(12) United States Patent
`Na et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,162,145 B2
`Jan. 9, 2007
`
`USOO7162145B2
`
`(54) MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM FOR
`TRANSFERRING AND RECEIVING
`PROGRAMINUMBER AND METHODS
`THEREFOR
`
`(75) Inventors: Il-ju Na, Suwon (KR); Jeong-tae Kim,
`Suwon (KR)
`(73) Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.,
`Kyungki-do (KR)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 154 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 08/939,442
`
`(22) Filed:
`(65)
`
`Sep. 29, 1997
`O
`O
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2001/0O2878O A1
`Oct. 11, 2001
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`Anr. 14. 1997 (KR) ................................... 97-13586
`pr. 14,
`(KR)
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04N 5/91
`(52) U.S. Cl. .........r irrir. 386/83: 386/125
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................... 386/1,
`386/39, 35, 45-46, 98, 83, 125-126, 4,38,
`386/52, 53, 64, 95, 117: 348/7, 12,423.1,
`348/75, 69, 83,552, 726, 14.01, 14. 229.1,
`348/231, 220.1, 221, 221.1, 223.1; 2.2.
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5.488.409 A *
`1/1996 Yuen et al. ................... 386/83
`5,657.414 A * 8/1997 Lett et al. ..................... 386/83
`
`(56)
`
`5,742,730 A * 4/1998 Couts et al. .................. 386,69
`5,787,259 A * 7/1998 Haroun et al. ....
`... 348,552
`5,838,876 A * 11/1998 Iwamura - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`... 386,125
`5,899,578 A * 5/1999 Yanagihara et al. .......... 386.75
`5,909,257 A * 6/1999 Ohishi et al. .........
`... 348,726
`5,940,600 A * 8/1999 Staats et al. ................ 71Of 107
`5,966.385 A * 10/1999 Fujii et al. ........
`... 348/423.1
`6,038,368 A * 3/2000 Boetje et al. ................. 386,52
`6,097,878 A * 8/2000 Saib .......
`... 386/83
`6,305,018 B1 * 10/2001 Usui et al. .................... 725/39
`6,430,359 B1* 8/2002 Yuen et al. ................... 386.83
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`
`2, 1994
`O 582 343 A
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Adam J. Kunzman et al., “1394 High Performance Serial Bus: The
`Digital Interface for ATV”, IEEE Transactions on Consumer Elec
`tronics, vol. 41, No. 3, Aug. 1995, pp. 893-900.
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner James J. Groody
`Assistant Examiner Christopher Onuaku
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Sughrue Mion, PLLC
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`In a multi-media system for transferring and receiving a
`transport stream (MPEG2-TS) between a receiver and a
`recording/reproducing device using the IEEE 1394 inter
`face, a program number command of a selected program is
`transferred from the receiver to the recording/reproducing
`device during a recording/playback mode, and the recording
`and playback are controlled by only one input device for the
`receiver. Therefore, other devices of the multi-media system
`can be
`tled without extra RS, added &S
`receiver. Further, an on-screen graphic
`1S prov1ded by
`the receiver, resulting in a consistent OSG.
`
`38 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`ATV(1 OO)
`
`HD-VCR(2OO) --
`
`
`ISOCHRONOUSCAA FLOW
`322222a2zazaaza2
`111
`11 O
`OO
`PHYSICAL22PHYSICAL
`LAYER 1
`*1 LAYER
`
`LINK
`LAYER
`
`E.
