JP4175373B2 - Information processing apparatus and method, and data communication system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network in which a plurality of electronic devices are connected by a bus such as a high-speed serial bus conforming to IEEE 1394 (hereinafter referred to as an IEEE 1394 bus), and communication is performed between these electronic devices, and in particular, data is transmitted. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for solving a problem of inconsistency of a transmission data format that may occur between a transmission side device and a reception side device.

  There is considered a network in which electronic devices (hereinafter referred to as devices) such as a digital video cassette recorder, a digital still camera, a personal computer, and a printer are connected by an IEEE 1394 bus, and communication is performed between these devices.

  In a network in which such a plurality of devices are connected by an IEEE 1394 bus (hereinafter referred to as an IEEE 1394 network), data and control signals are transmitted by time division multiplexing every predetermined communication cycle. Communication modes within one communication cycle include isochronous (hereinafter referred to as Iso) communication that transmits video data, audio data, and the like in real time, and control signals such as device operation control commands and connection control commands. There is asynchronous (hereinafter referred to as “Async”) communication that is transmitted periodically.

JP-A-10-233790

  By the way, when the print data supply device on the IEEE 1394 network transmits print data to the printer device and instructs printing, the data according to the data format that can be received and printed by the printer device. Need to prepare and send.

  The print data supply device must change the format of the print data to be sent depending on the printer device to which the print data is sent. If multiple print data supply devices are connected on the network, all of these devices print. It must have a data format conversion function. As a result, the same function exists in a plurality of locations on the network, and resources are wasted.

  Further, when the print data supply device cannot transmit data according to a data format that can be received and printed by the printer device, the printer device cannot print designated data.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and a data transmission device and a data reception device are connected to an IEEE 1394 network, and the data reception device corresponds to a data format that can be output by the data transmission device. If not, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and method and a data communication system for converting the format of transmitted data into an appropriate form and transmitting the data to a data receiving device.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is a communication network in which a plurality of electronic devices are connected. The information processing apparatus connected to the communication network is connected to the communication network. In response to a request from the electronic device, an acquisition unit that acquires attribute information of the electronic device and content attribute information of the electronic device, a storage unit that stores the attribute information of the electronic device A first transmission unit that transmits the attribute information stored in the storage unit to the electronic device, and the attribute information of the content acquired by the acquisition unit; When it is recognized that the data format is one, conversion is possible included in the attribute information stored in the storage means. First confirmation means for confirming whether the first data format can be converted into the second data format by itself based on the data format information; and the second data format by the first confirmation means by itself. And a first instruction means for instructing an electronic device having the predetermined content in the first data format to transmit the predetermined content when it is confirmed that the conversion is possible. , Receiving means for receiving the predetermined content transmitted based on an instruction by the first instruction means, and the first data format which is a data format of the predetermined content received by the receiving means as the second Conversion means for converting the data format into the second data format by the conversion means. The predetermined content that has been converted into Tsu Doo and a second transmission means for transmitting to the electronic device.

  Further, in order to solve the above-described problem, an information processing method according to the present invention accesses an electronic device connected to the communication network in a communication network to which a plurality of electronic devices are connected, and the electronic device Acquisition step of acquiring the attribute information of the content and the attribute information of the content of the electronic device, and first attribute information stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the electronic device in response to the request of the electronic device. When the attribute information of the content acquired in the transmission step and the acquisition step is referred to and the data format of the predetermined content is recognized as the first data format, the attribute information stored in the storage unit Based on the included data format information that can be converted by itself, the first data format is converted to the second data format by itself. A first confirmation step for confirming whether or not conversion to a mat is possible; and when the first confirmation step confirms that conversion to the second data format is possible by the first confirmation step, the first data format A first instruction step for instructing an electronic device possessing the predetermined content to transmit the predetermined content, and the predetermined content transmitted based on the instruction by the first instruction step. A receiving step for receiving, a converting step for converting the first data format, which is a data format of the predetermined content received in the receiving step, into the second data format, and the second data in the converting step A second transmission step of transmitting the predetermined content converted into the format to the electronic device.

