JP2001186211A - Communication system, radio data transmitter and radio data receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and efficiently process the data transmitted from a data transmitter in a data receiver. SOLUTION: When printers P1 and P2 transmit data showing a processing speed to a digital camera D, the camera D transmits image data to the printers P1 and P2 at a data transmission speed following the data showing the processing speed. The printers P1 and P2 receive the image data transmitted from the camera D in accordance with the data showing the processing speed and conduct printing processing of the image data. The printers P1 and P2 also notify the camera D of a processing situation while successively progressing printing processing according to the image data received from the camera D. The camera D controls the transmission of the image data in accordance with the processing situation notified by the printers P1 and P2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless data communication system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data, a wireless data transmitting device and a wireless data receiving device used in the wireless data communication system, and more particularly to a digital camera having a wireless data transmitting function. A wireless data communication system suitable for data transmission and reception between devices having different wireless data transmission speeds and received data processing speeds, such as a printer dedicated to printing an image sent from the digital camera, a wireless data transmission device, and a wireless communication device. The present invention relates to a data receiving device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, instead of a camera that records an image as a chemical change on a film, a digital camera that can convert an image into an electric signal by a semiconductor device (CCD) and record the image as image data has been used. It has become popular. When a digital camera is used, an image can be obtained as image data, and thus can be easily processed using a personal computer or the like.

Another characteristic of a digital camera is that, unlike a camera using ordinary film, it is possible to print out on paper at home without having to bring the film to a camera shop and request development. . However, when trying to print out an image photographed using a digital camera at home, the digital camera and the personal computer and the personal computer and the printer device are connected with dedicated cables, and the printer driver is connected to the personal computer. In many cases, this was a very laborious task. For this reason, despite the strong demand for carrying out a digital camera and easily printing out images taken on the go, there are many cumbersome procedures to actually print out, and people are accustomed to operating personal computers. They tended to be shunned by those who did not.

[0004] For this reason, conventionally, there has been a demand that a digital camera be used to take a picture on the go and print out the image directly on a printer without using a personal computer. By not using a personal computer, it is possible to omit work on the personal computer (connection of a cable, installation of a driver, etc.), and even a user of a digital camera who does not own a personal computer can use a printer device at home. Images can be printed out.

Conventionally, as a system for transmitting an image picked up by a digital camera to a printer without passing through a personal computer, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-1
There is an example shown in Japanese Patent No. 63881. JP-A-11-163
Japanese Patent Publication No. 881 discloses that a still image data captured by a digital still camera is stored in a PHS (personal handyphone).
system) or the like to transmit to a color printer via a wireless telephone to perform printing.

[0006]

As described above, in the prior art, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163881, a digital camera can be used without using a personal computer by using a radiotelephone. Transmission of image data to a printer device has been considered.

However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-163881
In the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-209, it is assumed that image data is transmitted from a digital camera to a printer located at a remote place, so that a telephone charge is incurred by using a wireless telephone.

Further, the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-163881 does not disclose the procedure in which a digital camera and a printer exchange data with each other. Cannot be printed out.

Normally, since the data transmission speed of a digital camera and the data processing speed of a printer are greatly different, efficient data transmission is not performed from the digital camera unless data transmission according to the processing status of the printer is performed. Image data cannot be printed out. In particular, in a system configuration for printing out an image captured by a digital camera without using a personal computer, it is conceivable to provide the printer device as a simplified printer device dedicated to the digital camera. In this case, there is a case where the capacity of the buffer memory is small in order to provide a simple and low-cost printer, and even a printer having only such a small buffer memory is required to execute printout efficiently.

Further, in the prior art, image data is transmitted from one digital camera to only one printer device and is printed out. For example, a plurality of the same images are printed out, In the case where the image is continuously printed out, the processing load on the digital camera side and the work load on the user are large.

In the above description, a digital camera and a printer are taken as examples. However, a data transmission device (master) and a data reception device (slave) whose data transmission speed and processing speed for received data are greatly different from each other are described. For example, there is a similar problem regarding data transmission / reception between other types of devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a wireless data communication system and a wireless data communication system capable of easily and efficiently processing data transmitted from a data transmitting device in a data receiving device. It is an object to provide a transmitting device and a wireless data receiving device.