`SE/
`REMOVE
`
`LINK
`109E
`SE/ LAYER
`REMOVE
`
`INPUT PROGRAM
`NUMBER
`FROM
`REMOTE
`CONTROLLER 12O
`
`ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
`-3
`2
`HD-WCR
`ATW MCROCOMPUTER
`MICROCOMPUTER
`
`ASNSE'S
`(PROGRAM
`NUMBER)
`|
`
`2O3
`
`TRANSPORT STREAM
`DEMULTIPLEXER
`
`
`
`TO DISPLAY
`
`GENERATOR
`
`104
`
`108
`
`TO SPEAKER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FROM
`RECORDING
`MEDIUM
`
`PROGRAM
`NUMBER
`
`Comcast, Ex. 1110
`
`1
`
`

`

`US 7,162,145 B2
`Page 2
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`
`O 701 367
`O 726. 574
`0 735 776
`O 749 244
`O 783 332
`O 784 401
`O 749 244
`
`3, 1996
`8, 1996
`10, 1996
`12/1996
`7/1997
`7/1997
`12/1999
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Bloks, R.H.J., “The IEEE-1394 high speed serial bus” Philips
`Journal of Research, Elsevier, Amsterdam, NL, vol. 50, No. 1, 1996,
`pp. 209-216, XP004008212.
`Kunzman, A. et al., “1394 High Performance Serial Bus: The
`Digital Interface for ATV”, IEEE Transactions on Consumer Elec
`tronics, vol. 41, No. 3, Aug. 1995, pp. 893-900, XP000539552.
`* cited by examiner
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 9, 2007
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`US 7,162,145 B2
`
`FIG 1
`
`1 O
`
`(Recording)
`Multi-Progrom MPEG2-TS
`
`2O
`
`
`
`3O
`Single-Progrom MPEG2-TS Egan
`(Poybock)
`Urm Oer
`21
`
`FIG 2
`
`
`
`1 OO
`
`(Recording)
`Multi-Progrom MPEG2-TS
`
`2OO
`
`Progrom
`Number
`
`
`
`3OO
`120 Single-Progrom MPEG2-TS
`(PIdybock)
`
`CCC
`CE
`
`co in:
`U-2
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 9, 2007
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`US 7,162,145 B2
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 9, 2007
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 7,162,145 B2
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`Control Commond/Support Induiry Common
`
`Notify C7Single Program Number OO
`Multi Progrom Number 10
`
`OPC
`
`(Some os commond)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`100
`10
`
`
`
`Attribute
`Single Prodrom Number
`Multiple Prodrom Number
`
`OPR
`OPR1
`
`Code
`Description
`OO
`Sinole Prodrom Number
`Program Number Upper Byte XX
`XX
`ProQrom Number Lower Bvte
`
`OPR1
`
`
`
`OPR5
`
`Prodrom Number 2 Upper Byte
`Proorom Number 2 Lower Byte
`
`
`
`
`
`5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 9, 2007
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 7,162,145 B2
`
`FIG 5
`
`
`
`Stotus Inquiry Commond
`
`Response
`
`Query C8Single Proqrom Number
`Multi Program Number 1 O
`
`Query C8 Single Proqrom Number
`Multi Proqrom Number
`
`tron Smitted first
`
`FIG 6
`
`operand 1
`
`e
`
`operond2
`
`operand 3
`
`operond 4
`
`
`
`
`
`operandni
`
`m - - - - m - - - - - - - - - - - - - -m -- - - - - - - - - - -
`
`zero pod bytes (if necessory)
`tron Smitted Ost
`
`6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 9, 2007
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 7,162,145 B2
`
`FIG 7A
`
`O
`
`CONTROL
`
`FIG 7B
`
`FIG 7C
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`8
`9
`
`D6
`
`O
`1 - 5
`
`6
`7
`7
`8
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Reserved for response codes
`
`NOT IMPLEMENTED
`ACCEPTED
`REUECTE
`
`CHANGED
`Reserved for future specification
`INTERM
`
`
`
`
`
`Video monitor
`Reserved for future specificotion
`Video COssette recorder (VCR
`TV tuner
`Reserved for future specification
`Video comera
`
`7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 9, 2007
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`US 7,162,145 B2
`
`Controller
`(ATV)
`
`FIG 8
`
`Commond Frome
`
`Support induiry Commond
`
`Notify Single Program No.