  Moreover, in order to solve the above-described problem, the data communication system according to the present invention is a data communication system having an information processing device in a communication network to which a plurality of electronic devices are connected. An acquisition unit that accesses an electronic device connected to a communication network and acquires attribute information of the electronic device and content attribute information of the electronic device, a storage unit that stores its own attribute information, and the electronic device In response to the request, the first transmission means for transmitting the own attribute information stored in the storage means to the electronic device, and the attribute information of the content acquired by the acquisition means, the predetermined content When the data format is recognized as the first data format, its own attribute information stored in the storage means is stored. First confirmation means for confirming whether or not the first data format can be converted into the second data format based on the data format information that can be converted by itself, and the first confirmation When it is confirmed by the means that the conversion to the second data format is possible by itself, the predetermined content is transmitted to the electronic device having the predetermined content in the first data format. A first instruction means for instructing, a receiving means for receiving the predetermined content transmitted based on an instruction by the first instruction means, and a data format of the predetermined content received by the receiving means Conversion means for converting the first data format into the second data format; And a second transmission means for transmitting the predetermined content that has been converted into the second data format in means to the electronic apparatus.

  The present invention has the following effects (1) and (2).

  (1) When transmitting data from the source device to the destination device, the difference in the supported data format can be absorbed.

  (2) If there are many formats for the data to be transmitted, the source / destination device does not need to support many data formats for data transmission, and the controller can support many formats on the network. This can lead to cost reduction on a network scale.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an IEEE 1394 network to which the present invention is applied. As shown in this figure, a source device 1, a destination device 2, and a controller (control device) 3 are connected to an IEEE 1394 bus 4. Each device includes IEEE 1394 interface blocks 11, 21, and 31 that are interfaces for accessing other devices on the network through the IEEE 1394 bus 4.

  A device that transmits data on the IEEE 1394 network at a certain time is set as a source device. As shown in FIG. 1, the source device 1 includes, as hardware, an IEEE 1394 interface block 11, a data source block 12, a block 13 that holds information on a data format that can be transmitted, and a CPU.

  Also, a device that receives data on the IEEE 1394 network at a certain point in time is a destination device. As shown in FIG. 1, the destination device 2 includes, as hardware, an IEEE 1394 interface block 21, a data processing block 22, a block 23 that holds information on the format of receivable data, and a CPU 24.

  A device for instructing data transmission and controlling the device with respect to the device on the IEEE 1394 network is a controller. As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 3 is a device that exists as one element on the IEEE 1394 network, and is hardware for realizing the functions described later, that is, an IEEE 1394 interface block 31 and a block that holds format information that can be converted. 32, a block 33 indicating that the device is mounted with a controller, a data format conversion block 34, and a CPU 35.

  Next, the software configuration of each device will be described.

  First, the role of each device will be described.

  When the source device receives a data transmission command together with parameters such as a data format and a data transmission destination from the outside, the source device starts data transmission to the designated format and the designated transmission destination. Further, in response to an external request, information on the format of data that can be transmitted is provided.

  When the destination device is instructed to receive data from the outside, the destination device sets up a reception buffer (a CSR space described later) in preparation for reception in the specified format, and receives data. Also, information on receivable data formats is provided in response to an external request.

  The controller is (1) a function for examining functions implemented by devices on the network (2) a function for converting data format (3) a function for instructing and controlling data transmission to devices on the network (4) conversion Information on possible data formats is provided, function to provide the information upon request (5) function to transmit and receive data (6) control the operation of equipment that transmits data and equipment that receives data It has a function to do.

  Also, the controller instructs the transmission of data from the source device to the destination device.

  2 and 3 are flowcharts when data is actually transmitted from the source device to the destination device. In this flowchart, src represents a source device, dest represents a destination device, and controller represents a controller.

  First, in order to instruct data transmission from the source device to the destination device, the controller acquires information on the transmittable data format of the source device and the receivable data format of the destination device (step S1).

  Next, it is determined from the information whether there is a data format (format A) that can be transmitted by the source device and that can be received by the destination device (step S2). If the format A exists, the controller informs the destination device of the format of the data transmitted from the source device, and instructs the source device to receive data in the format (step S3). Instructs to send data to the destination device in the corresponding format (step S4).

  In step S2, if the corresponding format A is not found, the controller interrupts data transmission from the source device to the destination device and tries to convert the data format.

  Specifically, first, it is checked whether or not the controller itself supports format conversion from a data format that can be transmitted by the source device to a data format that can be received by the destination device (step S5). If it is supported, the controller instructs the source device to perform data transmission in a format (format B) that can be converted by the controller (step S6). The controller that has received the data converts the data format into a format (format C) that can be received by the destination device (step S7), and instructs the destination device to receive and process data in the format C ( Step S8), data transmission in the format C is performed to the destination device (step S9).

