(12) United States Patent
`Sato
`
`USOO6825858B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,825,858 B2
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`(54) SELECTION METHOD OF DEVICES
`CONNECTED WITH ELECTRONIC
`EQUIPMENT AND ELECTRONIC
`EQUIPMENT REALIZING SUCH
`SELECTION METHOD
`
`(75) Inventor: Masahiko Sato, Tokyo (JP)
`(73) Assignee: Sony Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 691 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/756,435
`(22) Filed:
`Jan. 8, 2001
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2001/0052946 A1 Dec. 20, 2001
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`(JP) ..................................... P2000-002826
`Jan. 11, 2000
`(JP) ..................................... P2OOO-360805
`Nov. 28, 2000
`(51) Int. Cl. .............................. G06F 3/14; H04N 5/44
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 345/735; 34.5/771; 34.5/835;
`345/840; 348/705; 348/552
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 345/735, 771,
`345/810, 835, 965, 970, 734, 825, 736,
`773, 821, 822, 823, 824, 839, 840, 440;
`348/552, 553,554, 555, 563, 569, 705,
`706; 700/83, 85
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`4,996,597 A * 2/1991 Duffield ...................... 348/705
`5,452,415 A * 9/1995 Hotka ...
`... 345/735
`5,579,221 A * 11/1996 Mun ......
`... 700/83
`6,040,874. A * 3/2000 Kim ..........
`... 348/569
`6,177.963 B1 * 1/2001 Foye et al. ................. 348/706
`6,593.941 B1 * 7/2003 Sameshima ............. 345/719 X
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner Raymond J. Bayerl
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Oblon, Spivak, McClelland,
`Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A plurality of input/output terminals, with which devices
`having different protocols are connected in physically dif
`ferent forms, are displayed in an ordinate axis direction, and
`Some of the devices, which are connected with the input/
`output terminals and the connection States of which can
`logically be discriminated, are displayed in an abscissa axis
`direction. The devices are selected by the selection of the
`input/output terminals displayed in the ordinate axis
`direction, or by the Selection of the devices displayed in the
`abscissa axis direction, or by the Selection of the devices
`displayed in the abscissa axis direction after the Selection of
`the input/output terminals displayed in the ordinate axis
`direction.
`
`54 Claims, 27 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`a
`
`-
`
`- 7
`
`Select
`Input
`
`20C
`
`21 a
`
`21b.
`
`21C
`
`a
`
`--
`
`a
`
`s
`
`an
`
`re
`
`re
`
`re s
`
`s
`
`-
`
`-- s
`
`Roku EX1018
`U.S. Patent No. 10,334,311
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 1 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`F.G. 1
`
`
`
`->Line-1
`Line-2
`
`20a
`20b
`
`Input
`
`20C
`
`21 a
`
`21b
`
`21C
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`Nov. 30, 2004
`
`Sheet 2 of 27
`Sheet 2 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`oe
`
`20b
`
`Input
`mu
`
`21Cc eeeeweweweweweMeMeMeMeMmMemeMeMemememeeeee ’
`
`Ca] Ce (2)
`
`Oc
`
`21a
`
`21b
`
`I J I t | J | 1 | | | i I I I I I | | | 1 t I I I I I | | | I I I I I | t
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`Nov. 30, 2004
`
`Sheet 3 of 27
`Sheet 3 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`FG. 3
`FIG. 3
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`Nov. 30, 2004
`
`Sheet 4 of 27
`Sheet 4 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`91
`
`Sk
`
`ISdls vi
`
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`
`JOIAAG
`
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`
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`
`NI]
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`AL
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 5 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`25A
`
`ELECTRONIC
`EQUIPMENT
`ORDINATE AXIS
`DIRECTION
`DISPLAY
`SECTION
`
`ABSCSSA AXIS
`DIRECTION
`DISPLAY
`SELECTION
`
`ORDINATE AXIS
`DIRECTION
`SELECTION
`SECTION
`
`ABSCSSA AXIS
`DIRECTION
`SELECTION
`SECTION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DIGITAL
`
`FIRST
`DIGITAL
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`FIRST
`ANALOG
`DEVICE
`
`SECOND
`ANALOG
`DEVICE
`
`SECOND
`DIGITAL
`DEVICE
`
`THIRD
`DIGITAL
`DEVICE
`
`15
`
`16
`
`11
`
`12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 6 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`25A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ELECTRONIC
`EQUIPMENT
`ORDINATE AXIS
`DIRECTION
`26ADSPAY
`SECTION
`
`ABSCSSA AXIS
`DIRECTION
`27ADISPLAY
`SELECTION
`
`ORDINATE AXIS
`DIRECTION
`28A SELECTION
`SECTION
`
