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`
`U800803291 132
`
`US 8,032,911 112
`(10) Patent 110.:
`(12) United States Patent
`
`Ohkita
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`(54) RELAY DEVICE AND RELAY METHOD
`.
`A
`lnvtmlttr: HidekiOilkita. Kunltaclll [JP]
`
`(75)
`
`(73) Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba. Tokyo (IP)
`-.
`.1
`.
`,
`-.
`-
`Subject to an} disclaimer. the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`Ubf. 154(b) by 65 days.
`
`} Notice.
`
`[
`
`(21; Appl. No: 121463.928
`
`hlcd:
`
`May 11‘ 2009
`Prior Publication Data
`us 20091023313041
`Nov. 19. 2009
`
`(22}
`(65}
`
`[30}
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1110—2005113 A
`1-1990
`2004-2'F4608 .-\
`932004
`21108-034920
`212008
`
`2008-035l90
`JP
`20113-153325 A
`JP
`2008-1539'1'4 A
`JP
`200111 53914 A ,
`111
`W0 W0 2005:006‘MD M
`wo
`wo 20011130038 .-\1
`
`232008
`112003
`1-2008
`1-2008
`152005
`11-2007r
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`High-Definition .Vlulli media Interface Specification’. Jun. 22. 2006.
`Version [.3. pp. 123-125 *
`Explanation ofNon-English Language Rel'crencets).
`"‘ cm by examiner
`
`Foreign Application Prinritv Data
`.
`
`Primary Examiner — William Trost. IV
`.lisst‘smnt lirarm'ner - Omar S Pane
`
`May I3, 2008
`
`(JP) ............................... 12008-126081
`
`(74) Attorney Agent. or Firm —— Knobbe. Martens. Olson &
`Bear LLP
`
`(5])
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H 741V 7/18
`(2006.01)
`GflfiF 15/16
`(20060”
`HWL 12/28
`(2000.01)
`11041.12/56
`‘ W245
`‘
`,
`1
`.
`725104. 725178. 725801 70
`'
`[52} ”'5' (‘I'
`.
`‘
`37(0402
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`“
`(53} held 0" Classification Search
`37W4023
`‘
`.
`_
`00932453 725’?”- 73- 80"82- 35
`5““ 39131163110“ file I” complete search him“?
`“
`References Cited
`.
`H .
`,. .
`s
`1
`.
`U'S' PM. EN 1 DOC UMLN l 5
`379-:‘03
`1753-243 “‘7:
`:11998 Home? ‘3' “1-
`" 701-45
`7'84 ""3 B“
`I” 2010 Funab'k' “I 31' "
`
`310.5401
`2003-"0l6i332 Al‘
`8‘2003 Ghno cl :1].
`2006-TJIIT36'1' Al‘
`0-2000 1.er .............................. 1253114
`200750230909 Al
`10.5200? Mukaidcet :11.
`2009-0089342 Al “
`4.52009
`I-‘crry,r ct al.
`. ..................... 725.178
`
`(56)
`
`[5?]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`According to one enlbodiment‘ a relay.r device includes an
`address management module which executes processing of
`_.
`--
`,f .1 h .- ,|,dd ...... -
`.dl 1h.
`,1.
`.d.,-
`.
`acqnlnngd 11's p ystcd d
`rcss assigns.
`o yen. a} LHCL
`based on a stnk device. processtng ol acqulnng a second
`physical address assigned to the relay device based on another
`sink device. detennination processing. ofdetemtining, in the
`case where it is determined that the command needs to be
`transmitted to the other sink device. whether to periomt con-
`version oftlte physical address included in a parameter in the
`other sink device. and conversion processing ol‘converting. in
`the case where it is determined that the conversion of the
`physical address is not performed in the other sink device. the
`physical address included in the parameter into a physical
`address based on the other sink device using the first and
`.