`
`Response Frome
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OOOO2
`
`implemented
`
`Notify Single Progrom No.
`
`Commond Frome
`
`Control Commond
`
`Notify Single Progrom No.
`"ABCD"(HEX)
`
`Response Frame
`
`Accepted
`
`Notify Single Progrom Nd.
`"ABCD"(HEX)
`
`8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 9, 2007
`
`Sheet 7 Of 7
`
`US 7,162,145 B2
`
`FIG 9
`
`Controller
`(ATV)
`
`Commond Frome
`
`
`
`CT/RC
`
`Haasr-ress
`
`Support induiry Commond
`
`inquiry Single Progrom ND.
`
`Response Frome
`
`Implemented
`
`Inquiry Single Progrom Nip.
`
`Commond Frome
`
`Contro Commond
`
`Inquiry Single Progrom Nb.
`
`
`
`
`
`Response Frome
`
`1 OO 12 OO 1 OO2 000
`
`cale
`
`ABCD16
`
`Accepted
`
`Inquiry Single Progrom Nip.
`"ABCD"(HEX)
`
`9
`
`

`

`US 7,162,145 B2
`
`1.
`MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM FOR
`TRANSFERRING AND RECEIVING
`PROGRAMINUMBER AND METHODS
`THEREFOR
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`Transaction Set for Digital Interface', A/V data transferred
`from an ATV 10 to HD-VCR 20 which are connected by an
`IEEE 1394 cable 30 during a recording mode, is a multi
`program MPEG2-TS, and data transferred from the HD
`VCR 20 to the ATV 10 during a playback mode is a single
`program MPEG2-TS. Here, the term ATV refers to the
`American high definition television (HDTV) suggested by
`the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC). Also,
`the AV/C CTS suggested in the Blue Book defines control
`commands with respect to VCR sub-devices, most of which
`relate to mechanical operation.
`For example, commands from a remote controller 11 for
`the ATV 10, such as fast-forward and rewind, can be
`transferred to the HD-VCR 20 via the IEEE 1394 serial bus.
`However, control commands to the VCR sub-devices do not
`include commands for transferring information related to an
`MPEG2 system layer, e.g., program number.
`Thus, the MPEG2-TS is transferred from the ATV 10 to
`the HD-VCR 20 during the recording mode. Here, the
`HD-VCR 20 should receive information required for parsing
`the MPEG2-TS being transferred from the ATV 10, from a
`user using a remote controller 21 for HD-VCR 20.
`Also, the recorded single program MPEG2-TS is trans
`ferred from the HD-VCR 20 to the ATV 10 during the
`playback mode. Here, a program number recorded in a video
`auxiliary (VAUX) region should be transferred from the
`HD-VCR 20 to the ATV. Additionally, it is prescribed in the
`Blue Book to record the program number in the VAUX
`region of a tape.
`However, the multi-media system of FIG. 1 requires a
`separate remote controller for each device connected to the
`ATV. That is, when a plurality of devices, being capable of
`recording/reproducing a received signal, are connected to
`the ATV, there is an inconvenience in that an operational
`command should be input to each recording/reproducing
`device by the user, using a different remote controller for
`each device.
`Also, when selecting a program by parsing a program
`guide information (PG) for the MPEG2-TS in the multi
`media system shown in FIG. 1, the HD-VCR 20 should first
`parse the program guide information in the multi-program
`MPEG2-TS transferred from the ATV. In order to display the
`parsed program guide information on an on-screen graphic
`(OSG) display, the OSG of the program guide information
`is transferred to the ATV 10 by being MPEG2-TS encoded
`since there is no OSG transfer standard in the IEEE 1394.
