JP2000079746A - Apparatus and method for forming image, recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily recognize generation of errors by stopping printing of image data when an interface detects a bus reset and carrying out printing to identify a malfunction. SOLUTION: Generation of a bus reset is checked (S1502). When the bus reset takes place, contents of an error are printed to a paper and the process is stopped (S1507). When the bus reset does not take place, whether or not received data is an amount of one page is checked (S1503). If the received data is smaller than the amount of one page, the process from the S1501 is carried out again. When the received data is the amount of one page, a formatter part forms images of the amount of one page (S1504). A printer part prints generated images to a paper (S1505). Whether or not a final page is output is checked (S1506). When the final page is not output, the process from the S1501 is conducted again. When the final page is output, the process is terminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for connecting a plurality of electronic devices (hereinafter referred to as "devices") using a data communication bus to which a plurality of devices can be connected, and performing data communication between the respective devices. And an image forming method for outputting an image on paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among personal computer peripheral devices, hard disk drives and printers are most frequently used, and these peripheral devices are digital interfaces (hereinafter referred to as digital I / F) which are typical general-purpose interfaces for small computers. A connection is established between personal computers using SCSI or the like, and data communication is performed.

A recording / reproducing device such as a digital camera or a digital video camera is also one of the peripheral devices as an input means to a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC). The technology in the field of importing such video to a PC and storing it on a hard disk, or editing the image on the PC, and then performing color printing with a printer is advancing, and the number of users is increasing.

When the captured image data is output from a PC to a printer or hard disk, the above-mentioned CSCI is used.
In such a case, in order to send information having a large data amount such as image data, such a digital I / F has a high transfer data rate and a high data transfer rate. Versatile things are needed.

[0005] IEEE 1394 is a general-purpose digital I / F standard suitable for such applications. Using this,
Realizes data communication between devices when a PC, a printer, other peripheral devices, a digital camera or a digital VTR recording / reproducing device, etc. are connected in a network configuration, captures video data from the recording / reproducing device to the PC, A so-called direct print, in which video data is directly transferred to a printer and printed, is realized.

[0006] Video data to be transferred from the recording / reproducing apparatus of the source node is compressed based on information such as whether the destination node such as a PC or a printer has a decoder and the type of the decoder. It is possible to select and output the data as it is or to output the data after decoding the video data.

A feature of a general-purpose serial bus such as IEEE 1394 is that a node can be inserted and removed and a node can be turned on / off while the bus is in use. Then, by automatically detecting such a change, resetting the bus, and then reconstructing the bus, the bus can be used with a new configuration.

[0008]

However, a general-purpose digital I / O such as the IEEE 1394 mentioned in the above-mentioned conventional example is used.
The problem of F is that the data transfer is interrupted by an unexpected bus reset and the process ends in an error. In particular, in the case of printing an image having a plurality of pages from a PC or the like to a printer, and when the page before the interruption is output and the job cannot be continued after the bus is reconfigured, the output page becomes an error. Some things may not be noticed when the user takes the paper into the device. Particularly, in a print job having a plurality of pages, when outputting an image of a page that has already been received while receiving job data at the same time, a bus reset occurs before outputting all pages, so that some pages are not output. Become.
In such a situation, the user often does not notice that some pages have not been output.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus and an image forming method according to the present invention are provided.
The recording medium has the following main configuration.

That is, the image forming apparatus comprises: an interface for managing data transmission / reception and connection between devices; a formatter for developing code data received by the interface into image data; and a printing means for printing the developed image data. When a bus reset is detected by the interface, printing of the image data is stopped, and printing for identifying an abnormality is executed.

The image forming method includes an interface step of managing data transmission / reception and connection between devices, a formatter step of expanding code data received by the interface step into image data, and printing the expanded image data. A printing step, wherein when the bus reset is detected by the interface step, printing of the image data is stopped and printing for identifying an abnormality is executed.

[0012] The computer-readable recording medium may further comprise: an interface step of managing data transmission / reception and connection between devices; a formatter step of expanding code data received by the interface step into image data; A printing step of printing the image data. If a bus reset is detected by the interface step, printing of the image data is stopped, and printing for identifying an abnormality is executed.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a network configuration for implementing the present invention. Here, in the present invention, since the IEEE 1394 serial bus is used for the digital I / F for connecting the respective devices, the IEEE 1394 serial bus will be described in advance.

