This application claims priority from Japanese Priority Documents No. 2004-061422, filed on Mar. 4, 2004 and No. 2004-342367, filed on Nov. 26, 2004 with the Japanese Patent Office, which documents are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display apparatus that receives images transferred from a plurality of information terminal apparatuses connected to a wireless or wire network, and displays them on a display section, and further relates to an image display system and an image display method that include a plurality of information terminal apparatuses connected to a wireless or wire network and an image display apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, as apparatuses for displaying an image (hereinafter referred to as image display apparatuses), image display apparatuses such as projection display systems comprised of a predetermined plane of projection (projection screen) and an image projection apparatus (projector: PJ) that projects and displays an image on the screen, cathode ray tube (CRT) display apparatuses that display an image using cathode rays, image display apparatuses that display an image on a liquid crystal display (LCD) section and the like are known. Such image display apparatuses generally are capable of receiving image information that is sent from an information terminal apparatus, such as a personal computer, through wire communications or wireless communications, and of displaying an image corresponding to the received image information.
In Patent Document 1 mentioned below, a configuration is disclosed wherein, between an information terminal apparatus and an image display apparatus that are wire connected, a projector receives image information transmitted from the information terminal apparatus, and projects it onto a screen.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-123238
Up until now, as in the Patent Document 1 mentioned above, in order to transfer an image from an information terminal apparatus connected to a network to the above-mentioned projector via the network, and to display it on a screen, operations had to be performed on the side of the information terminal apparatus. On the other hand, it was difficult to select, from the side of the projector, an information terminal apparatus from among a plurality of information terminal apparatuses on the side that sends the image.
The present invention is made in view of the circumstances mentioned above, and seeks to provide an image display apparatus and image display method that are capable of switching among a plurality of networked information terminal apparatuses and selecting a desired information terminal apparatus therefrom, and of displaying on a display section image information from the desired information terminal apparatus.
In addition, the present invention is made in view of the circumstances above, and seeks to provide an image display system including a plurality of information terminal apparatuses connected to a wire or wireless network and an image display apparatus, wherein switching among the plurality of networked information terminal apparatuses and selecting a desired information terminal apparatus therefrom can be performed from the side of the image display apparatus, and image information from the desired information terminal apparatus can be displayed on a display section of the image display apparatus.
In order to solve the problems above, an image display apparatus related to the present invention is an image display apparatus including a display section and communications means, and in which image information sent from one or more information terminal apparatuses via a network is received by the above-mentioned communications means and an image based on the above-mentioned image information is displayed on the above-mentioned display section, and is equipped with holding means that stores and holds in advance, of the above-mentioned one or more information terminal apparatuses, information of information terminal apparatuses whose connection to the network is desired, control means that reads the information of the information terminal apparatuses held by the above-mentioned holding means, image signal output means that generates an image signal for displaying, on the above-mentioned display section and, as a list, the information of the information terminal apparatuses read by the above-mentioned control means, and selecting means that selects one information terminal apparatus from the list displayed on the above-mentioned display section, wherein the above-mentioned control means generates a connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus selected by the above-mentioned selecting means, and the above-mentioned communications means transmits the above-mentioned connection request signal from the above-mentioned control means.
The image signal output means generates the image signal for displaying, as a list, the information of the information terminal apparatuses read from the holding means by the control means, the control means generates the connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus selected by the selecting means from the list displayed on the display section based on the above-mentioned image signal, and the communications means transmits the above-mentioned connection request signal.
In order to solve the problems above, an image display system related to the present invention is an image display system that includes one or more information terminal apparatuses that are connectable to a network and an image display apparatus that receives a transfer of image information via the network from the above-mentioned one or more information terminal apparatuses and displays on a display section an image based on the above-mentioned image information, wherein the above-mentioned image display apparatus includes holding means that stores and holds in advance, of the above-mentioned one or more information terminal apparatuses, information of information terminal apparatuses whose connection to the network is desired, control means that reads the information of the information terminal apparatuses held by the above-mentioned holding means, image signal output means that generates an image signal for displaying, on the above-mentioned display section and, as a list, the information of the information terminal apparatuses read by the above-mentioned control means, and selecting means that selects one information terminal apparatus from the list displayed on the above-mentioned display section, and wherein the above-mentioned control means generates a connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus selected by the above-mentioned selecting means, the above-mentioned communications means transmits the above-mentioned connection request signal generated by the above-mentioned control means, and the above-mentioned selected information terminal apparatus transmits the above-mentioned image information after transmitting an acceptance response signal in response to the above-mentioned connection request signal.
The image signal output means of the image display apparatus generates the image signal for displaying, as a list, the information of the information terminal apparatuses read from the holding means by the control means, the control means generates the connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus selected by the selecting means from the list displayed on the display section based on the above-mentioned image signal, and the communications means transmits the above-mentioned connection request signal. The selected information terminal apparatus transmits the above-mentioned image information after transmitting the acceptance response signal in response to the above-mentioned connection request signal.