`ABSCSSA AXIS
`DRECTION
`29A SELECTION
`SECTION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`LINE-2
`
`DIGITAL
`
`
`
`FIRST
`DIGITAL
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`FIRST
`ANALOG
`DEVICE
`
`SECOND
`ANALOG
`DEVICE
`
`SECOND
`DIGITAL
`DEVICE
`
`THRD
`DIGITAL
`DEVICE
`
`15
`
`16
`
`11
`
`12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 2004
`
`Sheet 7 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ol
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 8 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`FIG. 8
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 9 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`132
`
`200
`
`Select
`Input
`
`-- 17
`
`21b
`
`21 a
`
`vci HDD
`
`DVD
`
`21C
`
`21f
`
`A 21
`e
`
`21g
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`Nov. 30, 2004
`
`Sheet 10 of 27
`Sheet 10 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`FIG 10
`FIG.
`10
`
`10
`
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`
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`HDD
`VCR
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 11 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`Select
`
`-
`
`-- 17
`
`scan
`still
`
`DVD -23C
`HDD-23b
`
`23f
`
`23e
`23d
`
`22a-J
`
`220
`
`22C
`
`N220
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`Nov. 30, 2004
`
`Sheet 12 of 27
`Sheet 12 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`FG.
`FIG.
`
`12
`12
`
`17
`
`10 t
`
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`SOURCE
`DEVICE
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 13 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`----- 17
`
`Select
`Input
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 14 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`200
`
`20C
`
`21 a
`
`21b
`
`-
`
`-- a 1 7
`
`Select
`Input
`
`2
`1C
`
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`
`se
`
`200
`
`f 21d
`
`21e
`
`21f
`
`21g
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 30, 2004
`
`Sheet 15 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`LhiSuls
`QO1WNV
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`JDIASG
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 16 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`FIG.
`
`6 1
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`Nov. 30, 2004
`
`Sheet 17 of 27
`Sheet 17 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`FG.
`FIG.
`
`17
`17
`
`
`
`10
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`Nov. 30, 2004
`
`Sheet 18 of 27
`Sheet 18 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`FIG.
`FIG.
`
`18
`18
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`Nov. 30, 2004
`
`Sheet 19 of 27
`Sheet 19 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`FG.
`FIG.
`
`19
`19
`
`10
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 20 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`FG. 20
`
`Scan
`
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`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 21 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`E O IAEO Z |0OTWNW
`C|NOOES
`
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`CN
`
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`
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 22 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`FIG. 22
`
`
`
`35A
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 23 Of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`8-EOHAEC]
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`
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`
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 24 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`FIG. 24
`
`
`
`35A
`
`10A
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 25 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`FIG. 25
`PRIOR ART
`
`10
`
`TV
`
`
`
`DIGITAL
`(IEEE1394)
`
`13
`
`14
`
`FIRST
`DEVICE
`
`11
`
`SECOND
`DEVICE
`
`12
`
`
`
`16
`
`
`
`15
`
`THIRD
`DEVICE
`
`FOURTH
`DEVICE
`
`FFTH
`DEVICE
`
`DEVICE-1
`
`DEVICE-2
`
`DEVICE-3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 26 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`F.G. 26
`PRIOR ART
`
`
`
`TV
`
`DIGITAL
`(IEEE1394)
`
`DEVICE-1
`
`DEVICE-2
`
`DEVICE-3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.30, 2004
`
`Sheet 27 of 27
`
`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`FIG. 27
`PRIOR ART
`
`
`
`- 1 7
`
`Line-2-19b
`> vcRN-19C
`19C
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`

`

`US 6,825,858 B2
`
`1
`SELECTION METHOD OF DEVICES
`CONNECTED WITH ELECTRONIC
`EQUIPMENT AND ELECTRONIC
`EQUIPMENT REALIZING SUCH
`SELECTION METHOD
`
`2
`(19c), HDD (19d), and DVD (19e) downward from the top.