<Overview of IEEE 1394 Technology> With the advent of home digital VTRs and DVDs, it is necessary to support real-time and high-information-volume data transfer of video data and audio data. In order to transfer such video and audio data in real time, and to transfer it to a personal computer (PC) or other digital devices, an interface capable of high-speed data transfer with the necessary transfer functions is required. The interface developed from such a viewpoint is IEEE 1394-1995 (High Per
formance Serial Bus) (hereinafter 1394 serial bus)
It is.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a network system configured using a 1394 serial bus. This system is provided with devices A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. A-B, A-C, B-D, D-E, C-F
, CG, and CH are connected by a twisted pair cable of a 1394 serial bus.
The devices A to H are, for example, PC, digital VTR, DV
D, digital camera, hard disk, monitor, etc.

The connection method between the devices is such that the daisy chain method and the node branch method can be mixed.
A highly flexible connection is possible.

Each device has its own unique ID and recognizes each other to form one network in a range connected by a 1394 serial bus. One 1394 connection between each digital device
Just by sequentially connecting with a serial bus cable, each device plays a role of relay, and constitutes one network as a whole. In addition, it has a function of automatically recognizing the device and recognizing the connection status when the cable is connected to the device by the Plug & Play function, which is a feature of the 1394 serial bus.

In the system shown in FIG. 2, when a certain device is deleted from the network or newly added, the bus is automatically reset to reset the network configuration up to that time. From
Rebuild a new network. With this function, the configuration of the network at that time can be constantly set and recognized.

The data transfer rate is 100/200 /
It has a transmission rate of 400 Mbps, and a device having a higher transfer rate supports a lower transfer rate and is compatible.

The data transfer mode includes asynchronous data such as control signals (hereinafter referred to as A).
Asynchronous transfer mode for transferring sync data)
There is an isochronous transfer mode for transferring synchronous data (Isochronous data: hereinafter, iso data) such as real-time video data and audio data. This Asyn
In each cycle (usually 125 μS per cycle), the c data and the Iso data follow the transfer of a cycle start packet (CSP) indicating the start of the cycle, followed by the Is data.
o Data is transferred together in a cycle while giving priority to data transfer.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the components of the 1394 serial bus.

The 1394 serial bus has a layer (hierarchical) structure as a whole. As shown in FIG.
The most hardware type is a 1394 serial bus cable, which has a connector port to which a connector of the cable is connected.
There are layers and link layers.

The hardware part is a substantial part of an interface chip. The physical layer performs coding and control related to connectors, and the link layer performs packet transfer and cycle time control.

The transaction layer of the firmware section manages data to be transferred (transacted), and issues commands such as Read and Write.
The serial bus management is a part that manages the connection status and ID of each connected device and manages the configuration of the network. The hardware and firmware are the actual configuration of the 1394 serial bus.

The software application
The layer differs depending on the software used, and is a part that defines how data is placed on the interface.
It is specified by a protocol such as the V protocol.

The above is the configuration of the 1394 serial bus.

<Address Space> FIG. 4 shows an address space in the 1394 serial bus.

Each device (node) connected to the 1394 serial bus always has a 64-bit address unique to each node. By storing this address in the ROM, it is possible to always recognize the node address of oneself and the other party, and perform communication specifying the other party.

The addressing of the 1394 serial bus is based on the IEEE 1212 standard, and the first 10 bits are used for specifying the bus number.
The next 6 bits are used for specifying the node ID number. The remaining 48 bits become the address width given to the device,
Each can be used as a unique address space. The last 28 bits store information such as identification of each device and designation of use conditions as an area of unique data.

The above is the outline of the technology of the 1394 serial bus.

Next, the technology that can be said to be a feature of the 1394 serial bus will be described in more detail.

<Electrical Specifications of 1394 Serial Bus> FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a 1394 serial bus cable.
In the 1394 serial bus, a power supply line is provided in a connection cable in addition to two twisted pair signal lines. As a result, power can be supplied to a device having no power supply, a device whose voltage has dropped due to a failure, and the like.

