming data associated with the show at a time of day measured by the electronic device (210), a control signal is produced to indicate that the show is to be recorded. The control signal is sent to the transmitter controller (355), translated, and the result routed to the remote transmitter (240). In response to receiving the result, the remote transmitter (240) sends a command to the peripheral device (230) to begin recording of the show at the time of day measured by the electronic device (210).

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PERIPHERAL DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of information systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method to control operations by a peripheral device.

2. Description of Art Related to the Invention

Over the last few years, there has been a growing demand for home entertainment systems working in conjunction with various types of broadcasting systems. An example of the home entertainment system includes a conventional broadcast satellite system (BSS) including a digital satellite system (DSS). The conventional DSS includes an antenna 100 that receives a digital bit stream from DSS satellites (not shown) and routes the bit stream to an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) 110. IRD 110 is responsible for decoding the bit stream and processing the decoded bit stream to produce an output signal of an appropriate format. The output signal is sent to one or more peripheral devices 120. As shown, the peripheral device(s) 120 may include an analog-input peripheral device such as a television receiver and /or an analog video cassette recorder (VCR). IRD 110 can be user controlled through a remote control 130.

In conventional DDS architecture, programming parameters of a programmed event are entered into both internal timing mechanisms of the IRD 110 and the analog VCR. The "programmed event" is a timed operation such as recording a desired "show," possibly a television program, movie, documentary and the like. The internal timing mechanism of the IRD 110 (IRD timer) involves firmware that performs two functions; namely, it (i) notifies executing hardware when a certain predetermined time period has elapsed, and (ii) configures the IRD to activate (i.e., turn-on) at a selected time, to tune to a selected channel in order to receive a digital bit stream associated with the desired show and to deactivate. The internal timing mechanism of the analog VCR (VCR timer) operates independently from the IRD timer to activate and deactivate the analog VCR. This allows the analog VCR to receive the output signal from the IRD 110 in order to record the show onto a video cassette tape for subsequent viewing.

Based on BSS or the conventional DSS architecture described above, a number of disadvantages have been realized. One disadvantage is that as the temporal relationship between the operations of the above-mentioned internal timing mechanisms diverge (i.e., becomes more asynchronous), inaccurate recordings of a desired show may result. For example, if the operations of the IRD timer and the VCR timer differ in time by a minute or even a few seconds, the show may be recorded after its opening scene or turned-off prematurely. Although this disadvantage may be avoided by synchronizing the IRD timer with the VCR timer, such synchronization is quite difficult to perform. One reason, among others, is that time is displayed on the IRD and analog VCR in terms of hours and minutes, not seconds. Another reason is that both timing mechanisms rely on different clocking supplies, and thus, will not remain synchronous. This would require the user to constantly synchronize the IRD timer and VCR timer to guarantee a synchronous relationship.

Another disadvantage associated with the conventional BSS DDS embodiment is that setting VCR timer after already setting the IRD timer is a redundant operation. This wastes time and increases the possibility of entering an incorrect programming parameter (e.g., show start-time, show end-time, channel number and date).

Hence, it would be advantageous to develop a mechanism for the IRD to control the operations of peripheral devices in a synchronous manner, especially programmed events by an analog VCR.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a home entertainment system and method to control programmed events performed by a peripheral device. One embodiment of the home entertainment system includes a peripheral device, a receiver decoder device (e.g., IRD) and a remote transmitter that receives signals from the IRD and generates commands to the peripheral device to service a programmed event. Coupled to both the peripheral device and the remote transmitter, the IRD is adapted with a transmitter controller to receive a first control signal indicative that the peripheral device is scheduled to perform a selected operation at a time of day currently detected by the IRD. The first control signal is translated to a second control signal recognized by the remote transmitter and sent to the remote transmitter. Upon receiving and recognizing the second control signal, the remote transmitter sends a command corresponding to the second control signal, to the peripheral device to service the programmed event such as turn-on and begin recording.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in combination with the figures listed below.

Figure 1 is a general block diagram of a conventional home entertainment system adaptable to direct broadcasting systems.

Figure 2 is an illustrative embodiment of a home entertainment system utilizing a remote transmitter to control operations of an analog input peripheral device.

