Apparatus and method for interfacing between A/V system and portable device

An interface apparatus connected between an audio/video (A/V) system and a portable multimedia device for enabling the A/V system to control the portable multimedia device as a source of audio and/or video output of the A/V system, the interface apparatus comprising:

• a first connection unit for connecting the portable multimedia device;
• a second connection unit for connecting the A/V system;
• an interface processing unit that transmits/receives control information to/from the portable device via the first connection unit, transmits/receives control information to/from the A/V system via the second connection unit, receives first decoded digital multimedia data from the portable device via the first connection unit, converts the first decoded digital multimedia data of a format outputted from the portable device into second multimedia data of a format complying with a protocol for connection to the A/V system, and transmitting the second multimedia data to the A/V system as audio and/video output of the A/V system via the second connection unit;
• wherein the control information received from the A/V system includes information on a multimedia file as requested from the A/V system and an operation command for controlling an operation on the requested multimedia file;
• wherein the control information received from the portable device includes information on an operational state associated with the operation;
• and
• wherein the portable device decodes the requested multimedia file in accordance with the operation command to generate the first decoded digital multimedia data.

An interface method between an audio/video (A/V) system and a portable device for enabling the A/V system to control the portable multimedia device as a source of audio and/or video output of the A/V system, the interface method comprising:

• receiving a first control signal from the A/V system through a second connection unit;
• converting the first control signal into a data format of a first connection unit and transmitting the converted first control signal to the portable device through the first connection unit;
• receiving a digital multimedia data stream from the portable device through the first connection unit in response to the converted first control signal;
• converting the received digital multimedia data stream into an analog signal;
• transmitting the analog signal to the A/V system through the second connection unit;
• wherein the interface method further comprising:
• receiving a second control signal from the portable device through the first connection unit;
• wherein the first control signal includes information on the multimedia file as requested from the A/V system and an operation command for controlling an operation on the requested multimedia file;
• wherein the second control signal includes information on an operational state associated with the operation;
• and
• wherein the portable device decodes the requested multimedia file in accordance with the operation command to generate the digital multimedia data stream transmitted from the portable device.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing an interface method between an audio/video (A/V) system and a portable device for enabling the A/V system to control the portable multimedia device as a source of audio and/or video output of the A/V system, the interface method comprising:

• receiving a first control signal from the A/V system through a second connection unit;
• converting the first control signal into a data format of a first connection unit and transmitting the converted first control signal to the portable device through the first connection unit;
• receiving a digital stream from the portable device through the first connection unit in response to the converted control signal;
• converting the received digital stream into an analog signal;
• transmitting the analog signal to the A/V system through the second connection unit;
• wherein the interface method further comprising:
• receiving a second control signal from the portable device through the first connection unit;
• wherein the first control signal includes information on the multimedia file as requested from the A/V system and an operation command for controlling an operation on the requested multimedia file;
• wherein the second control signal includes information on an operational state associated with the operation;
• and
• wherein the portable device decodes the requested multimedia file in accordance with the operation command to generate the digital multimedia data stream transmitted from the portable device.

A digital data recording and/or reproducing apparatus for receiving a control information from an A/V system comprising:

• a storage unit to store digitalmultimedia data encoded in a predetermined format;
• a decoder unit configured to decode the digital multimedia data stored in the storage unit;
• a first controller configured to support an interface to communicate with an audio A/V system having a second controller, wherein the A/V system is capable of controlling the digital data recording and/or reproducing apparatus as a source of audio and/or video output of the A/V system and transmitting control information to the external device;
• a digital/analog conversion unit configured to convert the decoded digital multimedia data into analog multimedia data;
• an output unit configured to output the analog multimedia data as an analog audio and/or video signal;
• a control unit configured to:
• receive the control information from the audio A/V system through the first controller, the control information including information on a multimedia file selected by a user from among a plurality of multimedia files displayed on the A/V system and an operation command for controlling an operation on the multimedia file as requested from the A/V system,
• cause the decoder unit to decode the stored digital multimedia data corresponding to the received control information, multimedia file from among the stored digital multimedia data based on the operation command,
• transfer, through the first controller, the decoded digital multimedia data corresponding to the received control information to the audio system multimedia file, and information on an operational state associated with the operation command, to the audio system, such that the decoded digital multimedia data corresponding to the multimedia file is reproduced as audio and/or video output of the A/V system via the A/V system, and
• switch into one of a transmission state transmitting the decoded digital multimedia data to the audio A/V system through the first controller and an output state converting the decoded digital multimedia data into the analog multimedia data by the digital/analog conversion unit and outputting the converted analog multimedia data by the output unit.

A method of reproducing, through an audio A/V system, a digital multimedia data stored in a digital data recording and/or reproducing apparatus for receiving a control information from the audio A/V system, the method comprising:

• receiving a control information from the audio A/V system through the first controller, the control information including information on a multimedia file selected by a user from among a plurality of multimedia files displayed on the A/V system and an operation command for controlling an operation on the multimedia file as requested from the A/V system;
• decoding the stored digital multimedia data corresponding to the received control information multimedia filed from among the stored digital multimedia data based on the operation command;
• and
• switching into one of a transmission state transmitting the decoded digital multimedia data to the audio system through the first controller, and an output state wherein the second mode is the mode in which the decoded digital multimedia data is converting the decoded data converted into the analog multimedia data and outputting the converted analog multimedia data as an analog audio and/or video signal;
• and
• in the transmission state, transferring the decoded digital multimedia data corresponding to the received control information to the audio system having a second controller multimedia file, and information on an operational state associated with the operation command to the A/V system having a second controller, such that the decoded digital multimedia data corresponding to the multimedia file is reproduced as audio and/or video output of the A/V system via the A/V system,
• wherein the A/V system is capable of controlling the digital data recording and/or reproducing apparatus as a source of audio and/or video output of the A/V system and transmitting the control information to the external device.

An audio/video (A/V) system capable of controlling an external mobile electronic device as a source of audio and/or video output of the A/V system, the A/V system comprising:

• a display;
• an input unit;
• an interface unit configured to:
• transmit control information to the external mobile electronic device, and
• receive decoded digital multimedia data from the external mobile electronic device;
• a digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion unit configured to convert the received decoded digital multimedia data into an analog audio and/or video signal;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the interface unit and the D/A conversion unit such that the received decoded digital multimedia data is converted into the analog signal as audio and/or video output of the A/V system,
• wherein the control unit is configured to control the display to display a list of a plurality of multimedia files associated with the external mobile electronic device, and receive, through the input unit, a user input of selecting a multimedia file among the plurality of multimedia files of the list,
• wherein the control information includes information of the selected multimedia file as requested from the A/V system and a play command as an operation command for controlling an operation on the selected multimedia file,
• wherein, based on the control information, the A/V system is configured to receive, from the external mobile electronic device via the interface unit, play state information on an operational state associated with the operation, and decoded digital multimedia data generated by the external mobile electronic device in accordance with the play command, and the A/V system is configured to control the display to display the received play state information,
• wherein the decoded digital multimedia data is digital data decoded by the external mobile electronic device.