US 8,032,911 B2
`(10) Patent No:
`a2) United States Patent
`Ohkita
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`
`US008032911B2
`
`(75)
`
`(54) RELAY DEVICE AND RELAY METHOD
`.
`Inventor: Hideki Ohkita, Kunitachi (JP)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`H10-200583 A
`7/1998
`Jp
`2004-274608 A
`9/2004
`IP
`2008-034976
`2/2008
`JP
`2008-035 190
`2/2008
`Jp
`(73) Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Tokyo (JP)
`2008-153826 A
`7/2008
`JP
`2008-153974 A
`7/2008
`JP
`*
`an er er
`;.
`3008153074 A *
`7/2008
`IP
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`wo 2005/006740 Al
`1/2005
`Wo
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35°
`
`
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 65 days. WO 2007/136038 Al—11/2007WO
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/463,928
`
`Filed:
`
`May11, 2009
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2009/0288130.A1
`Nov. 19, 2009
`
`(22)
`(65)
`
`(30)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“High-Definition Multimedia Interface Specification’, Jun. 22, 2006,
`Version 1.3, pp. 123-125."
`Explanation ofNon-English Language Reference(s).
`rheriteeh by exanaios
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`.
`
`Primary Examiner — William Trost, IV
`Assistant Examiner — Omar 8 Parra
`
`May 13/2008
`
`(CIP) sscescssrssiascsrenssannsee 2008-126081
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firn — Knobbe, Martens, Olson &
`Bear LLP
`
`(51)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H74N 7/18
`(2006.01)
`G06F 15/16
`(2006.01)
`HOAL 12/28
`(2006.01)
`HOAL 12/56
`709/245;
`;
`;
`;
`Sl Obscene.
`?
`725/74; 725/78; 725/80; 70
`(52) US. Cl
`oo
`370/402
`.
`;
`Field of Classification Search.................. 370/402;
`: a
`709/245; 725/74, 78, 80-82, 85
`See applicationfile for complete searchhistory.
`a:
`References Cited
`ia ree er
`US. EALENT DOCUMENTS
`5,754,548 A *
`5/1998 Hoekstra etal. ........... 370/402
`7,849,218 B2* 12/2010 Funabiki et al.
`..
`ve 709/245
`
`2003/0161332 Al*
`8/2003 Ohnoetal.
`..
`370/401
`2006/0117367 AL*
`6/2006 Lyle vicious. 725/114
`2007/0230909 Al
`10/2007 Mukaideet al.
`2009/0089842 AL*
`4/2009 Perry et al. «0... 725/78
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`According to one embodiment, a relay device includes an
`address management module which executes processing of
`acquiringafirst physical address assignedto the relay device
`“nk
`devi
`:
`,
`‘3
`based on a sink device, processing of acquiring a second
`physical address assigned to the relay device based on another
`sink device, determinationprocessingofdetermining,in the
`case where it is determined that the command needs to be
`transmitted to the other sink device, whetherto perform con-
`versionofthe physical address included in a parameterin the
`othersink device, and conversionprocessing ofconverting,in
`the case where it is determined that the conversion of the
`physicaladdressis not performed in theother sink device, the
`physical address included in the parameterinto a physical
`cites
`sat
`;
`=
`‘
`address based on the other sink device using the first and
`Second physicaladdresses.
`
`14 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
`Receve CEC commandinciuding|_597
`physical adarass via HOMI cable
`
`Device
`device?
`Yes
`soresnoneing a”
`physical address isocatad >>
`on HOMgat?