`Then, a user can input a program number corresponding to
`an intended program, using an up/down key of the remote
`controller 21 for the HD-VCR while viewing the OSG
`displayed on the ATV 10. Thus, this multi-media system
`requires an extra encoding circuit in the HD-VCR 20, for the
`MPEG2-TS encoding of the OSG, and the ability to parse
`the program guide information from MPEG2-TS in order to
`constitute the OSG. Also, the generation of the OSG is
`dependent on the VCR manufacturer, so it is difficult to
`provide the same OSG consistently. Although the ATV
`parses the program guide information in transferred
`MPEG2-TS and displays the parsed program guide infor
`mation on an OSG display, and a user inputs a program
`number using the remote controller 11 for the ATV, the
`program number can not be transferred to the HD-VCR 20,
`since no command is defined for transferring the program
`number to the HD-VCR 20.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`The present invention relates to a digital audio/video
`(A/V) apparatus, and more particularly, to a multi-media
`system in which a plurality of digital A/V devices are
`connected each other via a digital interface.
`In a digital A/V apparatus, a device can be controlled by
`other devices, which could not beachieved in a conventional
`analog A/V apparatus. As an example, the High-Definition
`Digital Video Cassette Recorder (HD-DVCR) Conference
`defines a command set which is called AV/C CTS (Audio/
`Video Control Command and Transaction Set) so that an
`operation command from a remote controller is transferred
`to a target control device (called “local device') via the
`IEEE 1394 serial bus. Here, the IEEE 1394 serial bus is a
`standard related to the high-speed data transfer, which is
`defined by the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers
`(IEEE). The IEEE 1394 serial bus is used as an interface for
`connecting each device of a digital multi-media system,
`having an isochronous transfer mode and an asynchronous
`transfer mode. Here, A/V data is transferred in real time
`using the isochronous transfer mode, and transactions
`required for communication, including read, write and lock,
`are transferred in an asynchronous pattern using the asyn
`chronous transfer mode. Also, control commands such as
`AV/C CTS are transferred in an asynchronous pattern using
`the asynchronous transfer mode.
`However, the contents defined by AV/C CTS include
`commands relating to a direct/indirect users input button,
`but commands relating to all operations are not completed
`yet, and are still being updated. Furthermore, commands
`related to the transfer of information which is not noticed by
`a user, or the notice of which is not necessary, are not yet
`provided. Thus, it is difficult to achieve a single common
`remote control for all devices.
`40
`On the other hand, according to the articles entitled
`“Specification of Consumer-Use Digital VCRs using 6.3 mm
`magnetic tapes-Part 8: ATV Specifications of Consumer-Use
`Digital VCR and “Specification of Digital Interface for
`Consumer Electronic Audio/Video Equipment-Parts 1 & 4,
`which are published by the HD-DVCR Conference, it is
`prescribed that an advanced television (ATV) signal having
`MPEG2-TS (Moving Picture Experts Group 2-Transport
`Stream) which is transferred using the IEEE 1394 can be
`recorded by an HD-VCR using 6.3 mm magnetic tape. In
`particular, it is prescribed to transfer the MPEG2-TS using
`the isochronous transfer mode of the IEEE 1394 while
`having a common format, i.e., common isochronous packet
`(CIP) header structure as in the case of a digital video
`cassette (DVC) called a camcoder. Here, the AV/C CTS is
`adopted as a control command. Also, the MPEG2 is roughly
`classified into one of three: MPEG2-system, MPEG2-video
`and MPEG2-audio. A transport stream (TS) and a program
`stream (PS) are defined as a transfer standard in the MPEG2
`system.
`60
`FIG. 1 shows a typical example of data transfer between
`the ATV and HD-VCR. According to the definition by 1
`“Blue Book”, published by the HD-DVCR Conference,
`including articles entitled “Specification of Consumer-Use
`Digital VCRs using 6.3 mm magnetic tapes", "Specification
`of Digital Interface for Consumer Electronic Audio/Video
`Equipment', and “Specifications of A/C Command and
`
`50
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`10
`
`

`

`3
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`US 7,162,145 B2
`
`4
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present
`invention to provide a multi-media system for transferring a
`program number between a plurality of digital A/V devices
`having a digital interface, in an asynchronous transfer mode,
`where the multi-media system is universally controlled by a
`single remote controller.