  In step S5, when it is determined that the controller cannot convert the format from the data format that can be transmitted by the source device to the data format that can be received by the destination device, the controller (hereinafter referred to as controller A) is another controller on the network. (Hereinafter referred to as controller B) is searched (steps S10 and S11). When the controller B exists (YES in step S11), the controller A obtains the information of the format conversion table of the controller B (step S13), and uses the format conversion function of the controller A and the controller B, from the source device. It is checked whether or not conversion to a format that can be transmitted to the destination device is possible (step S14). If possible (YES in step S14), format conversion is performed using both the controller A and controller B or one of the functions, and data is transmitted from the source device to the destination device (step S15).

  If the desired format conversion cannot be performed using the conversion functions of the controllers A and B (NO in step S14), the controller A searches for another controller (hereinafter referred to as controller C) (steps S10 and S11). Information on the format conversion table supported by the controller C is obtained (step S13), and it is checked whether the target format conversion can be performed using the conversion functions of the controllers A, B, and C (step S14). If so (YES in step S14), format conversion is performed (step S15).

  In this way, when the controller A cannot perform format conversion, it checks whether the format conversion is possible using another controller.

  If the target format conversion cannot be performed even if all the controllers on the network or the controller whose number is limited in terms of implementation cannot be used, the controller stops data transmission and returns an error code to the application (step S12).

  Next, as a specific example of the invention, a case will be described in which a disk device 5, a printer 6 and an IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder) 7 are connected via an IEEE 1394 bus 4 as shown in FIG. In this case, the disk device 5 corresponds to the source device, the printer 6 corresponds to the destination device, and the IRD 7 corresponds to the controller.

  The disk device 5 includes an IEEE 1394 interface block 51, a disk drive (recording medium) 52, a memory 53, and a CPU 54 therein. The printer 6 includes an IEEE 1394 interface block 61, a printer engine 62, a memory 63, and a CPU 64 therein. The IRD 7 includes an IEEE 1394 interface block 71, a data format selection / conversion block 72, a memory 73, a tuner 74, and a demultiplexer 75.

  A list of data formats that can be transmitted and received by each device is provided as a descriptor defined by an AV / C digital interface command set (AV / C digital interface command set). The descriptor is mounted on the memory 53 or the disk drive 52 in the disk device 5, on the memory 63 in the printer 6, and on the memory 73 in the IRD 7. In the case of the controller (IRD in FIG. 4), the data format information that can be transmitted and received is equivalent to the data format list information that can be converted.

  FIG. 5 shows a descriptor model. As shown in this figure, the descriptor has a tree structure. The AV / C digital interface command set specifies that the functions of subunits (functional units in equipment) defined by IEEE 1394 are indicated in the subunit identifier descriptor (subunit identifier descriptor). Has been. Thus, FIG. 5 includes the device information necessary for the present embodiment as an entry of the subunit identifier descriptor. In this descriptor, there are two entries consisting of “support format” and “support type”. “Support format” is a format that can be received (in the case of a destination device) or supported format conversion source (in the case of a controller), and a format that can be transmitted (in the case of a source device) or supported (in the case of a controller). Is shown. “Support type” indicates which of the source / destination / controller is mounted on the device.

  In FIG. 4, the disk device 5 holds still image data in an internal disk drive 52. The printer 6 receives still image data from the IEEE1394 bus 4 and prints it. The IRD 7 is equipped with a controller.

  The disk device 5 which is a source device holds still image data as content, and can transmit specified still image data to other devices through a network in response to an external request. When transmission of a still image is requested, the source device can prepare image data encoded in a format supported by itself as transmission data. The supported format information is stored as a descriptor.

  When the printer 6 that is the destination device receives the image format that it supports, the printer engine 62 can print the data. Information on the supported image format is provided as a descriptor in the memory 63.

  The IRD 7 having a controller function controls data transmission between the source device and the destination device, and has a role of issuing a print request to the destination device. The IRD 7 has a convertible data format conversion type as a descriptor in the memory 73.

  IEEE 1394 Async transmission or Iso transmission is used for data transmission. In the case of Iso transmission, data is transmitted using a plug control register defined in IEC61883.

  In the case of Async transmission, data is transmitted using a CSR (Control and Status Registers) space defined by IEEE1212 (specifically, for example, the initial unit space shown in FIG. 6). Specifically, data transmission by Async transmission is realized using the following methods 1) and 2).

  1) Push (PUSH) model: The source device writes data to the CSR space of the destination device.