[0013]

According to the present invention, first data is transmitted from a wireless data transmitting device to a wireless data receiving device, and processing is performed on the first data received by the wireless data receiving device. In the wireless data communication system, the wireless data receiving apparatus transmits processing data to the wireless data transmitting apparatus, the second data indicating the processing speed of the first data,
Processing control for receiving the first data transmitted from the wireless data transmitting apparatus in accordance with the second data transmitted by the processing speed transmitting means, and sequentially proceeding processing in accordance with the received first data Means, and status notification means for notifying the wireless data transmitting apparatus of third data indicating the status of processing performed by the processing control means, wherein the wireless data transmitting apparatus transmits the third data from the wireless data receiving apparatus. A data transmission unit configured to transmit the first data to the wireless data transmission device according to a data transmission speed according to the transmitted second data; and a third data transmitted from the wireless data reception device. And data transmission control means for controlling transmission of the first data by the data transmission means.

Thus, data transmission is performed from the wireless data transmitting apparatus in accordance with the processing speed of the processing in the wireless data receiving apparatus, and data transmission is controlled according to the progress of the processing. Therefore, it adapts to changes in the processing performance (such as the capacity of a buffer memory for storing received data) and processing conditions (such as a request to resend data, interruption of processing, and the actual processing speed) of the wireless data receiving apparatus. The data transmission is performed, and the wireless data receiving apparatus sequentially performs processing on the received data, thereby realizing efficient processing according to the situation.

Further, the wireless data receiving apparatus has an adjustment requesting unit for requesting the wireless data transmitting apparatus to adjust a data transmission rate when a data transmission rate from the wireless data transmitting apparatus is higher than a processing rate. The wireless data transmitting apparatus has an adjusting unit that changes a data transmission speed of the data transmitting unit in response to a request from the adjustment requesting unit.

Thus, even when the processing speed in the wireless data receiving device changes, the data transmission speed is adjusted in the wireless data transmitting device according to the change in the processing speed, and the data transmission is executed. For example,
When the data transmission speed can be adjusted in a plurality of stages in the wireless data transmission device, and when the data transmission speed is faster than the processing speed of the wireless data reception device, the data transmission speed is changed for each stage. , The data transmission speed in the smallest stage closest to the data processing speed can be determined.

[0017] When the wireless data transmitting device transmits data to a plurality of wireless data receiving devices, the data transmitting means is configured to transmit the data based on the second data transmitted from the plurality of wireless data receiving devices. Transmitting the first data at a data transmission speed adapted to the wireless data receiving device having the slowest processing speed.

Thus, when transmitting data to a plurality of wireless data receiving devices, the wireless data transmitting device transmits data at a data transmission speed adapted to the slowest processing speed of the wireless data receiving device, thereby enabling all data to be transmitted. The data processing can be executed in the wireless data transmitting device, and complicated control different for each wireless data transmitting device is not required, and the processing load is reduced.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless data communication system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless data communication system according to the present embodiment transmits image data from a digital camera D (wireless data transmission device) to at least one printer device P1, P2.
(Wireless data receiving apparatus), and prints out an image captured by the digital camera D.

FIG. 2 shows the digital camera D shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera D includes an imaging unit 1, a JPEG compression unit 2, a memory unit 3, a user interface (UI) unit 4, a camera control unit 5, an output buffer unit 6, a wireless unit 7, a wireless control unit A unit 8 and an antenna 9 are provided.

The image pickup unit 1 is a CCD image pickup device that converts an image input through an optical system such as a lens into an electric signal. The image data converted into the electric signal by the imaging unit 1 is converted into a JPEG (Joint Photog) by the JPEG compression unit 2.
raphic Experts Group) and stored in the memory unit 3. The user interface unit 4 is a user interface including buttons and the like used when the user operates the digital camera D. Camera control unit 5
Controls the operation of the digital camera D as set by a user operation on the user interface unit 4. The output buffer unit 6 is a buffer for temporarily storing image data to be transmitted to the printer devices P1 and P2 via the wireless unit 7. The wireless unit 7 transmits the image data to be transmitted stored in the output buffer unit 6 to the printers P1 and P2 via the antenna 9, and
This is a wireless module for receiving data notifying the progress of the printing process from P2. The wireless control unit 8 controls transmission and reception of signals by the wireless unit 7, and transmits a retransmission request when retransmission is necessary due to the influence of external noise or the like while checking the received data error rate. Note that the wireless data communication method by the wireless unit 7 is, for example, 2.4 GH typified by Bluetooth.
It is assumed that a short-range wireless communication technology using an ISM (Industry Science Medical) band in the z band is used. Blu
In the case of ethos, the maximum data transfer rate is 721 Kbp
s, the transmission distance is about 10 m, but the feature is that the user can use it without a license.
Radio waves are transmitted and received by frequency hopping spread spectrum technology in which nine channels are set and channels are switched 1600 times per second, and up to eight devices can be connected by time division multiplexing. Bluetooth uses a frequency hopping spread spectrum technique,
Since connection authentication is performed using a password called an IN (Personal Identification Number) code, data confidentiality is excellent. In addition, as a wireless data communication system applied to the wireless unit 7, other wireless data communication systems such as a wireless LAN can be used in addition to Bluetooth.

FIG. 3 shows the printer device P shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of P1 and P2. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer devices P1 and P2 include an antenna 10, a radio unit 11, a demodulation circuit unit 12, a radio control unit 13, an input buffer unit 14, a memory unit 15, a developing unit 16, a printer control unit 17, Loading unit 18, user interface (UI)
A unit 19 and an output unit 20 are provided.

The antenna 10 receives a signal of image data transmitted wirelessly from the digital camera D and the like.
The wireless unit 11 transmits and receives signals via the antenna 10, and is a communication module for receiving a signal of image data transmitted from the digital camera D and sending the progress of the printing process to the digital camera D side. is there. The communication module of the wireless unit 11 is the wireless unit 7 of the digital camera D.
For example, it is assumed that wireless data communication by Bluetooth is performed. The demodulation circuit section 12 demodulates the data transmitted by radio received by the radio section 11. The wireless control unit 13 controls transmission and reception of data by the wireless unit 11, and controls data exchanged between the digital camera D and the printer devices P1 and P2.
The wireless control unit 13 transmits a retransmission request if retransmission is necessary due to the influence of external noise or the like while checking the received data error rate, and print processing executed under the control of the printer control unit 17. Data (printing speed data) indicating the speed of printing can be transmitted. The input buffer unit 14 is a buffer for sequentially storing data received and demodulated by the demodulation circuit unit 12. The memory unit 15 has a storage capacity for storing data in a predetermined unit in the input buffer unit 14, for example, data in the input buffer unit 14 when one image data is stored. The expansion unit 16 converts the image data stored in the memory unit 15 into a bitmap so that the image data can be printed out, and temporarily stores the image data in the memory unit 15. Memory unit 1
The data developed in the bitmap stored in 5 is erased after being printed out. Printer control unit 1
Reference numeral 7 controls the printing of the image data converted into the bitmap by the developing unit 16 on printer paper. The printer control unit 17 monitors the progress of the printing process for the image data received from the digital camera D, and transmits data indicating the progress to the digital camera D via the wireless control unit 13. The paper carry-in section 18 performs control for taking in a printing mechanism (not shown) a printer paper on which printing is performed when performing the printing process. The user interface unit 19 is a user interface including buttons and the like used when the user operates the printer. The output unit 20 forms and outputs the bitmap data developed by the developing unit 16 as an image on the printer paper conveyed by the paper carry-in unit 18 using a technique such as laser xerography.

The printer P1 shown in FIG.
It is a simple printer device dedicated to printing an image captured by the digital camera D, and can be operated only by simple operations. Further, it is assumed that a minimum necessary function is provided for a simple and low-cost printer device. Therefore, the storage capacities of the input buffer unit 14 and the memory unit 15 are also relatively small. In contrast, FIG.
The printer device P2 shown therein is a relatively high-performance printer device. The storage capacity of the input buffer unit 14 and the memory unit 15 is sufficiently large and the processing performance is high as compared with the printer device P1.

