Data communication method and data communication system, and battery charging apparatus and method

• US 20010032275A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Mikio, Kurase, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40123 Interconnection of computers and peripherals printer information exchange with computer G06F3/1293

Abstract

To execute processing for installing driver software reliably and in comparatively simple fashion, a device including an EEPROM and a device controller are connected using a cable in accordance with IEEE 1394, and driver software of a plurality of types is stored in the EEPROM. Whether driver software suitable for controlling the device has been stored in the device is judged by the device controller. If suitable driver software has been stored, then this driver software is transmitted from the device to the device controller. The driver software proceeds to control the device based upon driver software that has been transmitted. A battery is charged utilizing electric power provided by a power supply line included in a cable that is in accordance with IEEE 1394. A charging apparatus and a personal computer are connected together by the cable. A power source unit in the personal computer converts AC voltage to direct voltage and supplies the DC voltage to the power supply line. The voltage is applied to a charging circuit via the power supply line, thereby charging the battery. A signal line included in the cable is used when the charging apparatus and personal computer send and receive data to and from each other.

Claims

1. A data communication method in a data communication system in which a controller and a controlled device controlled by the controller perform data communication via a communication channel, comprising the steps of:

storing driver software of a plurality of types in a first storage area of the controlled device;

judging whether driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in the first storage area of the controlled device;

reading driver software suitable for the controller out of the first storage area in response to a judgement to the effect that driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in the first storage area;

transmitting data, which represents the driver software that has been read out, from the controlled device to the controller; and

storing the transmitted data representing driver software in a prescribed second storage area of the controller.

2. A method of controlling storage of driver software in a controller constituting a data communication system in which the controller and a controlled device controlled by the controller perform data communication via a communication channel, comprising the steps of:

judging whether driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in a first storage area of the controlled device;

reading driver software suitable for the controller out of the first storage area in response to a judgement to the effect that the driver software has been stored in the first storage area;

transmitting data, which represents the driver software that has been read out, from the controlled device to the controller; and

storing the transmitted data representing driver software in a prescribed second storage area of the controller.

3. The method according to

claim 2

, further comprising the steps of:

judging whether driver software suitable for the controller has not been stored in the controller; and

judging, in response to a judgement to the effect that the driver software has not been stored in the controller, whether driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in the first storage area of the controlled device.

4. The method according to

claim 2

, wherein in response to a judgement to the effect that driver software suitable for the controller has not been stored in the first storage area of the controlled device, information relating to this judgement is communicated.

5. The method according to

claim 2

, wherein the communication channel is a cable in accordance with IEEE 1394, and the data representing the driver software is transmitted in accordance with IEEE 1394.

6. The method according to

claim 2

, wherein the controlled device is a digital video camera or a printer.

7. A method of reading out driver software in a controlled device constituting a data communication system in which a controller and the controlled device controlled by the controller perform data communication via a communication channel, the controlled device being provided with a memory, said method comprising the steps of:

storing driver software of a plurality of types in a storage area of the memory so as to be capable of being read out under the control of the controller; and

reading out desired driver software based upon control performed by said controller.

8. The method according to

claim 7

, wherein the driver software is stored in the storage area of the memory so as to be rewritable.

9. The method according to

claim 7

, wherein an address of driver software that has been stored in the storage area of the memory and information relating to the controller capable of performing control using this driver software are stored so as to be capable of being read out.

10. The method according to

claim 7

, wherein the controlled device is a digital video camera or a printer.

11. A data communication system in which a controller and a controlled device controlled by the controller perform data communication via a communication channel, wherein the controlled device is provided with a first memory capable of storing driver software of a plurality of types, and the controller comprises:

a second memory for storing driver software;

a judgement device for judging whether driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in a prescribed first storage area of said first memory provided in said controlled device;

a readout device for reading driver software suitable for the controller out of the first storage area in response to a judgement by said judgement device to the effect that driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in the first storage area;

a transmission control device for transmitting data, which represents the driver software that has been read out by said readout control device, from the controlled device to the controller; and

a storage control device for receiving the data representing the driver software transmitted by said transmission control device, and storing this data in a second storage area of said second memory.

12. A controller of a controlled device, the controller constituting a data communication system in which the controller and the controlled device controlled by the controller perform data communication via a communication channel, comprising:

a memory for storing driver software;

a first judgement device for judging whether driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in a prescribed first storage area of the controlled device;

a readout control device, responsive to a judgement by said first judgement device to the effect that driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in the first storage area, for reading the driver software out of the first storage area; and

a storage control device for storing, in a prescribed second storage area of said memory data representing the driver software transmitted from the controlled device based upon transmission control by said transmission control device.

13. The controller according to

claim 12

, further comprising second judgement device for judging whether driver software suitable for the controller has not been stored in the second storage area of said memory;

said first judgement device responding to a judgement by said second judgement device to the effect that the driver software has not been stored in the second storage area by judging whether driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in the first storage area of the controlled device.

14. The controller according to

claim 12

, further comprising a notification device, responsive to a judgement to the effect that driver software suitable for the controller has not been stored in the first storage area of the controlled device, for communicating information relating to this judgement.

15. The controller according to

claim 12

, wherein the communication channel is a cable in accordance with IEEE 1394, and the data representing the driver software is transmitted in accordance with IEEE 1394.

16. The controller according to

claim 13

, wherein the controlled device is a digital video camera or a printer.

17. A controlled device constituting a data communication system in which a controller and the controlled device controlled by the controller perform data communication via a communication channel, said controlled device having a memory in which driver software is capable of being stored in a storage area, wherein driver software of a plurality of types is stored in the storage area of said memory so as to be capable of being read out based upon control by said controller.

