Patent Application
20170012798
The present technology relates to transmission apparatuses, transmission methods, reception apparatuses, and reception methods. In particular, the present technology relates to, for example, a transmission apparatus for transmitting a plurality of streams of data corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of data channels.
The Mobile High-definition Link (MHL) standard has conventionally been proposed for a communication interface that allows high-speed transmission of image and audio data from a transmitter (source apparatus) to a receiver (sink apparatus). In conventional MHL systems, for example, content data is transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver through a single data channel.
In conventional digital High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) interfaces, content data is divided into a plurality of streams of data, which are transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver through a plurality of data channels. In this case, in order to allow the receiver to perform an appropriate process, it is necessary to correctly input the plurality of streams of data into the respective corresponding pins of the receptacle of the receiver.
For example, Patent Literature 1 indicates that, by inserting a connector identifier into each signal pin of the connector of the signal transmitter circuit, the internal circuit is prevented from being broken due to incorrect connection of the connector.
Patent Literature 1: JP H6-068935A
It is an object of the present technology to allow good transmission and reception of a plurality of streams of data corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of data channels.
According to an aspect of the present technology, a transmission apparatus includes:
a transmission unit configured to transmit a plurality of streams of data corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of data channels, to an external apparatus through a transmission path; and
an information addition unit configured to add, to each of the plurality of streams of data, identification information for identifying the corresponding data channel.
In the present technology, the transmission unit transmits a plurality of streams of data corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of data channels, to an external apparatus through a transmission path. The information insertion unit inserts, to each of the plurality of streams of data, identification information for identifying the corresponding data channel.
For example, the data channel may be a TMDS data channel. The information addition unit may add, to a control period of each piece of TMDS line data, the identification information for identifying the corresponding data channel. Also, for example, information about the total number of the data channels may be added to the identification information for identifying the corresponding data channel.
Thus, in the present technology, to each of a plurality of streams of data, identification information for identifying the corresponding data channel is added. Therefore, a receiving side can easily and correctly determine to which of the data channels each of the received plurality of streams of data corresponds, and perform an appropriate process on the received plurality of streams of data.
Note that, in the present technology, for example, the transmission apparatus may further include a data processing unit configured to obtain the plurality of streams of data from one or more pieces of content data. Also, in the present technology, the transmission apparatus may further include a receptacle having a plurality of pins for outputting respective ones of the plurality of streams of data. The receptacle may be reversibly connectable to a plug of a cable forming the transmission path. In this case, even when the plug of the cable is in any connection direction, a receiving side can easily and correctly determine to which of the data channels each of the received plurality of streams of data corresponds, and perform an appropriate process on the received plurality of streams of data.
Also, according to another aspect of the present technology, a reception apparatus includes:
a reception unit configured to receive a plurality of streams of data, to each of which identification information for identifying a corresponding data channel is added, from an external apparatus through a transmission path; and
a determination unit configured to determine to which of the data channels each of the plurality of streams of data corresponds, on the basis of the inserted identification information.
In the present technology, the reception unit receives a plurality of streams of data from an external apparatus through a transmission path. Here, to each of the plurality of streams of data, identification information for identifying a corresponding data channel is inserted. For example, the data channel is a TMDS data channel. The identification information is added to a control period of TMDS line data. The determination unit determines to which of the data channels each of the plurality of streams of data corresponds, on the basis of the inserted identification information.
Thus, in the present technology, it is determined to which of data channels each of a plurality of streams of data corresponds, on the basis of identification information inserted therein. Therefore, it can be easily and correctly determined to which of the data channels each of the plurality of streams of data corresponds, and an appropriate process can be performed on the plurality of streams of data.
Note that, in the present technology, for example, the reception apparatus may further include a data processing unit configured to combine the plurality of streams of data together, on the basis of a result of the determination, to obtain one or more pieces of content data. Also, in the present technology, the reception apparatus may further include a receptacle having a plurality of pins for receiving respective ones of the plurality of streams of data. The receptacle may be reversibly connectable to a plug of a cable forming the transmission path. In this case, even when the plug of the cable is in any connection direction, a receiving side can easily and correctly determine to which of the data channels each of the received plurality of streams of data corresponds, and perform an appropriate process on the received plurality of streams of data.