When the image taken by the digital camera D is printed out in the printer device P1,
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera D is brought near the printers P1 and P2. Thereby, the digital camera D and the printer devices P1 and P2 are, for example, Blu
It is assumed that a communication path is established on a one-to-one basis by a wireless data communication method conforming to ethno. That is, the addresses of the printers P1 and P2 to which the image data is transmitted from the digital camera D, and the printers P1 and P2
Also, the address of the digital camera D, which is the destination of the data when feedback is applied from, is set. The digital camera D determines the printers P1 and P2 that can output the image data stored in the digital camera D, starts transmission of the image data to the printers P1 and P2, and causes the printer to execute printout. Note that the printer devices P1, P2
It is assumed that the size and the quality of the printer paper in each are constant, and the printing quality is fixed in advance by a user's instruction via an interface unit of the printer.

Next, the operation of the printers P1 and P2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, and a digital camera corresponding to the operation of the printers P1 and P2 shown in the flowchart of FIG. The operation of D will be described.

First, the digital camera D transmits an image data transmission start request to the printers P1 and P2 (step B1), and transmits image data to the printers P1 and P2 to print out. Start. In the following description, the operation of the printer device P1 will be described.

Upon receiving the image data transmission start request (step A1), the printer device P1 transmits data indicating the printing speed at the time of printing out the received image data from the printer controller 17 via the wireless controller 13 via the wireless controller 13. The data is transmitted to the digital camera D (step A2). Here, for example, it is assumed that prescribed printing speed data set in advance to the printer device P1 is transmitted.

When receiving the print speed data from the printer device P1, the digital camera D determines the data transmission speed according to the print speed. The data transmission speed at which image data is transmitted from the digital camera D is prepared in a plurality of stages in advance, and any one of the stages is selected.

When printing is simultaneously performed by a plurality of printers P1 and P2 as shown in FIG. 1, the printing is performed according to the slowest printing speed based on the printing speed data received from each of the printers P1 and P2. The determined data transmission speed is determined (step B3). That is, if image data is transmitted at a data transmission speed corresponding to the lowest printing speed, it is possible to secure time for executing printing processing on received image data in all printer devices. In addition, digital camera D
The control for transmitting image data from the server can also be simplified.

The digital camera D starts transmitting image data according to the determined data transmission speed (step B).
4). The printer device P1 starts receiving the image data transmitted from the digital camera D (step A3).
At this time, the printer device P1 determines whether or not the data transmission speed is faster than the printing speed for the received image data in its own device (step A4). Request for speed adjustment (step A5).

When the digital camera D receives the request for adjusting the image data transmission speed from the printer device P1 (step B5), the digital camera D lowers the data transmission speed by one step and transmits the image data (step B6). The printer device P1 receives the image data transmitted from the digital camera D again (step A3), and determines whether the data transmission speed is faster than the printing speed of the received image data in the own device in the same manner as described above. (Step A4).

That is, the printer device P1 requests the digital camera D to adjust the data transmission speed until image data can be transmitted at a data transmission speed that can be processed by the capability of the printer device P1.

When a plurality of printers P1 and P2 (slaves) print out simultaneously, the data processing speed (print processing speed) of the slowest device among the plurality of printers P1 and P2 is the closest. The data transmission speed is set at a small stage, and the data transmission is performed.

The digital camera D continues to transmit image data at the data transmission speed adjusted for each step in accordance with the data transmission speed adjustment request from the printer device P1. Thereby, even when the processing speed in the printer device P1 changes or when the data transmission speed determined based on the print speed notified to the digital camera D is inappropriate, the printer device P1
The optimal data transmission rate is determined.

In the printer device P1, when one sheet of image data is accumulated in the input buffer unit 14 (step A).
6) The image data stored in the input buffer unit 14 is moved to the memory unit 15 (step A8). Then, the image data stored in the input buffer unit 14 is deleted to prepare for receiving the next image data (step A9).

When the reception of the image data transmitted from the digital camera D is not completed normally (step A6), that is, when the wireless communication is not performed stably due to external noise or the like, the printer device P1 is
A retransmission request for image data is transmitted to the digital camera D (step A7). When receiving the data retransmission request from the printer device P1 (step B7), the digital camera D starts retransmission of the image data to be currently transmitted (step B8). Hereinafter, similarly, the digital camera D executes retransmission of the image data (step B4).