The voltage of the power supply flowing in the power supply line is 8 to 40.
V and the current are specified as a maximum current DC of 1.5 A.

<DS-Link encoding> The data transfer format D, which is adopted in the 1394 serial bus,
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the S-Link coding scheme.

In the 1394 serial bus, DS-Lin
The k (Data / Strobe Link) coding method is adopted.
This DS-Link coding scheme is suitable for high-speed serial data communication, and its configuration requires two signal lines. The main data is sent to one of the twisted pairs,
A strobe signal is sent to the other twisted pair.

On the receiving side, the clock can be reproduced by taking the exclusive OR of this communicated data and the strobe.

Advantages of using the DS-Link coding method include higher transfer efficiency compared to other serial data transfer methods, and the circuit scale of the controller LSI can be reduced because a PLL circuit is not required.
Since there is no need to send information indicating the idle state when there is no data to be transferred, the power consumption can be reduced by setting the transceiver circuit of each device to the sleep state.

<Sequence of Bus Reset> In the 1394 serial bus, each connected device (node) is given a node ID and recognized as a network configuration.

When there is a change in the network configuration, for example, a change occurs due to an increase or decrease in the number of nodes due to insertion / removal of a node or power ON / OFF, etc., and when a new network configuration needs to be recognized, the change is made. Each detected node sends a bus reset signal on the bus,
Enter the mode to recognize the new network configuration. The method of detecting the change at this time is performed by detecting a change in the bias voltage on the 1394 port substrate.

When a bus reset signal is transmitted from a certain node, the physical layer of each node transmits the bus reset signal to the link layer at the same time as receiving the bus reset signal, and transmits the bus reset signal to another node. . After all the nodes finally detect the bus reset signal, the bus reset is activated.

The bus reset is also started by a cable detection as described above, a start by hardware detection due to a network abnormality or the like, and also by directly issuing a command to a physical layer by a host control from a protocol or the like.

When the bus reset is activated, the data transfer is temporarily suspended, the data transfer during this period is waited, and after the end, the data transfer is resumed under a new network configuration.

The above is the bus reset sequence.

<Sequence of Node ID Determination> After the bus reset, each node enters an operation of giving an ID to each node in order to construct a new network configuration. The general sequence from the bus reset to the determination of the node ID at this time will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

The flowchart of FIG. 7 shows a series of bus operations from the occurrence of a bus reset until the node ID is determined and data transfer can be performed.

First, in step S701, the occurrence of a bus reset in the network is constantly monitored. If a bus reset occurs due to power ON / OFF of a node, the process proceeds to step S702.

In step S702, from the state where the network is reset, a parent-child relationship is declared between the directly connected nodes in order to know the connection status of the new network. As step S703,
When the parent-child relationship is determined between all nodes, step S
One route is determined as 704. Until the parent-child relationship is determined between all nodes, the parent-child relationship is declared in step S702, and the route is not determined.

After the route is determined in step S704, the operation of setting a node ID for giving an ID to each node is performed in step S705. Node IDs are set in a predetermined node order, and I
The setting operation is repeatedly performed until D is given. When the IDs are finally set in all the nodes in step S706, the new network configuration is recognized in all the nodes. And data transfer is started.

When the state of step S707 is reached, a mode for monitoring the occurrence of a bus reset again is entered.
When the bus reset occurs, the setting operation from step S701 to step S706 is repeatedly performed.

The above is the description of the flowchart of FIG. 7. The flowchart from FIG. 7 shows the part from the bus reset to the route determination and the procedure from the route determination to the end of the ID setting in more detail in the flowchart. Are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively.

First, the flowchart of FIG. 8 will be described.

When a bus reset occurs in step S801, the network configuration is reset once. The occurrence of a bus reset is constantly monitored as step S801.

Next, in step S802, as a first step in re-recognizing the reset network connection status, a flag indicating a leaf (node) is set for each device. Further, in step S803, each device checks how many ports of its own are connected to other nodes.

