Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including a first and second communication units: the first for non-contact communication with a first/second external apparatus through a first path; and the second for communication with the first/second external apparatus through a second path. The apparatus also includes a unit for controlling the second communication unit to start communication with the second external apparatus through the second path, by a request for such communication transmitted from the second external apparatus to the first communication unit. The apparatus also includes a unit for managing information to be held when the request is received. The information indicates a state of communication with the first external apparatus through the second path at the reception of the request. Under the control, communication with the first communication unit specified by the information starts through the second path, where communication with the second external apparatus has been terminated.

Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including a first and second communication units: the first for non-contact communication with a first/second external apparatus through a first path; and the second for communication with the first/second external apparatus through a second path. The apparatus also includes a unit for controlling the second communication unit to start communication with the second external apparatus through the second path, by a request for such communication transmitted from the second external apparatus to the first communication unit. The apparatus also includes a unit for managing information to be held when the request is received. The information indicates a state of communication with the first external apparatus through the second path at the reception of the request. Under the control, communication with the first communication unit specified by the information starts through the second path, where communication with the second external apparatus has been terminated.

Abstract: A connector device with improved reliability of connection includes a plug and a socket into which the plug is fitted. Uneven portions are formed on one of engaging surfaces of the plug and engaging surfaces of the socket, so that the user can have a tactile sensation that the plug is being erroneously fitted into the socket.

Abstract: It has been difficult to realize a connector device, and an electronic device and a plug using the same which can improve the reliability of connection sufficiently for practical use. In a connector device having a second connector half provided with a protrusion which falls into an engaging groove of a first connector half, an erroneous fitting preventing portion is formed in the first connector half so as to be deformed or broken by the protrusion of the second connector half when the first and second connector halves are erroneously fitted. Also, in a connector device composed of a plug and a socket into which the plug is fitted, uneven portions are formed on engaging surfaces with the plug and/or on engaging surfaces with the socket. Further, in an electronic device having at least one of a plug and a socket of the connector device, uneven portions are formed on engaging surfaces of the plug with the socket and/or on engaging surfaces of the socket with the plug.

Abstract: A connector device, with improved reliability of connection having a second connector half provided with a protrusion which falls into an engaging groove of a first connector half, an erroneous fitting preventing portion is formed in the first connector half so as to be deformed or broken by the protrusion of the second connector half when the first and second connector halves are erroneously fitted. Also, in a connector device composed of a plug and a socket into which the plug is fitted, uneven portions are formed on engaging surfaces with the plug and/or on engaging surfaces with the socket. Further, in an electronic device having at least one of a plug and a socket of the connector device, uneven portions are formed on engaging surfaces of the plug with the socket and/or on engaging surfaces of the socket with the plug.

Abstract: In a 6-pin cable according to an IEEE-1394 standard, power lines and two pairs of signal conductors are built and connected to a head part provided with six electric joints corresponding to six conductors (total six two power lines and total four signal conductors). Ferrite beads respectively forming a closed magnetic circuit around the signal conductors are respectively provided to the signal conductors of the 6-pin cable. As a result, crosstalk between the signal conductors in a common mode is inhibited.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of electronic devices connected together through a bus, which can realize reduction in power consumption while ensuring communications. When a bias voltage on an external bus is detected by a bias detecting circuit and a comparator, a bias voltage is output from a bias output terminal to the external bus enabling it. When a driver and receiver receive a PHY-SLEEP command through the external bus, the bias voltage kept output from the bias output terminal to the external bus is turned disabling it.

Abstract: An AV system requiring the setting of only the apparatus that acts as the AV center of the system when the system configuration is to be modified. The apparatus desired to be used as the new AV center issues a command to the existing AV center telling it to become a sub AV center.

Abstract: An audio video (AV) equipment system with a bus line including read-only-memory (ROM) that stores a plurality of predetermined system configurations of AV component devices. The system includes a bus line, a main controller an auxiliary controller, a memory, a display, a selector, and a clock. A SIP (system information pointer) memory temporarily stores a SIP which indicates any of the system configurations stored in the ROM. The SIP is finally stored in a non-volatile memory that retains data after removal of electric power.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of electronic devices connected together through a bus, which can realize reduction in power consumption while ensuring communications. When a bias voltage on an external bus is detected by a bias detecting circuit and a comparator, a bias voltage is output from a bias output terminal to the external bus enabling it. When a driver and receiver receive a PHY-SLEEP command through the external bus, the bias voltage put from the bias output terminal to the external bus is turned off disabling it.

