Printer system and method of controlling operation of the same

• US 6,130,758 A
• Filed: 10/07/1997
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Funazaki, Fumihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wallerson, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/944,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 395/108, 395/112, 395/113, 395/114, 395/115, 395/116, 395/117, 358/1.8, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/1.17, 358/1.18, 358/405, 358/407, 710/3, 710/4, 710/9, 710/21, 710/25, 710/26, 710/58
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device

Abstract

A printer system includes a printer controller and a printer connected to each other by a cable according to IEEE Standard 1394. The printer controller and the printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data. The printer controller and the printer are assigned identical device identification data. The printer controller and printer decide a first transmission-permitted time period in which the printer controller transmits data to the printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which the printer transmits data to the printer controller. The first and second transmission-permitted time periods are separated from each other. The printer controller transmits image data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to the printer in packet units in the first transmission-permitted time period. The printer transmits data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to the printer controller in the second transmission-permitted time period.

Claims

1. A printer system comprising:

a printer controller; and

a printer, connected to the printer controller by a bus, wherein said printer controller and said printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data,

said printer controller and said printer being assigned identical device identification data and determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said printer controller transmits data to said printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said printer transmits data to said printer controller, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other,

said printer controller including,

an image-data transmission controller transmitting image data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer in packet units in the first transmission-permitted time period, and

said printer including,

a data transmission controller transmitting data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer controller in the second transmission-permitted time period;

an image data reception controller receiving the image data transmitted from said printer controller;

a buffer memory temporarily storing the image data received by said image data reception controller; and

a printing controller reading out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory, and printing an image which is represented by the read-out image data.

2. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein the device identification data and the transmission destination identifying data include a channel number used in isochronous transfer.

3. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein said printer controller and said printer count a number of cycles for each predetermined communication cycle from a predetermined time and respectively determine the first and the second transmission-permitted time periods based on the counted number of cycles.

4. The printer system according to claim 3, wherein said printer controller and said printer determine the first and the second transmission-permitted time periods based on a remainder obtained by dividing the counted number of cycles by a predetermined number.

5. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein said image-data transmission controller of said printer controller controls the transmission of the image data based on data sent from said data transmission controller of said printer.

6. The printer system according to claim 5, wherein said image-data transmission controller of said printer controller re-transmits the image data which has been transmitted to said printer on time in response to an image data repeat request sent from said data transmission controller of said printer.

7. The printer system according to claim 5, wherein said image-data transmission controller of said printer controller transmits image data in response to an image data transfer request sent from said data transmission controller of said printer.

8. The printer system according to claim 5, wherein said image-data transmission controller of said printer controller stops transmission of image data in response to an image data transfer stop request sent from said data transmission controller of said printer.

9. The printer system according to claim 5, wherein said image-data transmission controller of said printer controller transmits null data in response to a null data transfer request sent from said data transmission controller of said printer.

10. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein

said image-data transmission controller of said printer controller transmits first sync data, indicating that transmission of image data will be stopped, when said image-data transmission controller pauses to transmit image data;

said data transmission controller of said printer transmits second sync data, indicating that transmission of data will be stopped when said data transmission controller pauses to transmit data;

said data transmission controller of said printer determines the second transmission-permitted time period in such a way that said data transmission controller starts to transmit data in response to the first sync data; and

said image-data transmission controller of said printer controller determines the first transmission-permitted time period in such a way that said image-data transmission controller starts to transmit image data in response to the second sync data.

11. A printer system comprising:

a printer controller; and

a printer, connected to the printer controller by a bus, wherein said printer controller and said printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data,

said printer controller and said printer being assigned identical device identification data, and determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said printer transmits data to said printer controller, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other,

said printer controller including,

an image-data transmission controller transmitting image data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer in packet units in the first transmission-permitted time period, and

said printer including,

a data transmission controller transmitting data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer controller in the second transmission-permitted time period;

an image data reception controller receiving the image data transmitted from said printer controller;

a buffer memory temporarily storing the image data received by said image data reception controller; and

a printing controller reading out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory, and printing an image which is represented by the read-out image data,

wherein the device identification data and the transmission destination identifying data include a channel number used in isochronous transfer

wherein said buffer memory of said printer possess an image-data storage capacity smaller than a quantity of image data representing one frame of the image.

12. A printer system comprising:

a printer controller; and

a printer, connected to the printer controller by a bus, wherein said printer controller and said printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data,

said printer controller and said printer being assigned identical device identification data, and determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said printer transmits data to said printer controller, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other,

said printer controller including,

an image-data transmission controller transmitting image data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer in packet units in the first transmission-permitted time period, and

said printer including,

a data transmission controller transmitting data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer controller in the second transmission-permitted time period;

an image data reception controller receiving the image data transmitted from said printer controller;

a buffer memory temporarily storing the image data received by said image data reception controller; and

a printing controller reading out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory, and printing an image which is represented by the read-out image data

wherein the device identification data and the transmission destination identifying data include a channel number used in isochronous transfer

wherein said image-data transmission controller repeats transmission of image data to said printer in packet units in such a manner that the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory will not be emptied from said buffer memory, and

said printing controller reads out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory, and prints the image, which is represented by the read-out image data, at a constant speed.

13. A printer controller, used in a printer system which includes the printer controller and a printer connected to each other by a bus, said printer controller comprising:

an image-data transmission controller transmitting image data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer in packet units in the first transmission-permitted time period, wherein said printer controller and said printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data, said printer controller and said printer being assigned identical device identification data, and determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said printer controller transmits data to said printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said printer transmits data to said printer controller, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other.