According to the present technology, allowed is good transmission and reception of a plurality of streams of data corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of data channels. Note that the advantageous effects described herein are merely illustrative and not restrictive, and there may be additional advantageous effects.
Modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will now be described. Note that description will be provided in the following order.
1. Embodiments
2. Variations
An overview of MHL will be described. MHL is an audio visual (AV) digital interface standard for, mainly, mobile apparatuses. According to MHL, an MHL source apparatus and an MHL sink apparatus are connected together by an MHL cable, and contents, such as moving images, still images, sounds, and the like, possessed by the MHL source apparatus are played back by the MHL sink apparatus (AV stream/unidirectional).
Also, controls such as reading of EDID, HDCP authentication, reading/writing of a register, control of a remote controller, and the like are performed by transmission and reception of a DDC command and an MHL sideband channel (MSC) command between the apparatuses (link control/bidirectional). The mobile phone 100 and the television set 200 adjust settings for a link between these apparatuses, and exchange content data through the MHL cable 300 according to the values of the link settings.
The mobile phone 100 divides video and audio data, etc., i.e., content data, into a plurality of streams of data, and transmits the plurality of streams of data through a plurality of TMDS data channels. At this time, the mobile phone 100 adds, to each of the plurality of streams of data, identification information (e.g., a number, etc.) for identifying the corresponding TMDS data channel. In this embodiment, the mobile phone 100 inserts the above identification information into a control period of each piece of TMDS line data.
The television set 200 receives a plurality of streams of data. The television set 200 determines to which of the TMDS data channel each stream of data corresponds, on the basis of the identification information added to that stream of data. Thereafter, on the basis of the determination result, the television set 200 combines the plurality of streams of data to obtain content data, such as video, audio, and the like.
The CPU 101 controls an operation of each unit of the mobile phone 100. The user operation unit 102 and the display unit 104 form a user interface. The user operation unit 102 is connected to the CPU 101. The user operation unit 102 includes a key, button, dial, or switch which is provided on a housing (not shown) of the mobile phone 100, or a touch panel provided on a display surface of the display unit 104, or a mouse or keyboard, or a gesture input unit which performs detection using a camera, or a voice input unit which performs detection using a microphone, or a remotely controlled transmitter/receiver, or the like.
The display control unit 103 controls the display of the display unit 104. The display unit 104 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electro-luminescence (EL) panel, or the like. Note that, in this embodiment, an example is illustrated in which the display control unit 103 is provided in addition to the CPU 101. Alternatively, the CPU 101 may directly control the display of the display unit 104. The CPU 101 and the display control unit 103 may be implemented as a single chip or a plurality of cores. The power supply unit 111 supplies power to each unit of the mobile phone 100. The power supply unit 111 may be an AC power supply or a battery (a rechargeable battery or a dry cell battery).
The 3G/4G modem 105 performs mobile telephone communication. The camera unit 106 captures a moving image and a still image. The recording/reproduction unit 107 drives an internal memory (non-volatile memory), or a recording medium such as a memory card or the like, for recording or retrieval (writing or reading). The recording/reproduction unit 107 performs recording/reproduction of a call through the modem 105.
The recording/reproduction unit 107 also performs recording/reproduction of image data (a moving image, a still image) and audio data acquired through the modem 105, recording/reproduction of image data (a moving image, a still image) and audio data captured and obtained by a camera unit (including a microphone) 106, or the like. Note that the recording/reproduction unit 107 also performs a codec process for data compression on image data (a moving image, a still image) captured and obtained by the camera unit 106.
The user can instruct the display unit 104, using the user operation unit 102, to display a list of contents recorded in a recording medium included in the recording/reproduction unit 107. When the user chooses any one from the content list using the user operation unit 102, the data of the chosen content is reproduced from the recording medium by the recording/reproduction unit 107, and transferred to the transmission process unit 108.
