Data transmission apparatus, system and method, and image processing apparatus

• US 7,430,660 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Atsushi, Tateyama, Jiro, Katano, Kiyoshi, Fukunaga, Koji, Kobayashi, Makoto, Suzuki, Naohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US10/815,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20040186928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 709/203, 709/228, 709/237, 710/38, 710/61, 710/315
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4291 using a clocked protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40058 Isochronous transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40123 Interconnection of computers and peripherals printer information exchange with computer G06F3/1293
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33307 prior to start of transmission, input or output of the picture signal only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33376 according to characteristics or state of one of the communicating parties, e.g. available memory capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33328 : Resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33364 : Type of modulation; Type of channel, e.g. digital or analog; Type of communication, e.g. half-duplex or full-duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 : Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data

Abstract

A data transmission system where an image providing device and a printer are directly connected by a 1394 serial bus, a command is sent from the image providing device to the printer, then a response to the command is returned from the printer to the image providing device. Image data is sent from the image providing device to the printer based on information included in the response. The printer converts the image data outputted from the image providing device into print data. Thus, printing can be performed without a host computer by directly connecting the image providing device and the printer by the 1394 serial bus or the like.

Claims

1. A data transmission method used between an image providing device and a target device which are connected by a serial bus, the method comprising the steps of:

setting, in communication between the image providing device and the target device, a PULL method as a data transfer method to pull data from the image providing device based on control of the target device, in accordance with a first request issued by the image providing device;

controlling readout of the data from the image providing device in accordance with a second request issued by the target device when the PULL method is set;

locking a data resource of the target device on the image providing device before said setting step;

transferring the data between the image providing device and the target device, wherein the target device does not accept control from any device except for the image providing device in said transferring step; and

releasing the lock of the data resource of the target device in accordance with a third request issued by the image providing device after said transferring step.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image providing device comprises a digital camera.

3. A communication apparatus connected to a device which provides an image, comprising:

a communication section, arranged to perform bi-directional communication with the device;

a setting section, arranged to set a PULL method as a data transfer method to pull data from the device based on control of said apparatus, in accordance with a first request issued by the device, in the communication with the device; and

a readout section, arranged to issue a second request to control readout of the data from the device when the PULL method is set, wherein said setting section locks a data resource of said apparatus on the device before the transfer method is set, and releases the lock of the data resource after the data transfer is completed.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said readout section controls the readout of the data in accordance with a print command issued by the device.

5. An image providing device connected to a target device, comprising:

a communication section, arranged to perform bi-directional communication with the target device;

an issuing section, arranged to issue a first request so that the target device sets a PULL method as a data transfer method to pull data from said image providing device based on control of the target device; and

a transmitter, arranged to transmit the data to the target device in accordance with a second request issued by the target device after the PULL method is set, wherein said issuing section issues the first request after a data resource of the target device is locked on said image providing device, and the lock of the data resource of the target device is released after the data transfer is completed.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the target device controls readout of the data in accordance with a print command issued by said issuing section.