`‘
`second Physmladdressee
`
`14 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
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`Roku EX1041
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`US. Patent No. 9,716,853
`
`Roku EX1041
`U.S. Patent No. 9,716,853
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 1 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 BZ
`
` Living room
`
`E
`
`'2']:
`Hanna Dunn:
`
`122
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`112
`
`_—
`
`E
`
`1 H
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`0m. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 2 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
`Living room
`
`By radio
`(bidirectional transmission)
`Address conversion
`
`(1.2.0.0 ©1220) DVD player
`
`1.1.0.0
`
`DVD recorder
`1.2.0.0
`
`
`
`FIG.2
`
`i 10
`
`HDM! relay device
`1 0.0.0
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DVD player
`1 .1 .0.0
`
`DVD recorder
`1 2.0.0
`
`F|G.3
`
`.
`Downstream Side
`
`lUpstreamside
`
`1 12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 3 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`101
`
`Living room
`
`
`
`HDMI relay device
`1 .000
`
`110
`
`Upstream side
`
`i 12
`
`ii 1
`
`DVD player
`i .1 0.0
`
`
`
`DVD recorder
`1 2.0.0
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.4
`
`
`
`
`Computer
`1 .i .00
`
`
`
`Living room
`
`HDMI relay device
`i .000
`
`Downstream sideT
`
`
`
`
`
`Upstream side
`
`
`
`
`
`1 12
`
`DVD recorder
`1 2.0.0
`
`FIG.5
`
`
`
`
`HDMI reiay device
`1 0.0.0
`
`
`
`
`21 i
`
`Computer
`1 .i .00
`
`

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`
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`0m. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 BZ
`
`
`
`Radio PHY unit
`
`
`
`- Radio MAC unit
`I-_l
`
`- Videotransmissionmodule
`I AVC command
`Address
`
`
`module
`
`
`
`
`
`HDMI
`transmission
`
`
`module
`
`
`
`control module
`
`management
`
`HDMI
`reception
`module
`
`.
`Command prooessmg module
`
`control module
`
`CEC command
`control module
`
`332
`
`
`
`11
`HDMI switch unit
`
`331
`
`330
`
`
`.l 32
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`1-012
`I > I-DI > I. I
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`31]]: E302
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`HDMI input 1
`HDMI Input 2
`
`313]
`:303
`HDMI Input 3
`
`FIG]
`
`_____
`
`#314 5
`304
`HDMI output
`
`E
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 6 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 BZ
`
`
`
`Acquire physical address of HDMI relay device from
`downstream side device via HDMI cable
`
`311
`
`_
`
`
`Assign terminal number of relay path to digit
`subsequent to effective range of acquired physical
`
`address to generate physical address of connection
`destination HDM I relay device
`
`
`
`
`Notify HDMI relay device of generated physical address
`
`812
`
`
`
`
`
`313
`
`
`
`FlG.8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`4m
`
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`US 8,032,911 32
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`0m. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 8 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 BZ
`
`Receive CEC command including
`physical address via HDMI cable
`
`32]
`
`322
` corresponding to physical
`
`address is upstream side
`
`
`
`No
`
`
`Yes
`
`
`
`
`
`323
`
`
`Device
`corresponding to
`
`physical address is located
`
`on HDMI path?
`
`
`Yes
`
`
`Set physical address of HDMI relay
`device on HDMI side as conversion
`source physical address
`
`
`
`
`
`324
`
`Address conversion request
`flag is enabled
`
`329
`
`Set physical address of HDMI relay
`device on relay side as conversion
`destination physical address
`
`
`
`
`
`I
`
`Address conversion processing
`
`I
`
`326
`
`
`
`
`
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` Physical address
`
`No
`
`after conversion is not
`
`”F.F.F.F" ?
`
`Yes
`
`
`
`528
`Transfer CEC command to connection
`destination HDMI relay device
`
`
`End
`
`FIG.10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 9 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
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`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 201]
`
`Sheet 10 of14
`
`US 8,032,911 32
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`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 11 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 BZ
`
`Receive CEC command via relay path
`
`341
`
`S42
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`
` Address conversion
`
`request flag is enabled?
