JP2005339524A - Peripheral of computer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a peripheral capable of realizing a multi-function without developing a dedicated driver and installing the dedicated driver to a PC. <P>SOLUTION: The peripheral 10 for notifying a USB-connected upper apparatus 30 of a device descriptor and allowing the upper apparatus to specify a communication partner destination by the function information shown in the device descriptor comprises a peripheral function information holding unit which holds function information showing functions of the peripheral; a dependent peripheral function information holding unit which holds function information showing functions of a USB-connected dependent peripheral 20; and a USB control unit 113 which reads out one of the function information held in those holding units by a selecting instruction and notifies the upper apparatus of the device descriptor in which the read-out function information is shown. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a peripheral device connected to a host device via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, and more particularly to a peripheral device for realizing multiple functions.

  A host device equipped with a USB connection function (hereinafter referred to as a PC) can be connected to and disconnected from a peripheral device while the PC is operating (powered on). Furthermore, the PC can be connected to a plurality of peripheral devices in parallel. Therefore, USB connection is widely used because it is easy to attach and detach and allows a relatively free system construction. A peripheral device added by USB connection is recognized by the PC at the moment when it is physically connected to the PC. The PC that has recognized the peripheral device searches for the driver of the recognized peripheral device from the drivers held in advance, and performs device definition to control the peripheral device by the searched driver.

  By the way, as a connection control function of the peripheral device described above, a hot-swap function of a peripheral device is known as a “plug and play function”. This plug and play function is implemented as described below. When the peripheral device is USB-connected to the PC, the PC recognizes the peripheral device (device) connected to the USB, automatically searches for a necessary device driver, activates the corresponding driver, and the added peripheral device Can be used. Specifically, when the USB connection of the peripheral device is detected by the PC, the bus connected to the PC and the peripheral device is reset, and after the bus reset, the PC and the peripheral device are referred to as control transfer and start communication. To do.

  In the control transfer, information called a device descriptor necessary for device definition is notified from the peripheral device to the PC. The device descriptor indicates function information indicating the function of the peripheral device, and the PC specifies the peripheral device as a communication partner based on the function information indicating the function of the peripheral device indicated in the device descriptor. Then, a device definition for giving an address called an endpoint to the identified peripheral device is performed, and USB communication with the peripheral device is started.

By the way, as a peripheral device, a multi-function peripheral device (hereinafter referred to as MFP) having a plurality of functions such as a scanner function, a printer function, and a FAX function is widespread. Even when the MFP is connected to a PC via USB for USB communication, a device descriptor indicating a plurality of functions of the MFP is notified to the PC by control transfer.
The PC that has received the notification, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, in order to select a desired function from a plurality of functions indicated in the device descriptor, is a connection configuration switching command (configuration). Vendor request) was issued to define the device.
JP 2001-222503 A

However, in the conventional system, as described above, a dedicated driver that selects a desired function from a plurality of functions and issues a connection configuration switching command is necessary. These were problems because they need to be installed on.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a peripheral device capable of realizing a multi-function without developing a dedicated driver and installing the dedicated driver in a PC.

The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above points.
<Configuration 1>
The peripheral device that notifies the device descriptor to the host device connected via USB and causes the host device to identify the communication partner based on the function information indicated in the device descriptor holds function information indicating the function of the peripheral device. Peripheral device function information holding unit, subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit holding function information indicating the function of a subordinate peripheral device connected via USB, and function information or subordinate held by the peripheral function information holding unit based on a selection instruction A USB control unit that reads out any one of the function information held in the peripheral device function information holding unit and notifies the higher-level device of the device descriptor indicating the read function information.

<Configuration 2>
When the peripheral device is an image reading device and the subordinate peripheral device is an image forming device, the peripheral device function information holding unit holds function information indicating an image reading function, and the subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit has an image forming function. The function information shown is retained.
<Configuration 3>
When the peripheral device is an image forming device and the subordinate peripheral device is an image reading device, the peripheral device function information holding unit holds function information indicating an image forming function, and the subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit has an image reading function. The function information shown is retained.

<Configuration 4>
An operation panel for receiving a selection instruction from an operator is provided, and when the USB control unit receives a selection instruction on the operation panel, it performs a bus reset in USB connection with a host device prior to notification of a device descriptor. And
<Configuration 5>
The USB control unit includes a multi-device descriptor generation unit that generates a device descriptor indicating function information read by a selection instruction.

<Configuration 6>
A document reading unit for reading a document is provided. When the document reading unit detects that a document is placed, it notifies the USB control unit of a document detection signal as a selection instruction, and the USB control unit detects the document detection. When the signal is received, the function information indicating the image reading function is read out.
<Configuration 7>
When it is detected that a document is placed and left, a timer for notifying the USB control unit of a left document detection signal as a selection instruction is provided. When the USB control unit receives the document leave detection signal, the USB control unit performs an image forming function. The function information shown is read out.

<Configuration 8>
When the document reading unit reads the placed document and detects that there is no document to be read, the document reading unit notifies the USB control unit of an end detection signal as a selection instruction, and the USB control unit receives the end detection signal. And functional information indicating an image forming function is read out.
<Configuration 9>
It includes a specific information extraction unit that analyzes the control command from the host device and extracts the specific information. The USB control unit indicates an instruction to perform a bus reset in the USB connection with the host device in the specific information to be extracted. In this case, the bus reset is performed.

<Configuration 10>
A specific information extraction unit that analyzes the control command from the host device and extracts specific information is provided, and the specific information extraction unit is configured to execute the command when the specific information is a command described in the control language of the image reading device. Is selected as a selection instruction, and the USB control unit reads function information indicating an image reading function when receiving a command.

<Configuration 11>
A specific information extraction unit that analyzes the control command from the host device and extracts the specific information is provided, and the specific information extraction unit is configured to execute the command when the specific information is a command described in the control language of the image forming apparatus. 6. The peripheral device according to claim 5, wherein the USB control unit is notified as a selection instruction, and the USB control unit reads function information indicating an image forming function when receiving a command.

<Configuration 12>
The USB control unit is characterized in that, when receiving a selection instruction indicating that the process based on the command is completed, the USB control unit reads the other function information that has not been read based on the command.
<Configuration 13>
When the USB connection with the host device is a hot plug-in connection, a bus reset in the USB connection is performed by the hot plug-in connection.

<Configuration 14>
The peripheral device that notifies the device descriptor to the host device connected via USB and causes the host device to identify the communication partner based on the function information indicated in the device descriptor holds function information indicating the function of the peripheral device. Peripheral device function information holding unit, subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit holding function information indicating functions of subordinate peripheral devices connected by USB, and function information held by the peripheral function information holding unit based on a selection instruction A USB control unit that reads out any one of the function information held in the subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit and notifies the host device of a device descriptor in which the read function information is indicated; The device descriptor indicating the dependent peripheral device function information is notified to the host device, and the slave device If location is identified as the communication partner, characterized by having a USB host controller for relaying for USB communication with the host device and the slave peripheral device.

<Configuration 15>
The peripheral device is a scanner device, and the subordinate peripheral device is a printer device.

  According to the present invention, based on the selection instruction, a device descriptor in which one of functional information indicating a function of a peripheral device or functional information indicating a function of a subordinate peripheral device connected to the peripheral device by USB is indicated. By notifying the higher-level device, the higher-level device identifies the communication partner on the basis of only one function information because only one function information is indicated in the device descriptor. This eliminates the need for a dedicated driver for issuing a connection configuration switching command in the host device, and eliminates the need to install the dedicated driver on the PC.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same constituent elements in the drawings used in each embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted as much as possible.

  The image reading device as a peripheral device of the present invention is a scanner device 10, which is connected to a PC 30 as a host device via a USB cable 41 as shown in FIG. 42 is connected to an image forming apparatus (printer apparatus 20) as a dependent peripheral apparatus.

Here, the gist of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner device 10 of the present invention includes a function information holding unit that stores function information indicating the function of the scanner device 10 and function information indicating the function of the printer device 20 connected to the scanner device via USB. 150, the function information holding unit 150 reads out only one function information based on the selection instruction, and the USB control unit 113 generates a device descriptor indicating the read function information. The device descriptor is notified to the PC 30. As a result, the PC 30 can specify a communication partner based on one function information indicated in the device descriptor, and a dedicated driver for selecting a function and issuing a connection configuration switching command (vendor request) is provided. It is unnecessary.

  In the following embodiments, each function information is stored in advance, and a device descriptor indicating the read function information is generated and notified to the PC 30. However, the function of the scanner device 10 is described. The device descriptor in which the scanner function information is indicated and the device descriptor in which the printer function information indicating the function of the printer device 20 is indicated are held in advance, and the device descriptor to be held is selected based on the selection instruction and notified to the PC 30. You may do it.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner device 10 includes a reading unit 111 for reading a document, an image processing unit 112 for performing image processing on the read image, and a USB device 1 for the PC 30. A USB control unit 113 that functions as a hub (HUB) for the printer device 20 and performs USB communication in accordance with the USB protocol, and a plurality of operations such as setting the operation of the scanner device 10 by an operator. The operation panel 114 provided with the key, the compression unit 115 for compressing the data generated by reading the document, and the printer device 20 are operated based on the data obtained by reading the document to copy the document. And a PC scanner control unit for controlling the operation of the scanner based on a control command from the PC 30 17, a PC print control unit 118 that receives print data and control commands from the PC 30, transfers the received data and control commands to the printer device 20, and controls the printer device 20 to execute printing. Image memory 119 used as a work area for holding data obtained by reading a document, image processing and compression processing, and creating either a device descriptor for a scanner or a device descriptor for a printer at initialization The key event delivery unit 122 for notifying a device control unit 1131 (to be described later) of the USB control unit 113, and a scanner function to be described later. Information and printer function information And a function information holding unit 150 for holding.

  The respective units are substantially controlled by the CPU 120 based on a program held in a ROM (not shown), but the scanner device 10 will be described using the functional blocks described above for the sake of simplicity.

By the way, the printer device 20 connected to the scanner device 10 with the USB cable 42 performs USB communication between the emulation unit 201 for analyzing the printer language and the scanner device 10 and the printer device 20 as shown in FIG. The USB control unit 202 that transmits and receives print data and control commands, the image memory 203 that stores the print data, the print unit 204 that controls the print engine for print processing, and the print data that is sent after being compressed. And a decompression unit 205 for decompressing.
Note that the CPU 206 that controls each unit based on a program stored in a ROM (not shown) performs substantial control. However, in order to simplify the description, the printer device 20 is described using the functional blocks described above. .

  The function information holding unit 150 of the scanner device 10 includes a scanner function information holding unit 151 that holds function information indicating the function of the scanner device 10, and a printer function information holding unit 152 that holds function information indicating the function of the printer device 20. It has. Either the function information held by the scanner function information holding unit 151 or the function information held by the printer function information holding unit 152 is read when a device descriptor described later is created.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the USB control unit 113 of the scanner device 10 includes a device control unit 1131 that functions as one of the USB devices and a host control unit 1132 that functions as a hub. Yes.

  The host control unit 1132 includes a TxBuff 11321 for transmitting data to the printer device 20 and an RxBuff 11322 for receiving data from the printer device 20.

  The device control unit 1131 has a RxBuff 11311 for receiving data from the PC 30, a TxBuff 11312 for transmitting data to the PC 30, and a multi-descriptor creation having a plurality of descriptor creation units (not shown) for creating device descriptors to be described later. When the PC 30 and the printer device 20 perform USB communication, data held in the RxBuff 11311 is transferred to the TxBuff 11321, and data held in the RxBuff 11322 is transferred to the TxBuff 11312.

  When the operator presses a key for instructing USB communication between the PC 30 and the printer device 20 on the operation panel 114, a device descriptor indicating printer function information described later is generated, and the device descriptor is stored in the PC 10 After the notification, the transfer control described above is performed.

  Here, the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313 includes a reset unit 11314 that performs bus reset in USB connection, a scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 that creates a device descriptor for scanner, and a printer that creates a device descriptor for printer. And a descriptor descriptor 11316.

  The scanner descriptor creating unit 11315 reads the scanner function information from the scanner function information holding unit 151 of the function information holding unit 150 so that the PC 10 can control the apparatus 10 with the scanner function, and the device descriptor in which the scanner function information is indicated. Is generated.

  On the other hand, the printer descriptor creating unit 11316 reads printer function information from the printer function information holding unit 152 of the function information holding unit 150 so that the PC 30 can be controlled by the printer function via the device 10 by the printer function. Create a device descriptor with functional information. As described above, the device descriptor is created according to the function to be controlled by the PC 10. The created device descriptor is notified to the PC after a bus reset in USB connection. The PC that has received the notification specifies a communication partner (performs device definition) based on the function information indicated in the device descriptor.

  By the way, when the operation panel 114 receives a selection instruction from the operator, the operation panel 114 outputs a selection signal corresponding to the instruction to the USB control unit 113. Upon receiving the selection signal, the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313 of the USB control unit 113 activates either the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 or the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 based on the selection signal. In other words, when the operator presses the use button of the scanner device 10 on the operation panel 114, the scanner descriptor creating unit 11315 is activated, and when the operator presses the use button of the printer device 20, the printer descriptor creating unit 11316 is activated.