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`multi-media system for receiving a program number
`between a plurality of digital A/V devices having a digital
`interface, in an asynchronous transfer mode.
`It is still another object of the present invention to provide
`a multi-media system in which a receiver, for receiving an
`MPEG2-TS, parses program guide information of the
`MPEG2-TS, displays the parsed information on an on
`screen graphic (OSG) display, and then transfers a command
`with respect to the input program number to a recording/
`reproducing device.
`It is still yet another object of the present invention to
`provide a method for transferring a program number during
`a recording mode, using an asynchronous transfer mode, in
`the MPEG2-TS transfer between a plurality of digital A/V
`apparatuses having a digital interface.
`It is further object of the present invention to provide a
`method for receiving a program number during a playback
`30
`mode, using an asynchronous transfer mode, in the MPEG2
`TS transfer between a plurality of digital A/V apparatuses
`having a digital interface.
`To achieve the above objects, there is provided a multi
`media system comprising an input device for inputting one
`or more program numbers of intended programs; a receiver
`having a first digital interface, for making the program
`number into a command, and for transferring the command
`in an asynchronous transfer mode via the first digital inter
`face; and a recording/reproducing device having a second
`digital interface, for decoding the command transferred from
`the receiver, and for recording/reproducing a transport
`stream being received, corresponding to the program num
`ber obtained by decoding the received command.
`45
`Here, the receiver may include an OSG generator for
`generating the program guide information of the received
`transport stream on the OSG display.
`Further, there is provided a method for transferring and
`receiving a program number between a receiver with a
`digital interface for receiving a transport stream and a
`recording/reproducing device with a digital interface for
`recording/reproducing the transport stream on/from a
`recording medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a)
`providing a program number of an intended program to be
`recorded; and (b) making into a command corresponding to
`the program number input so as to transfer the program
`number command, from the receiver to the recording/repro
`ducing device. Here, the method may further comprises the
`steps of (c) transferring a command for inquiring as to
`whether to permit the transfer of the program number of the
`program recorded in the recording medium, from the
`receiver to the recording/reproducing device, during a play
`back mode; and (d) receiving the program number of the
`program recorded in the recording medium, from the record
`ing/reproducing device.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`The above objects and advantages of the present invention
`will become more apparent by describing in detail a pre
`ferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached
`drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional method for
`MPEG2-TS transfer between an ATV and an HD-VCR:
`FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for MPEG2-TS
`transfer between an ATV and an HD-VCR according to the
`present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a multi-media system for
`transferring and receiving a program number, according to a
`preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`FIGS. 4A through 4D show formats of an MPEG2 infor
`mation notify command for transferring a program number,
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 5 shows the format of an MPEG2 information
`inquiry command for receiving a program number, accord
`ing to the present invention;
`FIG. 6 shows the format of the commands of a command
`frame and a response frame, according to the AV/C CTS
`specification, for easy understanding of the present inven
`tion;
`FIGS. 7A through 7C are tables respectively defining a
`command type, a response code and a subunit address
`according to the AV/C CTS specification, for constituting the
`command frame and the response frame shown in FIG. 6;
`FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of transferring a
`program number of a single program during a recording
`mode; and
`FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of receiving a
`program number of a single program during a playback
`mode.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`For convenience of explanation, an advanced television
`(ATV) will be described as an example of an MPEG2-TS
`broadcasting signal receiver, and a high definition videocas
`sette recorder (HD-VCR) will be described as an example of
`an MPEG2-TS recording/reproducing device. However, any
`apparatus having a digital interface capable of transferring/
`receiving an MPEG2-TS, can replace the ATV, and any
`MPEG-2-TS recording/reproducing device can replace the
`HD-VCR, for the purposes described below.
`Furthermore, in order to simplify the structure of the
`multi-media system shown in FIG. 2, only an HD-VCR 200
`and an ATV 100 are connected by an IEEE 1394 cable 300.
`However, other digital audio/video devices may be con
`nected to the ATV 100 and/or the HD-VCR 200 by the IEEE
`1394 cable 300. In the multi-media system of FIG. 2, one
`remote controller 120 for the ATV (ATV-remote controller)
`is used. During a recording mode, a multi-program MPEG2
`TS is transferred from the ATV 100 to the HD-VCR 200.
`During a playback mode, a single program MPEG2-TS is
`transferred from the HD-VCR 200 to the ATV 100.
`However, a single program MPEG2-TS may be trans
`ferred from the ATV 100 to the HD-VCR 200 during the
`recording mode, and from the HD-VCR 200 to the ATV 100
`during the playback mode. Also, a multi-program MPEG2
`TS may be transferred from the ATV 100 to the HD-VCR
`200 during the recording mode, and from the HD-VCR 200
`to the ATV 100 during the playback mode.
`According to the present invention, one or more program
`numbers provided by the ATV-remote controller 120 are
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`transferred as a command during the IEEE 1394 asynchro
`nous transfer mode, and the program number recorded on a
`tape is transferred from the HD-VCR 200 to the ATV 100
`during the playback of the MPEG2-TS, such that the HD
`VCR 200 is controlled by the ATV 100. To achieve this, a
`new command for transferring a program number should be
`added to the AV/C CTS, and the new command is transferred
`from the ATV 100 and the HD-VCR 200 using the asyn
`chronous transfer mode of the IEEE 1394.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a multi-media system for
`transferring a program number between the ATV 100 and the
`HD-VCR 200. In FIG. 3, a tuner 101 selects the frequency
`band of an intended program from the multi-program
`MPEG2-TS received via an antenna. A channel decoder 102
`extracts the intended multi-program MPEG2-TS after
`removing an error correction code from the received signal.
`The multi-program MPEG2-TS extracted from the channel
`decoder 102 is provided to a transport stream demultiplexer
`103 during a display mode, and to an extra header inserter/
`remover 109 during a transfer mode. Here, the MPEG2-TS
`corresponds to an MPEG2-system layer.
`Here, the MPEG2 system layer will be described briefly
`for easy understanding of the present invention. One pro
`gram consists of video information, audio information and
`user data information. According to the MPEG2-TS defined
`by the MPEG2 system layer, video data information, audio
`data information and user data information corresponding to
`a plurality of programs are time-division multiplexed into
`one stream. The MPEG2-TS includes program specific
`information (PSI) such that a receiver can properly parse the
`audio data information, video data information and user data
`information corresponding to an intended program during
`demultiplexing.
`Most of the PSI is in table form, such as the program
`association table (PAT), program map table (PMT) and
`conditional access table (CAT). Here, the PAT and PMT are
`important. One PMT exists per program. In the PMT, packet
`identification numbers (PIDs) with respect to transport
`stream packets including a video stream and an audio stream
`of the corresponding program, are summarized by item.
`Here, the video stream of the program is represented by
`PID=XXXX, and the audio stream thereof is represented by
`PID=YYYY. The lengths of the transport stream packets are
`fixed at 188 bytes.
`Since a plurality of programs exist in one transport stream
`(TS), a plurality of PMTs exist in the TS. Thus, a synthetic
`table is required, for connecting each program of the TS with
`the PMT PIDs of each program. This synthetic table is called
`the "PAT. Since one program is expressed as one program
`number, items of the PAT are constituted of information
`giving the relationship between the program number
`(=XXXX) and the PMT PID.