`When a desired graphic item is Selected among the graphic
`items 19a–19e displayed in the ordinate axis direction by a
`user's action of pointing it with a cursor, the contents of the
`Selected device among the devices 11, 12, 14-16 are con
`nected with the television receiver 10 to become possible of
`being input or output.
`However, in the aforesaid prior art television receiver 10
`equipped with the plurality of input/output terminals, when
`a user Selects a device connected with the television receiver
`10 for displaying it on the screen 17, the user can select the
`input/output terminals Line-1, Line-2 conventionally for
`analog signal inputs, but the user must Select a device on the
`digital buS 13 for digital signal inputs because the devices
`14-16 are connected in a daisy chain and the fact makes it
`impossible to select one of the devices 14-16 by selecting a
`physical line. In the case, the conventional method of the
`Selection using a menu (e.g. menu shown in FIG. 27) is
`applicable for the selection. However, the method has a
`problem that it is impossible to judge which device is for
`analog signals and which device is for digital Signals
`because icons of physical lines (Line-1, Line-2) and logical
`devices (VCR, HDD, DVD) are intermingled in the menu.
`For example, input/output terminals to be connected with
`devices for analog signals can be displayed whether the
`devices are connected with the input/output terminals or not.
`However, the display regarding an input/output terminal to
`be connected with a digital bus connected with devices for
`digital Signals automatically disappears from the Screen
`when the daisy-chained devices are unchained and automati
`cally appears in the Screen when the devices are daisy
`chained. Consequently, confusion arises in the judgment
`whether the devices in the current connection State are
`devices for analog Signals or devices for digital Signals.
`There consequently is a problem to be resolved in the
`display method and the Selection method for the easy
`discrimination of the connection State of devices to be
`connected with a plurality of input/output terminals of a
`piece of electronic equipment.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`According to the present invention, the devices connected
`with a piece of electronic equipment are displayed in an
`ordinate axis direction and in an abscissa axis direction, and
`in the display of the devices, the devices that can be
`confirmed to be physically connected and the devices that
`can logically be identified are displayed in directions dif
`ferent from each other. Consequently, the discrimination of
`the connected devices, for example, the discrimination
`whether a device is for analog signals or for digital Signals,
`becomes easy. Moreover, it becomes easy to Select a device
`to which Signals are output or devices to be connected with
`each other.
`It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
`description of the invention and the following detailed
`description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the
`invention.