`te
`
`Address conversion request
`
`
`
`flag Isenabled
`
`
`$29
`
`
`
`Roku EX1041
`U.S. Patent No. 9,716,853
`
`Roku EX1041
`U.S. Patent No. 9,716,853
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 1 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
`Living room
`
`112
`
`pe
`PC
`
`
`111 —— FC)
`
`122
`
`
`ooooo aSooo
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 2 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
`Living room
`
`211
`
`By radio
`(bidirectional transmission)
`Address conversion
`(1.2.0.0 1.2.2.0)
`
`210
`
`HDMIrelay device
`1.0.0.0
`
`DVD recorder
`1.2.0.0
`
`Computer
`1.1.0.0
`
`FIG.2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DVD player
`1.1.0.0
`
`[bowserside
`|ossteanside
`
`112
`
`DVDrecorder
`1.2.0.0
`
`FIG.3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 3 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
`Living room
`
`1.1.0.0
`
`
`
`Computer
`
`FIG.4
`
` Living room
`
`201
` Downstream sel HDMI relaydevice]tT HDMI relay device
`
`
`1,0.0.0
`
`111
`
`DVDplayer
`1.1.0.0
`
`
`
`0.0.0 — ao Oo
`
`Upstream side
`
`
`112
`
`211
`
`DVDrecorder
`1.2.0.0
`
`Computer
`1.1.0.0
`
`FIG.
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 4 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
`
`Radio PHY unit
` oS
`7
`
`Radio MACunit
`ip|
`
`contro) moaquie
`
`
`
`341
`
`340
`
`339
`
`339
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`CEC command
`Switch
`control module||control module
`LH
`330
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`1321 | 13287AN|__322
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`311} 1 302
`312 |
`| 303
`301
`313}
`|
`3047
`S314 |
`HDMI input 1
`HDMl input 2
`HDMlinput3
`HDMI output
`
`FIG.7
`
`oo Videotransmissionmodule
`uf _ee management
`|
`Address
`
`
`module
`
`
`
`HDMI
`transmission
`
`
`Command processing module
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HDMI
`reception
`module
`
`33]
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet6 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
` Acquire physical address of HDMI relay device from
`
`downstream side device via HDMIcable
`
`Assign terminal numberof relay path to digit
`subsequent to effective range of acquired physical
`
`address to generate physical address of connection
`destination HDMIrelay device
`
`
`|
`
`
`
`
`
`Notify HDMI relay device of generated physical address
`
`-~S13
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.8
`
`

`

`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 7 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 8 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
`Receive CEC commandincluding
`physical address via HDMI cable
`
`S21
`
`$22
`
`Device
`corresponding to physical
`
`
`address is upstream side
`No
`
`device?
`
`Yes
`
`
`
`$24
`
`Address conversion request
`flag is enabled
`
`529
`
`$23
`
`Device
`corresponding to
`
`
`physical addressis located
`
`
`on HDMI path?
`
`
`
`Set physical address of HDMI relay
`device on HDMI side as conversion
`source physical address
`
`
`Set physical address of HDMI relay
`device on relay side as conversion
`destination physical address
`
`
`
`
`|
`
`Address conversion processing
`
`;
`
`$26
`
`S27
`
`
`
`Physical address
`
`after conversion is not
`
`
`"F.F.F.F" ?
`
`
`
`No
`
`Yes
`Transfer CEC command to connection
`destination HDMI relay device
`
`
`528
`
`End
`
`FIG. 10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 9 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 10 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 11 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
`
`Receive CEC commandvia relay path
`
`S41
`
`$42
`
`
` Address conversion
`
`
` request flag is enabled?
`
`
`
`;
`
`Set physical address of HDMI relay
`device on relay path side as conversion
`source physical address
`
`
`Set physical address of HDMI relay
`device on HDMI side as conversion
`
`destination physical address
`
`Address conversion processing
`I
`$45
`
`346 Physical
`
`
`address after conversion is
`
`
`not "F.F.F.F" ?