`
`
`
`
`Set physical address of HDMI relay
`device on relay path side as conversion
`source physiCaI address
`
`Set physical address of HDMI relay
`device on HDMI side as conversion
`destination physical address
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`Transfer CEC command to connection
`destination device on HDMI path
`
`
`
`End
`
`FIG.13
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 12 of14
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`US 8,032,911 B2
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`US 8,032.91 I 82
`
`2
`
`FIG. 6A and FIG. 613m: exemplary views for explaining a
`difference between physical addresses in the system configu-
`ration according to the present emboditnent shown in FIG. 2
`which is set based on respective TV" sets;
`FIG. 7 is an exemplary block diagram showing the outline
`of the HDMI relay device according to the present embodi-
`ment:
`
`1
`RELAY DEVICE AND RELAY METHOD
`
`C ROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is based upon and claims the boncfit of
`priority from Japanese Patent Application No. ZWS- I 26081.
`filed May 13, 2008. the entire contents of which are incorpo-
`rated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`1. Field
`
`One embodiment of the invention relates to a relay device
`and a relay method that relays transmission of a video stream.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) stan-
`dard is now becoming widely used for transmission ofa video
`signal and an audio signal between a television set and a
`recording device.
`Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2008—35190 dis-
`closes a technique in which a display device requests a physi-
`cal address for an external device on an HDMI network to
`
`acquire and manage a connection state between itself and the
`extemal device.
`
`Further, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2008—
`349'f6 discloses a display system. In the display system. an
`audio-visual amplifier with a repeater function is connected
`to a display device having only one HDMI input terminal. The
`audio-visual amplifier has two HDMI input terminals and
`thereby serves as a relay device.
`A conventional technique can only deal with a transmis-
`sion (native) between devices on a transmission path B or a
`transmission (passthmugh) through a device on the transmis-
`sion B to a device on a transmission path A which is one-to-
`one connected to the device on the transmission B and caimot
`perform physical address conversion satisfactorily when a
`plurality ot‘sink devices (TV set. etc.) exist. As a result. in the
`conventional technique. transmission path control and video
`stream transmission cannot be performed.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI 1]}: SEVERAL
`VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`A general architecture that implements the various feature
`of the invention will now be described with reference to the
`
`drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are
`provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to
`limit the scope of the invention.
`FIG. 1 is an exemplary view showing the outline ofHDMI
`systems according to an embodiment ofthe present invention
`installed in a living room and study, respectively;
`FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing an example
`of a configuration of an HDMI system according to the
`present embodiment;
`FIG. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining the concepts of
`"ttpslrcam side" and “downstream side" of an HDMI relay
`device:
`
`FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing the concepts of
`“upstream side" and “downstream side“ of the HDMI relay
`device when the HDMI relay detrice receives a stream via a
`relay zone;
`FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing the concepts of
`“upstream side” and “downstream side” of the HDMI relay
`device when the HDMI relay device transmits a stream via a
`relay zone;
`
`It]
`
`FIG. 8 is an exemplary flowchart showing a notification
`method of the physical address of the HDMI relay device
`according to the present embodiment:
`FIG. 9 is a view showing a transtnission method of address
`information employed for physical address conversion in an
`address management module of the HDMI relay device
`according to the present embodiment;
`FIG. 10 is an exemplary flowchart showing a method of
`physical address conversion processing employed in the
`address managetnent Inodule ofthe HDMI relay device on the
`command transmission side:
`FIG. it is an exemplary view showing an example of a
`determination on whether command transmission is per-
`formed or not according to the present embodiment:
`FIG. 12 is an exemplary flowchart showing an address
`conversion method in the present embodiment:
`FIG. 13 is an exemplary flowchart showing a method of
`I.) .1:
`. physical address conversion processing employed in the
`address management module of the HDMI relay device on the
`command reception side;
`FIG. 14 is an exemplary first example of address conve -
`sion processing according to the present embodiment;
`I: 1G. 15 is an exemplary view for explaining a concrete
`example of the address conversion method; and
`FIG. 16 is an exemplary second example of the address
`conversion processing according to the present embodiment.
