Method and device for HDMI CEC control
The present invention relates to the field of controlling or remote controlling consumer electronic devices which are connected to each other via so-called HDMI cables and capable of receiving and/or transmitting CEC control commands. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the reliable control of target devices while simultaneously determining their state.
1. A method for function control of at least one consumer electronic device with an apparatus, the method comprising:
transmitting at least one infrared or radio signal, wherein the at least one consumer electronic device and the apparatus have a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) interface of specification 1.0 or higher and are in a framework of a HDMI network directly or indirectly connected to each other via the HDMI interfaces such that the apparatus determines at least one state of the at least one consumer electronic device based on an established HDMI connection, wherein the function control of the at least one consumer electronic device is carried out by the apparatus based on the at least one state of the at least one consumer electronic device with the at least one infrared or radio signal, wherein the at least one consumer electronic device includes a device that is controllable with a power toggle command and not a discrete on or off signal, and wherein the determination of the at least one state enables the apparatus to evaluate whether one or more HDMI inputs or HDMI outputs of the at least one consumer electronic device are currently activated and to transmit a command for the function control corresponding to the at least one state of the one or more HDMI inputs or HDMI outputs.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the at least one state of the at least one consumer electronic device is based on one or more Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) signals.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein multiple consumer electronic devices, each having a HDMI interface of specification 1.0 or higher, are integrated into the HDMI network and controllable by the apparatus via respective infrared and/or radio signals.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the determination of the at least one state is limited to the device that is or devices that are controllable with the power toggle command or commands and not a discrete on or off signal.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the apparatus identifies the at least one consumer electronic device with a device-specific physical address, logical address, or parameter such that only the at least one consumer electronic device receives a correct command for the function control based on the at least one state.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the apparatus identifies the at least one consumer electronic device based on a procedure wherein the device, after a corresponding request of the apparatus, is switched on or off in response to an infrared signal or radio signal or directly at the device, thereby transmitting to the apparatus via the HDMI connection a signal corresponding to the procedure.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein data transmitted to the apparatus for the identification of the at least one consumer electronic device are saved.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination of the at least one state enables the apparatus to evaluate an operational condition of the at least one consumer electronic device and to transmit the command for the function control corresponding to the at least one state, wherein the at least one state includes an on state, an off state, or a standby state.
9. An apparatus for function control of at least one consumer electronic device, the apparatus being configured to:
transmit at least one infrared or radio signal, wherein the at least one consumer electronic device and the apparatus have a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) interface of specification 1.0 or higher and are in a framework of a HDMI network directly or indirectly connected to each other via the HDMI interfaces such that the apparatus determines at least one state of the at least one consumer electronic device based on an established HDMI connection, wherein the function control of the at least one consumer electronic device is carried out by the apparatus based on the at least one state of the at least one consumer electronic device with the at least one infrared or radio signal, wherein the at least one consumer electronic device includes a device that is controllable with a power toggle command and not a discrete on or off signal, and wherein the determination of the at least one state enables the apparatus to evaluate whether one or more HDMI inputs or HDMI outputs of the at least one consumer electronic device are currently activated and to transmit a command for the function control corresponding to the at least one state of the one or more HDMI inputs or HDMI outputs.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein determining the at least one state of the at least one consumer electronic device is based on one or more Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) signals.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein multiple consumer electronic devices, each having a HDMI interface of specification 1.0 or higher, are integrated into the HDMI network and controllable by the apparatus via respective infrared and/or radio signals.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the determination of the at least one state is limited to the device that is or devices that are controllable with the power toggle command or commands and not a discrete on or off signal.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus identifies the at least one consumer electronic device with a device-specific physical address, logical address, or parameter such that only the at least one consumer electronic device receives a correct command for the function control based on the at least one state.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus identifies the at least one consumer electronic device based on a procedure wherein the device, after a corresponding request of the apparatus, is switched on or off in response to an infrared signal or radio signal or directly at the device, thereby transmitting to the apparatus via the HDMI connection a signal corresponding to the procedure.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein data transmitted to the apparatus for the identification of the at least one consumer electronic device are saved.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the determination of the at least one state enables the apparatus to evaluate an operational condition of the at least one consumer electronic device and to transmit the command for the function control corresponding to the at least one state, wherein the at least one state includes an on state, an off state, or a standby state.