`
`60
`
`65
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The above and other objects, features and advantages of
`the present invention will become more apparent from the
`following description of the presently preferred exemplary
`embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the
`accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a menu Screen in
`which devices capable of being physically connected are
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a Selection method of
`devices connected with a piece of electronic equipment and
`electronic equipment realizing the Selection method. In
`particular, the present invention relates to a Selection method
`of devices connected with a piece of electronic equipment
`and electronic equipment realizing the Selection method, in
`which a plurality of input/output terminals and devices
`connected with the input/output terminals are displayed in
`ordinate axis directions and abscissa axis directions So as to
`be easily Selected, and in which a Selected device is Set as an
`inputting device or an outputting device, or the inputting
`device and the outputting device that are connected with
`each other.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Prior art electronic equipment having a plurality of input/
`output terminals to be connected with devices, for example,
`a television receiver 10 includes, as shown in FIG. 25,
`input/output terminals Line-1, Line-2 to be connected with
`devices for analog signals and an input/output terminal to be
`connected with a digital buS 13 conforming to the Institute
`of Electronical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standards
`1394. In the configuration, a first device 11 is connected with
`the input/output terminal Line-1, a Second device 12 is
`connected with the input/output terminal Line-2, daisy
`chained devices, Device-1, Device-2 and Device-3, are
`connected with the input/output terminal for the digital bus
`13, to which a third device 14 is connected as the Device-1,
`a fourth device 15 is connected as the Device-2; and a fifth
`device 16 is connected as the Device-3. Among the devices
`11, 12, 14-16 connected with the input/output terminals in
`the aforesaid manner, a user can Select a desired device in a
`menu displayed in a Superimposed way (On Screen Display:
`OSD).
`To adduce a specific example of the configuration, as
`shown in FIG. 26, a video tape recorder (VTR) is connected
`with the input/output terminal Line-1 of the television
`receiver 10 as the first device 11; a laser disk player (LDP)
`is connected with the input/output terminal Line-2 as the
`second device 12; a video cassette recorder (VCR) is con
`nected with the digital bus 13 as the third device 14, the
`Device-1; a hard disc drive (HDD) is connected with the
`digital bus 13 as the fourth device 15, the Device-2; and a
`digital Video disc player, or a digital versatile disc player,
`(DVD) is connected with the digital bus 13 as the fifth
`device 16, the Device-3.
`With the television receiver 10 having the aforesaid
`connection configuration, as shown in FIG. 27, the devices
`can appropriately be selected in a State of being displayed on
`a Screen 17 as graphic items by means of Superimposing. In
`the present specification, the term “graphic item” means an
`image of a button-like icon displayed on the Screen, which
`is used to Select a device. The input/output terminals Line-1,
`Line-2 and the devices 14–16 (VCR, HDD, DVD) con
`nected with the digital bus 13 are displayed on the screen 17
`as the graphic items 19a–19e that are displayed in the menu
`18 on the screen 17 in a row in an ordinate axis direction, for
`example, in the order of Line-1 (19a), Line-2 (19b), VCR
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`shown in an ordinate axis direction and devices capable of
`being logically discriminated are shown in an abscissa axis
`direction under the selection method of a first embodiment
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a technique for
`Selecting and Specifying a device in the menu shown in FIG.
`1;
`FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a menu Screen in
`which devices capable of being physically connected are
`shown in an abscissa axis direction and devices capable of
`being logically discriminated are shown in an ordinate axis
`direction under the Selection method of a Second embodi
`ment according to the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the connection
`configuration of the electronic equipment realizing the Selec
`tion method of a third embodiment and a fourth embodiment
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the connection
`configuration and a menu Screen of the electronic equipment
`realizing the selection method of the third embodiment
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the connection
`configuration and a menu Screen of the electronic equipment
`realizing the selection method of the fourth embodiment
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the connection con
`figuration of the electronic equipment realizing a Selection
`method of a fifth embodiment according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 8 is a Schematic connection diagram showing the
`equipment control Section for connecting the devices shown
`in FIG. 7;
`FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a menu Screen in
`which devices capable of being physically connected are
`shown in an ordinate axis direction and devices capable of
`being logically discriminated are shown in abscissa axis
`directions under the selection method of a fifth embodiment
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a menu screen of
`the electronic equipment realizing the fifth embodiment
