Data communication method
First Claim
1. A data communication method, comprising:
- converting a format of a first interface for use in transmitting digital data unidirectionally to an isochronous transmission format of a second interface for use in transmitting digital data bidirectionally, said first interface using said digital data unidirectionally having a sampling frequency selected from a number of sampling frequencies;
converting a control signal to an asynchronous transmission format of said second interface; and
transmitting said control signal in said asynchronous transmission format time-divisionally multiplexed with said digital data in said isochronous transmission format represented by a plurality of data blocks, the length of each data block being set to a combination of a predetermined number of data packets which is the same for each of the selected sampling frequencies of said first interface and a remaining number of dummy packets according to said each selected sampling frequency.
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Abstract
It is an object of the present invention to reduce the number of terminals in an equipment for inputting or outputting a realtime digital signal such as a digital audio signal and a music/musical instrument signal. A first converter and a second converter are provided with a function of mutual conversion between a signal format of a digital audio interface and a signal format of IEEE-1394. For example, it is possible to transmit a signal of a digital audio interface outputted from a first CD player to the first converter, to convert the signal here into a packet of IEEE-1394 isochronous transmission format and transmit it to the second converter, and to return the packet to the digital audio interface and record a digital audio signal in an MD recorder. When a converter having a function of mutual conversion between the MIDI signal format and the IEEE-1394 signal format is provided, it is also possible to perform bidirectional data communication among a plurality of MIDI musical instruments.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A data communication method, comprising:
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converting a format of a first interface for use in transmitting digital data unidirectionally to an isochronous transmission format of a second interface for use in transmitting digital data bidirectionally, said first interface using said digital data unidirectionally having a sampling frequency selected from a number of sampling frequencies; converting a control signal to an asynchronous transmission format of said second interface; and transmitting said control signal in said asynchronous transmission format time-divisionally multiplexed with said digital data in said isochronous transmission format represented by a plurality of data blocks, the length of each data block being set to a combination of a predetermined number of data packets which is the same for each of the selected sampling frequencies of said first interface and a remaining number of dummy packets according to said each selected sampling frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Data communication apparatus, comprising:
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isochronous converting means for converting a format of a first interface for use in transmitting digital data unidirectionally to an isochronous transmission format of a second interface for use in transmitting digital data bidirectionally, said first interface using said digital data unidirectionally having a sampling frequency selected from a number of sampling frequencies; asynchronous converting means for converting a control signal to an asynchronous transmission format of said second interface; and means for transmitting said control signal in said asynchronous transmission format time-divisionally multiplexed with said digital data in said isochronous transmission format represented by a plurality of data blocks, the length of each data block being set to a combination of a predetermined number of data packets which is the same for each of the selected sampling frequencies of said first interface and a remaining number of dummy packets according to said each selected sampling frequency. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A data communication converter, comprising:
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a link layer unit for converting a format of a first interface for use in transmitting digital data unidirectionally to an isochronous transmission format of a second interface for use in transmitting digital data bidirectionally, said first interface using said digital data unidirectionally having a sampling frequency selected from a number of sampling frequencies, said converter converting a control signal to an asynchronous transmission format of said second interface; and a physical layer unit for transmitting said control signal in said asynchronous transmission format time-divisionally multiplexed with said digital data in said isochronous transmission format represented by a plurality of data blocks, the length of each data block being set to a combination of a predetermined number of data packets which is the same for each of the selected sampling frequencies of said first interface and a remaining number of dummy packets according to said each selected sampling frequency. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification