Sony Corporation

Akihiko Tao

Yasuhisa Nakajima

Gen Ichimura

Kazuyoshi Suzuki

Shigehiro Kawai

Satoru Maeda

Takehiko Saito

Yasushi Noguchi

Shyunsuke Takano

Susumu Orikasa

Toshihide Hayashi

Munehiro Yoshikawa

Kazunori Yasuda

Yoko Komori

Kosuke Yoshimura

Mari Sugiura

Kazuo Motoki

Shigeki Takeuchi

Shina Ueno

Successful communication required between external devices is achieved. A content data processing unit is connected to an external device through a first line. A communication unit is connected to the external device through a second line. The content data processing unit represents, for example, a content data transmitting unit that transmits content data to the external device, or a content data receiving unit that receives the content data from the external device. The communication unit transmits an inquiry signal to the external device through the second line in a state in which the first line is unavailable. For example, in a case where the interface unit is in a standby state, it is possible to inquire a required item to the external device while the state is maintained. Since it is possible to decrease power consumption of the external device as much as possible, it is possible to contribute to saving of energy of the external device.

Electronic device, charging control method of electronic device, battery power-level display method of electronic device, source device, and sink device

Transmission of stereo image data may be performed between devices, where a source device receives E-EDID from a sink device via DDC of an HDMI cable. This E-EDID contains information on 3D image data transmission modes supportable by the sink device. Based on information on 3D image data transmission modes from the sink device, the source device selects a predetermined transmission mode from among the 3D image data transmission modes supportable by the sink device. The source device transmits 3D image data in the selected transmission mode to the sink device. The source device transmits information on the transmission mode for the 3D image data, to the sink device by using an AVI InfoFrame packet or the like. The sink device processes the 3D image data received from the source device in accordance with its transmission mode, thereby obtaining left and right eye image data.

Transmitting apparatus, stereo image data transmitting method, receiving apparatus, and stereo image data receiving method

Stereoscopic image information (3D information) can be efficiently transmitted between electronic devices at high speed. Using a capability register (Capability Register) of MHL, the 3D information is transmitted between devices. (1) An MHL sink device transmits a 'SET_INT command' immediately after changing the 3D information of the capability register, a 3D_CHG flag of an MHL source device side is set to '1' and the MHL sink device notifies the MHL source device of the 3D information. (2) The MHL source device responds ACK. (3) The MHL source device recognizes that the 3D_CHG flag is set to 1, transmits a &#x201c;READ_DEVCAP command&#x201d; in which address information of the 3D information of the capability register is added to the MHL sink device and reads only the 3D information from the capability register. Using a scratchpad register of MHL, the 3D information is transmitted between the devices and detailed 3D control is performed.

Electronic device, stereoscopic image information transmission method of electronic device and stereoscopic information receiving method of electronic device

The present invention relates to a communication system, a transmission device, a reception device, a communication method, a program, and a communication cable, whereby high-speed communication can be executed while maintaining compatibility. In the event that an HDMI&#xae; sourceand an HDMI&#xae; sinkexecute two-way IP communication using a CEC lineand a signal line, a switching control unitcontrols a switchto select a partial signal making up the differential signal from a conversion unitat the time of transmitting data, and controls the switchto select a partial signal making up a differential signal from a receiverat the time of transmitting data, and in the case of executing two-way communication using the CEC linealone, the switching control unitcontrols the switchto select the CEC signal from the HDMI&#xae; sourceor receiverwith the switch. The present invention may be applied to HDMI&#xae;, for example.

Communication system, transmission device, reception device, communication method, program, and communication cable

The present invention relates to a communication system, a transmission device, a reception device, a communication method, a program, and a communication cable, whereby high-speed communication can be executed while maintaining compatibility. In the event that an HDMI (R) sourceand an HDMI (R) sinkexecute two-way IP communication using a CEC lineand a signal line, a switching control unitcontrols a switchto select a partial signal making up the differential signal from a conversion unitat the time of transmitting data, and controls the switchto select a partial signal making up a differential signal from a receiver at the time of transmitting data, and in the case of executing two-way communication using the CEC linealone, the switching control unitcontrols the switchto select the CEC signal from the HDMI (R) sourceor receiverwith the switch. The present invention may be applied to HDMI (R), for example.

The present invention makes it possible to perform transmission of stereo image data between devices in a favorable manner. A source device (disc player) receives E-EDID from a sink device (television receiver) via DDC of an HDMI cable. This E-EDID contains information on 3D image data transmission modes that can be supported by the sink device. On the basis of the information on 3D image data transmission modes from the sink device, the source device selects a predetermined transmission mode from among the 3D image data transmission modes that can be supported by the sink device. The sink device transmits 3D image data in the selected transmission mode to the sink device. For the convenience of processing in the sink device, the source device transmits information on the transmission mode for the 3D image data transmitted, to the sink device by using an AVI InfoFrame packet or the like. The sink device processes the 3D image data received from the source device in accordance with its transmission mode, thereby obtaining left eye and right eye image data.

The present invention relates to a communication system, a transmission device, a reception device, a communication method, a program, and a communication cable, whereby high-speed communication can be executed while maintaining compatibility. In the event that an HDMI(R) sourceand an HDMI(R) sinkexecute two-way IP communication using a CEC lineand a signal line, a switching control unitcontrols a switchto select a partial signal making up the differential signal from a conversion unitat the time of transmitting data, and controls the switchto select a partial signal making up a differential signal from a receiverat the time of transmitting data, and in the case of executing two-way communication using the CEC linealone, the switching control unitcontrols the switchto select the CEC signal from the HDMI(R) sourceor receiverwith the switch. The present invention may be applied to HDMI(R), for example.

The present invention relates to providing high-speed bidirectional communication while maintaining compatibility. When an HDMI&#xae; sourceperforms bidirectional IP communication with an HDMI&#xae; sinkusing a CEC lineand a signal line, a switching control unitcontrols a switchso that, when data is transmitted, the switchselects a constituent signal forming a differential signal output from a converting unitand, when data is transmitted, the switchselects a constituent signal forming a differential signal output from a receiver. When bidirectional communication is performed using only the CEC line, the switching control unitcontrols the switchso that the CEC signal output from the HDMI&#xae; sourceor the receiveris selected.

Communication system, transmitter, receiver, communication method, program, and communication cable

To allow a broadcast transmission to be preformed successfully. A source devicereads out EDID from EDID ROMs-to-N of sink devices-to-N, respectively, by using information transmitting and receiving function. The source devicedetermines a transmission data format in an AV stream so as to be compatible with all of the sink devices-to-N, based on data format information in the EDID. The source devicebroadcasts the AV stream based on the transmission data format determined as described above to the sink devices-to-N. The sink devices-to-N receive the AV stream broadcast from the source device. Since the transmission data format of the AV stream is compatible with all of the sink devices-to-N, all of the sink devices-to-N can successfully reproduce the received AV stream.

Transmission device and method of determining transmission date format

An electronic device to determine a type of digital interface between a source device and a sink device. A control unit of the sink device may include a determining unit which determines whether or not the source device is connected to this sink device, and whether or not the digital interface of a data transmission unit of the source device is a HDMI standard or a new standard. When a data reception unit can handle both the HDMI standard and new standard, based on the determination result of the determining unit, a control unit may switch the operation of the data reception unit so as to perform an operation in accordance with the digital interface of the data transmission unit of the source device. A connector unit for connecting the devices which may operate using the digital interfaces of HDMI and the new standard can be shared.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Akihiko Tao