On the other hand, in the printer device P1, the memory unit 1
When the image data is copied to the image data 5, the image data is developed into a bitmap by the developing unit 16 so that the image data can be printed out (step A10). The printer device P1
When the printing paper to be printed is carried into the printing mechanism (step A11), printing is started using the bitmap data developed by the developing unit 16 (step A11).
13). When the printer paper is not carried into the printing mechanism, the printer P1 displays a message requesting the user to replenish the paper on a display device (not shown) (step A12). The printer device P1 waits for printer paper to be replenished in response to the message display (step A11).

When the printing is completed normally (step A14), the printer P1 notifies the digital camera D of the completion of the printing (step A1).
5). In the digital camera D, when there is the next image data to be transmitted to the printer device P1 (step B10),
It waits for a print completion notification from the printer device P1 (step B11). In this waiting state, when a print completion notification is received from the printer device P1 (step B1)
1), the digital camera D transmits an image data transmission request to the printer device P1 (step B12). Upon receiving the image data transmission request (step A16), the printer device P1 starts receiving image data transmitted from the digital camera D (step A3).

In the same manner, the digital camera D sets the execution status of the printout in the printer device P1, that is, the generation of a data retransmission request when the reception of image data cannot be completed normally (step A7), The image data is sequentially transmitted to the printer device P1 in accordance with the interruption of the processing due to the paper not being carried into the printing mechanism (steps A11 and A12).

As described above, by providing a communication function capable of transmitting and receiving wireless data to both the digital camera D and the printer P1, image data is transmitted from the digital camera D to the printer P1 without a connection cable. At the same time, the printing status of the printer device P1 can be fed back to the digital camera D. Accordingly, since image data can be transmitted from the digital camera D to the printer device P1 in accordance with the status of the printing process, efficient printing can be performed even if the capacity of the input buffer unit 14 provided in the printer device P1 is small. Processing is realized. In addition, since data is transmitted and received by wireless communication, there is no need to perform work such as connecting cables between the digital camera D and the printer devices P1 and P2, and anyone can easily take images captured by the digital camera D. Can be printed out, greatly improving the usability. Further, the transmission speed of the image data by the digital camera D and the print processing speed by the printer device P1 do not need to be fixedly set in advance, and the communication is performed by using the communication protocol of the wireless units (wireless units 7 and 11) in common. If possible, image data is transmitted at the optimum data transmission speed, so that efficient printing can be realized by a combination of the printer P1 and the digital camera D having arbitrary performance.

In the above description, the printer P
In the printer device P1, the reception of the next image data is started after the printing of one image is completed. Since the image data is moved to 15 and the image data stored in the input buffer unit 14 is deleted, the reception of the next image data may be started when the input buffer unit 14 becomes empty. That is, printout is executed while being developed into a bitmap by the development unit 16, and during this printout, the next image data is received from the digital camera D and the input buffer unit 14
Sequentially. Thereby, the reception of the image data and the printout are performed in parallel, so that the data reception and the printout can be performed more efficiently.

As a wireless data communication system, Blue
When tooth is used, image data can be transmitted from a master device to a plurality of slave devices, so that an image captured by a digital camera D can be simultaneously transmitted to a plurality of printer devices P1 and P2. Can be printed out. Further, the digital camera D on the master side performs a step B3 based on the print speed data received from each of the printers P1 and P2.
, The transmission speed of the image data is determined according to the lowest printing speed. That is, the low-speed printer device P1
, A waiting time is generated in the high-performance printer device P2, but the processing load on the digital camera D is sequentially reduced in accordance with the printer device P1 having the lowest processing speed. Therefore, complicated control is not required, the processing is simplified, and the burden can be reduced.

Next, another configuration of the printers P1 and P2 will be described. FIG. 6 shows printer devices P1 and P2.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another configuration. The configuration shown in FIG. 6 does not determine the data transmission speed after transmitting a predetermined printing speed set in advance from the printer control unit 17 to the digital camera D.
The printing speed detecting unit 21 provided separately from the printer 7 detects the printing speed in progress (the status of the printing process), and feeds it back to the digital camera D sequentially during the printing process, so that the image from the digital camera D can be obtained. This is an example in which the data transmission speed of data can be adjusted.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, a printing speed detecting unit 21 is provided in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, and the result of detection by the printing speed detecting unit 21 is transmitted to the digital camera D via the wireless control unit 13.
, And the detailed description is omitted assuming that the other configurations are the same.