  2) Pull model: The source device prepares data on its own CSR space, and the destination device reads the CSR space on the source device.

  In these devices, when a printing operation is performed, the flow is as follows.

  First, the IRD 7 selects a still image to be printed from the disk device 5, and simultaneously checks an image format supporting transmission from the descriptor of the disk device 5.

  Next, the IRD 7 checks the image format supported by the printer 6 from the descriptor.

  The IRD 7 compares the image format supported by the disk device 5 with the image format supported by the printer 6 and checks whether there is an image format supported by both devices.

  When there is an image format supported by both devices, the IRD 7 performs data transmission between the disk device 5 and the printer 6 according to the corresponding format. In the case of the pull model, the IRD 7 instructs the disk device 5 to write the data in the corresponding format into the designated CSR space, and the printer 6 uses the CSR space data written by the disk device 5 as the designated image format. Instruct them to print.

  On the other hand, when there is no format supported by both devices, the IRD 7 refers to the information of the image conversion table mounted in the memory 73 and the printer 6 supports the image data format supported by the disk device 5. Check if it can be converted to the image data format. If the image format A supported by the disk device 5 can be converted to the image format B supported by the printer 6, the IRD 7 instructs the disk device 5 to transmit data in the format A if it is a push model. . The transmission destination is the CSR space of IRD7.

  The IRD 7 converts the received data into the format B and transmits it to the CSR space of the printer 6. In addition, the printer 6 is instructed to print the data in the designated CSR space as the format B.

  If conversion from the image format A supported by the disk device 5 to the image format B supported by the printer 6 is impossible, the IRD 7 tries to convert to the target format via another controller on the network.

  Specifically, if the IRD 7 does not support the conversion from the format A to the format B, the IRD 7 searches for another controller (hereinafter referred to as the controller B) on the network. When the controller B exists, the IRD 7 obtains information of the format conversion table of the controller B, and uses the format conversion function of the IRD 7 and the controller B to convert the data into a format that can be transmitted from the disk device 5 to the printer 6. Find out if it is possible. If possible, format conversion is performed using both the IRD 7 and the controller B, or one of the functions, and data is transmitted from the disk device 5 to the printer 6.

  If the desired format conversion cannot be performed using the conversion function of the IRD 7 and the controller B, the IRD 7 searches for another controller C, obtains information on the format conversion table supported by the controller C, and obtains the information on the IRD 7 and the controller B. It is checked whether or not the target format conversion can be performed using the C conversion function. If possible, the format conversion is performed.

  Thus, one controller (IRD 7 in FIG. 4) transmits data to the other controller, and the transmitted data is subjected to format conversion and transmitted to the next controller. The controller that finally converts the format into a format that can be received by the printer 6 transmits the data to the printer 6, and one of the controllers regards the data in the CSR space as the format B and prints to the printer 6. Instruct.

  If the target format conversion cannot be performed even if all the controllers on the network or the limited number of controllers are used, the controller stops data transmission and returns an error code to the application that has instructed printing.

  In the above example, the source device is a disk device, the destination device is a printer, and the controller is an IRD. However, in the present invention, the source device having the data to be transmitted and the destination that processes and holds the data are also provided. In a model to which a nation device is connected, format conversion and processing of data to be transmitted can be performed by a method equivalent to the method described above.

  Examples of applicable models are shown below.

  (1) The source device is a digital still camera and the destination device is a digital still camera. In this case, an image memory included in the digital still camera is considered as the data transmission source, and an image memory or liquid crystal display included in the digital still camera is considered as the data transmission destination. It is done.

  (2) The source device is a camera-integrated video tape recorder or video tape recorder, and the destination device is a camera-integrated video tape recorder or video tape recorder. In this case, the data transmission source is a camera-integrated video tape recorder or video tape recorder. As the image memory and recording medium provided, and the data transmission destination, an image memory, a liquid crystal display, and a recording medium provided in a camera-integrated video tape recorder or video tape recorder can be considered.

  (3) A scanning buffer may be considered as a source device where the facsimile apparatus or image scanner data transmission source.

  (4) The destination device is a facsimile machine or a digital copying machine. The data transmission destination may be a printing unit of the device.

  (5) The destination device may be a recording medium as a disk device data transmission destination.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the IEEE1394 network to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows a part of flowchart when data are transmitted from a source device to a destination device. It is a figure which shows the remaining one part of the flowchart in case data are transmitted from a source device to a destination device. FIG. 2 is a diagram in which a disk device, a printer, and an IRD are network-connected by an IEEE 1394 bus. It is a figure which shows the model of a descriptor. It is a figure which shows the example of CSR space.