`
`
`
`Transfer CEC command to connection
`destination device on HDMI path
`
`End
`
`FIG. 13
`
`

`

`
`
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`Oct. 4, 2011
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 4, 2011
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`US 8,032,911 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 4, 2011
`
`Sheet 14 of 14
`
`US 8,032,911 B2
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`

`US 8,032,911 B2
`
`2
`FIG. 6A and FIG. 6Bare exemplary views for explaining a
`difference between physical addresses in the system configu-
`ration according to the present embodiment shownin FIG. 2
`whichis set based on respective TVsets;
`FIG. 7 is an exemplary block diagram showing the outline
`ofthe HDMI relay device according to the present embodi-
`ment;
`
`1
`
`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 transmission methodofaddress
`information employed for physical address conversion in an
`address management module of the HDMI relay device
`accordingto the present embodiment;
`FIG. 10 is an exemplary flowchart showing a method of
`physical address conversion processing employed in the
`address management module of the HDMIrelay device on the
`command transmission side:
`FIG. 11 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 Howchart showing an address
`conversion method in the present embodiment;
`FIG. 13 is an exemplary flowchart showing a method of
`5 physical address conversion processing employed in the
`address management module of the HDMIrelay device on the
`commandreceptionside;
`FIG. 14 is an exemplary first example of address conver-
`sion processing according to the present embodiment;
`FIG, 15 is an exemplary viewfor explaining a concrete
`example ofthe address conversion method; and
`FIG. 16 is an exemplary second example ofthe address
`conversion processing according to the present embodiment.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`40
`
`5
`
`Various embodiments according to the invention will be
`described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
`drawings. In general, according to one embodimentof 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 onthe sink device
`on its upstream side, having a physical address set based on
`the sink device, transmitting a commandthatis received from
`the sink device or source device to anotherrelay device, and
`transmitting/receiving a video streamto/from the other relay
`device, the device comprises a reception module configure to
`receive the commandincluding a parameter in whicha physi-
`cal address is set from the sink device or source device, an
`) address management module configure to execute processing
`ofacquiring 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 downstreamside of the
`
`1
`RELAY DEVICE AND RELAY METHOD
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
`priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-126081,
`filed May 13, 2008,the entire contents of which are incorpo-
`rated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`L. Field
`
`One embodimentofthe inventionrelates to a relay device
`and a relay methodthatrelays transmissionof 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.Appin. KOK-AT Publication No, 2008-35190 dis-
`closes a technique in whicha display device requests a physi-
`cal address for an external device on an HDMI network to
`
`acquire and manage a connectionstate betweenitself and the
`external device.
`
`Further, Jpn. Pat. Appin. KOKAT Publication No. 2008-
`34976 discloses a display system. In the display system, an
`audio-visual amplifier with a repeater function is connected
`to adisplay device having only one HDMI input terminal. The
`audio-visual amplifier has two HDMI input terminals and
`thereby servesas a relay device.
`A conventional technique can only deal with a transmis-
`sion (native) between devices on a transmissionpath B or a
`transmission (passthrough)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 cannot
`perform physical address conversion satisfactorily when a
`plurality of'sink devices (TVset, etc.) exist. As a result, in the
`conventional technique, transmission path control and video
`stream transmission cannot be performed.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL
`VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`a
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`A general architecture that implements the various feature
`ofthe invention will now be described with reference to the
`drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are
`provided to illustrate embodiments ofthe inventionand not to
`limit the scope ofthe invention.
`FIG, 1 is an exemplary view showingthe outline of HDMI
`systems according to an embodimentofthe 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
`“upstream side” and “downstream side” of an HDMI relay
`device;
`FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing the concepts of
`“upstream side” and “downstreamside” of the HDMIrelay
`device when the HDMI relay devicereceives a stream via a
`relay zone;
`FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing the concepts of
`“upstream side” and “downstream side” of the HDMIrelay
`device when the HDMI relay device transmits a stream via a
`relay zone:
`
`other relay device, first determination processing of deter-
`mining whether the commandneeds to be transmitted to the
`other relay device, second determination processing ofdeter-
`mining, in the case whereit is determined that the command
`needs to be transmitted to the other relay device, whether to
`perform conversionof the physical address included in the
`parameterin the other relay device, and conversion process-
`ing of converting, in the case whereit 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 module which transmitsto the other relay device
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`US 8,032,911 B2
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`acommandincluding the physical address after conversion as
`a parameter or information for requiring the other relay
`device to perform conversion ofthe physical address included
`in the parameter together with the command fromthe sink
`device or source device dependingonthe determinationresult
`of the second determination processing.
`FIG, 1 is a view showing the outline of High-Definition
`Multimedia Interface (HDMI) systems according to an
`embodiment of the present invention installed in a living
`room and study, respectively. First, an HDMI system 100
`installed in a living room will be described. The HDMI sys-
`tem 100 includes a TV set 101 which anelectronic device that
`
`through an
`receives a terrestrial digital broadcast signal
`antenna and demodulates 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 mediumsuch as a DVD, and a hard disk
`drive (HDD) recorder 112 that records a broadcast video
`signal and a videosignal from an external device and outputs
`the recorded content to an external device.