Next, the operation of the printer apparatus P1 having the configuration shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Although omitted in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the processing of steps A1 to A5 shown in FIG. 4 is executed in the same manner as described above. However,
The transmission of the printing speed data before the start of the printing process in step A2 is not performed.

In the printer device P1, when one sheet of image data is accumulated in the input buffer unit 14 (step C).
1) The image data stored in the input buffer unit 14 is moved to the memory unit 15 (Step C3). Then, the image data stored in the input buffer unit 14 is deleted to prepare for receiving the next image data (step C4).

When the reception of the image data transmitted from the digital camera D is not completed normally (step C1), that is, when the wireless communication is not performed stably due to the influence of external noise or the like, the printer device P1 is
A retransmission request for image data is transmitted to the digital camera D (step C2). When receiving the data retransmission request from the printer device P1, the digital camera D starts retransmission of the image data to be transmitted at present. Hereinafter, similarly, the digital camera D executes retransmission of the image data.

On the other hand, in the printer device P1, the memory unit 1
When the image data is copied to the image data 5, the image data is developed into a bitmap by the developing unit 16 so that the image data can be printed out (step C5). When the printing paper to be printed is carried into the printing mechanism (step C6), the printer P1 starts printing using the bitmap data developed by the developing unit 16 (step C6).
8). When the printer paper is not carried into the printing mechanism, the printer P1 displays a message requesting the user to replenish the paper on a display device (not shown) (step C7). The printer device P1 waits for printer paper to be replenished in response to the message display (step C6).

The printer device P1 includes a printer control unit 17
Under the control of, the printing process for the image data received from the digital camera D is executed, while the printing speed of the printing actually executed is detected by the printing speed detecting unit 21 (step C9). The print speed detection unit 21
The print speed data indicating the detected print processing speed is transmitted (feedback) to the digital camera D via the wireless control unit 13 and the wireless unit 11 (step C).
10).

Upon receiving the print speed data from the printer device P1, the digital camera D determines a data transmission speed according to the print speed, and transmits image data according to the data transmission speed. Note that a data transmission speed for transmitting image data from the digital camera D is prepared in a plurality of stages in advance, and a stage closest to the speed of the printing process is selected from among them.

The printer device P1 receives the image data transmitted from the digital camera D, and determines whether the data transmission speed is adjusted so as not to be higher than the printing speed for the image data in the own device (step C1).
1). That is, it is determined whether or not the printout of the image data received from the digital camera D can be continuously performed even if the capacity of the input buffer unit 14 is small.

Here, the printer device P
If the data transmission speed has not been adjusted to an appropriate stage because the printing speed has changed by the printer device P1, the printer device P1
Notifies the digital camera D of the print interruption and suspends the transmission of the image data (step C12). Thus, the accumulation of the image data in the input buffer unit 14 is interrupted. On the other hand, the printing speed detection unit 21 feeds back the printing speed data indicating the actual printing processing speed in the printing process for the data developed into the bitmap to the digital camera D again (step C10). In this way, by feeding back the printing speed data to the digital camera D together with the execution of the printing process, the data transmission speed when transmitting the image data from the digital camera D to the printer device P1 is adjusted to a suitable stage. can do.

When the data transmission speed can be adjusted, the printer device P1 notifies the digital camera D of the continuation of printing and restarts the transmission of the image data at the adjusted data transmission speed (step C13). If readjustment of the data transmission speed is not necessary, the digital camera D
The transmission of the image data from and the printing process in the printer device P1 are continuously executed.

When the printing is completed normally (step C14), the printer device P1 notifies the digital camera D of the completion of the printing (step C1).
5). In the digital camera D, when there is next image data to be transmitted to the printer device P1, the digital camera D waits for a print completion notification from the printer device P1, and in this waiting state, when the print completion notification is received from the printer device P1, An image data transmission request is transmitted to the printer device P1. Upon receiving the image data transmission request, the printer device P1 starts receiving image data transmitted from the digital camera D next.

In the same manner, the digital camera D sequentially transmits image data to the printer P1 in accordance with the actual print processing status based on the print speed data fed back from the printer P1, It can be printed out in the printer device P1.

