Video signal transmitting device, video signal transmitting method, video signal receiving device, and video signal receiving method

A video signal transmitting method comprising:

• a video signal output step to output a non-compressed video signal to be transmitted;
• a compression method information obtaining step to obtain information indicating a compression method that a receiving device can handle, from the receiving device via a transfer path;
• a transfer path information obtaining step to obtain transfer path information indicating the state of said transfer path from said receiving device via said transfer path;
• a video signal compression step to perform compression processing as to a non-compressed video signal output in said video signal output step, with a compression method corresponding to the compression method indicated by the compression method information received in said compression method information receiving step;
• a video signal selecting step to select the non-compressed video signal output from said video signal output step or the compressed video signal output from said video signal compression step, based on said transfer path information obtained in said transfer path information obtaining step;
• a video signal transmitting step to transmit the video signal selected in said video signal selecting step to said receiving device via a cable or wireless transfer path;
• a bit rate adjusting step to adjust the bit rate of the video signal transmitted to said receiving device in said video signal transmitting step, based on said transfer path information obtained in said transfer path information obtaining step;
• a transmission control step to control the operations in said video signal compression step and said video signal selecting step;
• and
• a compression information supplying step to supply the control information of said video signal compression step and said video signal selecting step by said transmission control step to said receiving device via said transfer path,
• wherein the information indicating a compression method is received at a transmitting device through a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) terminal of the transmitting device, and wherein when the receiving device changes format information stored within the receiving device indicating capability of the receiving device to display a format of a video signal, the change of the format information is communicated to the transmitting device through a hot plug detect (HPD) line of the HDMI terminal.

A video signal receiving unit comprising:

• a video signal receiving unit to receive a video signal transmitted from a transmitting device via a cable or wireless transfer path;
• a video signal decompressing unit to perform decompression processing as to a compressed video signal and output a non-compressed video signal, when the video signal received with said video signal receiving unit is a compressed video signal;
• a video signal selecting unit to select the video signal received with said video signal receiving unit or the video signal output from said video signal decompression unit;
• a compression information obtaining unit to obtain compression information including at least information indicating whether the video signal received with said video signal received unit from said transmitting device is a non-compressed video signal or a compressed video signal, and information indicating a compression method in the case that the video signal received with said video signal receiving unit is a compressed video signal;
• a receiving control unit to control operations of said video signal decompression unit and said video signal selecting unit, based on the compression information obtained with said compression information obtaining unit;
• a compression method information supplying unit to supply information indicating a compression method that said video signal decompression unit can handle to said transmitting device via said transmission path;
• and
• a transfer path information supplying unit to supply transfer path information indicating the state of said transfer path to said transmitting device via said transfer path,
• wherein the information indicating a compression method is transmitted to the transmitting device through a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) terminal of the receiving unit, and wherein when the receiving unit changes format information stored within the receiving device indicating capability of the receiving unit to display a format of a video signal, the change of the format information is communicated to the transmitting device through a hot plug detect (HPD) line of the HDMI terminal.

A video signal receiving method comprising:

• a video signal receiving step to receive a video signal transmitted from a transmitting device via a cable or wireless transfer path;
• a video signal decompressing step to perform decompression processing as to a compressed video signal and output a non-compressed video signal, when the video signal received in said video signal receiving step is a compressed video signal;
• a video signal selecting step to select the video signal received with said video signal receiving step or the video signal output in said video signal decompression step;
• a compression information obtaining step to obtain compression information including at least information indicating whether the video signal received in said video signal received step from said transmitting device is a non-compressed video signal or a compressed video signal, and information indicating a compression method in the case that the video signal received in said video signal receiving step is a compressed video signal;
• and
• a receiving control step to control operations of said video signal decompression step and said video signal selecting unit, based on the compression information obtained in said compression information obtaining step;
• a compression method information supplying step to supply information, indicating a compression method which can be handled in said video signal decompressing step, to said transmitting device via said transfer path;
• and
• a transfer path information supplying step to supply the transfer path information indicating the state of said transfer path to said transmitting device via said transfer path,
• wherein the information indicating a compression method is transmitted to the transmitting device through a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) terminal of a receiving unit, and wherein when the receiving unit changes format information stored within the receiving device indicating capability of the receiving unit to display a format of a video signal, the change of the format information is communicated to the transmitting device through a hot plug detect (HPD) line of the HDMI terminal.