In accordance with the result of the number of ports in step S804, the number of undefined (undetermined parent-child) ports is checked in order to start the declaration of the parent-child relationship.
Immediately after the bus reset, the number of ports = the number of undefined ports. However, as the parent-child relationship is determined, the number of undefined ports detected in step S204 changes.

First, immediately after a bus reset, only a leaf can declare a parent-child relationship first. The fact that the port is a leaf can be known by checking the number of ports in step S803. In step S805, the leaf declares "I am a child and the other is a parent" to the node connected thereto, and ends the operation.

A node which has a plurality of ports in step S803 and is recognized as a branch has a number of undefined ports> 1 in step S804 immediately after the bus reset.
In step S806, a flag of branch is set, and in step S807, the process waits for reception of "parent" in the parent-child relationship declaration from the leaf.

The leaf declares a parent-child relationship, and the branch that has received the declaration in step S807 is appropriately updated in step S80.
Confirm the number of undefined ports of 4 and find that the number of undefined ports is 1
If it is, it becomes possible to declare "I am a child" in step S805 to the node connected to the remaining port. From the second time, step S804
Even if the number of undefined ports is checked in step S807, for a branch having two or more ports, the process waits again in step S807 to accept a "parent" from a leaf or another branch.

Eventually, if any one branch or exceptional leaf (because it did not operate quickly because a child declaration can be made) becomes zero as a result of the number of undefined ports in step S804, The only node for which the declaration of the parent-child relationship of the entire network has been completed and the number of undefined ports has become zero (all are determined as parent ports) is flagged as a root in step S808, and as a root in step S809. Is recognized.

In this manner, the process from the bus reset shown in FIG. 8 to the declaration of the parent-child relationship between all the nodes in the network is completed.

Next, the flowchart of FIG. 9 will be described.

First, flag information of each node such as leaf, branch, and root is set in the sequence up to FIG. 8, and based on this, classification is performed in step S901.

As a task of assigning an ID to each node, an ID can first be set from a leaf. The IDs are set in ascending order of leaf → branch → route (node number = 0).

In step S902, the number N (N is a natural number) of leaves existing in the network is set. Thereafter, in step S903, each leaf requests the root to give an ID. If there are a plurality of such requests, the route performs arbitration (operation of arbitration into one) in step S904, and the process proceeds to step S9.
As 05, an ID number is given to one winning node, and a failure result is notified to the losing node.

The leaf whose ID acquisition has failed in step S906 issues an ID request again (S903).
Repeat the same operation. At step S907, the ID information of the node is broadcast and transferred to all nodes from the leaf whose ID has been obtained. When the broadcast of the one-node ID information ends, the number of remaining leaves is reduced by one in step S908. Here, as step S909, when the number of the remaining leaves is one or more, the operation from the ID request in step S903 is repeated, and finally, when all the leaves broadcast ID information, step S909 returns to N = 0. Then, the process proceeds to the ID setting of the branch.

The setting of the branch ID is performed in the same manner as in the leaf setting.

First, as step S910, the number M (M is a natural number) of branches existing in the network is set. Thereafter, in step S911, each branch requests the root to give an ID. On the other hand, the route performs arbitration in step S912, and gives the branch in order from the winning branch to the next youngest number given to the leaf.

In step S913, the root notifies the branch that issued the request of ID information or a failure result. In step S914, the branch whose ID acquisition has failed fails issues an ID request again, and repeats the same operation. ID
In step S915, the ID information of the node is broadcast and transferred to all the nodes from the branch that has obtained the. When the broadcast of the one node ID information ends, the number of remaining branches is reduced by one in step S916.

Here, in step S917, when the number of the remaining branches is one or more, the operation from the ID request in step S911 is repeated until all the branches finally broadcast the ID information.
When all the branches have acquired the node IDs, M = 0 in step S917, and the branch ID acquisition mode ends.

At this point, since only the root node has not acquired the ID information at the end, step S
918 is set as the ID number of the hour and the youngest number among the numbers that are not given.
Broadcast D information.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 9, the procedure from the determination of the parent-child relationship to the setting of the IDs of all the nodes is completed.

Next, the operation in the actual network shown in FIG. 10 will be described as an example with reference to FIG.