Figure 3 is a more detailed block diagram featuring one embodiment of an integrated receiver decoder implemented within the home entertainment system of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a more detailed block diagram featuring one embodiment of a main logic block of the integrated receiver decoder of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating operational steps performed by the transmitter controller and the remote transmitter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In its preferred embodiment, the present invention relates an integrated receiver decoder in which is implemented a transmitter controller to control programmed events by a peripheral. Of course, this mechanism may be used in other applications using receiver decoder devices besides an integrated receiver decoder such as cable boxes for a Cable Broadcasting System, an Internet terminal, a digital satellite system (DSS) computer and the like.

Herein, various terms are used to describe certain elements or characteristics of the present invention. For example, a "communication line" is broadly defined as any communication path between a source and a destination. The communication line may include one or more information-carrying lines (electrical wire, fiber optics, cable, etc.) or wireless communications through established techniques such as infrared (IR) and radio frequency (RF) signaling. A "signal" is defined as one or more signals transmitted in a parallel or serial manner.

Moreover, certain illustrative embodiments are described in order to convey the spirit and scope of the present invention. While these embodiments are set forth to describe the invention, such embodiments should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2, one embodiment of a home entertainment system utilizing the present invention is shown. The home entertainment system 200 comprises an antenna 205, an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) 210, a television receiver (TV) 220, an analog recorder (e.g., analog video cassette recorder "VCR") 230 and a remote transmitter 240. The antenna 205 receives a digital bit stream from an orbiting satellite. Typically, the bit stream is formatted in accordance with any video compression function and encrypted under either a symmetric key cryptographic function or an asymmetric key cryptographic function. The bit stream may includes video, audio, and control information such as programming data (e.g., show title, date, channel, show start- time, show end-time, etc.). It is contemplated, however, that if the bit stream is audio-only programming, it includes audio and programming data.

The antenna 205 transfers the bit stream to the IRD 210. The IRD 210 processes the bit stream to be output in an analog format to TV 220 or analog recorder 230 via communication lines 225 or 235, respectively. The analog format may be in accordance with a video format established by National Television Systems Committee (NTSC), or perhaps other video formats, including but is not limited to Phase Alternating Line (PAL), Sequential Couleur avec Memoire (SECAM) and other recognized formats.

Generally concurrent to these operations, IRD 210 further signals the remote transmitter 240 to control programmed events of analog recorder 230. In this embodiment, the remote transmitter 240 includes processing circuitry to translate control signals from the IRD 210 into compatible commands recognized by analog recorder 230. Examples of the remote transmitter 240 may include, but are not limited or restricted to an infrared transmitter such as those manufactured by and commercially available from Matsushita of Osaka, Japan (referred to as "VCR mouse"). The remote transmitter 240 is connected to an output port of the IRD 210 (e.g., a serial port) through a communication line 245 which, as previously mentioned above, may include wireless communications using IR or RF signaling. It is contemplated, however, that the remote transmitter 240 may be implemented simply as a communication line connected to an output port of the IRD 210 and an input port of the analog recorder 230, provided no signal translation is necessary between IRD 210 and analog recorder 230. This usually occurs when both devices are provided by the same manufacturer or group of manufacturers (e.g., both the IRD and analog recorder are SONY® products). Referring to Figure 3, one embodiment of the IRD 210 having a transmitter controller is shown. As described above, the antenna 205 transfers the bit stream to a front-end unit 300 of the IRD 210. Although not shown, the front-end unit 300 includes (i) amplification circuitry used to amplify any relatively weak signals received at antenna 205 and (ii) a tuner which allows a user to "tune" to a desired frequency channel.

For the case where the user wishes to watch a show provided by the digital satellite system service provider, the bit stream associated with the desired channel is routed from front-end unit 300 to a demodulator 305. In demodulator 305, the bit stream is initially processed before transferring to a main logic block 310 for further processing. Such initial processing may include exposing the bit stream to demodulation and decoding functions such as QPSK-demodulation, viterbi- decoding, de-interleaving and Reed-Solomon decoding.

In some cases, the IRD 210 is connected to other peripheral devices though an interface (IF) 315. In this embodiment, IF 315 includes a link layer integrated circuit (IC) and a physical layer IC (not shown) and complies with the IEEE standards document 1394 entitled "Standard for High Performance Serial Bus" (hereinafter referred to as "IEEE 1394"). This enables IRD 210 to connect digital-input peripheral devices such as digital video cassette recorders, digital video disk players, and the like. These peripheral devices supply control signals (e.g., IEEE 1394 commands) to a central processing unit (CPU) within main logic block 310 (see Figure 4) through IF 315 and extension bus 320. Audio and video data is transferred from these peripheral devices to main logic block 310 through an IEEE 1394 serial bus 325. From the CPU, all IEEE 1394 commands are transferred to IF 315 via extension bus 320.