Note that the video data and audio data acquired by the 3G/4G modem 105 or the video data and audio data acquired by the camera unit 106 may be transmitted in real time. In this case, the content data is directly transferred to the transmission process unit 108, although not shown. Alternatively, a memory card may be inserted into another device, which then writes content data into the memory card, and thereafter inserted into the recording/reproduction unit 107 so that the content data is transferred to the transmission process unit 108.
The transmission process unit 108 processes and adjusts the resolution, frame rate, color depth, color space, and the like of image data which has been supplied from the recording/reproduction unit 107 and is to be transferred to the television set 200, to the values of the link settings in the MHL transmission unit 109. The MHL transmission unit 109 is connected to the MHL terminal 110.
The MHL transmission unit 109 unidirectionally transmits content data, such as video, audio, and the like, processed by the transmission process unit 108, from the MHL terminal 110 to the television set 200 through the MHL cable 300, by communication compliant with the MHL standard. In this embodiment, the MHL transmission unit 109 divides the MHL data into a plurality of pieces of TMDS line data, and transmits the plurality of pieces of TMDS line data through a plurality of TMDS channels. At this time, the MHL transmission unit 109 adds, to the control period of each piece of TMDS line data, identification information for identifying the corresponding TMDS data channel. The MHL transmission unit 109 will be described in detail below.
The control unit 201 controls an operation of each unit of the television set 200. The user operation unit 202 forms a user interface, and is connected to the control unit 201. The user operation unit 202 includes a key, button, dial, or switch which is provided on a housing (not shown) of the reception apparatus 200, or a touch panel provided on a display surface of the display unit 210, or a mouse or keyboard, or a gesture input unit which performs detection using a camera, or a voice input unit which performs detection using a microphone, or a remotely controlled transmitter/receiver, or the like.
The display control unit 203 controls the display of the display unit 210. The display unit 210 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electro-luminescence (EL) panel, or the like. Note that, in this embodiment, an example is illustrated in which the display control unit 203 is provided in addition to the CPU 201. Alternatively, the CPU 201 may directly control the display of the display unit 210. The CPU 201 and the display control unit 203 may be implemented as a single chip or a plurality of cores. The power supply unit 211 supplies power to each unit of the television set 200. The power supply unit 211 may be an AC power supply or a battery (a rechargeable battery or a dry cell battery).
The MHL reception unit 205 is connected to the MHL terminal 204. The MHL reception unit 205 receives content data of video, audio, and the like unidirectionally transmitted from the MHL transmission unit 109 of the mobile phone 100 connected thereto through the MHL cable 300, by communication compliant with the MHL standard. The MHL reception unit 205 sends the received video data to the reception process unit 206. Note that the audio data received by the MHL reception unit 205 is supplied to an audio data reception process unit (not shown).
In this embodiment, the MHL reception unit 205 receives a plurality of pieces of TMDS line data. At this time, the MHL reception unit 205 determines to which of the TMDS data channels each piece of TMDS line data corresponds, on the basis of the identification information inserted in the control period of that TMDS line data. On the basis of the determination result, the MHL reception unit 205 optionally rearranges the pieces of TMDS line data before combining the pieces of TMDS line data to obtain the same MHL data that has been transmitted by the transmitting side. The MHL reception unit 205 will be described in detail below.
The reception process unit 206 performs a necessary process such as a scaling process (resolution conversion process), gamma correction, or the like on the video data acquired by the MHL reception unit 205. The reception process unit 206 supplies the processed image data to the switching unit 209.
The tuner 207 receives a broadcasting-satellite service, a digital terrestrial broadcasting service, or the like. The tuner 207 is supplied with a broadcast signal captured by an antenna (not shown) connected to the antenna terminal 208. The tuner 207 acquires the video data (video signal) and audio data of a predetermined program on the basis of a broadcast signal. The switching unit 209 selectively obtains video data processed by the reception process unit 206 or video data acquired the tuner 207, and supplies the video data to the display unit 210.
Operations of the mobile phone 100 shown in
The transmission process unit 108 processes and adjusts the resolution, frame rate, color depth, color space, and the like of image data to be transmitted to the television set 200, to the values of the link settings in the MHL transmission unit 109. The MHL transmission unit 109 unidirectionally transmits the content data processed by the transmission process unit 108 from the MHL terminal 110 to the television set 200 through the MHL cable 300, by communication compliant with the MHL standard.
