Data communication apparatus, method and system and programs for data communication process stored in computer readable storage medium

• US 6,453,071 B2
• Filed: 04/02/1998
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• 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: Ito, Masamichi, Kozuki, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Phuoc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alavi, Amir
• Application Number:
  US09/053,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/330, 370/524, 370/525, 370/395, 370/397, 370/495, 370/496, 370/241-253, 370/282, 370/298, 370/526, 395/200, 382/232, 382/233, 382/235, 358/1.1, 358/1.2, 358/1.16, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 358/400, 358/401, 358/426.01, 358/426.02, 358/437, 358/1.14
• US Class Current: 382/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33357 Compression mode

Abstract

In a data communication apparatus for encoding information data by using a predetermined encoding method, encoded information data is transmitted isochronously with a predetermined communication cycle when the encoding method corresponds to a decoding method at an object node apparatus and non-encoded information data is transmitted asynchronously with the communication cycle when the encoding method does not correspond to the decoding method at the object node apparatus. It is therefore possible to perform an encoding process for the information data to be transmitted, in accordance with a decoding performance at the object node apparatus, to improve a communication efficiency, and to reduce a capacity of a memory used for communications.

Claims

1. A transmission apparatus for transmitting compressed still image data that is compressed and encoded by an encoding method or non-compressed still image data that is not compressed and encoded by the encoding method to a printer, said transmission apparatus comprising:

a detection unit adapted to detect whether or not the printer has a function for decoding the compressed still image data; and

a communication unit adapted to transmit the compressed still image data to the printer, if the printer has the function, and to transmit the non-compressed still image data to the printer, if the printer does not have the function.

2. A transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a decoding unit adapted to decode the compressed still image data to generate the non-compressed still image data, if the printer does not have the function.

3. A transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication unit transmits the compressed still image data or the non-compressed still image data to the printer via a serial interface.

4. A transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication unit transmits the compressed still image data or the non-compressed still image data to the printer via an asynchronous transmission mode that conforms to IEEE 1394 specifications.

5. A transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmission apparatus is a digital device that includes a camera unit.

6. A transmission apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transmission apparatus is a digital device that includes a recorder unit adapted to record moving image data or still image data on a recording medium.

7. A transmission method of transmitting compressed still image data that is compressed and encoded by an encoding method or non-compressed still image data that is not compressed and encoded by the encoding method to a printer, said method comprising:

a detection step, of detecting whether or not the printer has a function for decoding the compressed still image data; and

a transmission step, of transmitting the compressed still image data to the printer, if the printer has the function, and transmitting the non-compressed still image data to the printer, if the printer does not have the function.

8. A transmission method according to claim 7, further comprising a decoding step, of decoding the compressed still image data to generate the non-compressed still image data, if the printer does not have the function.

9. A transmission method according to claim 7, wherein said transmission step includes transmitting the compressed still image data or the non-compressed still image data to the printer via a serial interface.

10. A transmission method according to claim 7, wherein said transmission step includes transmitting the compressed still image data or the non-compressed still image data to the printer in an asynchronous transmission mode that conforms to IEEE 1394 specifications.

11. A transmission method according to claim 7, wherein said transmission method is applicable to a digital device that includes a camera unit.

12. A transmission method according to claim 11, wherein said transmission method is applicable to a digital device that includes a recorder unit adapted to record moving image data or still image data on a recording medium.