`The TVset 101 and relay device 110 are connectedto each
`other by an HDMI cable 121. Therelay device 110 and DVD
`player 111 are connected to each other by an HDMIcable
`122. The relay device 110 and HDD recorder 112 are con-
`nected to each other via an HDMI cable. The HDMI cableis
`used for transmission ofa video signal and audio signal which
`is based on an HDMI standard, A CEC line for transmitting a
`signal complying with a CECstandard is provided in the
`HDMI cable. The CEC standard is a serial communication
`protocol that can control HDMI connected devices via one
`terminal (CEC terminal) in an HDMIterminal.
`The TVset 101 checks connection with the respective
`electronic devices connected therewith via the HDMIcable
`121 at its power-ontime. This check is also performed peri-
`odically during normal operation. Transmission/reception of
`information on connection state is made using a command
`line in the HDMIcable.
`Next, an HDMI system 200 installed in a study will be
`described. The HDMI system 200 includes a TV set 201
`whichanelectronic device that receives a terrestrial digital
`broadcast signal through an antenna and demodulates the
`signalto display video imagesor receives a videosignal from
`an external 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 contentto an external device. The respective devices
`are connected by an HDMIcable 221 asillustrated.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a con-
`figuration of an HDMI system according to the present
`embodiment.
`In this configuration, the living roomand study each have
`one T'Vset, which is connected 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
`HDMI paths in the living room and study are connected by
`wireless transmission to each other via the HDMI relay
`device. Although the respective HDMI paths are connected to
`each other by wireless transmission, they may be connected
`by wire.
`FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the concepts of “upstream”
`and “downstream” ofthe HDMI relay device.
`An HDMI video stream has transmission directionality.
`That is, the HDMI video stream flows from the HDMI output
`ofa source device such as a DVD player to the HDMIinput of
`asink device such as a TVset. Likening the flow of the video
`stream to the flow of a river, the side into which the video
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`streamflowsis referred to as the “downstreamside”, and side
`from which the video stream flows is referred to as the
`“upstream side”, as viewed from the HDMIrelay device.
`FIG. 4 is a view showing the concepts of “upstream side”
`and “downstream side” of the HDMI relay apparatus when
`the HDMI relay apparatus receivesa stream via a relay zone.
`Bidirectional transmission can be implemented overthe relay
`path. In the example of FIG. 4, a video stream flows from the
`notebookpersonal computer 211 to TVset 101 installed in the
`living room. In this case, as viewed from the HDMI relay
`device 110, the side ofthe relay path from which the video
`streamflows into the HDMI relay device 110 is referred to as
`“upstreamside”, and the side of the HDMI path on which the
`video stream flows from the HDMIrelay device 110 tothe TV
`set 101 is referred to as “downstreamside”,
`FIG. 5 is a view showing the concepts of “upstreamside”
`and “downstream side” of the HDMI relay device when the
`HDMI relay apparatus transmits a stream via a relay zone.
`Bidirectional transmission can be implemented overthe relay
`path. In the example of FIG. 5, a video stream flows from the
`DVD player 111 to TVset 201 installed in the study. Inthis
`case, as viewed from the HDMI relay device 210,the side of
`the relay path from which the video stream flows into the
`s HDMI relay device 210 is referred to as “upstream side”, and
`the side of the HDMIpath on which the video stream flows
`from the HDMI relay device 210 to the TVset 201 is referred
`to as “downstream side”.
`FIGS. 6A and 6B are views for explaining a difference
`) between physical addresses in the system configuration
`according to the present embodiment shownin FIG, 2 which
`is set based on respective TVsets.