As an explanation of FIG. 10, (root) node B
Are directly connected to node A and node C,
Further, a node D is directly connected below the node C, and a node E and a node F are directly connected below the node D in a hierarchical structure. The procedure for determining the hierarchical structure, the root node, and the node ID will be described below.

After the bus reset, first, in order to recognize the connection status of each node, a parent-child relationship is declared between the directly connected ports of each node. The parent and child are those in which the parent is higher in the hierarchical structure and the child is lower.

In FIG. 10, the node A first declares the parent-child relationship after the bus reset. Basically, a node (called a leaf) having a connection to only one port of the node can declare a parent-child relationship. Since the user can first know that only one port is connected, it recognizes that this is the edge of the network, and the parent-child relationship is determined from the node that operates earlier in the network.

The side that declared the parent-child relationship (A
Between -B, the port of the node A) is set as a child, and the port of the other side (node B) is set as a parent. Thus, a child-parent is determined between nodes AB, a child-parent is determined between nodes ED, and a child-parent is determined between nodes FD.

Further up in the hierarchy, among nodes having a plurality of connection ports (referred to as branches), the parent-child relationship is declared further higher in order from the node which received the declaration of the parent-child relationship from another node. To go. In FIG. 10, after the parent-child relationship between the node D and the node D-F and the node D-F is determined,
The parent-child relationship is declared for node C, and as a result, child-parent is determined between nodes D and C. The node C that has received the declaration of the parent-child relationship from the node D has declared the parent-child relationship for the node connected to another port. As a result, a child-parent is determined between the nodes C and B.

In this way, a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 10 is formed, and the node B that has become the parent in all finally connected ports is determined as the root node. There is only one route in one network configuration.

In FIG. 10, node B is determined to be the root node. This is because node B, which has received a parent-child relationship declaration from node A, makes a parent-child relationship declaration for other nodes at an early timing. If so, the root node may have moved to another node. That is, any node may become a root node depending on the transmission timing, and the root node is not always constant even in the same network configuration.

When the root node has been determined, the process enters a mode for determining each node ID. Here, all nodes are determined, and their own node IDs are notified to all other nodes (broadcast function).

The self-ID information includes its own node number, information on the connected position, the number of ports it has, the number of connected ports, and information on the parent-child relationship of each port.

As a procedure for assigning node ID numbers, the nodes can be started from a node (leaf) having connection to only one port, and node numbers = 0, 1, 2,... Can be

The node to which the node ID is assigned transmits information including the node number to each node by broadcast. As a result, it is recognized that the ID number is “assigned”.

When all the leaves have acquired their own node IDs, the next step is to move to a branch and the node ID number following the leaf is assigned to each node. Similarly to the leaf, the node ID information is broadcast sequentially from the branch to which the node ID number is assigned, and finally, the root node broadcasts its own ID information. That is, the root always owns the maximum node ID number.

As described above, the assignment of the node IDs of the entire hierarchical structure is completed, the network configuration is reconstructed, and the bus initialization is completed.

<Arbitration> In the 1394 serial bus, arbitration (arbitration) of the right to use the bus is always performed prior to data transfer. Since the 1394 serial bus is a logical bus-type network in which each device connected individually relays the transferred signal to transmit the same signal to all devices in the network, packet collision occurs. Arbitration is necessary to prevent This allows only one node to transfer at a given time.

As a diagram for explaining arbitration, FIG. 11 (a) shows a bus use request and FIG. 11 (b) shows a bus use permission diagram, which will be described below.

When arbitration starts, one or more nodes issue a bus use request to the parent node. Nodes C and F in FIG. 11A are nodes that have issued a bus use right request. The parent node (node A in FIG. 11) that has received the request further issues (relays) a request for the right to use the bus toward the parent node. This request is finally delivered to the arbitrating route (Node B).

The root node (node B) receiving the bus use request determines which node uses the bus.
This arbitration work can be performed only by the root node, and the node that has won the arbitration is given a bus use permission. In FIG. 11B, use permission is given to the node C,
The use of the node F is rejected. A DP (data prefix) packet is sent to the node that has lost the arbitration to notify that the node has been rejected. The rejected node use request waits until the next arbitration.