The MHL reception unit 205 of the television set 200 receives content data unidirectionally transmitted from the MHL transmission unit 109 of the mobile phone 100 through the MHL cable 300, by communication compliant with the MHL standard. Image data received by the MHL reception unit 205 is transferred to the reception process unit 206, which then performs a scaling process (resolution conversion process), gamma correction, or the like on the image data. The processed video data is supplied to the switching unit 209.
The tuner 207 receives a broadcasting-satellite service, a digital terrestrial broadcasting service, or the like. Video data acquired by the tuner 207 is supplied to the switching unit 209. The switching unit 209 selectively obtains video data processed by the reception process unit 206 or video data acquired the tuner 207, and supplies the video data to the display unit 210.
Each TMDS data channel, which includes a twisted pair, is used to transmit an AV stream and a synchronization signal (MHL clocks) therefor. CBUS is used to bidirectionally transfer a DDC command and an MSC command. A DDC command is used for reading of EDID or HDCP authentication. An MSC command is used for EDID reading control, reading/writing of various registers, control of a remote controller, and the like. VBUS is used to supply a power of +5 V from the MHL sink apparatus to the MHL source apparatus or from the MHL source apparatus to the MHL sink apparatus.
Here, the video field period is a period from an active edge of a vertical synchronization signal to the next active edge of the vertical synchronization signal. The video field period is divided into a horizontal blanking period, a vertical blanking period, and an active video period. The active video period is a period obtained by removing the horizontal blanking period and the vertical blanking period from the video field period. The video data period is assigned to the active video period. During the video data period, the data of active pixels of B pixels x A lines constituting uncompressed image data corresponding to one screen, is transmitted.
The data island period and the control period are assigned to the horizontal blanking period and the vertical blanking period. During the data island period and the control period, auxiliary data is transmitted. In other words, the data island period is assigned to a portion of the horizontal blanking period and the vertical blanking period. During the data island period, of the auxiliary data, data which is not involved in control, such as packets of audio data and the like, is transmitted. The control period is assigned to the other portion of the horizontal blanking period and the vertical blanking period. During the control period, of the auxiliary data, data which is involved in control, such as a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, control packets, and the like, is transmitted.
Referring back to
The TMDS encoders 123-0 to 123-X convert the TMDS line data 0 to X, respectively, into TMDS signals. The serializers 124-0 to 124-X serialize the TMDS signals 0 to X to obtain TMDS line data 0 to X, respectively, as transmission signals.
The TMDS decoders 222-0 to 222-X each convert an (X+1)th stream of TMDS signal into TMDS line data. The combination unit 223 determines to which of the TMDS data channels each (X+1)th stream of TMDS line data corresponds, on the basis of the channel number data inserted in the control period. Thereafter, on the basis of the determination signal, the combination unit 223 optionally rearranges the TMDS line data 0 to X before combining the TMDS line data 0 to X together to obtain MHL data. The MHL data separation unit 224 separates the MHL data into video data, audio data, a control signal, and the like.
A flowchart of
Next, in step ST3, the MHL transmission unit 109 divides the MHL data into a plurality of streams of TMDS line data corresponding to a plurality of TMDS data channels, inserts an ID (channel number data+total-number-of-channels data) into each stream of TMDS line data, and transmits the plurality of streams of TMDS line data.
Next, in step ST4, on the basis of the ID inserted in each received stream of TMDS line data, the MHL reception unit 205 determines to which of the TMDS data channels that received stream of TMDS line data corresponds. On the basis of the determination result, the MHL reception unit 205 optionally rearranges the streams of TMDS line data before combining the streams of TMDS line data to obtain MHL data. After the process of step ST4, the process ends in step ST5.
As described above, in the image display system 10 of
Therefore, the image display system 10 of
Also, for example, as shown in
Also, for example, as shown in
Thus, the MHL reception unit determines to which of the TMDS channels each of pieces of TMDS line data input to the inputs (1) to (X) corresponds, on the basis of the ID, and optionally rearranges the pieces of TMDS line data. Therefore, even when TMDS line data (1) to (X) are not correctly input to the inputs (1) to (X) of the MHL reception unit, MHL data can be appropriately reconstructed.