`The physical address is represented by the numberofcon-
`nection stages (digit numbers of physical address) from the
`TYset, whichis defined using a physical address “0.0.0.0"of
`the TVasa starting point, anda terminal number ofaterminal
`used for each connection. For example,in the case where the
`physical address ofthe TVin the living room of FIG. 2 is used
`as a starting point, the physical address of the HDMI relay
`device connected to an HDMIinput 1 of the TVin the living
`roomis represented as “1.0.0.0.” whichis obtained by chang-
`ing thefirst digit from 0 to 1. Similarly, the physical address
`of the DVDrecorder connected to an HDMI input2 of the
`HDMI relay deviceis represented by “1.2.0.0” by changing
`the second digit ofthe physical address ofthe above HDMI
`relay device from 0 to 2. As described above, the physical
`addressis defined based onthe physical address “0.0.0.0.” of
`the TVset, so that in the case where a plurality ofTVsets are
`connected via the HDMIrelay device as shownin FIG.2, the
`physical address of the DVD recorder differs depending on
`whetherthe TVsetin the living room or TVset in the study is
`used as a starting point. That is, the physical address of the
`DVDrecorderis “1.2.0.0” as viewed from the TVin theliving
`room, and physical address thereof is “1.2.2.0" as viewed
`from the TVin the study. Thus, in order to correctly perform
`transmission control (path control) of'a video stream from the
`TVinthe living roomor TVin the study using the physical
`address, it is necessary to correctly perform address conver-
`sion between the HDMI relay devices.
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram showingthe outline of the HDMI
`relay device accordingto the present embodiment.
`The HDMIrelay devices 110 and 210 each have an HDMI
`input 1, an HDMI input 2, and an HDMIinput 3. The HDMI
`input 1 has an address line 301, a command line 311, and the
`like. The HDMIinput 2 has an address line 302, a command
`line 312, and the like. The HDMI input 3 has an address line
`303, a commandline 313, and thelike.
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`performs appropriate processing according to the content of
`the commandreceived via the CEC commandcontrol module
`335 orAVC commandcontrol module 337. For example, the
`command processing module 336 issues aninstructionto the
`address management module 338 or switch unit 330 or per-
`forms commandtransmission via the CEC command control
`module 335 or command control module 337.
`
`a
`Althoughthree input terminals are provided as the HDMI
`input in FIG, 7, the numberofthe input terminals may be any
`suitable number.
`Further, the HDMI relay devices 110 and 210 each have
`extended display identification data (EDID) 321, an EDID
`322, an EDID 323. and thelike. The address line 301 of the
`HDMI input1 is connected to the EDID 321. The address line
`302 of the HDMIinput 2 is connected to the EDID 322. The
`address line 303 of the HDMI input 3 is connected to the
`EDID323. A physical addressthat a source device connected
`to the HDMIinput 1 uses is described in the EDID 321 to
`EDID 323.
`
`Further, the HDMIrelay 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 command pro-
`cessing module 336, an AVC command control module 337,
`an address management module 338, a video transmission
`module 339, a wireless transmission media access contro]
`(MAC) unit 340, a wireless transmission physical (PHY) unit
`341, and thelike.
`The HDMI switchunit 330 selects one video stream from
`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, e.g., decoding of an encrypted video stream and
`acquisition of meta-data froma 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
`unit 340 determines the transmission timing and transmission
`order ofpackets transmitted from the wireless transmission
`PHYunit 341. The wireless transmission PHY unit 341 trans-
`mits packets according to the transmissiontiming and trans-
`mission order determined by the wireless transmission MAC
`unit 340 to the connection destination HDMIrelay device. A
`video stream transmitted from the connection destination
`
`HDMI relay deviceis received by the wireless transmission
`PHY unit 341 and wireless transmission MAC unit 340 and is
`then transmitted to theHDMI transmission module 332 via
`the videotransmission module.
`Physical address information acquired from a down-
`stream-side device via the address line of theHDMI outputis
`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 number of
`the connection between the HDMI relay devices to “number
`of HDMI input terminals+1”.
`Aconcrete example ofthe address processing is described
`in detail inHDMISpecification 1.3a (“High-Definition Mul-
`timedia Interface Specification Version 1.3a” Hitachi, Ltd./
`Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd./Philips Customer
`Electronics, International B.V./Silicon Image, Inc./Sony Cor-
`poration/ThomsonInc./Toshiba Corporation Nov. 10, 2006).