In order to solve the problems above, an image display method related to the present invention is an image display method for an image display apparatus that receives image information that is sent from one or more information terminal apparatuses via a network and displays an image based on this image information, wherein the method includes a holding step that stores and holds in advance, of the above-mentioned one or more information terminal apparatuses, information of those whose connection to the network is desired, a reading step that reads the information of the information terminal apparatuses held in the above-mentioned holding step, a displaying step that displays, as a list, the information of the information terminal apparatuses that are read, a selecting step that selects one information terminal apparatus from the displayed list, and a transmitting step that generates and transmits a connection request signal with respect to the selected information terminal apparatus.
The displaying step displays, as a list, the information of the information terminal apparatuses read in the reading step, and the transmitting step generates and transmits the connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus selected from the displayed list in the selecting step.
According to an image display apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to switch among the plurality of information terminal apparatuses connected to the network and select a desired information terminal apparatus therefrom, and to display on the display section image information from the desired information terminal apparatus, because the image signal output means generates the image signal for displaying, as a list, the information of the information terminal apparatuses read from the holding means by the control means, the control means generates the connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus selected by the selecting means from the list displayed on the display section based on the above-mentioned image signal, and the communications means transmits the above-mentioned connection request signal.
According to an image display system of the present invention, the image signal output means of the image display apparatus generates the image signal for displaying, as a list, the information of the information terminal apparatuses read from the holding means by the control means, the control means generates the connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus selected by the selecting means from the list displayed on the display section based on the above-mentioned image signal, and the communications means transmits the above-mentioned connection request signal. In addition, the selected information terminal apparatus transmits the above-mentioned image information after transmitting the acceptance response signal in response to the above-mentioned connection request signal. Thus, as a system, it is possible to, from the side of the image display apparatus, switch among the plurality of networked information terminal apparatuses and select the desired information terminal apparatus therefrom, and to display on the display section of the image display apparatus the image information from the desired information terminal apparatus.
According to an image display method of the present invention, the image display apparatus is able to switch among the plurality of networked information terminal apparatuses and to select a desired information terminal apparatus therefrom, and to display image information from the desired information terminal apparatus, because the displaying step displays, as a list, the information of the information terminal apparatuses read in the reading step, and the transmitting step generates and transmits the connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus selected in the selecting step from the displayed list.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiment is an image display system including an example of an image display apparatus of the present invention and information terminal apparatuses that transmit image information to this example of an image display apparatus via a network.
The wireless communications channel is one that utilizes a transmission path other than a wire cable, such as radio waves and infrared rays. For example, there are wireless communications, such as those for Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) wireless communications, which utilize the 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band which is the same as that adopted in wireless LAN (WLAN) communications compliant with the IEEE 802.11 specifications. These are referred to as Bluetooth. In addition, there are those based on IrDA (Infrared Data Association), which is a specification for infrared data communications.
The image display apparatus 1 is comprised of a screen 5, which is an example of a display section, and an image projection apparatus (projector) that projects an image 55 onto a display screen 50 of the screen 5. A communications module 40, such as a wireless connection module, for example, is inserted into a slot 60a on the projector 60. This communications module 40 is for communicating with the three information terminal apparatuses 2A, 2B and 2C, and is used for transmitting and receiving request signals, response signals, rejection signals and the like for connecting or disconnecting. In addition, the module 40 is used for receiving image information that is sent from the three information terminal apparatuses 2A, 2B and 2C via the wireless network.
The three information terminal apparatuses 2A, 2B and 2C may be, for example, personal computers (PCs). Communications modules 44A, 44B and 44C, such as wireless connection modules, are also attached to the body of the information terminal apparatuses 2A, 2B and 2C, respectively, via a slot. These communications modules 44A, 44B and 44C are also used for transmitting and receiving request signals, response signals, rejection signals and the like for the connection and disconnection of communications with the communications module 40 of the projector 60. In addition, they are also used for transmitting image information to the projector 60. Needless to say, so long as the information terminal apparatuses are capable of having communications means, such as the above-mentioned communications module 44, mounted thereon and have functions of transmitting images, they need not be PCs. For example, they may be portable information terminals (PDAs), mobile phones, digital cameras and the like.
The information terminal apparatus 2A, for example, encrypts image information that is to be projected and displayed on the screen 5 by the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 and transmits it to the communications module 40 of the projector 60 through the communications module 44A. The same applies to the information terminal apparatuses 2B and 2C. The projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 receives, through the communications module 40, the above-mentioned encrypted image information wirelessly transmitted from the information terminal apparatus 2A via the above-mentioned wireless communications channel, and projects it onto the display screen 50 of the screen 5 as an enlarged image 55 after converting it into decrypted image information.
The projector 60 is comprised of a holding section 63, a control section 61, a selecting section 69, an image signal output section 65 and the above-mentioned communications module 40.
The holding section 63 stores, in advance, information of information terminal apparatuses whose connection to the wireless network is desired. In the example shown in
The control section 61 generates a connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus selected by the selecting section 69. The communications module 40 transmits the above-mentioned connection request signal from the control section 61 to the appropriate information terminal apparatus 2A, 2B or 2C.
In other words, according to the image display apparatus 1, the image signal output section 65 generates the image signal for displaying on the screen 5 as the list 71 the information of the information terminal apparatuses read from the holding section 63 by the control section 61, the control section 61 generates the connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus selected by the selecting section 69 from the list 71 displayed on the screen 5 based on the above-mentioned image signal, and the communications module 40 transmits the above-mentioned connection request signal.