In this way, the printing speed detecting section 21 is provided to feed back the actual printing process speed to the digital camera D so as to match the actual printing process speed in the printer device P1. Can be adjusted, so that the image data from the digital camera D can be smoothly and efficiently transmitted to the printer P1 even if the capacity of the input buffer unit 14 provided in the printer P1 is small. It can be printed out. Also, the printer device P1
Printout of an image captured by the digital camera D can be performed in accordance with the processing performance of the digital camera D, so that the printer device P1 is not necessarily required to have high functions and cost can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the digital camera D is used as a master device (wireless data transmitting device) that can transmit data at high speed, and the printer device is used as a slave device (wireless data receiving device) that processes received data at low speed. Although P1 and P2 are described as examples, this is merely an example. That is, the present invention is applicable to any system having a relationship with a master device that can transmit data at high speed and a slave device that receives data transmitted from the master device and executes low-speed processing on the data. Can be. Therefore, it is needless to say that the same can be realized in a system in which a personal computer is used as a master device capable of transmitting data at high speed and a floppy writing device or HDD writing device is used as a slave device processing data at low speed. .

In the above description, the master digital camera D is connected to a plurality of slave printers P1, P
2 operates in response to the notification of the processing status, but if the processing capability of the device on the master (wireless data transmitting device) side is sufficient, 1 In a one-to-one relationship, they may operate in synchronization with each other according to the processing of the above-described flowchart.

Note that the method described in the above-described embodiment is, for example, a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD) as a program that can be executed by a computer having a wireless communication function. Etc.) and can be provided to various devices by writing to a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory. Further, it is also possible to transmit the data via a communication medium and provide it to various devices. The computer that realizes this device is
The above-described processing is executed by reading the program recorded on the recording medium or receiving the program via the communication medium, and controlling the operation by the program.

[0061]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the processing status of the wireless data receiving apparatus is notified to the wireless data transmitting apparatus, so that data transmission from the wireless data transmitting apparatus can be controlled. Therefore, data transmission adapted to changes in the processing performance of the wireless data receiving apparatus (such as the capacity of a buffer memory for storing received data) and processing conditions (such as occurrence of a data retransmission request or interruption of processing) is performed. In the wireless data receiving apparatus, the processing for the received data is sequentially performed, so that efficient processing according to the situation is realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless data communication system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera D shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the printers P1 and P2 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the printer devices P1 and P2.

FIG. 5 shows a printer device P shown in the flowchart of FIG.
9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital camera D corresponding to the operations of P1 and P2.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the printer devices P1 and P2.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the printer device P1 having the configuration shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 D: Digital cameras P1, P2: Printer device 1: Imaging unit 2: JPEG compression unit 3, 15: Memory unit 4, 19 ... User interface unit (UI) unit 5: Camera control unit 6: Output buffer unit 7: Wireless unit 8, 13 ... Wireless control unit 9, 10 ... Antenna 11 ... Wireless unit 12 ... Demodulation circuit unit 14 ... Input buffer unit 16 ... Expanding unit 17 ... Printer control unit 18 ... Paper carry-in unit 20 ... Output unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/76 H04N 7/18 A 5C054 5/907 U 5K034 5/91 101: 00 5K067 7/18 H04L 13 / 00307C H04B 7/26 M // H04N 101: 00 H04N 5/91 HF term (reference) 2C061 CG02 CG15 5B021 AA23 BB02 CC05 5C022 AA13 AB65 AC00 AC42 AC69 5C052 AA11 AA17 CC11 DD02 FA02 FA03 FA07 FB00 FB00 FC00 FC00 FE01 5C053 FA04 FA08 FA27 GB36 HA33 JA30 KA01 KA25 LA01 LA03 LA14 5C054 AA02 CA04 CC03 DA07 EA03 EA07 EB05 EC06 EG01 GA04 GA05 HA00 5K034 AA20 CC02 CC06 DD01 EE03 FF02 FF14 FF19 GG06 HH12A02 GG06 HH01A02 KK13 KK15

