COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND COMMUNICATION METHOD OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20090019129A1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Noriyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A communication system in which a plurality of communication apparatuses and a communication control apparatus are daisy chained. The communication control apparatus transmits control data to the plurality of communication apparatuses, and receives data transmitted by the plurality of communication apparatuses. Each communication apparatus receives data from another communication apparatus on a different side from a communication control apparatus side, in synchronous with receipt of the control data, and transmits data to one of the communication control apparatus and another communication apparatus on the communication control apparatus side, and following the transmission, to transmit data received to the one of the communication control apparatus and the other communication apparatus on the communication control apparatus side, in synchronous with receipt of the control data.

Claims

1. A communication system in which a plurality of communication apparatuses and a communication control apparatus are daisy chained, wherein

the communication control apparatus comprises:

a transmission unit adapted to transmit control data to the plurality of communication apparatuses; and

a reception unit adapted to receive data transmitted by the plurality of communication apparatuses, and

each communication apparatus comprises;

a reception unit adapted to receive data from another communication apparatus on a different side from a communication control apparatus side, in synchronous with receipt of the control data; and

a transmission unit adapted to transmit data to one of the communication control apparatus and another communication apparatus on the communication control apparatus side, and following the transmission, to transmit data received by the reception unit to the one of the communication control apparatus and the other communication apparatus on the communication control apparatus side, in synchronous with receipt of the control data.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein each communication apparatus comprises a control data transmission unit adapted to transmit the received control data to the other communication apparatus on the different side from the communication control apparatus side.

3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the control data transmission unit transmits the received control data after deleting or rewriting to an invalid code, control data addressed to the communication apparatus.

4. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein

the control data includes a delay time adjustment code, and

the control data transmission unit transmits the received control data after changing the delay time adjustment code.

5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication control apparatus comprises:

a confirmation unit adapted to confirm a configuration of the communication system; and

a generation unit adapted to generate and include in the control data, operation delay information for each communication apparatus in accordance with a confirmation result of the confirmation unit.

6. A communication system in which a plurality of communication apparatuses and a communication control apparatus are daisy chained, wherein

the communication control apparatus comprises:

a transmission unit adapted to transmit control data to the plurality of communication apparatuses; and

a reception unit adapted to receive data transmitted by the plurality of communication apparatuses, and

each communication apparatus comprises;

a determination unit adapted to determine whether the communication apparatus is positioned at an end of the daisy chain; and

a transmission unit adapted to switch, according to a determination result of the determination unit, between transmitting data of the communication apparatus to one of the communication control apparatus and another communication apparatus on a communication control apparatus side, and transmitting data of the communication apparatus after relaying data received from another communication apparatus on a different side from the communication control apparatus side to the one of the communication control apparatus and the other communication apparatus on the communication control apparatus side, in response to receipt of the control data.

7. A communication apparatus daisy chained to another communication apparatus, comprising:

a reception unit adapted to receive, in synchronous with receipt of control data from a first communication apparatus daisy chained on one side, data from a second communication apparatus daisy chained on the other side; and

a transmission unit adapted to transmit data to the first communication apparatus, and following the transmission, to transmit data received by the reception unit to the first communication apparatus, in synchronous with receipt of the control data.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the communication apparatus comprises a control data transmission unit adapted to transmit the received control data to the second communication apparatus.

9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the control data transmission unit transmits the received control data after deleting or rewriting to an invalid code, control data addressed to the communication apparatus.

10. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein

the control data includes a delay time adjustment code, and

the control data transmission unit transmits the received control data after changing the delay time adjustment code.

11. A communication apparatus daisy chained to another communication apparatus, comprising:

a determination unit adapted to determine whether the communication apparatus is positioned at an end of the daisy chain; and

a transmission unit adapted to switch, according to a determination result of the determination unit, between transmitting data of the communication apparatus to a first communication apparatus daisy chained on one side, and transmitting data of the communication apparatus after relaying data received from a second communication apparatus daisy chained on the other side to the first communication apparatus, in response to receipt of control data from the first communication apparatus.

12. A communication method of a communication system in which a plurality of communication apparatuses and a communication control apparatus are daisy chained, comprising:

a receiving step, in each communication apparatus, of receiving data from another communication apparatus on a different side from a communication control apparatus side, in synchronous with receipt of control data from the communication control apparatus; and

a transmitting step, in each communication apparatus, of transmitting data to one of the communication control apparatus and another communication apparatus on the communication control apparatus side, and following the transmission, transmitting data received in the receiving step to the one of the communication control apparatus and the other communication apparatus on the communication control apparatus side, in synchronous with receipt of the control data.

14. A computer program, stored in a computer-readable storage medium, for causing a computer to execute the communication method claimed in claim 12.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program claimed in claim 14.

13. A communication method of a communication system in which a plurality of communication apparatuses and a communication control apparatus are daisy chained, comprising:

a determining step, in each communication apparatus, of determining whether the communication apparatus is positioned at an end of the daisy chain; and

a transmitting step, in the communication apparatus, of switching, according to a determination result in the determining step, between transmitting data of the communication apparatus to one of the communication control apparatus and another communication apparatus on a communication control apparatus side, and transmitting data of the communication apparatus after relaying data received from another communication apparatus on a different side from the communication control apparatus side to the one of the communication control apparatus and the other communication apparatus on the communication control apparatus side, in response to receipt of control data from the communication control apparatus.