The selected information terminal apparatus transmits the above-mentioned image information after transmitting an acceptance response signal in response to the above-mentioned connection request signal.
Therefore, the image display system 10 is capable of, from the side of the image display apparatus 1, switching among the plurality of networked information terminal apparatuses and selecting the desired information terminal apparatus therefrom, and of displaying on the screen 5 of the image display apparatus 1 the image information from the desired information terminal apparatus.
By adopting the block configuration above, it may be said that the image display apparatus 1 executes the image display method below. The image display method discussed herein is comprised of a holding step that stores and holds, in advance, of one or more information terminal apparatuses, information of that/those whose connection to a network is desired, a reading step that reads the information of the information terminal apparatuses held in the above-mentioned holding step, a displaying step that displays, as a list, the information of the information terminal apparatuses that are read, a selecting step that selects one information terminal apparatus from the displayed list, and a step that generates and transmits a connection request signal with respect to the selected information terminal apparatus.
As will be described later, the image information apparatus 1 whose configuration is shown in
The image display apparatus 1 has, in advance at the time of shipment, a connection application 41 for network connection, a driver 42 for driving the wireless connection module, and configuration information 43 for network connection written within a ROM, which will be described later. In addition, the image display apparatus 1 comes with the wireless connection module 40 as an accessory.
This wireless connection module 40 may be of a CF (Compact Flash) card type including an antenna and a transmission/reception chip, and may be used by inserting it into a dedicated slot 60a provided on the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1. More specifically, transmission data is sent from a CPU described later to a baseband processing section via a communications control section or an I/F section, signal processed at the baseband processing section, impressed upon a carrier wave at an RF processing section, and wirelessly transmitted to a device in its vicinity from the wireless communications antenna. On the other hand, radio waves wirelessly transmitted from devices in the vicinity are communicated to the CPU described later via the communications control section or the I/F section after being received by the local wireless communications antenna, having signals extracted at the RF processing section, and being signal processed at the baseband signal processing section.
The connection application 41 is executed by the CPU described later and carries out connection to the wireless network and the transfer of images using the driver 42 and the configuration information 43.
The image display apparatus 1 may come with the wireless connection module 44 of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) type, for the information terminal apparatus 2A, having functions similar to those of the wireless connection module 40. In addition, the image display apparatus 1 may come with a USB memory 45 in which a connection application 46, a driver 47 and configuration information 48 similar to the above-mentioned connection application 41, driver 42 and configuration information 43 are stored.
In order to connect the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 and the information terminal apparatus 2A to the wireless network, the user clicks on a set-up file with a mouse after plugging the USB memory 45 in a USB jack on the information terminal apparatus 2A. As a result, an installer will automatically be activated on the information terminal apparatus 2A, and the connection application 46, the driver 47 and the configuration information 48 will automatically be stored in the HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Then, if the user inserts the wireless connection module 44 into the USB jack (slot) on the information terminal apparatus 2A, connection configuration for the wireless network will be completed, and transmission and reception of data with the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 that is already running will be carried out via the wireless network.
The configuration information 43 and 48 are configuration information for carrying out wireless network connection.
In addition, IP address (Internet Protocol Address) of the configuration information items 7 would normally represent a series of numbers corresponding to the address of a computer connected to the Internet. Here, it indicates the address, within the network, of the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 and of the information terminal apparatus 2A. For example, in the configuration information 48 for the information terminal apparatus 2A, it would be auto IP (DHCP). The projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 is not a DHCP server of the wireless network, but since there is no configuration item corresponding to auto IP to begin with, by setting it to DHCP, a flow is established where a DHCP server is searched for, and once it is identified that there is none, auto IP operates. Subnet mask is a bit string for dividing subnets in an IP network. A network address is obtained by a logical AND operation of an IP address and a subnet mask.
With respect to the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1, the configuration information 43 is already stored in the ROM along with the connection application 41 and the driver 42 at the time of purchase of the projector 60. With respect to the information terminal apparatus 2A, the configuration information 48, as described above, is installed in the HDD or the like from the USB memory 45 along with the connection application 46 and the driver 47.
Of these configuration information 43 and configuration information 48, information necessary for wireless network connection, that is, information relating to the configuration of the wireless connection modules 40 and 44, is created from information unique to the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1, for example, its serial number and the like. For example, the network name “PJ-005” shown in the above-mentioned
Summarizing the above, the network name and the data encryption key in the configuration information 43 and 48 are determined from information unique to the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1, and these information, along with other configuration information, are, at the time of factory shipment, written in the ROM within the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 and in the USB memory 45.
The information terminal apparatuses 2B and 2C are connected to the wireless network in a manner similar to the information terminal apparatus 2A. However, the USB memories 45 and wireless connection modules 44 for the information terminal apparatuses 2B and 2C come with the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 at the time of purchase. Naturally, the user may also purchase the USB modules and the wireless connection modules at a later date. Of the configuration information 48 pre-stored in a plurality of USB memories 45, all of the information relating to the configuration of the wireless connection module 44 shown in
Thus, by simply inserting the plurality of USB memories 45, which are included at the time of purchase, into the respective USB jacks of the plurality of information terminal apparatuses 2A, 2B and 2C, carrying out a predetermined installation operation, and inserting the plurality of wireless connection modules 44 into the respective other USB jacks, the user of the image display apparatus 1 may connect the image display apparatus 1 and the plurality of information terminal apparatuses 2A, 2B and 2C to the wireless network.