Also, in the image display system 10 of
Also, when the MHL device (B) is arranged, a wiring pattern is typically complicated as shown in
Also, when the MHL device (C) is arranged, a wiring pattern typically has a cross point as shown in
Note that, in the above embodiments, an example has been described in which a single piece of content data is transmitted and received through the TMDS data channels 0 to X. Alternatively, the TMDS data channels 0 to X may be divided into a plurality of groups, and a plurality of pieces of content data may be transmitted and received in parallel.
Also, in the above embodiments, an example has been described in which an MHL source apparatus and an MHL sink apparatus are connected together through an MHL digital interface. Alternatively, the present technology can also be similarly applied to a case where a transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus are connected together through other digital interfaces, such as High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) and the like. Note that “HDMI” and “MHL” are a registered trademark.
Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.
(1)
A transmission apparatus including:
a transmission unit configured to transmit a plurality of streams of data corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of data channels, to an external apparatus through a transmission path; and
an information addition unit configured to add, to each of the plurality of streams of data, identification information for identifying the corresponding data channel.
(2)
The transmission apparatus according to (1),
wherein the data channel is a TMDS data channel, and
the information addition unit inserts, into a control period of each piece of TMDS line data, the identification information for identifying the corresponding data channel.
(3)
The transmission apparatus according to (1) or (2),
wherein information about the total number of the data channels is added to the identification information for identifying the corresponding data channel.
(4)
The transmission apparatus according to any of (1) to (3), further including:
a data processing unit configured to obtain the plurality of streams of data from one or more pieces of content data.
(5)
The transmission apparatus according to any of (1) to (4), further including:
a receptacle having a plurality of pins for outputting respective ones of the plurality of streams of data,
wherein the receptacle is reversibly connectable to a plug of a cable forming the transmission path.
(6)
A transmission method including:
a transmission step of transmitting, by a transmission unit, a plurality of streams of data corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of data channels, to an external apparatus through a transmission path; and
an information addition step of adding, to each of the plurality of streams of data, identification information for identifying the corresponding data channel.
(7)
A reception apparatus including:
a reception unit configured to receive a plurality of streams of data, to each of which identification information for identifying a corresponding data channel is added, from an external apparatus through a transmission path; and
a determination unit configured to determine to which of the data channels each of the plurality of streams of data corresponds, on the basis of the inserted identification information.
(8)
The reception apparatus according to (7),
wherein the data channel is a TMDS data channel, and
the identification information is inserted in a control period of TMDS line data.
(9)
The reception apparatus according to (7) or (8), further including:
a data processing unit configured to combine the plurality of streams of data together, on the basis of a result of the determination, to obtain one or more pieces of content data.
(10)
The reception apparatus according to any of (7) to (9), further including:
a receptacle having a plurality of pins for receiving respective ones of the plurality of streams of data,
wherein the receptacle is reversibly connectable to a plug of a cable forming the transmission path.
(11)
A reception method including:
a reception step of receiving, by a reception unit, a plurality of streams of data, to each of which identification information for identifying a corresponding data channel is added, from an external apparatus through a transmission path; and
a determination step of determining to which of the data channels each of the plurality of streams of data corresponds, on the basis of the inserted identification information.
10 image display system
100 mobile phone
101 CPU
102 user operation unit
103 display control unit
104 display unit
105 3G/4G modem
106 camera unit
107 recording/reproduction unit
108 transmission process unit
109 MHL transmission unit
110 MHL terminal
111 power supply unit
121 MHL data generation unit
122 division unit
123-1 to 123-X TMDS encoder
124-1 to 124-X serializer
200 television set
201 CPU
202 user operation unit
203 display control unit
204 MHL terminal
205 MHL reception unit
206 reception process unit
207 tuner
208 antenna terminal
209 switching unit
210 display unit
211 power supply unit
221-1 to 221-X deserializer
222-1 to 222-X TMDS decoder
223 combination unit
224 MHL data separation unit
300 MHL cable
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-041034 | Mar 2014 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2015/054086 | 2/16/2015 | WO | 00 |
