Image transmission system and image transmission method

The present invention relates to a transmission system and a transmission method of an image transmitted from an image generation device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "PC") to an image projection device such as a projector.

In recent years, projectors that receive image signals from a PC and project the screen of the PC onto a screen or the like have become widespread. This projector is often used in conferences and workshops because it can visually express what you want to convey by projecting presentation materials edited on a PC onto a screen.

Normally, an image signal is exchanged between a PC and a projector by an analog connection via an RGB cable. However, it takes time to connect the PC and the projector, and especially when the data to be projected is stored separately in multiple PCs, the connection between the PC and the projector must be reconnected each time. Therefore, for the purpose of improving the usability of the projector, a wireless video transmission device that transmits an image signal from a PC to a projector via infrared rays, wireless LAN, etc. has been proposed, and an image signal from a plurality of PCs is transmitted by 1. A wireless transmission system that simultaneously displays on a single projector is also disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-330436</text></patcit>

<p> However, in the above wireless transmission system, in an environment where a plurality of PCs exist, the user can know whether or not his / her PC is connected to the projector, but knows the cause of not being connected. Can't. That is, it is not possible to grasp whether the own PC is not connected because the PC of another user is connected to the projector, or whether the own PC is not connected because there is a problem in the communication path.</p><p> Further, in an environment where a plurality of projectors exist, the user cannot know which projector can be connected to or which projector should be connected to.</p><p> Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image transmission system capable of grasping a communication state between a PC and a projector.</p>

<p> In order to achieve the above object, the image transmission system according to the present invention is composed of a plurality of image generation devices for generating images and an image projection device for projecting a plurality of images transmitted from the image generation devices. In an image transmission system, the image projection device monitors a communication state between a projection means for receiving and projecting an image generated by the image generation device from the image generation device and a plurality of the image generation devices. The image generating device includes a state monitoring means, a beacon generating means for generating information about a communication state under the monitoring of the state monitoring means, and a transmitting means for transmitting the generated information to the image generating device. An image generated from the receiving means for receiving the information from the image projection device, the analysis means for analyzing the information, and the analysis result of the analysis means is sent to the image projection device.<u style="single">Send</u>It is characterized by providing a display means for displaying whether or not it is possible to be performed. Further, in order to achieve the above object, the image transmission system according to the present invention includes a plurality of image generation devices for generating images and an image projection device for projecting a plurality of images transmitted from the image generation devices. In the image transmission system, the image projection device includes a state monitoring means for monitoring the communication state with a plurality of the image generation devices, and a beacon for generating information on a communication state under the monitoring of the state monitoring means. A generation means and a transmission means for transmitting the generated information to the image generation device are provided, and the image generation device includes a reception means for receiving the information from the image projection device and an analysis means for analyzing the information. And a display means for displaying the analysis result of the analysis means. As a result, the PC receives and displays information on the communication status of the projector, which is constantly distributed from the projector, so that the user can grasp the communication status between the PC and the projector.</p><p> Here, the analysis means identifies an image projection device that is a source of the information, and the image generation device further includes a notification means for notifying the specified image projection device that the information has been received. The state monitoring means counts the number of the notifications as the number of the image generating devices connected to the image projection device, and the beacon generating means includes the number of the notifications in the information to generate the information. You may do so. As a result, the PC receives and displays information including the number of PCs connected from the projector to the projector, so that the user can know how many other users are connected to the projector. it can.</p><p> Further, the image projection device further includes an ID assigning means for assigning a unique identifier for identifying the image projection device, and the beacon generating means includes the identifier in the information to generate the information. The receiving means receives the information from the plurality of image projection devices, the analysis means identifies the image projection device that is the source of the information based on the identifier, and the display means identifies the information. It is preferable to display the identifier of the image projection device. This makes it possible for the PC to determine which projector should be connected even in an environment where a plurality of projectors exist.</p><p> Further, the image generation device receives the designation of the identifier of the image projection device, generates a confirmation packet for inquiring about the existence position of the image projection device, and transmits the confirmation packet to the image projection device to which the identifier is assigned. The image projection device further includes a confirmation packet receiving means for receiving the confirmation packet, and a response output means for outputting a response to the receipt of the confirmation packet when the confirmation packet is received. .. As a result, the PC transmits a confirmation packet to the projector side, and the projector that receives the confirmation packet responds, so that the user can know the existence position of the projector to which the PC screen should be transmitted.</p><p> The present invention can be realized not only as such an image transmission system, but also as an image transmission method using characteristic means provided in each device constituting such an image transmission system as a step. It can also be realized as a program that causes a computer to execute those steps. Needless to say, such a program can be distributed via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a transmission medium such as the Internet.</p>