As described above, the node that has won the arbitration and obtained the bus use permission can start transferring data thereafter. Here, a series of arbitration flows will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

In order for a node to be able to start data transfer,
The bus must be idle. In order to recognize that the data transfer that has been performed earlier is completed and the bus is currently idle, a predetermined idle time gap length (for example, a subaction gap) that is individually set in each transfer mode is used. Each node determines that its own transfer can be started by passing).

At step S1201, it is determined whether a predetermined gap length corresponding to the data to be transferred has been obtained. Unless the predetermined gap length is obtained, the request for the right to use the bus required to start the transfer cannot be made, so the process waits until the predetermined gap length is obtained.

If a predetermined gap length is obtained in step S1201, it is determined in step S1202 whether there is data to be transferred. If so, a request for a bus use right is issued in step S1203 to secure a bus for transfer. Emit to the route. At this time, the transmission of the signal indicating the request for the right to use the bus is finally delivered to the route while relaying each device in the network as shown in FIG. If there is no data to be transferred in step S1202, the process stands by.

Next, at step S1204, when the route receives one or more bus use requests at step S1203, the route checks at step S1205 the number of nodes that have issued use requests. If the selection value in step S1205 is the number of nodes = (the number of nodes that issued the use right request is one), the immediately subsequent bus use permission is given to that node. If the selection value in step S1205 is the number of nodes> 1 (the number of nodes that have issued use requests), the root performs arbitration work in step S1206 to determine one node to which use permission is given. This arbitration work is fair, and the same node does not always obtain permission each time, and the right is equally given.

As step S1207, step S1
At step 206, a selection is made to divide the route into one node whose use has been granted due to arbitration from the plurality of nodes that have issued the use request, and another node that has lost.

Here, for one node that has been arbitrated and whose use has been granted, or a node that has obtained use permission without arbitration with the number of use request nodes = 1 from the selection value in step S1205, as step S1208, the route is Send a permission signal to the node. The node that has received the permission signal starts transferring data (packets) to be transferred immediately after receiving the permission signal. In addition, the nodes that have lost the arbitration in step S1206 and are not permitted to use the bus are assigned to step S1209.
From the root as DP indicating arbitration failure
The node that has received the (data prefix) packet and has received the packet returns to step S1201 to issue a bus use request for performing the transfer again, and waits until a predetermined gap length is obtained.

The above is the description of the flowchart in FIG. 12 for explaining the flow of arbitration.

<Case where Devices are Connected by 1394 Serial Bus Cable> A case where each device is connected by a 1394 serial bus cable as shown in FIG. 1 will now be described. The bus configuration in FIG. 1 includes a recording / reproducing device 101, a printer device 102, and a personal computer (PC) 103 connected by a 1394 serial bus drawn by solid lines, and each device is based on the specification of the 1394 serial bus. Data transfer can be performed. Here, the recording / reproducing device 101 is a digital camera, a camera-integrated digital VTR, or the like that records and reproduces a moving image or a still image.

Further, when a document or the like created on the personal computer 103 is transferred to the printer 102, the personal computer 103 operates as a printer using a 1394 serial bus when viewed from the personal computer 103. In addition, if the video data output from the recording / reproducing apparatus 101 is directly transferred to the printer 102, direct printing is possible. Further, the connection method of the 1394 serial bus is not limited to the connection as shown in FIG. 1, and it is also possible to configure a bus by connecting arbitrary devices. In addition to the devices shown in FIG. Alternatively, a configuration in which a data communication device is connected may be employed. The network shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a group of devices. The connected devices may be any external storage device such as a hard disk, or any device capable of forming a network with a 1394 serial bus such as CDR and DVD. Is also good.

<Printer Unit> Next, the printer unit 102 will be described. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the printer unit 102.

Under the control of the core unit 1302, the printer unit 102 records an image corresponding to the image data from the 1394 I / F unit 1303 on a recording paper. Printer unit 102
Are the 1394 I / F unit 1303 and the formatter unit 130
4, an image memory unit 1305, a core unit 1302, and the like.