Next, the operation panel 114 that outputs a selection signal will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6, the operation panel 114 of the scanner device 10 includes an LCD display 141 for an operator to perform operation settings, a plurality of press keys 142, and a PC-Scanner key 143.

  In response to pressing of the plurality of keys 142, the operation panel 114 outputs a selection signal (selection information) by the pressed keys to the USB control unit 113. The multi-descriptor creation unit 11313 of the USB control unit 113 selects and activates either the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 or the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 based on the received selection signal.

  By the way, when the PC-Scanner key 143 is pressed, the operation panel 114 outputs a signal indicating PC scan selection to the USB control unit 113. When the USB control unit 113 receives the PC scan function selection signal, the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313 selects the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 and activates the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315.

  By the way, when the selection instruction by the various keys 1142 on the operation panel 114 or the PC-Scanner key 1143 is pressed, information indicating the key press (selection signal and reset signal) is transmitted from the operation panel 114 to the key event delivery unit 122. . The key event delivery unit 122 that has received the information transfers the information to the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113. Upon receiving the information, the device control unit 1131 executes a bus reset in USB connection with the reset unit 11314 and creates a device descriptor with the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313. When the bus reset is executed, communication between the PC 30 and the scanner device 10 is started by control transfer, and the created device descriptor is notified to the PC 30.

  In the control transfer, when a device descriptor acquisition command is issued from the PC 30 to the scanner device 10, the device descriptor generated by the scanner device 10 is sent from the scanner device 10 to the PC 30. The PC 30 assigns an address for accessing the scanner device 10 to the scanner based on the acquired device descriptor, and performs device definition. Thereafter, the PC 30 communicates with the scanner device 10 using the set address.

  By the way, the device descriptor is divided into a plurality of parts and transmitted from the scanner apparatus 10 to the PC 30. First, the main information of the device descriptor is transmitted from the scanner apparatus 10 to the PC 30, and then the PC 30 acquires the detailed information of the device descriptor. The scanner device 10 makes a request to the scanner device 10 and receives the request, and outputs necessary detailed information to the PC 30. This includes information related to the resources of the scanner device 10, for example, information such as how to use a pipe and an ID (identification) code. For example, the PC 30 searches for a device driver with reference to the ID code and activates the corresponding driver. In this way, when the setup of the scanner device 10 is completed, the scanner device 10 can provide the function described in the device descriptor.

  By the way, when the scanner device 10 is hot plug-in connected to the PC 30, the PC 30 detects the connection of the scanner device 10 and then executes a bus reset. Since the operation after the bus reset is the same as that described above, the description thereof is omitted.

  The initialization unit 121 of the scanner device 10 is a function for arbitrarily reporting a device descriptor to be notified to the PC 30 at the time of initialization. Specifically, as shown in FIG. A default device descriptor table 1211 associated with the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 or the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 in a table format, and a default device descriptor table value for storing a table number for referring to the table at initialization. And a storage area 1212.

The default device descriptor table 1211 includes a correspondence table 1213 in which the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 is associated with the table number “1”, and a correspondence table 1214 in which the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 is associated with the table number “2”. Is shown.
An arbitrary table number is set in the default device descriptor table value storage area 1212, and a device is notified to the PC 30 at initialization according to the table number indicated in the default device descriptor table value storage area 1212. The creation part of the descriptor is selected.

Here, the initialization operation of the scanner device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the initialization process of the scanner device is started by the initialization unit 121 (S0801), the value of the default device descriptor table value storage area 1212 is checked (S0802). If “1”, the default device descriptor table 1211 is checked. Accordingly, activation of the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 is selected. As a result, a device descriptor indicating the scanner function information is generated by the scanner descriptor creating unit 11315. Thereafter, the device descriptor of the USB controller 113 transmits the scanner descriptor to the PC 30 (S0805).

  If the value of the default device descriptor table value storage area 1212 is “2” (S0803), the activation of the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 is selected from the default device descriptor table 1211, and the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 selects the printer function information. Is generated. Thereafter, the printer descriptor is transmitted to the PC 30 by the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113 (S0804).

  If the value in the default device descriptor table value storage area 1212 is not “2”, the value in the default device descriptor table value storage area 1212 is regarded as invalid, and an indication that the memory storage data has been corrupted is displayed on the LCD of the operation panel 114. This is performed on the display (S0806).

Next, the operation when the scanner device 10 to which the printer device 20 is connected is connected to the PC 30 by hot plug-in will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When connected to the PC 30 by hot plug-in (S0901), the PC 30 recognizes that a new device is connected and performs USB bus reset. Upon detecting a reset from the PC 30 (S0902), the scanner device 10 activates the printer descriptor creating unit 11316, and the printer descriptor creating unit 11316 creates a printer descriptor.

  The created printer descriptor is transmitted from the scanner device 10 to the PC 30 (S0903). The PC 30 that has acquired the printer descriptor sets the address designation, configuration descriptor, interface descriptor, and the like according to the USB protocol (S0904), and a pipe for Bulk transfer or isochronous transfer is established. The scanner device 10 starts USB communication with the PC 30 as a scanner device (S0905).

  Next, an operation of printing with the printer device 20 based on data created by the PC 30 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The operator gives an instruction to control the printer device 20 with the PC 30 on the operation panel 114, a device descriptor indicating the printer function information is generated, the device descriptor is notified to the PC 10, and the device definition is defined on the PC 10. The explanation is based on what is being done.

  The printer driver installed in the PC 30 performs image processing on the created data to perform compression processing, performs printer language conversion, and generates print data. When the print data is transmitted from the PC 30 to the scanner device 10 via the USB cable 41, when the USB control unit 113 of the scanner device 10 receives the print data (S1001), the print data is transferred to the RxBuff 11311 of the device control unit 1131. (S1002).

  Data stored in the RxBuff 11311 of the device controller 1131 is transferred to the TxBuff 11321 of the host controller 1132 by CPU or hardware (S1003). Next, the print data stored in the TxBuff 11321 of the host control unit 1132 of the USB control unit 113 is transmitted to the printer device 20 under the control of the host controller of the PC 30 (S1004). The printer device 20 performs a printing process based on the received print data (S1005).

  Next, the operation of using the scanner device 10 with the PC scanner function will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the operator presses the PC-Scanner key 143 on the operation panel 114 (S1101), the key event delivery unit 122 delivers information indicating that the PC-Scanner key 143 is pressed to the USB control unit 113. The USB control unit 113 selects the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315. The selected scanner descriptor creating unit 11315 creates a scanner descriptor.