`Selection method according to the present invention for
`connecting respective devices,
`FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a menu Screen in
`which devices capable of being physically connected are
`shown in an abscissa axis direction and devices capable of
`being logically discriminated are shown in ordinate axis
`directions in the connection configuration of the electronic
`equipment of a Sixth embodiment Selection method accord
`ing to the present invention;
`FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a menu Screen of
`the electronic equipment of the Sixth embodiment Selection
`method according to the present invention for connecting
`respective devices,
`FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a menu Screen
`capable of discriminating usable devices from unusable
`devices among the graphic items with eyes in the connection
`configuration of the electronic equipment of a Seventh
`embodiment according to the present invention;
`FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing another menu
`Screen capable of discriminating uSable devices from unus
`able devices among the graphic items with eyes in the
`connection configuration of the electronic equipment of the
`Seventh embodiment;
`FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the connection
`configuration of the electronic equipment realizing the Selec
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`tion method of an eighth embodiment according to the
`present invention;
`FIG. 16 is a Schematic connection diagram showing the
`equipment control Section for connecting the devices shown
`in FIG. 15;
`FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a menu Screen in
`which devices capable of being physically connected are
`shown in an ordinate axis direction and devices capable of
`being logically discriminated are shown in abscissa axis
`directions in the connection configuration of the electronic
`equipment realizing the eighth embodiment;
`FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing a menu screen of
`the electronic equipment realizing the eighth embodiment
`for connecting respective devices,
`FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a menu screen in
`which devices capable of being physically connected are
`shown in an abscissa axis direction and devices capable of
`being logically discriminated are shown in ordinate axis
`directions in the connection configuration of the electronic
`equipment realizing the Selection method of a ninth embodi
`ment according to the present invention;
`FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing a menu Screen of
`the electronic equipment of the ninth embodiment for con
`necting respective devices,
`FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the connection
`configuration of the electronic equipment realizing the Selec
`tion method of a tenth embodiment according to the present
`invention, in which a television receiver is used as a display
`and the control of devices is performed by a device con
`troller;
`FIG. 22 is a Schematic connection diagram showing the
`equipment control Section for connecting the devices shown
`in FIG. 21;
`FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing the connection
`configuration of the electronic equipment realizing the Selec
`tion method of an eleventh embodiment according to the
`present invention, in which a television receiver is used as
`a display and the control of devices is performed by a device
`controller;
`FIG. 24 is a Schematic connection diagram showing the
`equipment control Section for connecting the devices shown
`in FIG. 23;
`FIG. 25 is an explanatory view showing a prior art
`connection configuration of devices capable of being con
`nected with a piece of electronic equipment (television
`receiver);
`FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing a prior art
`connection configuration of devices connected actually with
`a piece of electronic equipment; and
`FIG. 27 is an explanatory view showing a prior art manner
`for the Selection of devices connected with a piece of
`electronic equipment among their displays on a menu
`SCCC.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`Next, the attached drawings are referred while descrip
`tions are given to embodiments of the Selection method of
`devices connected with a piece of electronic equipment and
`the electronic equipment realizing the Selection method
`according to the present invention. Incidentally, the same
`reference marks are given to the same constituents described
`in regard to the prior art.
`The configuration realizing the Selection method of a first
`embodiment of the devices connected with a piece of
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`electronic equipment of the present invention is the same as
`that of the prior art configuration shown in FIGS. 25 and 26.
`In the configuration, a television receiver 10 is the electronic
`equipment equipped with a plurality of input/output termi
`nals. The input/output terminals are constituted of the fol
`lowing terminals to be connected with the following
`devices. That is, a first analog device (VTR) 11 is connected
`with an input/output terminal Line-1 to be connected with a
`device for analog signals; a Second analog device (LDP) 12
`is connected with an input/output terminal Line-2 to be
`connected with a device for analog signals, a first digital
`device (VCR) 14 as the daisy-chained Device-1 is connected
`with an input/output terminal connected with a digital buS 13
`for digital signals conforming to the IEEE standard 1394, a
`second digital device (HDD) 15 as the Device-2 is con
`nected with the digital bus 13; and a third digital device
`(DVD) 16 as the Device-3 is connected with the digital bus
`13.