The 1394 I / F section 1303 receives print data from the PC 103 or the recording / reproducing apparatus 101 as shown in FIG. The formatter unit 1304 develops the received code data into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 1301.
Numeral 5 temporarily stores the generated image data. The core unit 1302 includes the printer units 1301 and 1394I
/ F section 1303, formatter section 1304, and image memory section 1305 to control the flow of data among them.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing the structure of the printer unit 1301.

In the laser emitting section 1401, the core section 130
2 emits a laser beam corresponding to the image data transferred. The laser light is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 1402, and a latent image corresponding to the laser light is formed on the photosensitive drum 1402.

A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 1402 by a developing device 1403. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, the recording paper is fed from one of the cassettes 1404 and 1405 and transported to the transfer unit 1406, where
The developer attached to 402 is transferred to a recording paper. The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is conveyed to the fixing unit 1407, and the fixing unit 1407
The developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of 407.

The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 1407 is discharged by discharge rollers 1408, and a sorter 1420 stores the discharged recording paper in each bin and sorts the recording paper. The sorter 1420 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin when the sorting is not set. Also,
If two-sided recording is set, the discharge roller 1408
After the recording paper has been conveyed to
Is reversed, and guided to the re-feeding conveyance path by the flapper 1409.

If multiple recording is set, the flapper 1 is set so that the recording paper is not conveyed to the discharge roller 1408.
By 409, the sheet is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path. The recording sheet guided to the re-feeding conveyance path is fed to the transfer unit 1406 at the timing described above.

The code data representing the image input via the 1394 I / F unit 1303 is
4 to convert the data into a format called an intermediate code, expand the data from the intermediate code into image data in a bitmap format, and transfer the image data to the image memory unit 1305 to store the image data. Transfer and print.

When the formatter unit 1304 performs output without storing data in the storage unit of the image memory, the formatter unit 1304 develops the data of the first page into bitmap data, transfers the data to the printer via the bus, and performs printing. Do. Similarly, the above operation is repeated until the last page. When the formatter unit 1304 stores data in the storage unit of the image memory unit 1305 and outputs the data, the formatter unit 1304 expands the data of the first page into bitmap data and transfers the data to the image memory unit 1305 via a bus. I do. At this time, information such as the number of output copies and single / double-sided printing is notified to the image memory unit 1305.

Since the image memory unit 1305 is specified for each job, it performs only the process of storing the bitmap data received from the formatter unit 1304 in the storage unit. Similarly, the above operation is performed up to the last page, and the formatter unit 1304 develops the data of the last page into bitmap data and, when transferring the data to the image memory unit 1305 via the bus, confirms that the job is the last page of the job. Notice.

The image memory unit 1305 stores the bitmap data received from the formatter unit 1304 in the storage unit, and transfers the bitmap data of each page to the printer for printing since it is the last page.

[First Embodiment] Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus having the above configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the first embodiment, an example will be described in which, when a bus error occurs, a character indicating that an error has occurred is displayed on paper as an error display job.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the first embodiment. As S1501, 13
The 94 I / F unit 1303 receives the code data. At S1502, the occurrence of a bus reset is checked. If it has occurred (S1502-Yes), the contents of the error are printed on paper at S1507, and the process is stopped.

If a bus reset has not occurred in S1502 (S1502-No), the process proceeds to S1503. In step S1503, it is checked whether the received data has reached one page. If the received data has not reached one page (S1503-No), the processing is repeated from step S1501. When one page is reached (S1503-Yes)
In step S1504, the formatter unit 1304 generates an image for one page. In step S1505, the image generated by the printer unit 1301 is printed on paper.
In step S1506, it is determined whether the last page has been output. If the last page has not been output (No in step S1506),
The processing is performed again from S1501. If the last page has been output (S1506-Yes), the process ends.

In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the data receiving process and the image forming and printing processes are alternately performed for each page. Obviously the same.

[Second Embodiment] Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, an example in which an error display job is performed when a bus reset occurs has been described. In the second embodiment, an error display job is performed with a paper size larger than the paper used in the job being executed. An example of printing a character indicating is described.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the second embodiment. Except for the process after the bus reset has occurred in S1602, the first
Although the description is omitted because it is the same as that of the first embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is that it is determined in S1607 whether or not there is paper larger than the paper size used in the job.