In addition, of the configuration information shown in
The screen 5 is comparable to the screen 5 shown in
The remote controller 69 is an example of the selecting section 69 shown in
As described above, since the remote control optical receiver section 68 is provided on the image display apparatus 1, infrared remote control signals from the remote controller 69 can be received.
In accordance with remote control signals received by the remote control optical receiver section 68, the CPU 61 references, for example, a data table, which is stored in the ROM 63 or the RAM 64, for interpreting the remote control signals and interprets commands. For example, if a user, using the remote controller 69, selects the desired information terminal apparatus and requests connection, the CPU 61 generates a connection request signal with respect to the selected information terminal apparatus, and sends it to the wireless connection module 44 of the appropriate information terminal apparatus from the wireless connection module 40 via the I/F 66. Thus, it becomes possible to configure wireless network connection.
In addition, when operations for switching or disconnecting information terminal apparatuses are performed by the user using the remote controller 69, the CPU 61 interprets the command, generates the respective transmission signals corresponding to the command, and sends them to the wireless connection module 44 of the appropriate information terminal apparatus from the wireless connection module 40 via the I/F 66. Thus, the switching and disconnecting of information terminal apparatuses become possible through operations on the side of the image display apparatus 1.
In addition, the remote controller 69 is capable of controlling, through remote operations and through the image display apparatus 1, the fast forwarding/rewinding of the image displayed on the display section of the selected and connected information terminal apparatus 2. In this case, too, when the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 receives the infrared remote control signal from the remote controller 69 through the remote control optical receiver section 68, the CPU 61 references, for example, the table, which is stored in the ROM 63 or the RAM 64, for interpreting the remote control signals and interprets the command, the CPU 61 generates the respective transmission control data corresponding to the command, and sends the respective transmission control data from the wireless connection module 40 to the wireless connection module 44 of the information terminal apparatus 2 via the I/F 66. The information terminal apparatus 2 interprets the control data for fast forwarding/rewinding images, which is received through the wireless connection module 44, and fast forwards/rewinds the image information displayed on its display section. In conjunction therewith, the image projected onto the screen 5 of the image display apparatus 1 is also fast forwarded/rewound.
With the remote controller 69, it is further possible to perform such control as making the screen 5 of the image display apparatus 5 black. In addition, the remote controller 69 may be given laser pointer functions.
In addition, the process of fast forwarding/rewinding the image on the information terminal apparatus 2, the function of performing the control whereby the screen 5 is turned black, and the laser pointer function may be isolated from the remote controller 69 to provide a dedicated presentation tool.
When the above-mentioned connection request signal or the transmission signal for switching or disconnection are sent from the side of the image display apparatus 1, at the information terminal apparatus 2A, each transmission signal received by the wireless connection module 44 is handed over to the CPU 20 via the I/F 28, and is processed by the CPU 20. The processing of transmission signals to the image display apparatus 1 from the information terminal apparatus 2A is performed in a similar fashion.
Below, an operation of the image display system 10 comprised of the image display apparatus 1 of the hardware configuration shown in
It is assumed that operations and configuration for connecting the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 and the information terminal apparatus 2A to the wireless network are already completed by the user. In other words, the user has inserted the USB memory 45 into the USB jack on the information terminal apparatus 2A, an installer has been activated automatically on the information terminal apparatus 2A by clicking on the setup file using a mouse, and the connection application 46, the driver 47 and the configuration information 48 have automatically been stored in the HDD 24. Then, as the user inserts the wireless connection module 44 into the PC card slot on the information terminal apparatus 2A, configuration for connecting to the wireless network is completed, and it becomes possible to transmit and receive data to and from the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1, which is already running, via the wireless network.
First, assuming the user presses a predetermined key (a wireless connection function key) on the operation section of the remote controller 69 shown in
When the user selects from the list 71 the information terminal apparatus s/he wants to connect with by pressing the up or down selection key on the operation section of the remote controller 69 and presses the confirm (enter) key, the image display apparatus 1 connects with the selected information terminal apparatus. On the list 71 within the PC selection screen 70 of
In order to disconnect, the information terminal apparatus to be disconnected may be selected by pressing the up or down selection key on the operation section of the remote controller 69, and the enter key pressed.
Next, several examples of operations performed by the image display apparatus 1 in accordance with operations by the user using the above-mentioned PC selection screen 70 will be described with reference to
There exist a connected state and a disconnected state for the image display apparatus 1 and the information terminal apparatus 2. Below, processes according to those states will be described.
First, with reference to
The information terminal apparatus 2A to which the connection request signal is sent in the above-mentioned step S1 receives the connection request signal by the wireless connection module 44 in step S2. The CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2A receives via the I/F 28 the connection request signal received by the wireless connection module 44. Then, the CPU 20 generates a connection standby signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the connection standby signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S3.