Explanation of symbols

  1 source device, 2 destination device, 3 controller, 4 IEEE 1394 bus

Claims (12)

In a communication network where multiple electronic devices are connected,
The information processing apparatus connected to the communication network is
Obtaining means for accessing an electronic device connected to the communication network and obtaining attribute information of the electronic device and attribute information of content included in the electronic device;
Storage means for storing own attribute information;
In response to a request from the electronic device, first transmitting means for transmitting the attribute information stored in the storage means to the electronic device;
Referring to the attribute information of the content acquired by the acquisition means, and when the data format of the predetermined content is recognized as the first data format, it is included in the own attribute information stored in the storage means First confirming means for confirming whether or not the first data format can be converted into the second data format by itself based on the convertible data format information;
When it is confirmed by the first confirmation means that the conversion to the second data format is possible by itself, the predetermined data for the electronic device having the predetermined content in the first data format is used. First instruction means for instructing to transmit the content of
Receiving means for receiving the predetermined content transmitted based on an instruction by the first instruction means;
Conversion means for converting the first data format, which is the data format of the predetermined content received by the receiving means, into the second data format;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a second transmission unit configured to transmit the predetermined content converted into the second data format by the conversion unit to the electronic device.   The one electronic device can receive the second data format based on the data format information that can be received by the one electronic device included in the attribute information of the one electronic device acquired by the acquiring means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second confirmation means for confirming the above. When the first confirmation unit confirms that the conversion to the second data format is not possible by itself, the other electronic device included in the attribute information of the other electronic device acquired by the acquisition unit converts Third confirmation means for confirming a device that converts the first data format to the second data format based on possible data format information;
A second instruction means for instructing an electronic device possessing the predetermined content in the first data format to transmit the predetermined content to the device confirmed by the third confirmation means;
With respect to the device confirmed by the third confirmation unit, wherein the predetermined content is transmitted by the second instruction unit, and the received data format of the predetermined content is converted into the second data format, The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a third instruction unit that instructs to transmit the converted content to the one electronic device. The first confirmation unit cannot convert the data into the second data format by itself, and the third confirmation unit cannot convert the second data format into the second data format. Whether it is possible to convert the first data format to the second data format by appropriately combining the functions of converting the data format of itself and the plurality of other electronic devices when appropriate. A judging means for judging;
When it is determined by the determination means that the functions for converting the data format of itself and the plurality of other electronic devices can be appropriately combined and converted into the second data format, the determination of determining the order of the combined electronic devices Means,
The predetermined content is transmitted to the first electronic device in the order determined by the determining unit to the electronic device having the predetermined content in the first data format, and then determined by the determining unit. A fourth instruction means for instructing other electronic devices to sequentially transmit the converted content according to the order
When the predetermined content is transmitted to each electronic device by the fourth instruction means and the conversion to the second data format is completed, the content converted to the second data format is transferred to the one electronic device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising fifth instruction means for instructing to transmit to the information processing apparatus. In a communication network where multiple electronic devices are connected,
An access step of accessing an electronic device connected to the communication network and acquiring attribute information of the electronic device and content attribute information of the electronic device;
A first transmission step of transmitting own attribute information stored in a storage unit to the electronic device in response to a request from the electronic device;
When the attribute information of the content acquired in the acquisition step is referred to and the data format of the predetermined content is recognized as the first data format, it is included in the own attribute information stored in the storage unit A first confirmation step of confirming whether or not the first data format can be converted into the second data format by itself based on the data format information that can be converted;
When it is confirmed by the first confirmation step that the conversion to the second data format is possible by itself, the electronic device having the predetermined content in the first data format is provided with respect to the predetermined data. A first instruction step for instructing to transmit the content of
A receiving step of receiving the predetermined content transmitted based on an instruction by the first instruction step;
A conversion step of converting the first data format, which is the data format of the predetermined content received by the reception step, into the second data format;
And a second transmission step of transmitting the predetermined content converted into the second data format in the conversion step to the electronic device.   The one electronic device can receive the second data format based on the data format information that can be received by the one electronic device included in the attribute information of the one electronic device acquired by the acquiring step. The information processing method according to claim 5, further comprising a second confirmation step for confirming. When it is confirmed that the conversion to the second data format is not possible by the first confirmation step, the other electronic device included in the attribute information of the other electronic device acquired in the acquisition step is converted. A third verification step for identifying a device that converts the first data format to the second data format based on possible data format information;