For example, in the block diagram of the printer section shown in FIG. 14, different paper sizes are prepared in the paper cassettes 1404 and 1405, and the presence or absence of the paper is detected by a paper detecting means (not shown) (S1607). If a bus reset has occurred (S1602-Yes), in S1608, printing for identifying occurrence of an error with a large paper size is executed. This has the effect of making it easier to find the paper on which the error has occurred when the user comes to pick up the paper. If there is no large-size paper in S1607 (S1607-N
o) In step S1609, the error is printed using the same paper used in the job.

In the second embodiment, an example in which an error is printed on a large-sized paper has been described. However, the error may be identified by using a paper of a different color or a different direction (for example, A4 and A4-R). . In this case, papers of different colors and papers of different orientations are stored in paper cassettes 1404 and 1405, respectively.
By preparing (FIG. 14), printing for identifying an error can be performed, and the same effect can be obtained.

[0121]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, copying Machine, facsimile machine, multifunction machine thereof, etc.).

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU)
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts. Each module shown will be stored in a storage medium.

That is, at least the program code of each of the "IEEE1394 interface module 1710", "formatter module 1720" and "print module 1730" may be stored in the storage medium.

[0129]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When a bus reset of the serial bus is detected during the printing of the image data, the printing of the image data is stopped, and the printing for identifying the abnormality is executed. The user can easily recognize the occurrence of the error based on the character printing indicating the abnormality, the paper size, the color, and the paper orientation.

[0130]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration connected using a 1394 serial bus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating components of a 1394 serial bus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an address map of a 1394 serial bus.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a 1394 serial bus cable.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a DS-Link coding scheme.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow from a bus reset to a determination of a node ID.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of parent-child relationship determination in a bus reset.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow from determination of a parent-child relationship in a bus reset to determination of a node ID.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a topology setting for determining an ID of each node on a 1394 serial bus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining arbitration on a 1394 serial bus.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining arbitration.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a printer unit.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a memory map of a recording medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Recording / reproducing apparatus 102 Printer 103 PC 1301 Printer part 1302 Core part 1303 1394 I / F part 1304 Formatter part 1305 Image memory part

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An interface for managing data transmission / reception and connection between devices, a formatter for expanding code data received by the interface into image data, and a printing unit for printing the expanded image data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the bus reset is detected by the interface, printing of the image data is stopped, and printing for identifying an abnormality is executed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing for identifying the abnormality is performed by character printing indicating a halfway end. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing for identifying the abnormality is performed by printing on paper of a color different from the paper used for printing the image data. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing for identifying the abnormality is performed by printing on paper having a different size from the paper used for printing the image data. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing for identifying the abnormality is performed by outputting paper having a different direction from the paper used for printing the image data. 6. An interface step of managing data transmission / reception and connection between devices, a formatter step of expanding code data received by the interface step into image data, and a printing step of printing the expanded image data. An image forming method, wherein, when a bus reset is detected by the interface step, printing of the image data is stopped, and printing for identifying an abnormality is executed. 7. The image forming method according to claim 6, wherein the printing for identifying the abnormality is performed by character printing indicating an intermediate end. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the printing for identifying the abnormality is performed by printing on paper of a different color from the paper used for printing the image data. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the printing for identifying the abnormality is performed by printing on paper having a different size from the paper used for printing the image data. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the printing for identifying the abnormality is performed by outputting paper having a different direction from the paper used for printing the image data. 11. An interface step of managing data transmission / reception and connection between devices, a formatter step of expanding code data received by the interface step into image data, and a printing step of printing the expanded image data. A computer-readable recording medium having a program for executing the image data, wherein when the bus reset is detected by the interface step, printing of the image data is stopped and printing for identifying an abnormality is executed. . 12. The interface is an IEEE 139
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a four serial bus. 13. The interface as defined in IEEE 139.
7. The image forming method according to claim 6, wherein the serial bus is a four serial bus. 14. The interface is an IEEE 139
The recording medium according to claim 11, wherein the recording medium is a four serial bus.