Onkyo Corporation

Onkyo & Pioneer Technology Corporation

Hiroyuki Fukuma

Dai Shimozawa

Tadaharu Sunaga

Hideyuki Sawada

Yoshio Misu

Koji Kitayama

Naofumi Shimazaki

Naoki Hamada

Yoshimichi Kawata

Takumi Tanaka

Kenji Handa

In a network system without a server, a network device and a system that can share information in all devices efficiently and surely are provided. CPUs of a plurality of devices connected to a network determine a host device based on device numbers and network strengths of each of the devices. When transmitting share information stored in a memory to the host device, the CPUs of the client devices merge share information transmitted from the other client devices with the share information stored in the memories so as to transmit the merged information to the host device. The CPU of the host device generates share information about all the devices so as to distribute the information to all the client devices. When the share information is changed, the CPU of the host device generates finite difference information with respect to previous share information so as to distribute the information to all the client devices. When the share information is successively changed, the CPU of the host device merges the respective pieces of finite difference information so as to distribute the information to the client devices.

Network device and information sharing system

A volume control system, that can easily check current volume values with respect to volume values settable in a plurality of audio output devices when a volume value representing the volume values of the audio output devices is displayed, is provided. A controller of the volume control system can be connected to the plurality of the audio output devices, and can control the audio output devices. The controller obtains the volume values of the audio output devices and predetermined upper limit volume values stored in the audio output devices, and displays percentages of the volume values with respect to the predetermined upper limit volume values as total volume values. Further, the controller displays values that are determined by multiplying the total volume values and percentages of the predetermined upper limit volume values with respect to prescribed values as the volume values of the audio output devices.

Volume control system, controller program of the volume control system, and audio output device of the volume control system

A receiving apparatus obtains identification information from a transmitting apparatus via a cable communication when the transmitting apparatus is connected with the receiving apparatus via the cable communication while the receiving apparatus is being connected with the transmitting apparatus via a radio communication. The receiving apparatus judges whether obtained identification information is the same as identification information of the transmitting apparatus which is connected with the receiving apparatus via the radio communication. When they are same, the receiving apparatus transmits an instruction to the transmitting apparatus to switch an output of contents data from the radio communication to the cable communication. When the transmitting apparatus receives the instruction, it switches the output of the contents data from the radio communication to the cable communication. The receiving apparatus switches an input of the contents data to the receiving apparatus from the radio communication to the cable communication.

Receiving apparatus

When a signal representing a first set value or more is received from a detecting section, a determination is made whether a boost value is a predetermined value or more. When the boost value is the predetermined value or more, a currently set boost value is reduced by a predetermined step, so that a new boost value is set. Further, when the boost value is less than the predetermined value, a currently set volume level is reduced by a predetermined step, and a new volume level is set. Therefore, in a case when the set boost value is gradually reduced and the boost value is finally less than the predetermined value, the audio signal is still the first set value or more, the volume level is further reduced by each predetermined step. Therefore, an audio signal can be securely prevented from being clipped.

Tone control apparatus

A remote controller is provided with: at least one first input unit that macro-controls predetermined remotely controlled devices including signal source devices; a plurality of second input units that select the signal source devices; a memory unit that stores a plurality of remote control codes for remotely controlling the remotely controlled devices; a transmitting unit that externally transmits the remote control codes; and a control unit that, when the first input unit is operated, outputs the remote control codes for remotely controlling the plurality of remotely controlled devices to the transmitting unit, and causes the transmitting unit to externally transmit the codes, wherein when the first input unit and one of the second input units are operated in a predetermined manner, a signal source device to be remotely controlled by the first input unit is changed to a signal source device that has been selected by the operated one of the second input units.

Remote controller

An audio-video player, which automatically determines an event corresponding to the current state and displays a preferred message associated with the event, is provided. A DVD player includes: a massage table which stores prescribed messages in advance by associating them with a plurality of events having prescribed priorities; an event determination unit which sequentially determines whether the current state corresponds to an event, starting from an event of higher priority; and a message display control unit which reads out, when the event determination unit found the corresponding event, a prescribed message associated with the corresponding event from a message table and displays it.

Audio-video player and event determination device

An AV receiveris connected to a DVD player AVPand a CD player AVPvia an IEEE1394 bus. The AV receiverstores a command receiving terminalconnected to a remote controller receiver REas being associated with the DVD player AVP, and a command receiving terminalconnected to a remote controller receiver REas being associated with the CD player AVP. The AV receivertransmits a control command that is received via the remote controller receiver REto the DVD player AVPand a control command that is received via the remote controller receiver REto the CD player AVP

Amplifier connected to and identifying plurality of content reproducing devices with respective audio speakers

An image sending/receiving device of the present invention includes: an image receiving section for receiving image data from an external image reproducing device connected to the image sending/receiving device; an image sending section for sending the image data to an external image display device connected to the image sending/receiving device; a first storage section for storing a set of resolutions to be read out by the image reproducing device; a second storage section in which a set of resolutions are pre-stored; a read-out section for reading out a set of resolutions pre-stored in the image display device from the image display device; and a resolution registration section for registering, in the first storage section, all of the resolutions read out by the read-out section or a subset of resolutions among those read out by the read-out section with which the image sending section is able to send data to the image display device.

Image sending/receiving device

PlayersA andB are each capable of outputting data read from a disc such as a CD or an SACD in any of signal formats including an IEEE 1394 format, an analog format and a digital format. An AV amplifierincludes a first output system for selectively outputting, to a speaker systemA, one of a plurality of audio signals of different signal formats including the IEEE 1394 format, the analog format and the digital format, and a second output system for selectively outputting, to a speaker systemB, one of a plurality of audio signals of different signal formats including the analog format and the digital format. If the playerA is selected as the input for the first output system, the AV amplifiersends a command to the playerA instructing the playerA to output an audio signal in the IEEE 1394 format, automatically setting the output signal format of the playerA to be a format that can be reproduced through the first output system.

Audio system, and disc reproduction device and audio output control device for use therein

An AV receiver in an AV system determines the type of connection between the AV system and the display upon receiving a request for an OSD from the user. Based on the result of determination, if the AV receiver is connected to the display through a DVD reproducing device, the AV receiver transmits an OSD request including setting information to the DVD reproducing device. The DVD reproducing device produces an OSD signal based on the setting information and combines the signal with a DVD video signal for output to the display. The display displays video based on the DVD video signal as well as an OSD screen based on the OSD signal. Therefore, the AV system can display settings for the amplifier at the display regardless of the type of connection between the amplifier, the content reproducing device and the display.

Growing community of inventors

Neyagawa, Japan

Hiroyuki Fukuma