18. The device according to

claim 17

, wherein the driver software is stored in the storage area of said first memory so as to be rewritable.

19. The device according to

claim 17

, wherein an address of driver software that has been stored in the storage area of said memory and information relating to the controller capable of performing control using this driver software are stored so as to be capable of being read out.

20. A digital video camera constituting a data communication system in which a camera controller and the digital video camera controlled by the camera controller perform data communication via a communication channel, said digital video camera having a memory in which driver software is capable of being stored in a storage area, wherein driver software of a plurality of types is stored in the storage area of said memory so as to be capable of being read out based upon control by said camera controller.

21. A printer constituting a data communication system in which a printer controller and the printer controlled by the printer controller perform data communication via a communication channel, said printer having a memory in which driver software is capable of being stored in a storage area, wherein driver software of a plurality of types is stored in the storage area of said memory so as to be capable of being read out based upon control by said printer controller.

22. A data communication system in which a controller and a controlled device controlled by the controller perform data communication via a communication channel, wherein the controlled device is provided with a first memory capable of storing driver software of a plurality of types, and the controller comprises:

a second memory for storing driver software;

judgement means for judging whether driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in a prescribed first storage area of said first memory provided in said controlled device;

readout control means for reading driver software suitable for the controller out of the first storage area in response to a jugement by said judgement means to the effect that driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in the first storage area;

transmission control means for transmitting data, which represents the driver software that has been read out by said readout control means, from the controlled device to the controller; and

storage control means for receiving the data representing the driver software transmitted by said transmission control means, and storing this data in a second storage area of said second memory.

23. A controller of a controlled device, the controller constituting a data communication system in which the controller and the controlled device controlled by the controller perform data communication via a communication channel, comprising:

a memory for storing driver software;

first judgement means for judging whether driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in a prescribed first storage area of the controlled device;

readout control means, responsive to a judgement by said first judgement means to the effect that driver software suitable for the controller has been stored in the first storage area, for reading the driver software out of the first storage area; and

storage control means for storing, in a prescribed second storage area of said memory, data representing the driver software transmitted from the controlled device based upon transmission control by said transmission control means.

24. A controlled device constituting a data communication system in which a controller and the controlled device controlled by the controller perform data communication via a communication channel, said controlled device having a memory in which driver software is capable of being stored in a storage area, wherein driver software of a plurality of types is stored in the storage area of said memory so as to be capable of being read out based upon control by said controller.

25. A charging apparatus capable of being connected to a communication apparatus, which is capable of performing data communication via a communication channel, using said communication channel to make the connection;

wherein said communication channel includes a communication line for data communication and a power supply line for supplying electric power;

said apparatus comprising a charging circuit for charging a battery by being supplied with electric power through said power supply line.

26. The apparatus according to

claim 25

, further comprising:

charging capability a judgement device for judging, based upon power supplying capability of said communication apparatus, whether charging by said charging circuit is possible or not; and

a charging controller for controlling said charging circuit so as to charge the battery in response to a judgement by said charging capability the judgement device to the effect that charging is possible.

27. The apparatus according to

claim 25

, further comprising:

a power-drop judgement device for judging, based upon level of electric power supplied from said power supply line, whether a drop in power in said power supply line has occurred owing to charging of the battery by said charging circuit; and

a charging-quantity adjustment device for adjusting said charging circuit, so as to reduce amount of charging, in response to a judgement by said power-drop judgement device to the effect that the drop in power will occur.

28. The apparatus according to

claim 25

, further comprising a charging data transmitting device for transmitting data, which relates to charging in said charging circuit, to the communication apparatus connected by said communication channel.

29. A charging apparatus capable of being connected to a communication apparatus, which is capable of performing data communication via a communication channel, using said communication channel to make the connection;

wherein said communication channel includes a communication line for data communication and a power supply line for supplying electric power;

said apparatus having a charging circuit for applying electric power, with which it is supplied through said power supply line, to a connector of a data processing unit driven by an installed battery, the data processing unit being formed to have said connector in order to input electric power for charging the battery.

30. A method of charging a battery comprising the steps of:

connecting a charging apparatus, which includes a charging circuit, to a communication apparatus capable of performing data communication via a communication channel that includes a communication line for data communication and a power supply line for supplying electric power, the connection being made using said communication channel; and

charging a battery by supplying electric power to said charging circuit through said power supply line.

31. The method according to

claim 30

, further comprising the steps of:

judging, based upon power supplying capability of said communication apparatus, whether charging by said charging circuit is possible or not; and

charging the battery in response to a judgement to the effect that charging is possible.

32. The method according to

claim 30

, further comprising:

judging, based upon level of electric power supplied from said power supply line, whether a drop in power in said power supply line has occurred; and

adjusting said charging circuit, so as to reduce amount of charging, in response to a judgement to the effect that the drop in power will occur.

33. The method according to

claim 30

, further comprising a step of transmitting data, which relates to charging in said charging circuit, to the communication apparatus connected by said communication channel.

34. A method of charging a battery using a charging apparatus capable of being connected to a communication apparatus, which is capable of performing data communication via a communication channel, using this communication channel to make the connection;

wherein said communication channel includes a communication line for data communication and a power supply line for supplying electric power;

said method including applying electric power, which is supplied through said power supply line, to a connector of a data processing unit driven by an installed battery, the data processing unit being formed to have said connector in order to input electric power for charging the battery, said battery being charged by the electric power applied.