  Thereafter, when a bus reset is executed by the reset unit 11314 of the USB control unit 113 (S1102), the scanner device 10 starts communication with the PC 30 by control transfer. That is, the USB control unit 113 transmits the scanner descriptor to the PC 30 (S1103). The PC 30 acquires information referred to as address designation, configuration descriptor, and interface descriptor based on the scanner descriptor and performs various settings (S1104). This setting is referred to as a pipe for Bulk transfer or isochronous transfer. The transmission path is determined, and USB communication with the scanner device 10 is started (S1105).

  According to the scanner device 10 of the first embodiment, in order to perform USB communication with the function selected by the operator on the operation panel 114, only one selected function information is read, and only the function information is indicated. Is created, the device descriptor is notified to the PC 30 after the bus is reset. As a result, the PC 30 can identify the communication partner based on the function information uniquely indicated in the notified device descriptor, and can perform USB communication by defining the device of the identified communication partner.

  Therefore, according to the scanner device 10 of the first embodiment, by notifying the PC 30 of a device descriptor in which only one piece of function information is shown, the communication partner is specified based on the unique function information shown in the device descriptor. This does not require a dedicated driver for selecting a function and issuing a connection configuration switching instruction (vendor request). As a result, it is not necessary to develop a dedicated driver, and the trouble of installing the dedicated driver in the PC 30 can be saved.

  Further, according to the scanner device 10 of the first embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a special IC chip for setting an endpoint in each of the scanner device 10 and the printer device 20, and manufacture of the scanner device 10 and the printer device 20. An increase in cost can be suppressed.

  Further, the initialization unit 121 is set so that the device descriptor for printer (or scanner) is always selected at the time of initialization, and the device descriptor for printer (or scanner) is set to be transmitted to the PC 30. The scanner device 10 can be fixed to the PC print function (or PC scanner function) when the power is turned on, and the default function can be used without the user being aware of the use setting of the scanner device 10. Can do.

  When the scanner device 10 is connected to the PC 30 by hot plug-in, the printer (or scanner) descriptor is always fixed and the printer (or scanner) device descriptor is transmitted to the PC 30. Thus, since the scanner device can be fixed to the PC print function (or PC scanner function) during hot plug-in, the scanner device 10 can be used without being confused by the operator.

  Even if the scanner device is set to operate with the PC print function at the time of initialization, power-on or hot plug-in connection, the PC print function can be started by pressing the PC-Scanner key 1143 of the operation panel 114. It can be used by switching to the PC scanner function, and the usability of the operator can be improved.

The system configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, the scanner device 11 according to the second embodiment has a function change of the configuration of the scanner device 10 according to the first embodiment, and a new function is added. Specifically, when the scanner device 11 according to the second embodiment detects that the document is placed in the reading unit 111 ′, the USB control unit 113A, and the reading unit 111A for reading the document, information indicating the detection is USB controlled. A document detection event delivery unit 123 that transmits to the device control unit 1131 of the unit 113A, a left document detection timer 124 that detects that the document has been placed on the reading unit for a predetermined time or more, and the left document detection timer 124 When receiving a time-out signal, the time-out event delivery unit 125 that transmits information indicating the detection of an undocumented document to the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113A is different from the configuration of the first embodiment.

  The reading unit 111 ′ includes a document detection unit 1111 that detects that a document is placed. The document detection unit 1111 sends a document detection signal indicating that a document is placed to the document detection event delivery unit 123 and the document detection event delivery unit 123. The document is sent to the abandoned document detection timer 124.

    Upon receiving the document detection signal, the document detection event delivery unit 123 transmits information indicating that the document has been detected to the USB control unit 113A. Upon receiving information indicating that a document has been detected, the USB control unit 113A selects the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315, and transmits the scanner descriptor created by the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 to the PC 30.

  The abandoned document detection timer starts timing when it receives a document detection signal, and transmits a timeout signal to the timeout event delivery unit 125 when it detects that the document has been placed in the reading unit for a predetermined time or longer. Upon receiving the time-out signal, the time-out event delivery unit 125 transmits information indicating the detection of the left document to the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113A. When the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113A receives the information indicating the detection of the left document, the device control unit 1131 selects the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 and transmits the printer descriptor created by the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 to the PC 30. To do.

Next, the operation of the scanner device 11 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When an operator places a document on the reading unit 111 ′ of the scanner device 11 in order to use the scanner function, the document detection unit 1111 detects the placement of the document (S1302), and a document detection signal is delivered to the document detection event. Output to the unit 123 and the unattended document detection timer 124. The unattended document detection timer 124 that has received the document detection signal starts measuring time (S1303).

Upon receiving the document detection signal, the document detection event delivery unit 123 transmits information indicating that the document has been detected to the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113A (S1304).
Upon receiving information indicating that the document has been detected, the device control unit 1131 selects the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 and resets the bus so that the scanner descriptor created by the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 is transmitted to the PC 30. Execute. By the control transfer after the bus reset, the scanner descriptor is sent from the scanner device 11 to the PC 30 (step S1305).

  The PC 30 performs device definition based on the acquired scanner descriptor. Accordingly, the PC 30 can recognize that the scanner device 11 operates with the scanner function (S1306).

  By the way, when the PC scanner is not performed in response to the operator's instruction even though the document is placed on the reading unit 111 ′, when the document detection detection time is set to 5 minutes, for example, the document detection timer is left. 124 times out after 5 minutes, and outputs a timeout signal to the timeout event delivery unit 125 (S1307).

Upon receiving the time-out signal, the time-out event delivery unit 125 outputs information indicating that a left document has been detected to the USB control unit 113A (S1308). The device controller 1131 of the USB controller 113A that has received information indicating that an undocumented document has been detected selects the printer descriptor generator 11316 by the multi-descriptor generator 11313, and the printer created by the printer descriptor creator 11316. The descriptor is transmitted to the PC 30 by control transfer after the bus reset (S1309).
The PC 30 performs device definition based on the acquired printer descriptor. Thus, the PC 30 can operate the printer 20 via the scanner device 11.

  According to the scanner device 11 of the second embodiment, when the document detection unit 1111 is provided in the reading unit 111 ′ and it is detected that the document is left unattended, the USB control unit 113A selects the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315, and By transmitting the scanner descriptor created by the scanner descriptor creating unit 11315 to the PC 30, the PC 30 can perform device definition based on the scanner descriptor. As a result, the PC scanner function can be used simply by placing a document on the scanner device 11, and the convenience of the operator can be improved.

  Further, when a left document is detected by the left document detection timer 124, the function of the scanner device 11 is switched to the PC print function. Therefore, when the operator leaves the document without reading it with the reading unit 111 ′, the scanner device 11 is moved. It can be used as a PC print function.

