Apparatus for transmitting key-in data and video data in one packet in real time via USB interface

• US 6,279,053 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1998
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kubo, Shinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cao, Chun
• Application Number:
  US09/181,637
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 710/3, 710/5, 710/20, 710/21, 710/30, 710/61, 710/65, 710/67, 710/35, 348/207, 348/231
• US Class Current: 710/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052

Abstract

The present invention provides a video data reading method comprising steps of: inputting a video data from a video input device; inputting a key-in data from a key switch; adding said key-in data to a packet of said video data; and transmitting said video data and said key-in data in the same packet via a USB interface to a host computer.

Claims

1. A video data reading method comprising steps of:

inputting a video data from a video input device;

inputting a key-in data from a key switch;

retaining said key-in data in a memory controller;

adding, in real-time, said key-in data to a packet of said video data, said packet at the end of one frame of said video data; and

transmitting said video data and said key-in data via a USB interface to a host computer.

2. A video data reading method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said host computer, upon reception of said key-in data, returns a request indicating that said key-in data has been recognized.

3. A video data reading apparatus comprising:

a video data input device for inputting a video data;

a key-in device for inputting a key-in data;

a device for retaining said key-in data;

a data output device for adding, in real-time, said key-in data inputted from said device for retaining said key-in data, to a packet of said video data inputted by said video data input device, so that said video data and said key-in data are transferred via a USB interface to a host computer.

5. A video data reading apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said host computer, upon reception of said key-in data, returns a request indicating that said key-in data has been recognized.

4. A video data reading apparatus comprising:

a video input device for reading a moving picture and outputting said moving picture as an analog video signal;

a timing generator for controlling drive of said video data input device;

an A/D converter for converting said analog video signal into a video data consisting of a digital video signal;

a key switch for inputting signals of a user operation and a data input;

a key switch signal detector for converting a signal inputted by said key switch, into a key-in data consisting of a pulse having a predetermined length;

a memory for accumulating said video data;

a memory controller for controlling read-out and write-in of said video data from/into said memory and adding said key-in data to said video data so as to be outputted; and

a USB interface for transmitting said video data and said key-in data from said memory controller, in one packet via a USB interface to a host computer.

6. A video data reading apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said host computer, upon reception of said key-in data, returns a request indicating that said key-in data has been recognized.