14. A printer, used in a printer system which includes a printer controller and said printer connected to each other by a bus, comprising:

a data transmission controller transmitting data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer controller in the second transmission-permitted time period;

an image data reception controller receiving the image data transmitted from said printer controller;

a buffer memory temporarily storing the image data received by said image data reception controller; and

a printing controller reading out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory, and printing an image which is represented by the read-out image data, wherein said printer controller and said printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data, said printer controller and said printer being assigned identical device identification data, and determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said printer controller transmits data to said printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said printer transmits data to said printer controller, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other.

15. A method of controlling operation of a printer system including a printer controller and a printer connected to each other by a bus, wherein said printer controller and said printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data, comprising the steps of:

assigning identical device identification data to said printer controller and said printer;

determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said printer controller transmits data to said printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said printer transmits data to said printer controller, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other;

causing said printer controller to transmit image data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer in packet units in the first transmission-permitted time period; and

causing said printer to transmit data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer controller in the second transmission-permitted time period,

causing the printer to receive the image data transmitted from said printer controller to store temporarily the received image data into a buffer memory, and

causing the printer to read out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory, and to print an image which is represented by the read-out image data.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of adopting a channel number used in isochronous transfer as the device identification data and the transmission destination identifying data.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of causing said printer controller and said printer to count a number of cycles for each predetermined communication cycle from predetermined time and determine the first and the second transmission-permitted time periods based on the counted numbers of cycles, respectively.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of causing said printer controller and said printer to determine the first and the second transmission-permitted time periods based on a remainder obtained by dividing the counted number of cycles by a predetermined number.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of causing said printer controller to control the transmission of the image data based on data sent from said printer.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of causing said printer controller to re-transmit the image data, which has been transmitted to said printer once, in response to an image data repeat request sent from said printer.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of causing said printer controller to transmit image data in response to an image data transfer request sent from said printer.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of causing said printer controller to stop transmission of image data in response to an image data transfer stop request sent from said printer.

23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of causing said printer controller to transmit null data in response to a null data transfer request sent from said printer.

24. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

causing said printer controller to transmit first sync data indicating that transmission of image data will be stopped when said printer controller pauses to transmit image data;

causing said printer to transmit second sync data indicating that transmission of data will be stopped when said printer pauses to transmit data;

causing said printer to determine the second transmission-permitted time period in such a way that said printer starts to transmit data in response to the first sync data; and

causing said printer controller to determine the first transmission-permitted time period in such a way that said printer controller starts to transmit image data in response to the second sync data.

25. A method of controlling operation of a printer system including a printer controller and a printer connected to each other by a bus, wherein said printer controller and said printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data, comprising the steps of:

assigning identical device identification data to said printer controller and said printer;

determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said printer controller transmits data to said printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said printer transmits data to said printer controller, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other;

causing said printer controller to transmit image data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer in packet units in the first transmission-permitted time period; and

causing said printer to transmit data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer controller in the second transmission-permitted time period,

causing the printer to receive the image data transmitted from said printer controller to store temporarily the received image data into a buffer memory, and

causing the printer to read out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory, and to print an image which is represented by the read-out image data, and further comprising the steps of

adopting a channel number used in isochronous transfer as the device identification data and the transmission destination identifying data, and

using such a buffer memory in said printer that possesses an image-data storage capacity smaller than a quantity of image data representing one frame of the image.

26. A method of controlling operation of a printer system including a printer controller and a printer connected to each other by a bus, wherein said printer controller and said printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data, comprising the steps of:

assigning identical device identification data to said printer controller and said printer;

determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said printer controller transmits data to said printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said printer transmits data to said printer controller, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other;

causing said printer controller to transmit image data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer in packet units in the first transmission-permitted time period; and

causing said printer to transmit data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer controller in the second transmission-permitted time period

causing the printer to receive the image data transmitted from said printer controller to store temporarily the received image data into a buffer memory, and

causing the printer to read out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory, and to print an image which is represented by the read-out image data, and further comprising the steps of;

adopting a channel number used in isochronous transfer as the device identification data and the transmission destination identifying data

causing said printer controller to repeat transmission of image data to said printer in packet units in such a manner that the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory will not be emptied from said buffer memory, and

causing said printer to read out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory, and to print the image, which is represented by the read-out image data, at a constant speed.

27. A method of controlling operation of a printer controller used in a printer system, which includes said printer controller and a printer connected to each other by a bus, the method comprising:

causing said printer controller to transmit image data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer in packet units in the first transmission-permitted time period, wherein said printer and said printer controller and said printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data, said printer controller and said printer being assigned identical device identification data, and determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said printer controller transmits data to said printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said printer transmits data to said printer controller, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other.

28. A method of controlling operation of a printer used in a printer system, which includes a printer controller and said printer connected to each other by a bus, the method comprising:

causing said printer to transmit data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said printer controller in the second transmission-permitted time period;

causing the printer to receive the image data transmitted from said printer controller to temporarily store the received image data into a buffer memory; and

causing the printer to read out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory, and to print an image which is represented by the read-out image data, wherein said printer controller and said printer each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data, said printer controller and said printer being assigned identical device identification data, and determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said printer controller transmits data to said printer and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said printer transmits data to said printer controller, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other.

29. A system comprising:

a first device; and

a second device connected to the first device, wherein said first and second devices each accepts data transmitted thereto when device identification data assigned thereto agrees with transmission destination identifying data accompanying the transmitted data,

said first device and said second device being assigned identical device identification data, and determining a first transmission-permitted time period in which said first device transmits data to said second device and a second transmission-permitted time period in which said second device transmits data to said first device, the first and second transmission-permitted time periods being separated from each other,

said first device controller including,

a data transmission controller transmitting data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said second device in the first transmission-permitted time period, and

said second device including,

a data transmission controller transmitting data accompanied by the transmission destination identifying data to said first device in the second transmission-permitted time period.