Since the system configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 14, the scanner device 12 according to the third embodiment includes a USB control unit 113 </ b> B that replaces the USB control unit 113 </ b> A in the configuration of the scanner device 11 according to the second embodiment, and PC printing that performs control for PC printing. A control unit 118 ′ and a printer simple emulation event delivery unit 126 that transmits information indicating that an instruction to switch the device descriptor from the printer to the scanner is detected are added.

  The PC print control unit 118 ′ analyzes the printer language sent from the PC 30 and detects a “command for switching the device descriptor from the printer to the scanner” (specific information). 1181 is provided. When the printer simple emulation unit (specific information extraction unit) 1181 cannot detect the “command to switch the device descriptor from the printer to the scanner”, the normal PC printing function is executed.

  When the printer simple emulation event delivery unit 126 receives the detection signal indicating that the “command for switching the device descriptor from the printer to the scanner” is detected from the printer simple emulation unit 1181, the information indicating the “command for switching the device descriptor” is displayed. Is transmitted to the USB control unit 113B.

Next, the operation of the scanner device 12 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the operator of the PC 30 issues an instruction to stop the PC print function from the PC 30 in order to use the scanner function, the printer driver transmits a command for switching the device descriptor from the printer to the scanner to the scanner device 12 ( S1501). Upon receiving the command, when the printer simple emulation unit 1181 of the PC print control unit 118 ′ detects a “command to switch the device descriptor from the printer to the scanner” (S1502), the scanner device delivers the printer simple emulation event delivery. The unit 126 is notified.

  Upon receiving the notification, the simple printer emulation event delivery unit 126 outputs information indicating that the “command for switching the device descriptor from the printer to the scanner” has been detected to the USB control unit 113B (S1503). Upon receiving the information, the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113B selects the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 by the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313, and controls the scanner descriptor created by the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 after the bus reset. The data is transmitted to the PC 30 (S1504). The PC 30 performs device definition based on the acquired scanner descriptor. As a result, the PC 30 recognizes the scanner device 12 as a scanner function, and the PC scanner function becomes effective.

  According to the scanner device 12 of the third embodiment, when the printer language is analyzed by the printer simple emulation unit 1181 and a “command to switch the device descriptor from the printer to the scanner” is detected, the printer descriptor is switched to the printer descriptor. By notifying the PC 30, the PC 30 performs device definition based on the scanner descriptor and performs connection configuration switching. Accordingly, it is possible to switch from the PC printer function to the PC scanner function by an operation from the PC 30, and the convenience for the operator can be improved.

Since the system configuration of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the description thereof is omitted.
In the scanner device 12 of the third embodiment, the “command to switch the device descriptor from the printer to the scanner” is detected, but in the scanner device of the fourth embodiment, the “command to switch the device descriptor from the scanner to the printer” is detected. Different to do.
As shown in FIG. 16, the scanner device 13 according to the fourth embodiment includes a USB control unit 113 </ b> C instead of the USB control unit 113 </ b> B and a PC scanner that performs control for a PC printer in the configuration of the scanner device 11 according to the third embodiment. A control unit 117 ′ and a simple scanner emulation event delivery unit 127 that transmits information indicating that a command for switching the device descriptor from the scanner to the printer is detected are added to the USB control unit 113C.

  The PC scanner control unit 117 ′ analyzes the scanner language sent from the PC 30 and detects a “command for switching the device descriptor from the scanner to the printer” (specific information) and a simple scanner emulation unit (specific information extraction unit). 1171. When the scanner simple emulation unit (specific information extraction unit) 1171 cannot detect the “command to switch the device descriptor from the scanner to the printer”, the normal PC scanner function is executed.

  When the scanner simple emulation event delivery unit 126 receives a detection signal indicating that the “command for switching the device descriptor from the scanner to the printer” is detected from the printer simple emulation unit 1181, the information indicating the “command for switching the device descriptor” is displayed. Is transmitted to the USB control unit 113C.

Next, the operation of the scanner device 13 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the operator issues an instruction to stop the PC scan function from the PC 30 to use the scanner function, the scanner driver transmits an instruction for switching the device descriptor from the scanner to the printer to the scanner device 13 (S1701). . When the scanner simple emulation unit 1171 of the PC print control unit 117 ′ of the scanner device 13 detects a “command to switch the device descriptor from scanner to printer” (S1702), the detection is notified to the scanner simple emulation event delivery unit 127. Is done.

  Upon receiving the notification, the scanner simple emulation event delivery unit 127 outputs information indicating that the “command to switch the device descriptor from the scanner to the printer” is detected to the USB control unit 113C (S1703). Upon receiving the information, the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113C selects the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 by the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313, and controls the printer descriptor created by the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 after the bus reset. The data is transmitted to the PC 30 (S1704). The PC 30 performs device definition based on the acquired printer descriptor. Thus, the PC 30 can perform USB communication with the printer device 20 via the scanner device 12.

  According to the scanner device 13 of the fourth embodiment, when the scanner simple emulation unit 1171 analyzes the scanner language and detects “an instruction to switch the device descriptor from the scanner to the printer”, the scanner descriptor is switched to the scanner descriptor. By notifying the PC 30, the PC 30 performs device definition based on the printer descriptor and performs connection configuration switching. As a result, it is possible to switch from the PC scanner function to the PC printer function by an operation from the PC 30, and the convenience of the operator can be improved.

Since the system configuration of the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the description thereof is omitted.
In the scanner device 14 of the fifth embodiment, in the configuration of the fourth embodiment described above, the PC control operation end event delivery that transmits the USB control unit 113D instead of the USB control unit 113C and the PC scanner function end information to the USB control unit 113D. And a PC print operation end event delivery unit 129 for transmitting PC print function end information to the USB control unit 113D.

When the PC scan operation end event delivery unit 128 detects that the PC scan operation is completed by the reading unit 111 ′, the PC scan operation end event delivery unit 128 transmits PC scan end information to the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113D.
When the PC print operation end event delivery unit 129 detects that all of the print data stored in the TxBuff 11321 of the host control unit 1132 of the scanner device 14 has been transmitted to the printer device 20, the PC print end information delivery unit 129 sends the PC print end information to the USB control unit The data is transmitted to the device control unit 1131 of 113D.

  Upon receiving the PC scan end information, the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113D selects the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 by the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313, and the printer descriptor created by the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 is selected. Send to PC30. On the other hand, upon receiving the PC print end information, the device control unit 1131 selects the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 by the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313 and transmits the scan descriptor created by the scan descriptor creation unit 11315 to the PC 30. .

Next, the operation of the scanner device 14 will be described.
The operation when the PC scanner function is selected will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The end of the PC scan operation is monitored by the reading unit 111 ′ (S1902), and when the end of the PC scanner operation is detected by the reading unit 111 ′, the PC scan end information is notified to the PC scan operation end event delivery unit 128. The The PC scan operation end event delivery unit 128 transmits information indicating the end of the PC scanner operation to the USB control unit 113D (S1903).

  Upon receiving the PC scanner operation end information, the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113D selects the printer descriptor creation unit 11316 from the two descriptor creation units by the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313, and selects the selected printer descriptor creation unit. After executing the bus reset, the printer descriptor generated in 11316 is notified to the PC 30 by control transfer (S1904). Since the subsequent operations are the same as those described in the above embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. However, after the same processing steps are performed, the PC print function becomes effective.

  Next, the operation when the PC printer function is selected will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  PC printer operation end monitoring is performed (S2002), and the PC print operation end event delivery unit 129 that detects the end of the PC printer operation transmits information indicating the end of the PC print operation to the USB control unit 113D ( S2003).

  Upon receiving the PC print operation end information, the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113D selects the scanner descriptor creation unit 11315 from the two descriptor creation units by the multi-descriptor creation unit 11313, and selects the selected scanner descriptor creation unit. The scanner descriptor generated in 11315 is notified to the PC 30 by control transfer after executing the bus reset (S2004). Since the subsequent operations are the same as those described in the above embodiment, the description will be omitted. However, after the same processing steps are performed, the PC scanner function becomes effective.

  According to the scanner device 14 of the fifth embodiment, when the end of the PC scan operation is detected, the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113D functions as a PC print operation based on information from the PC scan operation end event delivery unit 128. When the end of the PC print operation is detected, the device control unit 1131 of the USB control unit 113D functions as a PC scanner operation based on the information from the PC print operation end event delivery unit 129. A device descriptor is created and notified to the PC 30. By using this function, for example, by setting the function mainly used by the operator as a function to be operated after completion of the function in advance, when the desired function is completed, the function can be automatically switched to the function mainly used by the operator. The convenience of the operator can be improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, a system in which a scanner device is used as a peripheral device and a printer device is connected as a peripheral device by USB is described as an example. However, in Embodiment 6, a USB cable 91 is connected to a PC 80 as shown in FIG. A system constructed using the printer device 60 connected via the USB cable 91 as a peripheral device and the scanner device 70 connected via the USB cable 91 as a slave peripheral device will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the printer device 60 functions as one of USB devices for a printing unit 601 that prints on paper, a decompressing unit 602 that decompresses compressed print data, and a PC 80. The device 70 functions as a hub (HUB), and is provided with a plurality of keys such as a USB control unit 603 for USB communication in accordance with the USB protocol and an operation setting of the printer device 60 by an operator. The operation panel 604, the emulation unit 605 for decoding the printer control language, and the printer device 60 once receives a control command for the PC scanner, and transfers the received control command to the scanner device 70 to function as a PC scanner. PC scanner control unit 606 for controlling A PC print control unit 607 for controlling to function as a printer, an image memory 609 used as a work area for holding print image data, image processing, and compression processing, and a scanner device descriptor or printer at initialization An initialization unit 610 that creates one of the device descriptors for transmission and transmits it to the PC 80, and a device control unit 6031 (to be described later) of the USB control unit 603 that notifies that the key of the operation panel 114 has been pressed. Key event delivery unit 608 and a function information holding unit 650 that holds printer function information and scanner function information.

  Note that the CPU 611 performs substantial control of the respective units based on a program held in a ROM (not shown), but the printer device 60 will be described using the functional blocks described above for the sake of simplicity.

  Incidentally, the function information holding unit 650 of the printer device 60 has a scanner function information holding unit 651 that holds function information indicating the function of the scanner device 70 and a printer function information holding that holds function information indicating the function of the printer device 60. Part 652. One of the function information held by the scanner function information holding unit 651 and the function information held by the printer function information holding unit 652 is read when a device descriptor described later is created.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the USB control unit 603 of the printer device 60 includes a device control unit 6031 that functions as one of the USB devices, and a host control unit 6032 that functions as a hub. Yes.

  The host control unit 6032 includes a TxBuff 60321 for transmitting data to the scanner device 70 and an RxBuff 60322 for receiving data from the scanner device 70.

  The device control unit 6031 has a RxBuff 60311 for receiving data from the PC 80, a TxBuff 60312 for transmitting data to the PC 80, and a multi-descriptor creation having a plurality of descriptor creation units (not shown) for creating device descriptors to be described later. When the PC 80 and the scanner device 70 perform USB communication, the data held in the RxBuff 603111 is transferred to the TxBuff 60321, and the data held in the RxBuff 60322 is transferred to the TxBuff 60312.

  When an operator presses a key for instructing USB communication between the PC 80 and the scanner device 70 on the operation panel 604, a device descriptor indicating scanner function information to be described later is generated. After the notification, the transfer control described above is performed.

  Here, the multi-descriptor creation unit 60313 will be described. As shown in FIG. 24, the multi-descriptor creation unit 60313 includes a reset unit 60314 that performs bus reset in USB connection, a scanner descriptor creation unit 60315 that creates a device descriptor for scanner, and a printer that creates a device descriptor for printer. And a descriptor creation unit 60316.

  The scanner descriptor creating unit 60315 reads the scanner function information from the scanner function information holding unit 651 of the function information holding unit 650 so that the PC 80 can control the scanner device 70 with the scanner function via the device 60. A device descriptor indicated by is generated.

  On the other hand, the printer descriptor creating unit 60316 reads the printer function information from the printer function information holding unit 652 of the function information holding unit 650 so that the PC 80 can control the apparatus 60 with the printer function, and the printer function information is indicated. Create a device descriptor. In this way, the device descriptor is created according to the function that the PC 80 wants to control. The created device descriptor is notified to the PC after a bus reset in USB connection. The PC that has received the notification specifies a communication partner (performs device definition) based on the function information indicated in the device descriptor.

  As shown in FIG. 25, the operation panel 604 of the printer device 60 includes an LCD display 6041 for an operator to perform operation settings, a plurality of push keys 6042, and a PC-Scanner key 6043.

  In response to pressing of a plurality of keys 6042, the operation panel 604 outputs a selection signal (selection information) by the pressed keys to the USB control unit 603. The multi-descriptor creation unit 60313 of the USB control unit 603 activates either the scanner descriptor creation unit 60315 or the printer descriptor creation unit 60316 based on the received selection signal. In other words, when the operator presses the use button of the scanner device 70 on the operation panel 604, the scanner descriptor creation unit 60315 is activated, and when the operator presses the use button of the printer device 60, the printer descriptor creation unit 60316 is activated.