`ACEC commandreceived from the HDMI inputs1 to 3 or
`HDMI output is transmitted to the CEC command control
`module 335 via the command lines 311 to 314. The content of
`the CEC commandis passed to the command processing
`module 336 where appropriate processing is performed.
`A command received via the wireless transmission PHY
`
`unit 341 andwireless transmission MAC unit 340 is passed to
`the command processing module 336 via theAVC command
`control module 337. The command processing module 336
`
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`Although the wireless transmission MAC unit 340 and
`wireless transmission PHY unit 341 are provided in this con-
`figuration, they maybe replaced by another connection sec-
`tion such as a wired transmission section.
`FIG. 8 is a flowchart showinga notification method of the
`physical address of the HDMIrelay device according to the
`present embodiment. A case will be described here wherethe
`HDMI system200 in the study is put into operation while the
`HDMIsystem 100 in the living roomis in operation.
`The address management module 338 ofthe HDMIrelay
`device 210 acquires its own physical address from the EDID
`ofthe downstream-side TVset 201 via the HDMI cable(step
`S11). In the present embodiment, the address management
`module 338 of the HDMI relay device 210 acquires “1.0.0.0”
`as its own physical address.
`The address management module 338 of the HDMI relay
`device 210 thenassigns the terminal numberof the relay path
`to the digit subsequentto the effective range of the acquired
`physical address to generate the physical address ofthe con-
`nection destination HDMI relay device 110 (step $12). In the
`present embodiment, thefirst digit is the effective range, so
`that the address management module 338 of the HDMI relay
`device 210 assigns the terminal numberofthe relay path to
`the seconddigit to generate “1.2.0.0.” as the physical address
`ofthe connection destination HDMIrelay device.
`The address management module 338 of the HDMI relay
`device 210 notifies the HDMIrelay device 110 of the gener-
`ated physical address “1.2.0.0” (step S13).
`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 “1.0.0.0” that has already been assigned andnotifies
`the HDMIrelay device 210 ofthe generated physical address.
`FIG. 9 is a view showinga 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 ofthe HDMIrelay
`device 110 notifies theHDMI relay device 210 ofthe physical
`address of the HDMI relay device 210 whichis set based on
`the physical address of the TV set 101. Concretely,
`the
`address management module 338 of the HDMIrelay 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 rule to generate a physical address
`“1.3.0.0” as the physical address of the HDMIrelay device
`210 as viewed from the TVset 101 and notifies the HDMI
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`relay device 210 ofthe generated physical address.
`Similarly,
`the address management module 338 of the
`HDMI relay device 210 notifies the HDMI relay device 110 of
`the physical address of the HDMI relay device 110 whichis
`set based on the physical address of the TVset 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 module 338
`of the HDMIrelay device 210 replaces the seconddigit ofthe
`physical address “1.0.0.0” ofthe HDMI relay device 210 with
`“2” to generate a physical address “1.2.0.0” as the physical
`address of the HDMIrelay device 110 as viewed from the
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`HDMI relay device 210 and notifies the HDMI relay device
`110 ofthe generated physical address.
`Next, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, a method of
`physical address conversion processing employed in the
`address management module ofthe HDMIrelay device onthe
`commandtransmission side will be described.
`The address management module 338 ofa commandtrans-
`mission-side HDMI relay device receives, via the HDMI
`cable, a CEC commandincluding the physical address of a
`device that has transmitted the command (step $21). The
`address management module 338 of the command transmis-
`sion-side HDMI relay device determines whether the device
`corresponding to the physical address included in the com-
`mand received in step $21 is a device on the upstream side
`relative to the HDMI relay device in whichthe address man-
`agement module 338itselfis provided (step S22),
`For example, a case is assumed where a camcorder 220
`having a physical address “2.0.0.0”is connected to the TVset
`201 in the study and the camcorder 220 transmits a “Report
`Physical Address” commandsoas to report its own physical
`address to the sink device, as shownin FIG, 11. Upon receiv-
`ing the “Report Physical Address” command, the address
`management module 338 of the HDMI relay device 210
`determines whether a device (camcorder 220) having the
`physical address “2.0.0.0” included in the “Report Physical
`Address” commandis a device located on the upstream side
`relative to the HDMIrelay device in which the address man-
`agement module 338 itself is provided in order to