`
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Various embodiments according to the invention will be
`described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
`drawings. In general. according to one embodiment of the
`invention. a relay device. which is capable of connecting a
`sink device on its downstream side. connecting a source
`device having a physical address set based on the sink device
`on its upstream side. having a physical address set based on
`the sink device, transmitting a command that is received from
`the sink device or source device to another relay device. and
`lransmitlingtreceiving a video stream Whom the other relay
`device. the device comprises a reception module configure to
`receive the command including a parameter in which a physi-
`cal address is set from the sink device or source device. an
`address management module configure to execute processing
`of acquiring a first physical address assigned to the relay
`device based on the sink device. processing of acquiring a
`second physical address assigned to the relay device based on
`another sink device connected to the downstream side of the
`
`other relay device. first determination processing of deter-
`mining whether the command needs to be transmitted to the
`other relay device. second determination processing ofdete -
`mining. in the case where it is determined that the conunand
`needs to be transmitted to the other relay device. whether to
`perfonn conversion of the physical address included in the
`parameter in the other relay device. and conversion process-
`ing ofconverting, in the case where it is determined that the
`conversion of the physical address is not performed in the
`other relay device,
`the physical address included in the
`parameter into a physical address based on the other sink
`device using the first and second physical addresses. and a
`transmission moduie which transmits to the other relay device
`
`

`

`US 8,032.91 I 32
`
`4
`stream flows is referred to as the “downstream side“. and side
`from which the video stream flows is referred to as the
`
`"upstream side". as viewed from the I-IDMI relay device.
`FIG. 4 is a view showing the concepts of “upstream side"
`and “downstream side“ of the HDMI relay apparatus when
`the III)MI relay apparatus receives a stream via a relay none.
`Bidirectional transmission can be implemented over the relay
`path. In the example of FIG. 4. a video stream flows from the
`notebook personal computer 211 to TV set 101 installed in the
`living room. In this case, as viewed from the HDMI relay
`device 110. the side of the relay path from which the video
`stream flows into the HDMI relay device 1 10 is referred to as
`“upstream side", and the side of the I-I[)MI path on which the
`video stream flows from the HDMI relay device 110 to the TV
`set 101 is referred to as “downstream side”.
`
`It]
`
`3
`a conunand including the physical address after conversion as
`a parameter or information for requiring the other relay
`device to perform conversionol‘the physical address included
`in the parameter together with the command from the sink
`device or source device depending on the determination result
`of the second determination processing.
`FIG. 1 is a view showing the outline of High-Definition
`Multimedia Interface [l-IDMI) systems according to an
`embodiment of the present invention installed in a living
`room and study. respectively. First. an I-IDMI system 100
`installed in a living rootn will he described. The llDMI sys-
`tem 100 includes a TV set 101 which an electronic device that
`
`through an
`receives a terrestrial digital broadcast signal
`antenna and demodulales the signal to display video images
`or receives a video signal from an external device and display
`video images. a relay device 110. a DVD player 111 that
`playbacks data on a medium such as a DVD. and a hard disk
`drive (HDD) recorder 112 that records a broadcast video
`signal and a video signal from art extcnial device and outputs
`the recorded content to an external device.
`The TV set 101 and relay device 110 are connected to each
`other by an l-IDMI cable 121. The relay device 110 and DVD
`player 11] are connected to each other by an llDMl cable
`122. The relay device 110 and I-IDD recorder 112 are con-
`nected to each other via an |-ll)Ml cable. The l-lDMl cable is
`used fortransmission ofa video signal and audio signal which
`is based on an l-IDMI standard. A C EC line for transmitting a
`signal complying with at (713C standard is provided in the
`Ill-3M] cable. The CliC standard is a serial communication
`protocol that can control I-IDMI connected devices via one
`terminal (CEC temrinal} in an HDMI tenninal.
`The TV set 101 checks connection with the respective
`electronic devices connected therewith via the l-IDMI cable
`
`121 at its power-on time. This check is also performed peri-
`odically during normal operation. Transmissionlreception of
`information on connection state is made rising a command
`line in the HDMI cable.
`Next. an l-IDMI system 200 installed in a study will be
`described. The I-IDMI system 200 includes 3 "IV set 201
`which an electronic device that receives a terrestrial digital
`broadcast signal through an antenna and demodulates the
`signal to display video images or receives a video signal from
`an extemal device and display video images. a relay device
`210. a personal computer 211 that playbacks data on a
`medium such as a DVD. records a broadcast video signal and
`a video signal
`from an external device. and outputs the
`recorded content to an external device. The respective devices
`are comtectcd by an [-IDMI cable 221 as illustrated.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a eon~
`figuration of an HDMI system according to the present
`embodiment.