Referring now to Figure 4, the electronic circuitry of the main logic block 310 is shown. The Transport Packet Parser (TPP) 400 receives the decoded bit stream and performs a parsing operation thereon in order to separate information having different characteristics (video, audio, control) from the bit stream. Then, the parsed bit stream is decrypted by a cryptographic engine 405 which may operate in accordance with a cryptographic function, for example Data Encryption Standard (DES). However, if the bit stream is received from IF 315 routed through communication line 415, cryptographic engine 405 will be precluded from decrypting the bit stream since it is already in a decrypted form. Thereafter, the decrypted bit stream is stored in an external volatile memory 330 (e.g., random access memory "RAM") under the control of traffic controller 410.

In response to a control signal from CPU 425 via communication line 430, traffic controller 410 retrieves at least portions of the stored decrypted bit stream from external volatile memory 330. Thereafter, traffic controller 410 distributes particular portions of the decrypted bit stream to either a video decoder 440 or an audio decoder 450 via communication lines 435 and 445, respectively. These decoders perform decompression operations in accordance with Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), Joint Picture Experts Group (JPEG) or any other video decompression function.

In order to output an analog signal to an analog recorder, video output from video decoder 440 is transferred to a signal encoder 455. Upon receipt, the signal encoder 455 converts the video output into an analog signal having a recognized video format such as NTSC, PAL, SECAM and the like. This analog signal is transferred to analog recorder for recordation on a recording medium (e.g., video cassette tape). Similarly, to output an analog signal to a TV receiver, the video output from video decoder 440 is mixed in mixer 460 after on-screen display (OSD) data (e.g., a programming table), present in the bit stream, is decoded by OSD logic block 465. The OSD logic block 465 performs decompression in accordance with a recognized video format. The mixer 460 produces a mixed video output that is transferred to another signal encoder 470. Signal encoder 470 converts the mixed video output into an analog signal having a recognized video format for use by a TV receiver.

Generally concurrent to these operations, as shown in both Figures 3-4, the audio output from audio decoder 450 is transferred in a digital format to an audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 335 placed within the IRD 210. The audio DAC 335 converts digital audio output into an analog signal. The analog signal is then transferred to analog recorder to be recorded on recording medium in combination with corresponding analog signals associated with video.

Referring back to Figure 4, CPU 425 controls all of the above mentioned processes. For the CPU 425 to control the above-mentioned processes, CPU 425 communicates with a plurality of elements through an internal high-speed bus 475. These elements may include, but are not limited or restricted to an optional on-chip volatile memory 480, at least one on-chip non-volatile memory element 485 (e.g., read only memory "ROM", erasable programmable read only memory "EPROM", electrically erasable programmable read only memory "EEPROM" and /or other flash memory), extension bus interface 490, and traffic controller 430.

CPU 425 also communicates with an external non-volatile memory element 340 (e.g., read only memory "ROM", flash memory, etc.) which is capable of containing software programs including timer software described below, a transceiver device 345 (e.g., a modem), a remote command unit interface (RCU-IF) 350 and a transmitter controller 355. The CPU 425 communicates with the transmitter controller 355 through extension bus interface 490 and extension bus 320. The RCU-IF 350 receives commands from a remote control (not shown) and transfers these commands to CPU 425 via extension bus 340. The remote control may include one described in U.S. Patent No. 5,453,758 assigned to Sony Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, as well as any other types of remote control. Referring to Figures 3-4, although not shown, transmitter controller 355 includes an Applied Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) to perform a number of operations. One operation involves transmission of signals to the remote transmitter (e.g., the VCR mouse) via communication line 245 to control programmed events of the analog recorder. The occurrence of a programmed event is detected by CPU 425 during execution of timer software. The timer software usually is stored in external non-volatile memory 340 but may be stored in other locations such as on-chip non-volatile memory 485.

One embodiment of the timer software involves its implementation as firmware. The firmware comprising two timing routines in this embodiment. The first routine is normally executed in the background by the CPU 425 in order to provide an interrupt signal to indicate that a predetermined time period (e.g., one minute) has expired. It is contemplated that the first routine may be coded to interrupt CPU 425 just prior to or upon immediate detection of a programmed event.