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A wireless data communication system for transmitting first data from a wireless data transmitting device to a wireless data receiving device and performing processing on the first data received by the wireless data receiving device, The wireless data receiving device includes a processing speed transmitting unit configured to transmit second data indicating a processing speed for the first data to the wireless data transmitting device, wherein the wireless data transmitting device includes the wireless data receiving device. A wireless data communication system, comprising: a data transmission unit configured to transmit the first data to the wireless data transmission device at a data transmission rate according to the second data transmitted from the device. 2. A wireless data communication system for transmitting first data from a wireless data transmitting device to a wireless data receiving device and executing a process on the first data received by the wireless data receiving device, A wireless data receiving device, a processing speed transmitting means for transmitting second data indicating a processing speed for the first data to the wireless data transmitting device; and the second data transmitted by the processing speed transmitting device Processing control means for receiving the first data transmitted from the wireless data transmitting apparatus in accordance with the first data, and sequentially performing processing according to the received first data; Status notification means for notifying the wireless data transmitting device of third data indicating a status, the wireless data transmitting device comprising: A data transmission unit that transmits the first data to the wireless data transmission device according to a data transmission rate according to the second data transmitted from the wireless data reception device; A wireless data communication system, comprising: data transmission control means for controlling transmission of the first data by the data transmission means according to the third data. 3. The wireless data receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the data transmission speed from the wireless data transmission device is higher than the processing speed, the wireless data reception device requests the wireless data transmission device to adjust the data transmission speed. The wireless data communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wireless data transmission device includes an adjustment unit that changes a data transmission speed of the data transmission unit in response to a request from the adjustment request unit. system. 4. When the wireless data transmitting device transmits data to a plurality of wireless data receiving devices, the data transmitting unit is configured to transmit the data based on the second data transmitted from the plurality of wireless data receiving devices. 3. The wireless data communication system according to claim 2, wherein the first data is transmitted at a data transmission speed adapted to a wireless data receiving device having the slowest processing speed. 5. A wireless data transmitting apparatus for transmitting first data to a wireless data receiving apparatus and causing the wireless data receiving apparatus to execute processing on the first data, wherein the first data from the wireless data receiving apparatus is Processing speed receiving means for receiving second data indicating a processing speed for the first data, and the second data transmitted to the wireless data transmitting device in response to the second data received by the processing speed receiving means. 1. A wireless data transmission device comprising: data transmission means for transmitting one data. 6. A wireless data transmitting apparatus for transmitting first data to a wireless data receiving apparatus and causing the wireless data receiving apparatus to execute processing on the first data, wherein the first data from the wireless data receiving apparatus is transmitted from the wireless data receiving apparatus. Processing speed receiving means for receiving second data indicating a processing speed for the first data, and the second data transmitted to the wireless data transmitting device in response to the second data received by the processing speed receiving means. 1 data transmitting means for transmitting the first data, status notification receiving means for receiving, from the wireless data receiving apparatus, third data indicating the status of processing executed in the wireless data receiving apparatus, and Data transmission control means for controlling transmission of the first data by the data transmission means in accordance with the received third data Wireless data transmission apparatus characterized by comprising a. 7. An adjustment request receiving unit for receiving a data transmission speed adjustment request from the wireless data receiving device, and adjusting a data transmission speed by the data transmission unit in response to the adjustment request received by the adjustment request receiving unit. 7. The wireless data transmitting apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising adjusting means for changing. 8. When transmitting the first data to a plurality of wireless data receiving devices, the data transmitting means is configured to transmit the first data based on the second data transmitted from the plurality of wireless data receiving devices. 7. The wireless data transmitting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first data is transmitted at a data transmission rate adapted to a wireless data receiving apparatus having the lowest processing speed. 9. The first data transmitted from the wireless data transmission device.
In the wireless data receiving apparatus which receives the data of the first data and executes the processing on the received first data, transmitting the second data indicating the processing speed of the first data to the wireless data transmitting apparatus Receiving the first data transmitted from the wireless data transmitting apparatus in accordance with the second data transmitted by the processing speed transmitting means, and performing processing in accordance with the received first data And a status notifying unit for notifying the wireless data transmitting device of the status of the process performed by the processing control unit. 10. An adjustment requesting means for requesting the wireless data transmission device to adjust a data transmission speed when a data transmission speed from the wireless data transmission device is higher than a processing speed. The wireless data receiving device according to claim 9.