`In this configuration. the living merit and study each have
`one TV set. which is comiected to HDMI devices such as a
`DVD player 111. a DVD recorder 112. and a notebook per-
`sonal computer 211 via an HDMI relay device. Respective
`l-IDM] paths in the living room and study are connected by
`wireless transmission to each other via the IIl)MI relay
`device. Although the respective l IIJMI paths are connected to
`each other by wireless transmission. they may be connected
`by wire.
`WC. 3 is a view for explaining the concepts of “upstream”
`and “downstream” ol‘ the HDMI relay device.
`An I-IDMI video stream has transmission directionality.
`That is. the HDM] video stream flows from the [-IDMI output
`ol‘a source device such as a DVD player to the HDMI input of
`a sink device such as a TV set. likening the flow of the video
`stream to the flow of a river, the side into which the video
`
`20
`
`3t]
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`35
`
`.
`
`FIG. 5 is a view showing the concepts of “upstream side“
`and “downstream side" of the HDMl relay device when the
`HDMI relay apparatus transmits a stream via a relay zone.
`Bidirectional transmission can be implemented over the relay
`path. In the example of FIG. 5. a video stream flows from the
`DVD player 111 to TV set 201 installed in the study. In this
`case. as viewed from the l-IDMI relay device 210. the side of
`the relay path from which the video stream flows into the
`I.) JI
`. HDM] relay device 210 is referred to as “upstream side“. and
`the side of the HDMI path on which the video stream flows
`from the HDMI relay device 210 to the TV set 201 is referred
`to as “downstream side“.
`l-‘IGS. 6A and 613 are vic'tvs for explaining a dillercnee
`between physical addresses in the system configuration
`according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2 which
`is set based on respective TV sets.
`The physical address is represented by the number o l'con-
`nection stages (digit numbers of physical address} from the
`TV set. which is defined using a physical address “0.0.0.0" of
`the TV as a starting point. and a terminal number ol'a terminal
`used for each connection. For example. in the case where the
`physical address ofthe TV in the living room of FIG. 2 is used
`as a starting point. the physical address of the HDMI relay
`device eomlected to an HDMI input 1 of the TV in the living
`room is represented as "1.0.0.0.“ which is obtained by chang-
`ing the first digit from 0 to 1. Similarly. the physical address
`of the DVD recorder connected to an IIDMI input 2 of the
`lll)Ml relay device is represented by “1.2.0.0“ by changing
`the second digit of the physical address of the above HDMI
`relay device from 0 to 2. As described above. the physical
`address is defined based on the physical address “0.0.0.0.“ of
`the TV set. so that in the case where a plurality ol'TV sets are
`connected via the HDMI relay device as shown in FIG. 2_. the
`physical address of the DVD recorder difiers depending on
`whether the TV set in the living room or TV set in the study is
`used as a starting point. That is, the physical address of the
`DVD recorderis “1.2.0.0“ as viewed from the TV in the living
`room. and physical address thereof is “1.2.2.0" as viewed
`from the TV in the study. Thus. in order to correctly perform
`transmission control (path control) ofa video stream from the
`'lV' in the living room or 'IV in the study using the physical
`address. it is necessary to correctly perform address conver-
`sion between the I-IDM'I relay devices.
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the outline of the HDMI
`relay device according to the present embodiment.
`The I-IDMI relay devices 110 and 210 each have an I-IDMI
`input 1. an HDMI input 2. and an HDMI input 3. The HDMI
`input 1 has an address line 301. a command line 311. and the
`like. The HDMI input 2 has an address line 302. a eormnand
`line 312. and the like. The l-ll)Ml input 3 has an address line
`303. a command line 313, and the like.
`
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`

`

`US 8,032.91 I 132
`
`5
`Although three input terminals are provided as the HDMI
`input in FIG. 7. the number oftlte input temtinals may be arty
`suitable number.