<p> As described above, according to the image transmission system according to the present invention, the information on the communication state of the projector, which is constantly distributed from the projector, is displayed on the PC side, so that the user can grasp the communication state between the PC and the projector. Is possible.</p><p> Further, since the confirmation packet is transmitted from the PC to the projector side and the projector that receives the confirmation packet responds by a buzzer, an LED lamp, or the like, the user can know the projector to which the PC screen should be transmitted.</p>

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an image transmission system according to the present embodiment.

This image transmission system is a system in which the screen displayed on the display device of the PC 100 is transmitted from the PC 100 to the projector 200, and the screen received by the projector 200 is projected on the screen 20. The PC 100 stores a wireless LAN chip. A wireless LAN card 10 is attached, which transmits an image signal to the projector 200 via a network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the PC 100 and the projector 200 constituting the image transmission system according to the present embodiment .

As shown in FIG. 2, the PC100 is based on a user operation from an input device such as a CPU 101, a main memory 102, a storage device 103, a graphics chip 104, a VRAM 105, an output IF 106 output to a display 110, a keyboard 111, and a mouse 112. It includes a user IF 107 that acquires an instruction signal, and a network IF 108 that is an interface for communicating with a projector 200, a server, or the like via a network such as a LAN.

The projector 200 includes a CPU 201, a main memory 202, a storage device 203, a graphics chip 204, a resizing LSI 205, a VRAM 206, a network IF 207, and an output device 208.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a PC and a projector constituting the image transmission system according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the PC 300 includes a PC communication unit 301, a beacon analysis unit 302, and a display output unit 303, and the projector 400 includes a projector communication unit 401, a condition monitoring unit 402, and a host / ID assignment. A unit 403 and a response output unit 404 are provided.

The PC communication unit 301 is a processing unit that receives information (beacon) regarding the communication status of the projector 400 from the projector 400, and transmits a connection request packet requesting a connection to the projector 400, a confirmation packet inquiring about the communication status, and the like. Yes, it is realized by network IF108 etc.

The beacon analysis unit 302 is a processing unit that acquires and analyzes the beacon received by the PC communication unit 301, and is realized by the CPU 101, the main memory 102, and the like.

The display output unit 303 is a processing unit that outputs the analysis result of the beacon analysis unit 302 to the display device, and is realized by the graphics chip 104 or the like.

The projector communication unit 401 is a processing unit that transmits a beacon to the PC 300 and receives a connection request packet or the like from the PC 300, and is realized by a network IF207 or the like.

The condition monitoring unit 402 is a processing unit that monitors the communication status of the projector 400 to generate a beacon, acquires a confirmation packet, and outputs a response signal to the response output unit 404, and is realized by the CPU 201 or the like. ..

The host / ID assignment unit 403 is a processing unit that assigns a host name and a projector ID that serve as identification information for the projector 400, and is realized by the CPU 201 or the like. For example, in the initial setting of the projector 400, the host / ID assignment unit 403 accepts the input of the host name from the user and assigns the input host name. In addition, the host / ID assignment unit 403 assigns a unique projector ID based on the MAC address and IP address assigned to the network IF207 each time the projector 400 is started.

The response output unit 404 is a notification device that operates when a response signal is acquired from the condition monitoring unit 402, and is realized by a buzzer, an LED lamp, or the like.

The PC communication unit 301 and the projector communication unit 401 can communicate with one or more projectors 400 and one or more PC 300s, respectively.

In addition, the projector 400 has a split screen display (multi-display) that divides the projection screen and projects the screens of multiple PCs at the same time, and a full-screen display that projects the screen of one PC onto the full screen of the projector. It can be switched and projected. The projector 400 may be configured to project the screens of a plurality of PCs by dividing the entire screen of the projector in time. In this case, for example, the screens of a plurality of PCs are switched at predetermined time intervals and projected on the full screen of the projector, or the screens of the plurality of PCs are switched by operation from the PC and projected on the full screen of the projector. It is possible.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the screens of a plurality of PCs are projected onto one projector.