`On the other hand, a transport stream demultiplexer 103
`parses the PAT and PMT of the multi-program MPEG2-TS
`of a channel selected by the channel decoder 102. The
`transport stream demultiplexer 103 then extracts a video PID
`(V PID) and an audio PID (A PID) from the parsed PMT,
`to separate a video stream and an audio stream according to
`the video PID and the audio PID. The video and audio
`streams are provided to a video decoder 104 and an audio
`decoder 105, respectively. Further, the transport stream
`demultiplexer 103 parses program guide information of the
`multi-program MPEG2-TS of the channel selected by the
`channel decoder 102, and provides the parsed information to
`an ATV microcomputer 106.
`The video decoder 104 decodes the separated video
`stream and displays the decoded image signal on a display
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`(not shown). The audio decoder 105 decodes the audio
`stream and provides the decoded Sound signal to a Sound
`output device (not shown) such as a speaker.
`An on-screen graphic (OSG) generator 108 mixes the
`program guide information with a graphic signal used as a
`background screen, generated by a graphic source 107, or
`with the image signal decoded by the video decoder 104,
`under the control of the ATV microcomputer 106, to display
`the result on a display (not shown). Here, a user inputs one
`or a plurality of program numbers of intended programs
`using the ATV-remote controller 120. The OSG is repro
`duced by the ATV 100, and the same OSG is provided,
`regardless of the manufacturers of the connected apparatus.
`Also, it is unnecessary for an HD-VCR signal processor 205
`of the HD-VCR 200 to parse the program guide information
`existing in MPEG2-TS.
`Here, the transport stream demultiplexer 103, the video
`decoder 104, the audio decoder 105, the graphic source 107
`and the OSG generator 108 may be called an “ATV signal
`processor.” Also, an on-screen display (OSD) generator for
`generating the program guide information for an OSD may
`be included instead of the OSG generator 108.
`On the other hand, a transaction layer, an IEEE 1394 serial
`bus management layer, a link layer 110 and a physical layer
`111, which are various layer of the IEEE 1394 protocol, may
`be called as a digital interface for the ATV. Here, the
`transaction layer and the IEEE 1394 serial bus management
`layer are installed in the ATV microcomputer 106 as soft
`Wae.
`The HD-VCR 200 comprises a digital interface including
`a physical layer 201, a link layer 202, a transaction layer and
`an IEEE 1394 serial bus management layer, an HD-VCR
`microcomputer 203, an extra header inserter/remover 204
`and an HD-VCR signal processor 205. Here, the transaction
`layer and the IEEE 1394 serial bus management layer are
`installed in the HD-VCR microcomputer 103 as software.
`Next, the MPEG2-TS transfer during the isochronous
`transfer mode, and the transfer and reception of the program
`number during the asynchronous transfer mode, via the
`IEEE 1394 serial bus, will be described.
`(I) MPEG2-TS Transfer
`The transfer of the MPEG2-TS from the ATV 100 to the
`HD-VCR 200 during the recording mode will be described
`as an example. During the playback mode, the transfer of the
`MPEG2 is performed reversed. In order to transfer the
`188-byte multi-program MPEG2-TS packets output from
`the channel decoder 102 via the IEEE 1394 interface, the
`extra header inserter/remover 109 inserts a time stamp,
`divides each TS packet having the time stamp into block
`units of a predetermined size (24 bytes), and adds a CIP
`header to each block, thereby constituting a data block
`packet for the IEEE 1394 transfer. The link layer 110 adds
`an isochronous header to the data block packet including the
`CIP header for the IEEE 1394 transfer, output from the extra
`header inserter/remover 109 to make the data block packet
`into an isochronous packet. The link layer 110 then converts
`the isochronous packet into a serial signal. The physical
`layer 111 converts the serial signal into an electrical signal.