`Further, the HDMI relay devices 110 and 210 each have
`extended display identification data (EDID) 32]. an IEDID
`322, an EDID 323. and the like. The address line 301 of the
`HDMI input 1 is connected to the EDID 321. The address line
`302 of tlte HDMI input 2 is connected to the EDID 322. The
`address line 303 of the HDMI inptlt 3 is connected to the
`EDID 323. A physical address that a source device connected
`to the HDMI input 1 uses is described in the EDID 321 to
`EDID 323.
`
`Further. the HDMI relay devices 110 and 210 each have an
`HDMI switch unit 330. an HDMI reception module 331. an
`HDMI transmission module 332. a switch control module
`334. a CEC command control module 335. a cotrnnattd pro-
`cessing module 336. an AVC command control module 337.
`an address management ntodttle 338. a video transmission
`module 339, a wireless transmission media access colttrol
`(MAC) unit 340. a wireless transmission physical (PI IY) unit
`341, and the like.
`The HDM] switch unit 330 selects one video stream front
`those input via the HDMI input terminals 1 to 3 and transmits
`the selected video stream to the HDMI reception module 331.
`The HDMI reception module 331 executes reception process-
`ing for the transmitted video stream and then transmits the
`resultant signal to the video transmission module 339. The
`processing performed by the HDMI reception module 331
`includes. c.g.. decoding of an encrypted video stream and
`acquisition of meta-data front a video stream.
`The video transmission module 339 transmits the received
`
`signal to the wireless transmission MAC unit 340 or HDMI
`transmission module 332. The wireless transmission MAC
`
`ll]
`
`21']
`
`I.) .1:
`.
`
`3t]
`
`unit 340 determines the transmission tinting and transmission
`order of packets transmitted from the wireless transmission
`PHY unit 341 . The wireless transmission PHY unit 341 trans—
`
`35
`
`mits packets according to the transmission tinting and trans-
`mission order detemtined by the wireless transmission MAC
`unit 340 to the connection destination I-IDMI relay device. A
`video stream transmitted from the connection destination
`
`HDMI relay device is received by the wireless transmission
`PI lY tutit 341 and wireless transmission MAC unit 340 and is
`then transmitted to the HDMI transmission module 332 via
`the video transmission module.
`
`Physical address ittfomtation acquired from a down-
`stream-side device via the address line of the HDMI output is
`received by the address management module 338 via the
`HDMI transmission module 332 and is subjected to address
`processing so as to be set in each of the EDIDs 1 to 3. The
`address management module 338 sets the terminal num ber of
`the connection between the HDMI relay devices to “number
`of HDMI input terminals+l".
`A concrete example of the address processing is described
`in detail itt I-IDMI Specification 1.3a (“I-Iigh-Deftnition Mul-
`timedia Interface Specification Version 1.3a" Hitachi. Ltd .f
`Matsushita lilectric Industrial Co, LthFhilips Customer
`lilectronics, International BN’JSilicort Image. lncJSony Cor-
`porationr'lhomson Incfl‘oshiba Corporation Nov. 10, 2006).
`A CEC command received front the HDMI inputs 1 to 3 or
`HDMI output is transmitted to the CEC command control
`module 335 via the command lilies 311 to 314.The content of
`
`the CEC command is passed to the command processing
`module 336 wltere appropriate processing is perforated.
`A command received via the wireless transmission PHY
`
`unit 341 and wireless transmission MAC unit 340 is passed to
`the command processing module 336 via the AVG command
`control module 337. The command processing module 336
`
`5th
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`55
`
`6
`performs appropriate processing according to the content of
`the oonuttand received via the CEC command control module
`
`335 or AVC command control module 337. For example. the
`command processing module 336 issues art instruction to the
`address management module 338 or switch unit 330 or per-
`forms command transmission via the (,‘l'iC command control
`module 335 or cotnmand control module 337.
`
`Although the wireless transmission MAC unit 340 and
`wireless transmission PI-IY unit 341 are provided in this con-
`figuration. they ntay be replaced by another connection sec-
`tion such as a wired transmission section.
`FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a notification method of the
`physical address oftlte HDMI relay device according to the
`present embodiment. A case will be described here where the
`HDMI system 200 in the study is put into operation while the
`HDMI system 100 it) the living roont is in operation.
