Information processing system and method, image processing system and method, information processing apparatus and computer readable memory

• US 6,018,816 A
• Filed: 04/02/1998
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tateyama, Jiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tu, Trinh L.
• Application Number:
  US09/053,747
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 714/746, 714/748, 714/749, 714/750, 714/751, 714/822, 714/5, 714/18, 714/712, 714/713, 364/265, 364/265.1, 364/265.2, 364/944.5, 364/945.5, 358/502, 358/504, 358/406, 358/462
• US Class Current: 714/746
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1443 Transmit or communication errors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes

Abstract

A system comprising devices connected via a 1394 serial bus solves a problem that if omission of data packet occurs in isochronous transfer capable of high-speed data transfer, only data without the omitted data packet is sent to a transfer destination. A recording/reproduction device 101 repeatedly sends image data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer, and a printer 102 receives the image data repeatedly sent by the isochronous transfer. If a data packet has been omitted in the received data, the omitted data packet is obtained from the data repeatedly sent by the isochronous transfer, thus the printer 102 can print an image based on the complete image data.

Claims

1. An information processing system having devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said system comprising:

supply means for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; and

reception means for receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer;

wherein if the data received by said reception means includes an abnormal portion, said reception means corrects the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein if said supply means transmits coded data by the isochronous transfer, said supply means transmits a decoding program corresponding to a coding method of the coded data prior to transmission of the coded data.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising decoding means for decoding the coded data received by said reception means, based on the decoding program received by said reception means.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the decoding program is transmitted by asynchronous transfer.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the asynchronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the isochronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting the data received by said reception means to a printer.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the printer is an ink-jet printer.

10. An information processing method for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of:

repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer;

receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and

if the data received at said reception step includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

11. An information processing system having devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said system comprising:

supply means for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer;

reception means for receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and

output means for outputting the data received by said reception means to a printer,

wherein said reception means receives the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer by said supply means, in a unit corresponding to a capability of the printer.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the printer is an ink-jet printer.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein if said supply means transmits coded data by the isochronous transfer, said supply means transmits a decoding program corresponding to a coding method of the coded data prior to transmission of the coded data.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising decoding means for decoding the coded data received by said reception means, based on the decoding program received by said reception means.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the decoding program is transmitted by asynchronous transfer.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the asynchronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the isochronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

19. An information processing method for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of:

repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer;

receiving the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and

outputting the data received at said reception step to the printer.

20. An image processing system having devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said system comprising:

supply means for repeatedly transmitting image data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer;

reception means for receiving the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and

formation means for forming a visual image on a printing medium based on the image data received by said reception means,

wherein if the image data received by said reception means includes an abnormal portion, said reception means corrects the abnormal portion by using the image data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein each time said reception means has received a predetermined amount of the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer in predetermined packet units, corresponding to a size of a reception buffer, said reception means supplies the predetermined amount of image data to said formation means.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein each time said reception means has received a predetermined amount of the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer in predetermined packet units, corresponding to a unit of image formation of said formation means, said reception means supplies the predetermined amount of image data to said formation means.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein if said supply means transmits coded image data by the isochronous transfer, said supply means transmits a decoding program corresponding to a coding method of the coded image data prior to transmission of the coded image data.

24. The system according to claim 23, further comprising decoding means for decoding the coded image data received by said reception means, based on the decoding program received by said reception means.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the decoding program is transmitted by asynchronous transfer.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the asynchronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

27. The system according to claim 20, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1934 standards.

28. The system according to claim 20, wherein the isochronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

29. An image processing method for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of:

repeatedly transmitting image data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer;

receiving the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer;

if the image data received at said reception step includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the image data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and

forming a visual image on a printing medium based on the image data received at said reception step.

30. An information processing apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and

correction means for, if the data received by said reception means includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising output means for outputting the data received by said reception means to a printer.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the printer is an ink-jet printer.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

34. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the isochronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

35. An information processing method for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and

if the data received at said reception step includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

36. An information processing apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and

output means for outputting the data received by said reception means to a printer,

wherein said reception means receives the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of the printer.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the printer is an ink-jet printer.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein if said reception means receives coded data, said reception means receives a decoding program corresponding to a coding method of the coded data prior to reception of the coded data.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising decoding means for decoding the coded data received by said reception means, based on the decoding program received by said reception means.

40. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the decoding program is transferred by asynchronous transfer.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the asynchronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

42. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

43. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the isochronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

44. An information processing method for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising:

receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and

outputting the data received at said reception step to the printer.

45. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising:

transmission process procedure codes for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer;

reception process procedure codes for receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and

correction process procedure codes for, if the data received at said reception process includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

46. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising:

transmission process procedure codes for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer;

reception process procedure codes for receiving the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and

output process procedure codes for outputting the data received at said reception process to the printer.

47. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing image processing for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising:

transmission process procedure codes for repeatedly transmitting image data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer;

reception process procedure codes for receiving the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer;

correction process procedure codes for, if the image data received at said reception process includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the image data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and

formation process procedure codes for forming a visual image on a recording medium based on the image data received at said reception process.

48. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising:

reception process procedure codes for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and

correction process procedure codes for, if the data received at said reception process includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

49. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising:

reception process procedure codes for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and

output process procedure codes for outputting the data received at said reception process to a printer.

50. A data communication method for transmitting print data from a host to a printing apparatus by isochronous transmission, comprising the steps of:

causing said host to transmit the print data, which has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus, in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and

if an error occurs in a data block in isochronous packet transmission thereof after the data block is transmitted, storing error information relating to the error in said printing apparatus, and sending back the error information from said printing apparatus to said host by isochronous transmission when transmission of the next data block starts.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein said printing apparatus prints as blank data the print data of a data block in which the error occurred, and performs printing again using the print data of the data block in which the error occurred taken from a data block re-transmitted by said host on the basis of the error information sent back to said host, thereby causing printing to recover from said error.

52. The method according to claim 50, wherein said printing apparatus performs printing by multiple passes, and said host, on the basis of the error information, superimposes print data of a data block lost due to error on the corresponding data block of print data to be printed by the next pass of the printing apparatus, and transmits the resulting data to said printing apparatus.

53. A data communication apparatus for transmitting print data to a printing apparatus in order that the print data will be printed, comprising:

data converting means for creating print data that has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus;

transmitting means for transmitting the print data in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and

re-transmitting means which, if occurrence of an error in a data block in isochronous packet transmission thereof is transmitted from said printing apparatus after the data block is transmitted by said transmitting means, is for re-transmitting the data block to said printing apparatus.

54. The apparatus according to claim 53, further comprising data transmission control means for superimposing print data of the data block in which the error occurred, which data corresponds to multiple-pass printing in said printing apparatus, on the corresponding data block of print data to be printed by the next pass of the printing apparatus, and transmitting the resulting data to said printing apparatus.

55. A printing apparatus for receiving and printing print data sent from a host by isochronous transmission, comprising:

sensing means for sensing occurrence of an error in isochronous packet transmission of the print data when the print data is received;

storing means for storing error information relating to the error sensed by said sensing means;

printing means for printing the print data leaving blank the location of an error sensed by said sensing means;

re-transmission requesting means for issuing a data re-transmission request to said host in response to occurrence of the error;

discriminating means for discriminating, in print data re-transmitted from said host in response to the re-transmission request from said re-transmission requesting means, and on the basis of the error information stored in said storing means, a portion of the print data that corresponds to the location of the error; and

printing control means for printing the error of the location using the portion of the print data discriminated by said discriminating means.

56. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the print data transmitted from said host corresponds to drive data for driving a printhead a single time.

57. A printing system for transmitting print data from a host to a printing apparatus by isochronous transmission, wherein said host transmits the print data, which has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus, in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus;

and

said printing apparatus includes;

sensing means for sensing occurrence of an error in isochronous packet transmission of the print data when the print data is received;

storing means for storing error information relating to the error sensed by said sensing means;

printing means for printing the print data leaving blank the location of an error sensed by said sensing means;

re-transmission requesting means for issuing a data re-transmission request to said host in response to occurrence of the error;

discriminating means for discriminating, in print data re-transmitted from said host in response to the re-transmission request from said re-transmission requesting means, and on the basis of the error information stored in said storing means, a portion of the print data that corresponds to the location of the error; and

printing control means for printing the error of the location using the portion of the print data discriminated by said discriminating means.

58. The system according to claim 57, wherein said printing apparatus prints as blank data the print data of a data block in which the error occurred, and performs printing again using the print data of the data block in which the error occurred taken from a data block re-transmitted by said host on the basis of the error information sent back to said host, thereby causing printing to recover from said error.

59. A printing system for transmitting print data from a host to a printing apparatus by isochronous transmission, wherein said printing apparatus includes:

sensing means for sensing occurrence of an error in isochronous packet transmission of the print data when the print data is received;

printing means for executing printing by multiple passes based upon the print data, and printing the print data leaving blank the location of an error sensed by said sensing means;

re-transmission requesting means for issuing a data re-transmission request to said host in response to occurrence of the error; and

discriminating means for discriminating, in print data re-transmitted from said host in response to the re-transmission request from said re-transmission requesting means, and on the basis of the error information stored in said storing means, a portion of the print data that corresponds to the location of the error; and

said hold includes;

transmitting means for transmitting the print data, which has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus, in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and

data transmitting means for creating and transmitting print data in response to the re-transmission request issued by said re-transmission requesting means, wherein the print data is obtained by superimposing a data block, in which the error has occurred, on print data to be printed by the next pass of said printing apparatus.