Once the CPU 61 of the projector 60 interprets the above-mentioned connection standby signal received by the wireless connection module 40, a connection request result waiting state is entered in step S4.
After transmitting the above-mentioned connection standby signal, the information terminal apparatus 2A performs a connection request confirmation process at the CPU 20 in step S5, and determines whether or not it is currently possible to connect with the projector 60.
If, from this determination in step S5, the CPU 20 determines that connection is possible, the fact that the above-mentioned connection request should be accepted is decided as connection request confirmation OK in step S6. The CPU 20, based on the decision of connection request confirmation OK, generates a connection response signal, which is an acceptance response signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the above-mentioned connection response signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S7.
Then, the information terminal apparatus 2A and the projector 60 are connected once the CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2A executes a connection process in step S8. As a result, the CPU 20 of the selected information terminal apparatus 2A transmits the image information signal displayed on the liquid crystal display apparatus 21 to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 from the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28.
The wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 receives the image information transmitted from the information terminal apparatus 2A. The CPU 61 receives the above-mentioned image information via the I/F 66, and based thereon, makes image signals based on the above-mentioned image information be output by the image signal output section 65, and projects and displays the image from the information terminal apparatus 2A on the screen 5. Then, in step S9, on the side of the projector 60, connection is established.
Thus, the wireless connection module 40, which is the communications means of the image display apparatus 1, transmits the connection request signal generated by the CPU 61 to the information terminal apparatus 2A, and receives the above-mentioned image information after receiving the acceptance response signal from the information terminal apparatus 2A.
In addition, as shown in
The information terminal apparatus 2A to which the connection request signal is sent in the above-mentioned step S1 receives the connection request signal through the wireless connection module 44 in step S2. The CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2A receives via the I/F 28 the connection request signal received by the wireless connection module 44. Then, the CPU 20 generates a connection standby signal and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the connection standby signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S3.
Once the CPU 61 of the projector 60 interprets the above-mentioned connection standby signal received by the wireless connection module 40, a connection request result waiting state is entered in step S4.
After transmitting the above-mentioned connection standby signal, the information terminal apparatus 2A performs a connection request confirmation process at the CPU 20 in step S5, and determines whether or not connection with the projector 60 is currently possible.
If, from this determination in step S5, the CPU 20 determines that connection is not possible, the fact that the above-mentioned connection request should be rejected is decided as connection request confirmation NG in step S6′. Based on the decision of connection request confirmation NC, the CPU 20 generates a connection rejection signal and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the above-mentioned connection rejection signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S7′.
As a result, the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 goes on to maintain disconnection from waiting for the connection request result. In addition, the information terminal apparatus 2A also maintains disconnection. In this case, image transfer is not performed.
When the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 thus receives via the wireless connection module 40 the connection rejection signal from the information terminal apparatus 2A selected by the remote controller 69, the CPU 61 does not perform the process of connecting with the selected information terminal apparatus 2A. In addition, at this point, the CPU 61 may control the image signal output section 65 so as to display, on the PC connection guidance display section 73 within the PC selection screen 70 shown in
Next, with reference to
The information terminal apparatus 2A to which the disconnection request signal is sent in the above-mentioned step S11 receives the disconnection request signal through the wireless connection module 44 in step S12. The CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2A receives via the I/F 28 the disconnection request signal received by the wireless connection module 44. The CPU 20 generates a disconnection standby signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the disconnection standby signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S13.
Once the CPU 61 of the projector 60 interprets the above-mentioned disconnection standby signal received by the wireless connection module 40, a disconnection request result waiting state is entered in step S14.
After transmitting the above-mentioned disconnection standby signal, the information terminal apparatus 2A performs a disconnection request confirmation process at the CPU 20 in step S15, and determines whether or not it is currently possible to disconnect from the projector 60.
If, from this determination in step S15, the CPU 20 determines that disconnection is possible, the fact that the above-mentioned disconnection request should be accepted is decided as disconnection request confirmation OK in step S16. The CPU 20, based on the decision of disconnection request confirmation OK, generates a disconnection response signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the above-mentioned disconnection response signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S17.
Then, the information terminal apparatus 2A and the projector 60 are disconnected once the CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2A performs a disconnection process in step S18, the transfer of image information to the projector 60 from the information terminal apparatus 2A is terminated, and the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 finishes projecting and displaying on the screen 5 the image from the information terminal apparatus 2A. In step S19, the side of the projector 60 becomes disconnected.
In addition, as shown in
The information terminal apparatus 2A to which the disconnection request signal is sent in the above-mentioned step S11 receives the disconnection request signal through the wireless connection module 44 in step S12. The CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2A receives via the I/F 28 the disconnection request signal received by the wireless connection module 44. The CPU 20 generates a disconnection standby signal and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the disconnection standby signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S13.
Once the CPU 61 of the projector 60 interprets the above-mentioned disconnection standby signal received by the wireless connection module 40, a disconnection request result waiting state is entered in step S14.
After transmitting the above-mentioned disconnection standby signal, the information terminal apparatus 2A performs a disconnection request confirmation process at the CPU 20 in step S15, and determines whether or not disconnection from the projector 60 is currently possible.
If, from this determination in step S15, the CPU 20 determines that disconnection is not possible, the fact that the above-mentioned disconnection request should be rejected is decided as disconnection request confirmation NG in step S16′. Based on the decision of disconnection request confirmation NG, the CPU 20 generates a disconnection rejection signal and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the above-mentioned disconnection rejection signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S17′.
As a result, the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 goes on to maintain connection from waiting for the disconnection request result. The information terminal apparatus 2A continues the transfer of image information to the projector 60, and the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 continues to project and display on the screen 5 the image from the information terminal apparatus 2A. In addition, at this point, the CPU 61 may control the image signal output section 65 so as to display, on the PC connection guidance display section 73 within the PC selection screen 70 shown in
Next, with reference to
Using the remote controller 69, the PC selection screen 70 is displayed on the screen 5 of the image display apparatus 1. Using the remote controller 69, the user selects the information terminal apparatus 2B to which connection is to be switched. Then, the CPU 61 of the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 generates a disconnection request signal with respect to the currently connected information terminal apparatus 2A, hands it over to the wireless connection module 40 via the I/F 66, and transmits it from the wireless connection module 40 to the wireless connection module 44 of the appropriate information terminal apparatus 2A in step S21.
The information terminal apparatus 2A to which the disconnection request signal is sent in the above-mentioned step S21 receives the disconnection request signal through the wireless connection module 44 in step S22. The CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2A receives via the I/F 28 the disconnection request signal received by the wireless connection module 44. The CPU 20 generates a disconnection standby signal and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the disconnection standby signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S23.
Once the CPU 61 of the projector 60 receives the above-mentioned disconnection standby signal through the wireless connection module 40 and interprets it, a disconnection request result waiting state is entered in step S24.
After transmitting the above-mentioned disconnection standby signal, the information terminal apparatus 2A performs a disconnection request confirmation process at the CPU 20 in step S25, and determines whether or not it is currently possible to disconnect from the projector 60.
If, from this determination in step S25, the CPU 20 determines that disconnection is possible, the fact that the above-mentioned disconnection request should be accepted is decided as disconnection request confirmation OK in step S26. The CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2A, based on the decision of disconnection request confirmation OK, generates a disconnection response signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the above-mentioned disconnection response signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S27.
Then, the information terminal apparatus 2A and the projector 60 are disconnected once the CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2A performs a disconnection process in step S28, the transfer of image information to the projector 60 from the information terminal apparatus 2A is terminated, and the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 finishes projecting and displaying on the screen 5 the image from the information terminal apparatus 2A. In step S29, the side of the projector becomes disconnected. As a result, in step S30, a disconnection process completion notice is transmitted from the projector 60 to the information terminal apparatus 2A. In step S31, the information terminal apparatus 2A becomes disconnected.
Next, the CPU 61 of the projector 60 generates a connection request signal with respect to the information terminal apparatus 2B that has been selected for switching connection to by the remote controller 69, hands it over to the wireless connection module 40 via the I/F 66, and transmits it from the wireless connection module 40 to the wireless connection module 44 of the appropriate information terminal apparatus 2B in step S32.
Thus, when a selection is made through the remote controller 69 to switch connection from the currently connected information terminal apparatus 2A to the other information terminal apparatus 2B, the CPU 61 of the projector 60 transmits the disconnection request signal to the currently connected information terminal apparatus 2A via the wireless connection module 40, receives the acceptance response signal (disconnection response signal) from the above-mentioned connected information terminal apparatus 2A, and transmits the connection request signal to the other information terminal apparatus 2B after connection is cut.
The information terminal apparatus 2B to which the connection request signal is sent in the above-mentioned step S32 receives the connection request signal through the wireless connection module 44 in step S33. The CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2B receives via the I/F 28 the connection request signal received by the wireless connection module 44. Then, the CPU 20 generates a connection standby signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the connection standby signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S34.
Once the CPU 61 of the projector 60 interprets the above-mentioned connection standby signal received by the wireless connection module 40, a connection request result waiting state is entered in step S35.
After transmitting the above-mentioned connection standby signal, the information terminal apparatus 2B performs a connection request confirmation process at the CPU 20 in step S36, and determines whether or not it is currently possible to connect with the projector 60.
If, from this determination in step S36, the CPU 20 determines that connection is possible, the fact that the above-mentioned connection request should be accepted is decided as connection request confirmation OK in step S37. The CPU 20, based on the decision of connection request confirmation OK, generates a connection response signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the above-mentioned connection response signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S38.
Then, the information terminal apparatus 2B and the projector 60 are connected once the CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2B performs a connection process in step S39, the transfer of image information from the information terminal apparatus 2B to the projector 60 is begun, and the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 projects and displays on the screen 5 the image from the information terminal apparatus 2B. In step S40, the side of the projector 60 becomes connected.
Naturally, in the example shown in
In
Next, in the sequence diagram of
In this case, too, when a selection is made through the remote controller 69 to switch connection from the currently connected information terminal apparatus 2A to the other information terminal apparatus 2B, the CPU 61 of the projector 60 transmits the disconnection request signal to the currently connected information terminal apparatus 2A via the wireless connection module 40, receives the acceptance response signal (disconnection response signal) from the above-mentioned connected information terminal apparatus 2A, and transmits the connection request signal to the other information terminal apparatus 2B after connection is cut.
The information terminal apparatus 2B to which the connection request signal is sent in the above-mentioned step S32 receives the connection request signal through the wireless connection module 44 in step S33. The CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2B receives via the I/F 28 the connection request signal received by the wireless connection module 44. Then, the CPU 20 generates a connection standby signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the connection standby signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S34.
Once the CPU 61 of the projector 60 interprets the above-mentioned connection standby signal received by the wireless connection module 40, a connection request result waiting state is entered in step S35.
After transmitting the above-mentioned connection standby signal, the information terminal apparatus 2B performs a connection request confirmation process at the CPU 20 in step S36, and determines whether or not it is currently possible to connect with the projector 60.
If, from this determination in step S36, the CPU 20 determines that connection is not possible, the fact that the above-mentioned connection request should be rejected is decided as connection request confirmation NG in step S37′. The CPU 20, based on the decision of connection request confirmation NG, generates a connection rejection signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the above-mentioned connection rejection signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S38′.
As a result, the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 goes on to maintain disconnection from waiting for the connection request result. In addition, the information terminal apparatus 2B also maintains disconnection. In this case, the transfer of image information is not performed. In other words, the image display apparatus 1, the information terminal apparatus 2A and the information terminal apparatus 2B all become disconnected. When the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 thus receives via the wireless connection module 40 the connection rejection signal from the information terminal apparatus 2B selected for switching connection to by the remote controller 69, the CPU 61 does not perform the process of connecting with the selected information terminal apparatus 2B. In addition, at this point, the CPU 61 may control the image signal output section 65 so as to display, on the PC connection guidance display section 73 within the PC selection screen 70 shown in
In addition, at the image display apparatus 1, when connection is to be switched from the currently connected information terminal apparatus 2A to the other information terminal apparatus 2B through a selection made by the remote controller 69, the CPU 61 is to put the connection request signal to the above-mentioned other information terminal apparatus 2B on hold until the acceptance response signal from the above-mentioned connected information terminal apparatus 2A is received after transmitting via the wireless connection module 40 the disconnection request signal to the already connected information terminal apparatus 2A.
The information terminal apparatus 2A to which the disconnection request signal is sent in the above-mentioned step S51 receives the disconnection request signal through the wireless connection module 44 in step S52. The CPU 20 of the information terminal apparatus 2A receives via the I/F 28 the disconnection request signal received by the wireless connection module 44. The CPU 20 generates a disconnection standby signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the disconnection standby signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S53.
Once the CPU 61 of the projector 60 interprets the above-mentioned disconnection standby signal received by the wireless connection module 40, a disconnection request result waiting state is entered in step S54.
After transmitting the above-mentioned disconnection standby signal, the information terminal apparatus 2A performs a disconnection request confirmation process at the CPU 20 in step S55, and determines whether or not it is currently possible to disconnect from the projector 60.
If, from this determination in step S55, the CPU 20 determines that disconnection is not possible, the fact that the above-mentioned disconnection request should be rejected is decided as disconnection request confirmation NG in step S56. The CPU 20, based on the decision of disconnection request confirmation NG, generates a disconnection rejection signal, and hands it over to the wireless connection module 44 via the I/F 28. The wireless connection module 44 transmits the above-mentioned disconnection rejection signal to the wireless connection module 40 of the projector 60 in step S57.
As a result, the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 goes on to maintain connection from waiting for the disconnection request result. The information terminal apparatus 2A also remains connected, continues the transfer of image information to the projector 60, and the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 continues to project and display on the screen 5 the image from the information terminal apparatus 2A. In addition, the information terminal apparatus 2B to which the image display apparatus 1 is to request connection ends up maintaining disconnection.
At this point, the CPU 61 may control the image signal output section 65 so as to display, on the PC connection guidance display section 73 within the PC selection screen 70 shown in
As described above, through operations using the remote controller 69 and with respect to the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1, the image display system 10 is capable of switching among a plurality of information terminal apparatuses connected to a network and selecting the desired information terminal apparatus therefrom, and of displaying on a display section image information from the desired information terminal apparatus. In other words, so long as the information terminal apparatuses are connected to the wireless network, images can be switched and displayed on the screen 5 with ease. In addition, the information terminal apparatuses connected to the network can be confirmed from the screen 5 of the image display apparatus 1. Further, since, just through operations from the remote controller 69 of the image display apparatus 1, it is possible to switch the information terminal apparatus whose image is to be projected onto the screen 5, even in cases where, for example, there are a plurality of presenters to present in a given order, it becomes unnecessary for each presenter, in accordance with the order, to perform an output on/off operation at each information terminal apparatus, and therefore, the gap in time until the next presentation is eliminated, and presentations can be conducted speedily.
The present invention is not to have its application limited to the above-mentioned image display system 10 whose configuration is shown in
This other image display system 10 is a system in which the image display apparatus 1 and the information terminal apparatuses 2A, 2B and 2C are connected to a wireless network via an access point 3 compliant with IEEE 802.11b. Each of the information terminal apparatuses 2A, 2B and 2C has a configuration similar to the information terminal apparatus 2 described with reference to
A wireless mode setting item 105 refers to the network mode, and is a mode that can be selected, by maneuvering a selection icon 107, from a mode for connecting to an access point (access point connection mode) or a mode for connecting one-on-one with a given device (ad hoc mode). Here, access point connection 106 is selected.