  When the PC-Scanner key 3043 is pressed, the operation panel 604 outputs a signal indicating PCS cancel selection to the USB control unit 603. Upon receiving the selection signal indicating selection of the PC scan function, the USB control unit 603 selects the scanner descriptor creation unit 60315 by the multi-descriptor creation unit 60313, and activates the scanner descriptor creation unit 60315 to generate a device descriptor. . The generated device descriptor is notified to the PC 80 by control transfer after the bus reset in the USB connection is executed by the reset unit 60314. Since the operation after the bus reset is the same as that in the above-described embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  The initialization unit 610 of the printer device 60 is a function for arbitrarily reporting a device descriptor to be notified to the PC 80 at the time of initialization. As shown in FIG. 26, a device descriptor creation unit (scanner descriptor creation) is added to the table number. A default device descriptor table 6101 associated with the table 60315 or the printer descriptor creating unit 60316) in a table format, and a default device descriptor table value storage area 6102 for storing a table number for referring to the table at initialization. Prepare.

The default device descriptor table 1211 includes a correspondence table 6103 in which the scanner descriptor creation unit 60315 is associated with the table number “1”, and a correspondence table 6104 in which the printer descriptor creation unit 60316 is associated with the table number “2”. Is shown.
An arbitrary table number is set in the default device descriptor table value storage area 6102, and a device is notified to the PC 80 at initialization according to the table number indicated in the default device descriptor table value storage area 6102. The creation part of the descriptor is selected.

Here, the initialization operation of the initialization unit 610 of the printer device 60 according to the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when initialization processing of the scanner device is started by the initialization unit 610 (S2701), the value of the default device descriptor table value storage area 6102 is checked (S2702). If “1”, the default device descriptor table 6101 is checked. Accordingly, activation of the scanner descriptor creation unit 60315 is selected. As a result, a device descriptor indicating the scanner function information is generated by the scanner descriptor creating unit 60315. Thereafter, the scanner descriptor is transmitted to the PC 80 by the device control unit 6031 of the USB control unit 603 (S2705).

  If the value in the default device descriptor table value storage area 6102 is “2” (S2703), the printer descriptor creation unit 60316 selects the printer descriptor creation unit 60316 from the default device descriptor table 6101 and the printer function information is transmitted to the printer function information. Is generated. Thereafter, the device descriptor 6031 of the USB controller 603 transmits a printer descriptor to the PC 80 (S2704).

  If the value in the default device descriptor table value storage area 6102 is not “2”, the value in the default device descriptor table value storage area 6102 is regarded as invalid, and an indication that the memory storage data is corrupted is displayed on the LCD of the operation panel 604. This is performed on the display 6041 (S2706).

Next, the operation when the printer device 60 connected to the scanner device 70 is connected to the PC 80 by hot plug-in will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When connected to the PC 80 by hot plug-in (S2801), the PC 80 recognizes that a new device is connected and performs a USB bus reset by the reset unit 60314. When the printer 60 detects a reset from the PC 80 (S2802), the printer descriptor creation unit 60316 is activated, and the printer descriptor creation unit 60316 creates a printer descriptor.

  The created printer descriptor is transmitted from the printer 60 to the PC 80 by control transfer (S2803). The PC 80 that has acquired the printer descriptor performs address designation, configuration descriptor, interface descriptor, and the like in accordance with the USB protocol (S2804), and a pipe for bulk transfer or isochronous transfer is established. The printer device 60 starts USB communication with the PC 80 as a printer device (S2805).

Next, the operation when the operator uses the printer device 60 with the scanner function will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the operator presses the PC-Scanner key 6043 on the operation panel 604 (S2901), the key event delivery unit 608 notifies the USB control unit 603 of information indicating that the PC-Scanner key 6043 has been pressed. . Upon receiving the information, the USB control unit 603 selects the scanner descriptor creation unit 60315. The selected scanner descriptor creating unit 60315 creates a scanner descriptor.

  Thereafter, when a bus reset is executed by the reset unit 60314 of the USB control unit 603 (S2902), the printer device 60 starts communication with the PC 80 by control transfer. That is, the USB control unit 603 of the printer device 60 transmits the scanner descriptor to the PC 80 (S2903). Based on the scanner descriptor, the PC 80 acquires information referred to as address designation, configuration descriptor, and interface descriptor and performs various settings (S2904), and this setting is referred to as a pipe for Bulk transfer or isochronous transfer. The transmission line is determined, and the printer 60 starts USB communication with the PC 80 as a printer device by the pipe (S2905).

  According to the printer device 60 of the sixth embodiment, in order to perform USB communication with the function selected by the operator on the operation panel 604, only one selected function information is read, and only the function information is indicated. Is created, the device descriptor is notified to the PC 80 after the bus is reset. As a result, the PC 80 can identify the communication partner based on the function information uniquely indicated in the notified device descriptor, and can perform USB communication by defining the device of the identified communication partner.

  Therefore, according to the printer device 60 of the sixth embodiment, the communication partner is specified based on the unique function information indicated in the device descriptor by notifying the PC 80 of the device descriptor in which only one function information is indicated. This does not require a dedicated driver for selecting a function and issuing a connection configuration switching instruction (vendor request). As a result, it is not necessary to develop a dedicated driver, and the trouble of installing the dedicated driver in the PC 80 can be saved.

In the above embodiment, the description has been made by limiting the peripheral device to the printer device and the scanner device, but the present invention is not limited to this.
As the peripheral device, for example, the present invention can be applied to a monitor device, a keyboard, a mouse, a FAX device, a storage device, an image server device, and the like.

  In the above embodiment, the update of the function information held in the function information holding unit 150 of the peripheral device has not been described. However, for example, when a subordinate peripheral device is connected to the peripheral device, the function information is acquired from the subordinate peripheral device. Then, the function information held in the function information holding unit 150 may be updated, or the function information acquired by communication with the higher-level device and updated in the function information holding unit 150 may be updated. The function information held in the function information holding unit 150 may be updated by exchanging the ROM of the apparatus.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the peripheral device function information holding unit 150 holds the peripheral device function information and the subordinate peripheral device function information in advance, and reads out one of the function information as necessary to obtain the device descriptor. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a device descriptor for a peripheral device and a device descriptor for a subordinate peripheral device are held in advance, and a selection instruction is issued. In response, any one of the device crypters held may be notified to the host device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the initialization unit has been described as an example in which a device descriptor creation unit is selected based on a table number. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a device descriptor may be associated with a table number in advance. . As a result, the device descriptor associated with the table number can be directly notified to the host device without creating a device descriptor.