A second instruction step for instructing an electronic device possessing the predetermined content in the first data format to transmit the predetermined content to the device confirmed in the third confirmation step;
With respect to the device confirmed in the third confirmation step, in which the predetermined content is transmitted by the second instruction step and the received data format of the predetermined content is converted into the second data format, The information processing method according to claim 5, further comprising a third instruction step for instructing to transmit the converted content to the one electronic device. It is not possible to convert to the second data format by itself in the first confirmation step, and it is not possible to convert to the second data format by the plurality of other electronic devices by the third confirmation step. Whether it is possible to convert the first data format to the second data format by appropriately combining the functions of converting the data format of itself and the plurality of other electronic devices when appropriate. A judging process for judging;
If it is determined in the determination step that the functions for converting the data format of itself and the plurality of other electronic devices can be appropriately combined and converted into the second data format, the determination of determining the order of the combined electronic devices Process,
The predetermined content is transmitted to the first electronic device in the order determined in the determination step to the electronic device having the predetermined content in the first data format, and then determined in the determination step. A fourth instruction step instructing other electronic devices to sequentially transmit the converted content according to the order
When the predetermined content is transmitted to each electronic device by the fourth instruction step and the conversion to the second data format is completed, the content converted to the second data format is transferred to the one electronic device. The information processing method according to claim 7, further comprising a fifth instruction step for instructing to transmit to the information processing apparatus. In a data communication system having an information processing device in a communication network in which a plurality of electronic devices are connected,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Obtaining means for accessing an electronic device connected to the communication network and obtaining attribute information of the electronic device and attribute information of content included in the electronic device;
Storage means for storing own attribute information;
In response to a request from the electronic device, first transmitting means for transmitting the attribute information stored in the storage means to the electronic device;
When the attribute information of the content acquired by the acquisition unit is referred to and the data format of the predetermined content is recognized as the first data format, it is included in the own attribute information stored in the storage unit First confirmation means for confirming whether or not the first data format can be converted into the second data format by itself based on data format information that can be converted by the device;
When it is confirmed by the first confirmation means that the conversion to the second data format is possible by itself, the predetermined data for the electronic device having the predetermined content in the first data format is used. First instruction means for instructing to transmit the content of
Receiving means for receiving the predetermined content transmitted based on an instruction by the first instruction means;
Conversion means for converting the first data format, which is the data format of the predetermined content received by the receiving means, into the second data format;
A data communication system comprising: a second transmission unit configured to transmit the predetermined content converted into the second data format by the conversion unit to the electronic device.   The one electronic device can receive the second data format based on the data format information that can be received by the one electronic device included in the attribute information of the one electronic device acquired by the acquiring means. 10. The data communication system according to claim 9, further comprising second confirmation means for confirming the above. When the first confirmation unit confirms that the conversion to the second data format is not possible by itself, the other electronic device included in the attribute information of the other electronic device acquired by the acquisition unit converts Third confirmation means for confirming a device that converts the first data format to the second data format based on possible data format information;
A second instruction means for instructing an electronic device possessing the predetermined content in the first data format to transmit the predetermined content to the device confirmed by the third confirmation means;
With respect to the device confirmed by the third confirmation unit, wherein the predetermined content is transmitted by the second instruction unit, and the received data format of the predetermined content is converted into the second data format, 11. The data communication system according to claim 10, further comprising third instruction means for instructing to transmit the converted content to the one electronic device. The first confirmation unit cannot convert the data into the second data format by itself, and the third confirmation unit cannot convert the second data format into the second data format. Whether it is possible to convert the first data format to the second data format by appropriately combining the functions of converting the data format of itself and the plurality of other electronic devices when appropriate. A judging means for judging;
When it is determined by the determination means that the functions for converting the data format of itself and the plurality of other electronic devices can be appropriately combined and converted into the second data format, the determination of determining the order of the combined electronic devices Means,
The predetermined content is transmitted to the first electronic device in the order determined by the determining unit to the electronic device having the predetermined content in the first data format, and then determined by the determining unit. A fourth instruction means for instructing other electronic devices to sequentially transmit the converted content according to the order
When the predetermined content is transmitted to each electronic device by the fourth instruction means and the conversion to the second data format is completed, the content converted to the second data format is transferred to the one electronic device. 12. The data communication system according to claim 11, further comprising fifth instruction means for instructing to transmit to the terminal.

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