DATA TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD, AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS

• US 20010042142A1
• Filed: 02/17/1998
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: KOBAYASHI, MAKOTO, NAKAMURA, ATSUSHI, TATEYAMA, JIRO, KATANO, KIYOSHI, SUZUKI, NAOHISA, FUKUNAGA, KOJI
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4291 using a clocked protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40058 Isochronous transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40123 Interconnection of computers and peripherals printer information exchange with computer G06F3/1293
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33307 prior to start of transmission, input or output of the picture signal only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33376 according to characteristics or state of one of the communicating parties, e.g. available memory capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33328 : Resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33364 : Type of modulation; Type of channel, e.g. digital or analog; Type of communication, e.g. half-duplex or full-duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 : Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data

Abstract

A data transmission system where an image providing device and a printer are directly connected by a 1394 serial bus, a command is sent from the image providing device to the printer, then a response to the command is returned from the printer to the image providing device. Image data is sent from the image providing device to the printer based on information included in the response. The printer converts the image data outputted from the image providing device into print data. Thus, printing can be performed without a host computer by directly connecting the image providing device and the printer by the 1394 serial bus or the like.

Claims

1. A data transmission method for host and target devices, connected by a serial bus, said method comprising the steps of:

performing bi-directional communication between said host and target devices; and

setting a data transfer method to be performed from a plurality of data transfer methods including a PULL model in which said target device reads data from said host device, based on the bi-directional communication.

2. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the data transfer methods further include a response model in which a response is returned in a unit of block transfer, a simplified response model in which a response of the response model is to simplify, a Push model in which said host device writes data into said target device and an Isochronous model using an isochronous transfer.

3. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the host device sets the data transfer method, set in said target device, as a data transfer method for said host device.

4. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the PULL model is a PULL data transfer method in which data transfer is performed by reading data of said host device by said target device.

5. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

6. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on Universal Serial Bus standards.

7. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein said host device provides image data.

8. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein said target device forms a visible image, based on the image data, on a print medium.

9. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein said target device stores the image data into a storage medium.

10. An image processing apparatus comprising:

communication means for performing communication with a target device by the data transfer method in

claim 1

; and

transmission means for transmitting image data to said target device via said communication means.

11. An image processing apparatus comprising:

communication means for performing communication with a host device by the data transfer method in

claim 1

; and

processing means for processing image data received from said host device via said communication means.

12. A data transmission apparatus connected to a serial bus, comprising:

communication means for performing bi-directional communication with a target device; and

setting means for setting a data transfer method to be performed from a plurality of data transfer method including a PULL model, based on the bi-directional communication.

13. The apparatus according to

claim 12

, wherein the data transfer methods further include a response model, a simplified response model, a PUSH model and an isochronous model.

14. The apparatus according to

claim 12

, wherein said setting means sets a data transfer method, set in said target device.

15. The apparatus according to

claim 12

, wherein the PULL model is a PULL data transfer method in which data transfer is performed by reading data of said host device by said target device.

16. The apparatus according to

claim 12

, wherein image data is transferred.

17. A data transmission apparatus connected to a serial bus, said apparatus comprising:

communication means for performing bi-directional communication with a host device; and

transfer means for performing data transfer with said host device by a data transfer method set from a plurality of data transfer method including a PULL model, based on the bi-directional communication.

18. The apparatus according to

claim 17

, wherein the data transfer methods further include a response model, a simplified response model, a PUSH model and an isochronous model.

19. The apparatus according to

claim 17

, wherein the data transfer method is set by said host device.

20. The apparatus according to

claim 17

, wherein the PULL model is a PULL data transfer method in which data transfer is performed by reading data of said host device by said target device.

21. The apparatus according to

claim 17

, further comprising formation means for forming a visible image based on data received by said transfer means on a print medium.

22. A data transmission system for transferring data through a serial bus, comprising:

communication means for performing bi-directional communication between host and target devices; and

setting means for setting a data transfer method to be set from a plurality of data transfer methods including a PULL model, based on the bi-directional communication.

23. The system according to

claim 22

, wherein the data transfer methods further include a response model, a simplified response model, a PUSH model and an isochronous model.

24. The system according to

claim 22

, wherein the PULL model is a PULL data transfer method in which data transfer is performed by reading data of said host device by said target device.