An ESSID configuration item 108 is an item for identifying the network name (SSID), refers to the name of the network, and is a name that is unique to the image display apparatus 1. Here, it is taken to be a serial number “1234” 109. The same characters as those of a computer or an access point to be connected are input. Up to a maximum of thirty-two letters may be inputted.
Wireless channel configuration item 110 is an item for inputting a network channel, that is, the frequency band to be used. If the network mode is set to “ad hoc (peer to peer),” channels “1” to “11” may be selected, for example, through a selection icon 112. If it is set to “connection via access point (wireless access point),” the network channel is set to “auto” 111.
A WEP encryption type configuration item 113 is an item for selecting the method of data encryption communications. The encryption of data (WEP) is necessary in order to protect data from the risk of data interception since the present system constitutes a wireless network, and is selected from “off,” “64(40)-bit ASCII,” “128(104)-bit ASCII,” “64(40)-bit HEX,” and “128(104)-bit HEX.” When, for this WEP encryption type configuration item 113, the user selects, using a selection icon 115, one of the above-mentioned encryption methods, the number and type of characters that can be inputted in an input area 117 of a key configuration item 116 are determined. If the user has selected with the selection icon 115 “128(104)-bit HEX” 114, it becomes possible to input the corresponding number and type of characters for 128(104)-bit HEX in the input area 117 of the key configuration item 116.
The key configuration item 116 is used for entering a key when the function of encrypting data is used for the WEP encryption type configuration item 113. The inputted key becomes an asterisk display 117. The same key as the computer or access point to be connected is inputted. There are restrictions as to the type and number of characters that can be used. The number of characters that can be input differs depending on the settings for data encryption. If “64(40)-bit ASCII” is selected for the WEP encryption type configuration item 113, the allowable number of characters would be five one-byte characters and symbols (“0 to 9,” “A to Z,” “a to z”). If “128(104)-bit ASCII” is selected, the allowable number of characters would be thirteen one-byte characters and symbols (“0 to 9,” “A to Z,” “a to z”). If “64(40)-bit HEX” is selected, the allowable number of characters would be ten characters in a combination of “0 to 9” and “a to f.” If “128(104)-bit HEX” is selected, the allowable number of characters would be twenty-six characters in a combination of “0 to 9” and “a to f.” Thus, for the key configuration item 116, since limitations are imposed on the type and number of characters that can be used, it is possible to make unnecessary characters not be displayed. Conventionally, even if there were input limitations, the act of inputting itself was possible. In the present invention, only the type of characters that can be inputted are displayed as candidates, and therefore, cases where characters not available for input are inputted and one has to input again are avoided.
In inputting the WEP key for this key configuration item 116, character selection is done by pressing the up/down key of the operation section 69a on the remote controller 69, position changes and character confirmation are done by pressing the left/right key of the operation section 69a, and overall confirmation is done by pressing the enter key of the operation section 69a.
The wireless setting mode, network name, wireless channel and data encryption method mentioned above are information relating to the configuration of the wireless connection module 40.
The IP address setting item 118 is an item for the user to select between “auto (DHCP)” and “manual” as the Internet protocol (IP) address configuration of the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1. Here, auto IP (DHCP) 119 is selected with the selection icon 120. The projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 is not a DHCP server of the wireless network, but since there is no configuration item corresponding to auto IP to begin with, by configuring it as DHCP, a flow is established where a DHCP server is searched for, and once it is identified that there is none, auto IP operates. If “manual” is selected, it is necessary to set an IP address configuration section 121, a subnet mask configuration section 123 and a default gateway configuration section 125 of this screen.
For the IP address configuration section 121, the IP address setting of the projector 60 of the image display apparatus 1 is entered in an input area 122 by selecting from numbers between 0 and 255. For the subnet mask configuration section 123, the subnet mask configuration of the image display apparatus 1 is entered in an input area 124 by selecting from numbers between 0 and 255. For the default gateway configuration section 125, the default gateway configuration of the image display apparatus 1 is entered in an input area 126 by selecting from numbers between 0 and 255.
MAC (Media Access Control) address configuration section 127 displays the MAC address of a configured wireless module on a display section 128.
In order to save the configuration for each item described above, the user may select an “OK” button 129 and press the enter key. As a result, the configuration is saved. In addition, in order to close the configuration menu without saving the configuration, the user may select a “cancel” button 130 and press the enter key.
In the other image display system 10, too, whose configuration is shown using
As described above, the other image display system 10 of
In the embodiment above, as the image display apparatus, an apparatus of a configuration comprised of a projector and a screen is given, however, the present invention is not to have its application limited to the above-mentioned apparatus. For example, it may also be applied to cathode ray tube display apparatuses that display images using cathode rays, or to image display apparatuses that display images on a liquid crystal display section (LCD).
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2004-061422 | Mar 2004 | JP | national |
2004-342367 | Nov 2004 | JP | national |
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