Feature-dependent operating method between two connected equipments and an apparatus for controlling the operating method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for accomplishing a requested operation selectively based upon features of other equipment between equippments connected through a digital interface such as the IEEE 1394. The feature-dependent operating apparatus consists of a connector sending and receiving data through the digital interface; a memory storing feature information of a connected equipment received through the connector; a pickup detecting video and/or audio data from a data storage medium; a controller controlling the pickup to detect data from the data storage medium based on the stored feature information, converting the format of the detected data into a format specified in the stored feature information, and generating an advisory message informing a mismatch between the format of data to offer and the format specified in the feature information; and a data sender transmitting data detected by the pickup or the generated message to the connected equipment through the digital interface. This feature-dependent operating apparatus is able to adjust functions and processing capacity of a equipment to the maximal or universal capacity of the connected equipment automatically, or to inform a viewer of the cause of possible malfunction if the features of the connected equipment are not same, when data by a requested operation are to be transmitted to the connected equipment, thereby improving the convenience of a viewer.

1. A feature-dependent operating method between mutually-connected equipments through a digital interface, comprising the steps of:
 (a) requesting feature information of a connected equipment through the digital interface;  
 (b) receiving the requested feature information through the digital interface and storing the received feature information; and  
 (c) performing a requested operation or not based on the stored feature information.  
 
     
     
       2. A method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step (c) comprises the steps of:
 (c1) judging on  whether the  data to be reproduced and transmitted are normally presented in the connected equipment based on the stored feature information; and  
 (c2) performing the requested operation based on the judgement, or transmitting a message informing a result of the judgement.  
 
     
     
       3. A method set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the message is about the format of the data to be transmitted. 
     
     
       4. A method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the feature information is descriptor information including a system specification of a digital displaying equipment and characteristic information of video and audio data acceptable to the digital displaying equipment. 
     
     
       5. A method set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the system specification includes information on the resolution of the digital displaying equipment. 
     
     
       6. A method set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the characteristic information includes information on a data format which is acceptable to the digital displaying equipment. 
     
     
       7. A feature-dependent operating method between mutually-connected equipments through a digital interface, comprising the steps of:
 (a) requesting feature information of a connected equipment through the digital interface;  
 (b) receiving the requested feature information through the digital interface and storing the received feature information; and  
 (c) converting the format of data to be offered to the connected equipment by a requested operation based on the stored feature information, and transmitting the format-converted data.  
 
     
     
       8. A method set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said step (c) comprises the steps of:
 (c1) judging on  whether the  data to be reproduced and  transmitted are normally presented  processed in the connected equipment based on the stored feature information; and  
 (c2) converting the format of the data into a format which is  acceptable to the connected equipment based on the judgement, and transmitting the format-converted data.  
 
     
     
       9. A method set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said step (c2) further transmits a message informing that  the data format is converted. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for controlling an operation between mutually-connected equippments  equipments through a digital interface, comprising:
 a connecting means  unit sending and receiving data through the digital interface;  
 a storing means  unit storing feature information of a connected equipment received through said connecting means;  
 a data acquisition means  unit obtaining video and/or audio data from a data storage medium;  
 a controlling means  controller controlling said data acquisition means  unit to or not to obtain data from the data storage medium based on the stored feature information; and  
 a transmitting means  unit transmitting data obtained by said data acquisition means  unit to the connected equipment through the digital interface.  
 
     
     
       11. An apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said controlling means  controller judges on  whether the data to be obtained and transmitted are normally presented in the connected equipment based on the stored feature information, and performs a requested operation or not based on the judgement. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said controlling means  controller judges on  whether the data to be obtained and transmitted are normally presented in the connected equipment based on the stored feature information, and transmits a message informing a result of the judgement without performing a requested operation. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said controlling means  controller judges on  whether the data to be obtained and transmitted are normally presented in the connected equipment based on the stored feature information, changes the format of the data based on the stored feature information, and transmits the format-changed data. 
     
     
       14. A method for providing data between mutually-connected equippments  equipments through a digital interface, comprising the steps of:
 (a) requesting feature information of a connected equipment through the digital interface;  
 (b) checking whether the requested feature information is received or not; and  
 (c) transmitting the data to be offered according to a requested operation to the connected equipment in a format pre-specified for the connected equipment if the requested feature information is not received.  
 
     
     
       15. A method set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the connected equipment is a video displaying equipment or an audio equipment which can accept digital data. 
     
     
       16. A method set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the pre-specified format is 2-channel LPCM. 
     
     
       17. A method set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said step (c) transmits data together with a message informing the format of the transmitted data. 
     
     
       18. A method set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of converting the format of the data to be offered into a format specified by an external request. 
     
     
       19. A method set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the pre-specified format is low-grade one applicable to the type of the connected equipment. 
     
     
       20. The method set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the feature information includes at least one of a processing capability for reproducing data, an acceptable data type and system specification. 
     
     
       21. The method set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the feature information includes at least one of a processing capability for reproducing data, an acceptable data type and system specification. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the feature information includes at least one of a processing capability for reproducing data, an acceptable data types and system specification. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus for controlling an operation between mutually- connected equipments through a digital interface, the apparatus comprising:      a memory; and        a controller configured to request feature information of a connected equipment through the digital interface, to receive the requested feature information through the digital interface, to store the received feature information in the memory and to perform or not perform a requested operation based on the stored feature information.     
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the controller is further configured to judge whether data to be reproduced and transmitted are normally presented in the connected equipment based on the stored feature information, and to perform the requested operation based on the judgment or transmit a message informing a result of the judgment. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the message is about the format of the data to be transmitted. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the feature information is descriptor information including a system specification of a digital displaying equipment and characteristic information of video and audio data acceptable to the digital displaying equipment. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the system specification includes information on the resolution of the digital displaying equipment. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the characteristic information includes information on a data format which is acceptable to the digital displaying equipment. 
     
     
       29. An apparatus for controlling an operation between mutually- connected equipments through a digital interface, the apparatus comprising:      a memory; and        a controller configured to request feature information of a connected equipment through the digital interface, receive the requested information through the digital interface, store the received feature information in the memory, convert the format of data to be offered to the connected equipment by a requested operation based on the received feature information stored in the memory, and transmit the format - converted data.     
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the controller is further configured to judge whether data to be transmitted are normally processed in the connected equipment based on the stored feature information, convert the format of the data into a format acceptable to the connected equipment based on the judgment, and transmit the format- converted data.   
     
     
       31. The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a message informing the data format is converted. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the feature information includes at least one of a processing capability for reproducing data, an acceptable data type and system specification. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus for providing data between mutually- connected equipments through a digital interface, the apparatus comprising:      a controller configured to request feature information of a connected equipment through the digital interface, check whether the requested feature information is received or not, and transmit the data to be offered according to a requested operation to the connected equipment in a format pre - specified for the connected equipment if the requested feature information is not received.     
     
     
       34. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the connected equipment is a video displaying equipment or an audio equipment which can accept digital data. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the pre- specified format is  2   - channel LPCM.   
     
     
       36. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit data together with a message informing the format of the transmitted data. 
     
     
       37. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the controller is further configured to convert the format of the data to be offered into a format specified by an external request. 
     
     
       38. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the pre- specified format is low - grade one applicable to the type of the connected equipment.   
     
     
       39. The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the feature information includes at least one of a processing capability for reproducing data, an acceptable data type and system specification.