25. A data transmission method of host and target devices which are connected by a serial bus, said method comprising the steps of:

transferring data from said host device to said target device, by isochronous transfer or asynchronous transfer; and

transferring a procedure signal for transfer of the data to said host and target devices by common asynchronous transfer.

26. The method according to

claim 25

, wherein the asynchronous transfer includes a Push Buffer model in which said host device writes data into said target device and a Pull Buffer model in which said target device reads data from said host device.

27. The method according to

claim 25

, wherein said host device sets a data transfer method corresponding to said target device, based on the procedure signal transferred by the common asynchronous transfer.

28. The method according to

claim 25

, wherein said host device selects the isochronous transfer or the asynchronous transfer based on the procedure signal transferred by the common asynchronous transfer.

29. The method according to

claim 25

, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

30. The method according to

claim 25

, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on Universal Serial Bus standards.

31. The method according to

claim 25

, wherein said host device provides image data.

32. The method according to

claim 25

, wherein said target device forms a visible image, based on the image data, on a print medium.

33. The method according to

claim 25

, wherein said target device stores the image data into a storage medium.

34. An image processing apparatus comprising:

communication means for performing communication with a target device by the data transfer method in

claim 25

; and

transmission means for transmitting image data to said target device via said communication means.

35. An image processing apparatus comprising:

communication means for performing communication with a host device by the data transfer method in

claim 25

; and

processing means for processing image data received from said host device via said communication means.

37. The apparatus according to

claim 35

, wherein the isochronous transfer includes a PUSH buffer model and a PULL buffer model.

36. A data transmission apparatus connected to a serial bus, comprising:

transfer means for transferring a procedure signal for data transfer by asynchronous transfer common to a target device; and

transmission means for transmitting data to be transmitted to said target device by isochronous transmission or asynchronous transmission.

38. The apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein said transmission means sets a data transfer method corresponding to said target device, based on the procedure signal transferred by the common asynchronous transfer.

39. The apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein said transmission means selects the isochronous transfer or the asynchronous transfer, based on the procedure signal transferred by the common asynchronous transfer.

40. The apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the data transmitted by said transmission means is image data.

41. A data transmission apparatus connected to a serial bus, comprising:

transfer means for transferring a procedure signal for data transfer by asynchronous transfer common to a host device; and

reception means for receiving data from said host device by isochronous transfer or asynchronous transfer.

42. The apparatus according to

claim 41

, wherein the asynchronous transfer includes a PUSH buffer model and a PULL buffer model.

43. The apparatus according to

claim 41

, wherein said host device sets a data transfer method corresponding to said reception means, based on the procedure signal transferred by the common asynchronous transfer.

44. The apparatus according to

claim 41

, wherein said host device selects the isochronous transfer or the asynchronous transfer based on the procedure signal transferred by the common asynchronous transfer.

45. The apparatus according to

claim 41

, further comprising formation means for forming a visible image based on data received by said reception means on a print medium.

46. A data transmission system for transferring data through a serial bus, comprising:

first transfer means for transferring a procedure signal for data transfer by common asynchronous transfer to host and target devices; and

second transfer means for performing data transfer between said host and target devices by isochronous transfer or the asynchronous transfer.

47. The system according to

claim 46

, wherein the asynchronous transfer includes a PUSH Buffer model and a PULL Buffer model.

48. The system according to

claim 46

, wherein said host device sets a data transfer method corresponding to said target device, based on the procedure signal transferred by the common asynchronous transfer.

49. The system according to

claim 46

, wherein said host device selects the isochronous transfer or the asynchronous transfer based on the procedure signal transferred by the common asynchronous transfer.

50. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing data transmission of host and target devices which are connected by a serial bus, said product comprising:

communication process procedure codes for performing bi-directional communication between said host and target devices; and

setting process procedure codes for setting a data transfer method to be performed from a plurality of data transfer methods including a PULL model.

51. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing data transmission of host and target devices which are connected by a serial bus, said product comprising:

first transmission process procedure codes for transferring a procedure signal for data transfer by common asynchronous transfer to said host and target devices; and

second transmission process procedure codes for performing the data transfer between said host and target devices by isochronous transfer or the asynchronous transfer.