`For Selecting a device in the configuration of the televi
`Sion receiver 10, a user, first, Selects a desired device among
`graphic items 20a–20c and 21a–21c representing the con
`nected devices 11, 12, 14-16 and the digital bus 13 while
`observing a menu 18 displayed on a screen 17 of the
`television receiver 10 in a manner of Superimposition as
`shown in FIG.1. In the screen display of the menu 18, there
`are included the graphic items 20a-20c arranged in an
`ordinate axis direction, which are indicative of the devices
`11, 12 and the digital bus 13 distinguishable physically, and
`the graphic items 21a–21carranged in an abscissa axis
`direction, which are indicative of the digital devices 14-16
`connected with the digital buS 13, and the connection State
`of which can logically be discriminated. The user selects one
`of the devices 11, 12, 14-16 by selecting any one of the
`graphic items 20a-20c and 21a-21c displayed in the ordi
`nate axis direction and the abscissa axis direction, respec
`tively. Incidentally, the input/output terminals Line-1,
`Line-2 to be connected with the devices for analog signals
`and the input/output terminal to be connected with the
`digital buS 13 are all treated as the physically connectable
`input/output terminals. The devices the connection State of
`which can logically be discriminated are the devices 14-16
`connected with the digital buS 13 in a daisy chain State. In
`the present embodiment, the physically connectable devices
`11, 12 and the digital bus 13 are represented by the graphic
`items Line-1 (20a), Line-2 (20b) and “1394" (20c) arranged
`in the ordinate axis direction. The VCR (21a) corresponding
`to the first digital device, the HDD (21b) corresponding to
`the second digital device, and the DVD (21c) corresponding
`to the third digital device are displayed as the logically
`discriminable devices 14-16 to be displayed in the abscissa
`axis direction.
`In the case where the devices 11, 12, 14-16 and the digital
`bus 13 are displayed as the graphic items 20a-20c and
`21a–21C in the ordinate axis direction and in the abscissa
`axis direction, respectively, the user first Selects one of the
`graphic items 20a-20c (that is, the devices 11, 12 and the
`digital bus 13) displayed in the ordinate axis direction. In the
`case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the graphic item
`20b (Line-2) indicated by the cursor is selected. In the case
`where the user selects one of the devices 14-16 (that is, the
`graphic items 21a–21c displayed in the abscissa axis
`direction), the user Selects one of the graphic items 21a–21c
`displayed in the abscissa axis direction of the devices 14-16
`as a desired device, the device “HDD” (21b) in the present
`embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, and then the device HDD
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`is directly Selected. AS the Selection method of the devices
`14-16, the graphic items 21a-21c of which are displayed in
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`the abscissa axis direction, there is another method in
`addition to the method described immediately before in
`which one of the graphic items is directly Selected. That is,
`it can be applicable that the user first Selects the digital bus
`13, the graphic item 20c of which is displayed in the ordinate
`axis direction, and then the user Selects one of the devices
`14-16, the graphic items 21a-21c of which are displayed in
`the abscissa axis direction. In the case of the embodiment
`shown in FIG. 2, the user selects the graphic item 20c
`(“1394) at first, and then the user selects the graphic item
`21b (“HDD”) in the abscissa axis direction. Incidentally, it
`is needless to say that the displaying State of the graphic item
`selected and decided with the cursor by the user may be
`displayed to be inverted or blinked, or that the displayed
`form of the pointed device with the cursor may be altered,
`although the changes are not shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore,
`the Selection and decision of the device can be confirmed as
`the Selection and decision by the clicking of the Select Input
`icon in the menu 18.
`Such a variation of the graphic items 20a-20c and
`21a–21c into the ordinate axis direction and the abscissa
`axis direction So as to correspond to the connection State of
`the devices 11, 12, 14-16 and the digital bus 13 shown in the
`FIGS. 25 and 26 makes it possible to make the discrimina
`tion of the connection state of the devices 11-16 very simply
`and easily.