`The electrical signal is input to the physical layer 201 of
`the digital interface of the HD-VCR, via the IEEE 1394
`cable 300. The physical layer 201 converts the electrical
`signal into digital data. The link layer 202 converts the
`digital data into parallel data of a 1-byte unit and then
`removes the isochronous header. The extra header inserter/
`remover 204 removes the extra header (CIP header), and
`makes the data into a TS packet to be provided to the
`HD-VCR signal processor 205. For selecting a single pro
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`gram, the HD-VCR signal processor 205 parses the PAT
`from the multi-program MPEG2-TS processed into trans
`port packets, and parses the PMT PID based on the parsed
`PAT using the asynchronously transferred program number.
`That is, since the PAT PID is set to “0”, the PAT is extracted
`by checking whether the PAT PID is equal to “0” or not.
`Also, all packets of an intended program are extracted by
`extracting the A PID and the V PID from the PMT PID to
`be recorded on a tape. Here, the HD-VCR signal processor
`205 performs signal processing for reproduction as well.
`For the above operation by the HD-VCR signal processor
`205, the program information (program number) selected by
`a user must be transferred from the ATV-remote controller
`120 to the ATV-microprocessor 106, and then to the HD
`VCR 200. Since the program number is transferred once
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`after the recording mode is set, the program number is
`transferred as an asynchronous packet together with a
`recording start command. According to the current specifi
`cation proposed by the HD-VCR Conference, a command
`capable of transferring a program number is not defined.
`Thus, the present invention is intended to transfer the
`program number by adding a command for transferring the
`program number thereto. Also, the program specific infor
`mation (PSI) excluding the program number, e.g., PMTPID,
`V PID, A PID and other information, can be transferred.
`This command is required for controlling the A/V apparatus
`as well as the AV/C CTS.
`The addition of the program number transferring com
`mand is meaningful more than decreasing the number of
`remote controllers for each apparatus in the multi-media
`system. That is, even though it is not shown in the embodi
`ment of the present invention, it means that the HD-VCR
`200 can connect to various types of external apparatuses or
`a network. That is, the HD-VCR 200 can accept a program
`number input from an external network Such as the Internet,
`as it does a program number transferred from the ATV 100,
`so that the control by the network is possible. For example,
`Suppose that the Internet includes a home page providing
`program guide information managed by a broadcasting
`station, and an ATV capable of web browsing exists at home.
`If a user selects a program by connecting to the home page,
`the corresponding program number would be transferred to
`the ATV of the user and then to the HD-VCR.
`(II) Transfer and Reception of Program Number
`A command for transferring a program number, proposed
`by the present invention, is transferred as an asynchronous
`packet using the asynchronous transfer mode. Here, the flow
`of the asynchronous transfer relates to a microcomputer.
`The command for transferring a program number is
`implemented using the IEEE 1394 read and write transac
`tions, wherein the write and read transactions are performed
`in a transaction layer which is implemented by Software in
`the ATV microcomputer 106. The ATV microcomputer 106
`also implements the contents related to the management of
`a serial bus and an application program, as well as the
`transaction layer, by Software.
`The link layer 110 adds an asynchronous header to a
`program number command in order to transfer the program
`number command as an asynchronous packet from the ATV
`microcomputer 106 according to the AV/C CTS specifica
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`tion, and converts the command having the asynchronous
`header into serial data. The physical layer 111 converts the
`serial data into an electrical signal to be provided via the
`IEEE 1394 cable 300.
`The physical layer 201 as an HD-VCR digital interface
`converts the electrical signal into digital data. The link layer
`202 converts the digital data into parallel data of a 1-byte
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`unit, removes the asynchronous header, and then outputs the
`result to the HD-VCR microcomputer 203. The HD-VCR
`microcomputer 203 recognizes the program number com
`mand and writes the program number in a VAUX region of
`the tape during a recording mode, and it reads out the
`program number recorded in the VAUX region during a
`playback mode to transfer the program number to the ATV
`100 via the digital interface of the HD-VCR.
`Next, a control command for the program number gen
`erated according to the AV/C CTS specification