`The address management module 338 ofthe HDMI relay
`device 210 acquires its own physical address front the EDID
`of the downstream-side TV set 201 via the HDMI cable (step
`811). In the present embodiment. the address management
`module 338 ofthe HDMI relay device 210 acquires “I .000"
`as its own physical address.
`The address management module 338 of the HDMI relay
`device 210 then assigns the temtinal number of the relay path
`to the digit subsequent to the effective range of the acquired
`physical address to generate the physical address of tlte con-
`nection destination HDMI relay device 110 (step 812 }. In the
`present embodiment. the lirst digit is the eflective range. so
`Lhat the address management module 338 of the IIDMI relay
`device 210 assigns the terminal number of tlte relay path to
`tlte second digit to generate “1.2.0.0.“ as the physical address
`ofthe connection destination I-IDMI relay device.
`The address management module 338 ofthe HDMI relay
`device 210 notifies the HDMI relay device 110 of the getter-
`ated physical address “1.2.0.0” (step 813).
`Similarly. the address management module 338 of the
`HDMI
`relay device 110 generates the physical address
`“1.3.0.0" of the HDMI relay device 210 from the physical
`address ” 1 11.0.0“ that has already been assigned and notifies
`tlte HDMI relay device 210 ofthe generated physical address.
`FIG. 9 is a view sltowing a transmission method of address
`information employed for physical address conversion per-
`formed in the address management module of the HDMI
`relay device.
`The address management module 338 of the HDMI relay
`device 110 notifies the HDMI relay device 210 ofthe physical
`address of the HDMI relay device 210 which is set based on
`the physical address of the TV" set 101. Concretely.
`the
`address management module 338 of the HDMI relay device
`110 replaces the second digit ofthe physical address “1 0.0.0"
`of the HDMI relay device 110 with “3 according to the
`physical address setting rttle to generate a physical address
`“1.3.0.0" as the physical address of tlte HDMI relay device
`210 as viewed front the TV set 101 and notifies the HDMI
`
`relay device 210 ofthe generated physical address.
`Similarly.
`the address management module 338 of the
`l 11')Ml relay dc rice 210 notifies the HDMI rClay device 1 10 of
`the physical address ofthe [llJMl relay device 110 which is
`set based on the physical address of the TV set 201. When the
`HDMI relay device 110 is viewed from the HDMI relay
`device 210.
`the terminal number “2" of the connection
`
`between the HDMI relay devices is calculated according to
`the setting rule, so that the address management ntodtlle 338
`of the HDMI relay device 210 replaces the second digit ofthe
`pltysical address “1.0.0.0"ofthe HDMI relay device 210 with
`“2" to generate a physical addresa “1.2.0.0“ as the physical
`address of tlte I-IDMI relay device 110 as viewed front the
`
`

`

`US 8,032.91 I 132
`
`8
`tion physical address based on a sink device on the same
`l-lDMl path as the command transfer destination HDMI relay
`device (step S25}. The address management module 338 of
`the trzmsmission-side HDMl relay device invokes an address
`conversion processing routine and executes the address con-
`version processing (stcp 826).
`When the address management module 338 of the trans-
`mission-side HDMI relay device detennines that the device
`corresponding to the transmission source physical address is
`not located on the same HDMI path (NO in step 523). it adds
`information for requiring address conversion to the command
`to be transferred to the l-Il')Ml relay device 211} (step $29]. in
`the present embodiment. an address conversion request flag is
`provided in a header for transmitting the command. and the
`address conversion request flag is enabled.
`After completion o t'the processing ot'step S26 or $29, the
`address management module 338 of the transmission-side
`HDMI relay device determines whether the physical address
`after conversion is not “i’.l3.F.F" (step 527). “REEF” repre-
`sents an invalid address. When the address management mod—
`ule 338 of the transmissionnside HDMT relay device deter-
`mines that
`the physical address after conversion is not
`“F.F.F.F" (YES in step 827). it transfers the CBC command to
`the connection destination H [1M] relay apparatus (step 328).
`When the address management module 338 of the transmis-
`sionvside H