It is a block diagram of the system 1 of this invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a scanner device of Example 1. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printer device used in a system 1. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a USB control unit of the scanner device in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram of the multi-descriptor creation part of a USB control part. It is the example of arrangement | positioning on the surface of an operation panel. It is a block diagram of an initialization part. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an initialization operation according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of hot plug-in connection according to the first exemplary embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation during PC printing in the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation during PC scanning in the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a scanner device according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when detecting a document in Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a scanner device according to a third embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation flow of the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a scanner device according to a fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a scanner device according to a fifth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the end of PC scanning in the fifth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the end of PC printing in the fifth embodiment. It is a block diagram of the system 2 of this invention. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a printer device used in Embodiment 6. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a USB control unit of a printer apparatus according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a multi-descriptor creation unit of a USB control unit in Embodiment 6. 14 is an example of an arrangement on the surface of an operation panel of a printer device according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an initialization unit of a printer device in Embodiment 6. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an initialization operation according to the sixth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a PC print operation according to the sixth exemplary embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a PC scanner according to a sixth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 70 Scanner device 111, 111 ′ Reading unit 1111 Document detector 112 Image processing unit 113, 113A, 113B USB control unit 113C, 113D USB control unit 150 Function information holding unit 151 Scan function information Holding unit 152 Printer function information holding unit 1131 Device control unit 11311, 11322 RxBuff
11312, 11321 TxBuff
11313 Multi-descriptor creation unit 11314 Reset unit 11315 Scanner descriptor creation unit 11316 Printer descriptor creation unit 1132 Host control unit 114 Operation panel 1141 LCD display 1142 Various keys 1143 PC-Scaner key 115 Compression unit 116 Copy control unit 117, 117 ′ PC Scanner control unit 1171 Scanner simple emulator unit 118, 118 'PC print control unit 1181 Printer simple emulator unit 119 Image memory 120 CPU
121 Initialization unit 1211 Default device descriptor table 1212 Default device descriptor table value
Storage area 1213 Scanner descriptor creation unit 1214 Printer descriptor creation unit 122 Key event delivery unit 123 Document detection event delivery unit 124 Undocumented document detection timer 125 Timeout event delivery unit 126 Printer simple emulation event delivery unit 127 Scanner simple emulation event delivery unit 128 PC scan operation end event delivery unit 129 PC print operation end event delivery unit 20, 60 Printer device 30, 80 PC
41, 42, 91, 92 USB cable 601 Printing unit 602 Decompression unit 603 USB control unit 650 Function information holding unit 651 Scan function information holding unit 652 Printer function information holding unit 6031 Device control unit 60311, 60322 RxBuff
60312, 60321 TxBuff
60313 Multi-descriptor creation unit 60314 Reset unit 60315 Scanner descriptor creation unit 60316 Printer descriptor creation unit 6032 Host control unit 604 Operation panel 6041 LCD display 6042 Various keys 6043 PC-Scanner key 605 Emulation unit 606 PC scanner unit 607 PC print unit 608 Key event delivery unit 609 Image memory 610 Initialization unit 6101 Default device descriptor table 6102 Default device descriptor table value storage area 6103 Scanner descriptor 6104 Printer descriptor 611 CPU

Claims (15)

In a peripheral device that notifies a device descriptor to a host device connected via USB and causes the host device to identify a communication partner based on the function information indicated in the device descriptor.
A peripheral device function information holding unit for holding function information indicating the function of the peripheral device;
A subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit for holding function information indicating a function of a subordinate peripheral device connected via USB;
Based on the selection instruction, either the function information held in the peripheral function information holding unit or the function information held in the subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit is read, and the device descriptor in which the read function information is indicated A peripheral device comprising: a USB control unit that notifies the device. When the peripheral device is an image reading device and the subordinate peripheral device is an image forming device,
The peripheral device function information holding unit holds function information indicating an image reading function,
The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit holds function information indicating an image forming function. When the peripheral device is an image forming device and the dependent peripheral device is an image reading device,
The peripheral device function information holding unit holds function information indicating an image forming function,
The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit holds function information indicating an image reading function. An operation panel for receiving the selection instruction from an operator;
2. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the USB control unit, when receiving the selection instruction on the operation panel, performs a bus reset in USB connection with the host device prior to notification of the device descriptor.   The said USB control part is provided with the multi-device descriptor preparation part which produces | generates the device descriptor in which the function information read by the said selection instruction | indication is shown, At least any one of Claim 2 and Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Peripheral device. A document reading unit for reading a document;
When the document reading unit detects that a document is placed, it notifies the USB control unit of a document detection signal as the selection instruction.
The peripheral device according to claim 5, wherein the USB control unit reads function information indicating an image reading function when receiving the document detection signal. A timer for notifying the USB control unit of a neglected document detection signal as the selection instruction when it is detected that the document is placed and left;
The peripheral device according to claim 6, wherein the USB control unit reads function information indicating an image forming function when receiving the document leaving detection signal. When the original reading unit reads the placed original and detects that there are no more originals to be read, the original reading unit notifies the USB control unit of an end detection signal as the selection instruction.
The peripheral device according to claim 6, wherein the USB control unit reads function information indicating the image forming function when receiving the end detection signal. A specific information extraction unit that analyzes the control command from the host device and extracts specific information;
The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the USB control unit performs the bus reset when an instruction to perform a bus reset in a USB connection with the host device is indicated in the specific information to be extracted. A specific information extraction unit that analyzes the control command from the host device and extracts specific information;
When the specific information is a command described in the control language of the image reading device, the specific information extraction unit notifies the USB control unit of the command as the selection instruction.
The peripheral device according to claim 5, wherein the USB control unit reads function information indicating the image reading function when receiving the command. A specific information extraction unit that analyzes the control command from the host device and extracts specific information;
When the specific information is a command described in the control language of the image forming apparatus, the specific information extraction unit notifies the USB control unit of the command as the selection instruction.
The peripheral device according to claim 5, wherein the USB control unit reads out function information indicating the image forming function when receiving the command.   The said USB control part will read the other function information which was not read based on the said command, if the completion | finish of the process based on the said command is received as the said selection instruction | indication. Item 12. The peripheral device according to Item 11.   The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein when the USB connection with the host device is a hot plug-in connection, a bus reset in the USB connection is performed by the hot plug-in connection. In a peripheral device that notifies a device descriptor to a host device connected via USB and causes the host device to identify a communication partner based on the function information indicated in the device descriptor.
A peripheral device function information holding unit for holding function information indicating the function of the peripheral device;
A subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit for holding function information indicating a function of a subordinate peripheral device connected via USB;
Based on the selection instruction, either the function information held in the peripheral function information holding unit or the function information held in the subordinate peripheral device function information holding unit is read, and the device descriptor in which the read function information is indicated A USB control unit for notifying the device,
The USB control unit includes a USB host control unit that performs relay for USB communication between the host device and the slave peripheral device when the slave peripheral device is specified as a communication partner in the host device. A peripheral device characterized by that. 15. The peripheral device according to claim 14, wherein the peripheral device is a scanner device, and the subordinate peripheral device is a printer device.

Images