Abstract: In order to reduce the storage capacity required for storing system configuratuion information in an AV system composed of a plurality of AV component devices, a ROM 5A stores a plurality of predetermined systems configurations of the AV component devices. An SIP (system information pointer) memory 6 temporarily stores an SIP which indicates any of the system configurations stored in the ROM 5A. The SIP is finally stored in a nonvolatile memory which retains stored data after removal of electric power.

Abstract: A method of controlling signal lines among a number of audio/video units in a system where a central unit including a selector and the other audio/video units are mutually connected via a single control bus and also via audio/video signal cables includes the steps of enabling the central unit to manage identification numbers of the audio/video units on the control bus and also connection data among the audio/video units, classifying the audio/video units in accordance with the respective categories, connecting the signal line between one of the audio/video units and another one of the units, enabling one audio/video unit to designate by category the other audio/video unit to be connected and, after such designation, enabling the central unit to select the specific audio/video unit that satisfies the requirement, out of all of the audio/video units of the designated category, and then switching the selector of the central unit thereby connecting the desired signal line between the relevant audio/video units.

Abstract: A method for signal transmission and reception by a bidirectional bus system in which plural devices performing the communication of a command and a request are interconnected over a bidirectional bus includes the steps of providing a frame of a transmission signal on the bidirectional bus the frame including an address field for designating addresses of communicating devices and a data field for designating the command or request to be transmitted, and inserting the discrimination information for discriminating between the command and the request at a pre-set position in the data field. The transmission signal including the discrimination information is transmitted over the bidirectional bus to other devices. A communication system employing such a bidirectional bus system is also provided.

Abstract: When trying to make a correct connection, a VCR 13, which should be connected to terminal 15, is connected instead to terminal 16 by mistake, so that a signal generator 13a constructed internally within the VCR 13 outputs a test signal, but the switcher 8 selects the signal being input at terminal 15 (where there is no signal present), and provides it to detector 12, but as there is no signal at terminal 15, the CPU 5 determines that the connection is incorrect and displays a user prompt to this effect on the CRT 10.

Abstract: There is disclosed a communication system using a bi-directional bus, which includes a plurality of devices (e.g., TV image receiver or video tape recorder, etc.) connected to each other. Each device includes a transmit signal formation unit having a frame structure including an address field for specifying addresses of devices between which communication is carried out, a control field for specifying whether communication is carried out in the state where device on the receiving side is locked or in the state where that device is unlocked, and a data field for specifying data to be transmitted. For transmitting data having a data quantity greater than data capacity of the data field, the data is divided into a plurality of frames, an indication to lock device on the receiving side is given to control field of a frame transmitted first, and an indication to unlock that device is given to control field of a frame transmitted last.

Abstract: Connection patterns as many as possible can be managed by less standard patterns. Connected states of a VTR (30), a VTR (40), a VTR (50), a VTR (60), an MDP (70), a tuner (80) and an AV center (100) composing a standard pattern are memorized in advance. A flag (N) representing the non-use is set to an AV equipment (e.g., VTR (60)) that is not used in actual practice of the AV equipments constructing the standard pattern. Therefore, a system in which a part of the AV equipments constructing the standard pattern is omitted can be managed similarly to the system of the standard pattern.

Abstract: An AV system requiring the setting of only the apparatus that acts as the AV center of the system when the system configuration is to be modified. The apparatus desired to be used as the new AV center issues a command to the existing AV center instructing it to become a sub AV center.

Abstract: An audio visual control apparatus for communication between a master device and a slave device comprises a master AV center, at least one slave device, a digital control bus line and a transmitter. The master AV center has at least a display device and a communication processor. A minimum of one slave device is provided, having a communication processor connected to the master AV center via the digital control bus line between the two communication processors. The transmitter transmits one command and/or data in a single packet from the master AV center to the slave device and vice versa through the digital control bus line.

Abstract: A remote control method for an audio/visual system which can perform protection during execution of a system feature and is convenient in use is applied to an audio/visual system wherein each of a plurality of units of audio/visual equipment includes a microcomputer for controlling operation of the audio/visual equipment. The microcomputers of the audio/visual equipment are connected to each other by way of a bus system. One unit of the audio/visual equipment is set as an audio/visual center equipment. The audio/visual center equipment controls the entire system in a concentrated manner. The audio/visual center equipment receives remote control signals in a concentrated manner without causing remote controller receiver sections of the audio/visual equipment other than the audio/visual center equipment to function and transfers necessary commands to the other audio/visual equipment.

Abstract: There is a communication system using a bi-directional bus, which includes a plurality of devices (e.g., TV image receiver or video tape recorder, etc.) connected to each other.