In FIG. 4, the PC screens are transmitted from the four PCs 500, 500a, 500b, and 500c to one projector 600, and the projector 600 projects the PC screen received on the screen 20 by dividing it into four parts. It is shown.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the screen of one PC is projected onto the full screen of the projector.

FIG. 5 shows how the display screen of the PC 500 is projected onto the screen 20 as a full-screen display on the projector 600 side.

The processing operation of the image transmission system configured in this way will be described below. FIG. 6 is a communication sequence diagram between the PC 300 and the projector 400.

First, when the projector 400 is started (S30), the host / ID assignment unit 403 sets a unique projector ID based on the MAC address and IP address (S32). As for the host name, it is assumed that the one set at the initial setting stage of the projector 400 is stored in the main memory 202.

Next, the projector 400 starts monitoring the communication status in the status monitoring unit 402 (S34), and broadcasts the beacon to one or more PC 300s all at once (S36).

The PC 300 that has received the beacon analyzes the beacon received by the beacon analysis unit 302, and displays the communication status with the projector 400 via the display output unit 303 (S38).

Here, when a connection request packet is transmitted from the PC 300 to the projector 400 (S40), the projector 400 updates the communication status in the status monitoring unit 402 (S42), and generates a beacon based on the updated communication status. , Broadcast to each PC300 (S44).

Upon receiving the beacon, the PC 300 analyzes the beacon in the same manner and displays the updated communication status with the projector 400 via the display output unit 303 (S46).

The projector 400 transmits a beacon to each PC 300 at a predetermined interval T1 (for example, every second) (S48), and constantly notifies each PC 300 of the communication status of the projector 400.

Here, when the PC 300 transmits the confirmation packet to the projector 400 (S50), the projector 400 that has received the confirmation packet operates the response output unit 404 to output a response (S52).

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a case where a plurality of PCs communicate with one projector.

In FIG. 7, one projector 400, a PC 300 in which the connection with the projector 400 is established and connected to the projector 400, and the PC 300a in which the connection with the projector 400 is not established are shown.

Here, the fact that the connection is established means that the beacon can be transmitted and received, and that the connection is not established means that the beacon cannot be transmitted and received.

Further, "connecting" means a state in which the transmission of the PC screen can be performed to the projector 400, and "not connected" means a state in which the transmission of the PC screen cannot be immediately performed to the projector 400. .. For example, when the beacon can be transmitted and received but is connected to a projector other than the projector 400, it is not connected to the projector 400.

In the PC 300 in which the connection with the projector 400 is established, the launcher 71 in the PC screen 70 is provided with a communication status display unit 72 for indicating the communication status with the projector 400. That is, the user of the PC 300 can know that the PC screen can be transmitted to the projector 400 by the display mode of the communication status display unit 72.

Similarly, in the PC 300a in which the connection with the projector 400 is not established, the communication status display unit 72a is provided in the launcher 71a in the PC screen 70a, and the user of the PC 300a can transmit the PC screen to the projector 400. You can know what you can't do.

In this figure, patterns are used as the display modes of the communication status display units 72 and 72a (connection establishment is polka dots, connection unestablished is crossed), but various display modes such as using colors or blinking are used. be able to. In addition, here, two types of communication status status, connection established and connection unestablished, are explained. For example, (1) the screen is being transmitted from your PC to the projector, and (2) the screen is transmitted to the projector. Possible, (3) Connection is established, but screen transmission is not possible because another user is transmitting the screen to the projector, (4) Status such as connection is not established can be defined in the above display mode. it can.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a case where one PC communicates with a plurality of projectors.

In FIG. 8, one PC 300 and a plurality of projectors 400 and 400a capable of communicating with the PC 300 are shown. That is, the PC 300 receives beacons from the projectors 400 and 400a, respectively. At this time, the beacons transmitted from the projectors 400 and 400a include the host name and the projector ID assigned to the respective projectors, and the PC 300 is transmitted from any of the projectors in the beacon analysis unit 302. It is determined whether it is a beacon.

Then, the PC 300 displays a list of projectors that are the sources of the received beacons in the communication status display window 81 in the PC screen 80.

The communication status display window 81 includes a connection destination field 82 for displaying the host name, an ID field 83 for displaying the projector ID, and a status field 84 for indicating the communication status of the projector. , The number of PCs connected to the projector is visually shown.