`Next, the drawings are referred while the selection
`method of the devices connected with the electronic equip
`ment as a Second embodiment of the present invention is
`described.
`The configuration for carrying out the Selection method of
`the devices connected with the electronic equipment of the
`Second embodiment is the same as that shown in the FIGS.
`25 and 26 regarding the prior art, in which a television
`receiver 10 as the electronic equipment is equipped with a
`plurality of input/output terminals. The plurality of input/
`output terminals are configured as follows. That is, a first
`analog device (VTR) 11 is connected with the input/output
`terminal Line-1 to which analog signals are input and
`output; a second analog device (LDP) 12 is connected with
`the input/output terminal Line-2 to which analog signals are
`input and output; a first digital device (VCR) 14 as a
`daisy-chained Device-1 is connected with an input/output
`terminal connected with a digital buS 13 for digital signals
`conforming to the IEEE standard 1394; a second digital
`device (HDD) 15 as a Device-2 is connected with the digital
`bus 13; and a third digital device (DVD) 16 as a Device-3
`is connected with the digital bus 13.
`For Selecting a device in the configuration of the televi
`Sion receiver 10, a user, first, Selects a desired device among
`the graphic items 22a-22c and 23a–23c representing the
`connected devices 11, 12, 14-16 and the digital bus 13 while
`observing a menu 18 displayed on a screen 17 of the
`television receiver 10 in a manner of Superimposition as
`shown in FIG. 3. In the screen display of the menu 18, there
`are included the graphic items 22a-22c arranged in an
`abscissa axis direction, which are indicative of the devices
`11, 12 and the digital bus 13 distinguishable physically, and
`the graphic items 23a–23c arranged in an ordinate axis
`direction, which are indicative of the devices 14-16 con
`nected with the digital buS 13, and the connection State of
`which can logically be discriminated.
`Incidentally, the physically distinguishable input/output
`terminals include in a mingled State the input/output termi
`nals Line-1, Line-2 to which analog Signals are input and
`output, and the input/output terminal to be connected with
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`the digital buS 13 and to which digital Signals are input and
`output. The devices the connection State of which can
`logically be discriminated are the digital devices 14-16
`connected with the digital buS 13 in a daisy chain State. In
`the present embodiment, the physically connectable devices
`11, 12 and the digital bus 13 are represented by the graphic
`items 22b (Line-1), 22c (Line-2) and 22a (“1394") that are
`displayed in the abscissa axis direction. The graphic item
`“VCR” (23b) corresponding to the first digital device 14, the
`graphic item “HDD” (23a) corresponding to the second
`digital device 15, and the graphic item “DVD” (23c) cor
`responding to the third digital device 16 are displayed as the
`logically discriminable devices 14-16 to be displayed in the
`ordinate axis direction.
`For selecting the devices 11, 12, 14-16 and the digital bus
`13 displayed as the graphic items 22a-22c and 23a–23c in
`the abscissa axis direction and the ordinate axis direction,
`respectively, the user first Selects one of graphic items of the
`input/output terminals “1394” (22a), Line-2 (22b), Line-1
`(22c) displayed in the abscissa axis direction by pointing the
`input/output terminal with a cursor as shown in FIG. 3. In
`the case of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the
`input/output terminal “1394” (22a) connected with the digi
`tal bus 13 is pointed to be selected. In the case where the user
`Selects one of the input/output terminals Line-1, Line-2 to be
`connected with the devices for analog Signals, the user can
`Select the input/output terminal in a Single operation.
`However, when the user first Selects the input/output termi
`nal “1394” (22a) like in the present embodiment shown in
`FIG. 3, the user next has to Select one of the graphic items
`23a–23c, displayed in the ordinate axis direction, of the
`devices 14-16 connected with the digital bus 13 (“1394”
`(22a)) in a state of the daisy chain. In the present embodi
`ment shown in FIG. 3, the VCR (23b) is selected. In this
`ca