In response to the CPU 425 determining that a programmed event is scheduled to occur, the CPU 425 executes a second routine. The second routine enable the CPU 425 to activate the IRD, tune the IRD to a certain channel and to deactivate the IRD after the programmed event has ended. The second routine further causes CPU 425 to route a first control signal to the transmitter controller 355.

The ASIC within the transmitter controller 355 receives the first control signal and translates the signal into a second control signal capable of being recognized by the remote transmitter 240 of Figure 2. Thereafter, transmitter controller 355 outputs the translated second control signal to the remote transmitter 240. If the analog recorder is not identically compatible with the IRD 210, the remote transmitter 240 translates the second control signal into one or more commands compatible with the analog recorder 230 to set up the analog recorder for the programmed event as shown in Figure 2. These command(s) may be serial in format and may include, but are not limited or restricted to activation (power-on or toggling its power state), channel select, record, stop and deactivation (power-off or return to prior power state). If the analog recorder is identically compatible with the IRD 210, the remote transmitter 240 may not be required to translate the second control signal into one or more commands recognized by the analog recorder. Instead, the second control signal may simply be routed to the analog recorder.

It is contemplated that the transmitter controller 355 may be in communication, via cable or wireless, with other peripheral devices to control their operations, instead of an analog input peripheral device (e.g., analog VCR) as described. For example, it may be connected to a digital-input peripheral device to control its operations.

Referring now to Figure 5, the operations of the home entertainment system for controlling operations of a recorder such as an analog VCR is shown. Initially, the CPU continues periodic execution of the timer software loaded in non-volatile memory of the IRD to determine whether the IRD should begin processing an incoming digital bit stream into an analog signal for recording by the analog VCR (Step 505). The periodicity of the execution may vary from a fraction of a second to over a minute. Upon the CPU determining that a selected show scheduled to be recorded is about to commence, it activates the IRD and tunes the IRD to receive the channel of the show to be recorded (Steps 510-515). Generally, concurrent to the operations of Steps 510-515, under timer software control, CPU transfers one or more control signals to the transmitter controller to modify the current state of the VCR (Step 520). More specifically, the transmitter controller transfers control signals to the remote transmitter, requesting the remote transmitter to provide successive VCR start-up commands with a selected delay between start-up commands. These VCR start-up commands may include, but are not limited or restricted to, (i) activation of the VCR by a power-on or power toggle event, (ii) tuning of the VCR to a desired channel to be recorded, and (iii) starting "record".

Thereafter, CPU continues to periodically execute timer software (e.g., the first routine) loaded in non-volatile memory to determine whether IRD should discontinue processing the incoming digital bit stream (Step 525). Upon determining that IRD should discontinue such processing, the CPU returns the IRD to its prior channel (optional) and deactivates IRD (Steps 530-535). Generally, concurrent with these operations, the transmitter controller receives signals from the CPU to request the remote transmitter to provide various VCR shut-down commands in succession (Step 540). These VCR shut-down commands may include, but are not limited to, (i) stop record of the VCR, and (ii) deactivation of the VCR. Thereafter, the CPU continues to periodically execute the timer software for subsequent programming requests. As a result, synchronization timing problems between the IRD and the analog VCR are substantially mitigated. Also, loading programming data of a programmed event only within the IRD would be sufficient to successfully perform the programmed event.

The present invention described herein may be designed in many different embodiments and using many different configurations. As discussed herein, the architecture of the IRD is flexible, provided it includes a output port to transmit appropriate signals to the remote transmitter to control the peripheral device. While the present invention has been described in terms of various embodiments, other embodiments may come to mind to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The invention should, therefore, be measured in terms of the claims which follow.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A home entertainment system (200) comprising: a peripheral device (230); a remote transmitter (240); and an electronic device (210) coupled to the peripheral device (230) and the remote transmitter (240), the electronic device (210) capable of (i) determining whether the peripheral device (230) is scheduled to perform an event at a select time of day, and (ii) notifying the remote transmitter (240) to signal the peripheral device (230) to perform the event at the select time of day as measured by the electronic device (210).

2. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 1 further comprising an antenna (205) coupled to the electronic device (210).

3. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 2, wherein the event performed by the peripheral device (230) is to record a show broadcast for receipt by the antenna (205).

4. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 3, wherein the signal transmitted by the remote transmitter (240) at least (i) activates the peripheral device (230) and (ii) begins recording the show.

5. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 4, wherein the signal transmitted by the remote transmitter (240) further deactivates the peripheral device (230) at a time of day later than the select time of day measured by the electronic device (210).

6. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 5, wherein the signal is an infrared command sent by the remote transmitter (240) to an infrared interface of the peripheral device (230).

7. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 1, wherein the electronic device (210) includes an integrated receiver decoder.

8. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 7, wherein the peripheral device (230) includes an analog video cassette recorder having a first timing mechanism.

9. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 3, wherein the electronic device (210) including a second timing mechanism including a memory element (340) containing timer software; a central processing unit (425) executing the timer software to determine whether the peripheral device (230) is scheduled to record the show as the second timing mechanism reaches the select time of day; and a transmitter controller (355) coupled to the central processing unit (425), the transmitter controller (355) adapted to notify the remote transmitter (240) approximately when the second timing mechanism reaches the select time of day.

10. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 9, wherein the central processing unit (425) of the electronic device (210) further assists in activating the electronic device (210) and tuning the electronic device (210) to receive the broadcast show.

11. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 9, wherein the transmitter controller^" (355) includes an Applied Specific Integrated Circuit.

12. A home entertainment system (200) comprising: a peripheral device (230); an electronic device (210) coupled to the peripheral device (230), the electronic device (210) including a transmitter controller (355) adapted to (i) receive a first control signal indicating that the peripheral device (230) is scheduled to perform a selected operation at a first time of day as measured by the electronic device (210), and (ii) generate a second control signal; and a remote transmitter (240) coupled to the transmitter controller (355) of the electronic device (210), the remote transmitter (240) recognizing the second control signal and sending a third control signal, corresponding to the second control signal, to the peripheral device (230) to at least begin the selected operation of the peripheral device (230) at the first time of day measured by the electronic device (210).

13. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 12, wherein the electronic device (210) includes an integrated receiver decoder.

14. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 13, wherein the peripheral device (230) includes an analog video cassette recorder.

15. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 14, wherein the third control signal is an infrared command having a format recognized by the analog video cassette recorder.

16. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 12, wherein the electronic device (210) includes a central processing unit (425) activating the electronic device (210) and tuning the electronic device (210) to receive a show broadcast for receipt by the home entertainment system (200).

17. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 16, wherein the third control signal activates the peripheral device (230) and begins the selected operation of recording the show at the first time of day measured by the electronic device (210).

18. The home entertainment system (200) of claim 17, wherein the third control signal further deactivates the peripheral device (230) at a second time of day measured by the electronic device (210), the second time of day being later than the first time of day.

19. A method for mitigating inaccurate recording of a show broadcast for a home entertainment system (200) including a remote transmitter (240) used by an electronic device (210) to control a peripheral device (230) to record the show, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a digital bit stream associated with the show at a first time of day measured by the electronic device (210); producing an analog output signal of the digital bit stream for subsequent transmission to the peripheral device (230); sending to the remote transmitter (240) a control signal indicating that the show is to be recorded; and responding to the control signal by sending a command to the peripheral device (230) to begin recording of the show at the first time of day measured by the electronic device (210).

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of sending the control signal includes the steps of: receiving by a transmitter controller (355) of the electronic device (210), a first control signal indicating that the show is scheduled to be recorded; translating the first control signal into a second control signal recognized by the remote transmitter (240); and transf erring the second control signal to the remote transmitter (240).

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the responding step includes the step of: translating the control signal into the command including a signal to activate the peripheral device (230) and to begin receiving the analog output signal for recordation on a recording medium.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of: sending from the transmitter controller (355) to the remote transmitter (240) a stop control signal indicating to stop recording of the show; and responding to the stop control signal by sending a command to the peripheral device (230) to stop recording of the show at a second time of day measured by the electronic device (210).

23. A home entertainment system (200) comprising: a peripheral device (230); a remote transmitter (240); and an electronic device (210) coupled to the remote transmitter (240), the electronic device (210) determines whether the peripheral device (230) is scheduled to perform an event at a select time of day, and notifies the remote transmitter (240) to signal the peripheral device (230) to perform the event at the select time of day as measured by the electronic device (210).