In this figure, the projector 400a is assigned the host name Meeting Room 1 and the projector ID Proj619, and the communication status display window 81 shows that it is in a standby state that is not connected to any PC. ing. In addition, the projector 400 is assigned a host name of "Meeting Room 2" and a projector ID of "Proj0377", and the communication status display window 81 shows that three PCs are connected.

At this time, the projector 400 counts the number of responses from the PC side connected to the transmitted beacon, and the number of responses is shown in the communication status display window 81 as the number of connected users. For example, if the power of the PC is turned off, the PC will not respond to the beacon, and the number of connected PCs will decrease.

Note that the connected PC may periodically send packets to the projector to notify the projector that the connection is in progress.

Further, if the connection is established, the PC may respond, and the number of PCs with which the connection is established may be shown in the communication status display window 81 as the number of connected users, or the image may be actually received. You may display the number of PCs that are installed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a case where a confirmation packet is transmitted from the PC to the projector.

FIG. 9 shows one PC 300, a projector 400 that receives a PC screen from the PC 300 and projects it on the screen 20a, and a projector 400a that is in a state of being able to communicate with the PC 300.

Here, when the PC 300 accepts the operation of pressing the connection confirmation button 92 included in the launcher 91 on the PC screen, the PC 300 transmits a confirmation packet to the projector 400. Then, when the projector 400 receives the confirmation packet, it responds to the confirmation packet by turning on the LED lamp 410 or sounding the buzzer 420. At this time, the projector 400 may display a screen indicating that the response has been made, such as displaying the assigned projector ID on the ID display unit 93 of the screen 20a.

The PC300 accepts the designation of the desired projector from the projector list displayed in the communication status display window 81 shown in FIG. 8, and accepts the operation of pressing the connection confirmation button included in the communication status display window 81. May send the confirmation packet to the designated projector.

As described above, according to the image transmission system according to the present embodiment, the projector constantly distributes information on the communication status of the projector to a communicable PC, and displays information on the communication status of the projector distributed on the PC side. Therefore, the user can grasp the communication state between his / her own PC and the projector.

Also, when a confirmation packet is sent from the PC to the projector by specifying the host name, etc., the projector that receives the confirmation packet responds with a buzzer, LED lamp, etc., so the user knows which projector should send the PC screen. Can be done.

Although the image transmission system according to the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

For example, in the above embodiment, the communication between the PC and the projector is based on a wireless LAN, but it goes without saying that a wired LAN may be used.

Further, although the projector has been described as the image projection device, it may be a display device such as a plasma display panel.

The image transmission system according to the present invention can be applied to a system for transmitting an image from a PC or the like which is an image generator to a projector or the like which is an image projection device, and particularly when giving a presentation or the like using a wireless projector. Suitable.

<figref num="1">FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an image transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="2">FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a PC and a projector constituting an image transmission system.</figref><figref num="3">FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a PC and a projector constituting the image transmission system according to the present embodiment.</figref><figref num="4">FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the screens of a plurality of PCs are projected onto one projector.</figref><figref num="5">FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the screen of one PC is projected onto the full screen of the projector.</figref><figref num="6">FIG. 6 is a communication sequence diagram between the PC and the projector.</figref><figref num="7">FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a case where a plurality of PCs communicate with one projector.</figref><figref num="8">FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a case where one PC communicates with a plurality of projectors.</figref><figref num="9">FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a case where a confirmation packet is transmitted from the PC to the projector.</figref>

Code description

10 wireless LAN card 20, 20a screen 30, 50 display screen 70, 70a, 80 PC screen 71, 71a, 91 Launcher 72, 72a Communication status display 81 Communication status display window 82 Destination field 83 ID field 84 Status field 92 Connection confirmation button 93 ID display 100, 300, 300a PC 101, 201 CPU 102, 202 main memory 103, 203 storage device 104, 204 graphics chip 105, 206 VRAM 106 Output IF 107 User IF 108, 207 Network IF 110 display 111 keyboard 112 mouse 301 PC communication unit 302 Beacon Analysis Department 303 Display output section 200, 400, 400a projector 205 Resize LSI 208 output device 401 Projector communication unit 402 Condition monitoring unit 403 Host / ID Assignment Department 404 response output 410 LED lamp 420 buzzer