JP2006287945A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data communication apparatus and method for enabling communication with a device on an IEEE1394 compliant communication network without providing a 1394 interface in an external device with a communication scheme different from that of the communication network. <P>SOLUTION: Communication is performed with a first external device connected with a first interface unit via a data bus, communication is performed with a second external device connected with a second interface unit, an operating mode of the second external device is detected and in accordance with a result of this detection, the communication with the first external device is judged invalid and controlled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data communication apparatus and method, and more particularly to an electronic apparatus having a plurality of interfaces capable of communicating information data.

  In recent years, when configuring communication systems with electronic devices such as personal computers, printers, hard disks, digital cameras, digital video cameras, etc., high-speed data can be obtained by connecting each electronic device using a unified general-purpose digital interface. The movement to realize communication is becoming active.

  One of the next-generation high-speed digital interfaces developed from such a viewpoint is the IEEE 1394-1995 (hereinafter, 1394) serial bus. In 1394, synchronous transfer data and asynchronous transfer data can be mixed and communicated every predetermined communication cycle (for example, 125 μsec). Synchronous transfer data (Isochronous transfer data) is data that needs to be continuously communicated at a constant data rate, such as video data and audio data, and asynchronous data (Asynchronous transfer data) is control data. Thus, the data is transmitted irregularly as necessary.

The 1394 also has a function of relaying video data and control data.
Thereby, the synchronous transfer data or asynchronous transfer data transmitted from each electronic device is transferred to all the electronic devices on the communication system via the other electronic devices. Details of the IEEE 1394 serial bus including the above description are disclosed in the IEEE 1394 specification, “IEEE Standard for a High Performance Serial Bus (IEEE Std 1394-1995)”.

  An example of a communication system configured using such a 1394 serial bus is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, 801 is a personal computer (personal computer), 802 is a printer capable of printing data indicating images or documents output from each electronic device in the communication system, and 803 is a portable type such as a camera-integrated digital VTR. A digital VTR 804 is a camera-integrated digital VTR 803 and a stationary digital VTR 805 capable of exchanging images and control data such as digital dubbing, and 805 is a 1394 cable that connects between the 1394 interfaces of each electronic device. Each of the electronic devices 801 to 804 has a digital interface conforming to the 1394 serial bus, and is connected in a tree shape by a 1394 cable 805.

  However, the above-described configuration of the 1394 serial bus network has the following problems.

  For example, when a portable device such as a digital camera or a camera-integrated digital VTR is connected to a network constituted by a 1394 serial bus, it is necessary to connect via a 1394 cable. In addition to the problem that the degree of freedom of the portable device is impaired and the connection is troublesome due to the length and shape of the cable, the connection with the cable is a connector part for the 1394 cable in the portable device that requires miniaturization. There was a problem in that it had to be provided.

  Considering inconvenience due to such cable connection, for example, it is conceivable to connect a portable device such as a digital camera or a camera-integrated digital VTR without a cable using a personal computer and wireless communication such as an IrDA method. However, since such a portable device communicates using a communication method different from the IEEE 1394 interface, the 1394 serial bus network cannot recognize the portable device. In addition, when a device on the 1394 serial bus network wishes to communicate with the portable device, it is necessary to have an interface of the same communication method as that of the portable device.

  From the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide a data communication apparatus capable of communicating with a device on the communication network without providing a 1394 interface in an external device having a communication method different from that of a communication network compliant with, for example, IEEE 1394. And providing a method.

  In order to achieve the above object, a data communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a first interface unit connected to a first external device via a data bus, and a second interface device capable of communicating with the second external device. Two interface means, detection means for detecting an operation mode of the second external device, and control means for controlling communication with the first external device as invalid according to a detection result of the detection means; It is characterized by having.

  The data communication apparatus of the present invention is capable of communicating with the first external device, the first interface means capable of communicating with the first external device, and the exchange of information data with the first interface device, and capable of communicating with the second external device. A data communication device having a second interface means, wherein the data communication device can set node information in each of an internal device and the second external device in the data communication device, and The interface means communicates with the first external device using node information corresponding to the internal device, and the second interface means uses the node information corresponding to the second external device to communicate with the first external device. It is characterized by communicating with a device.

  The data communication method of the present invention communicates with a first external device connected to the first interface unit via a data bus, and communicates with a second external device connected to the second interface unit. The operation mode of the second external device is detected, and communication with the first external device is controlled as invalid according to the detection result.

  Further, according to the data communication method of the present invention, node information can be set for each of the internal device and the second external device that can communicate with the first and second interface units, and based on the node information corresponding to the internal device. The second interface capable of communicating with the first interface unit and the first external device and exchanging information data with the first interface unit based on node information corresponding to the second external device. The interface unit communicates with the first external device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a configuration such as the printer 102 of the present embodiment is used, and a 1394 serial bus is used without providing a 1394 interface in a portable electronic device such as a digital camera. Can be connected to a configured network.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a device having a plurality of communication interfaces controls other devices as being invalid according to the operation state of a predetermined external device, thereby controlling other devices. It is possible to process data quickly without being affected by the communication.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the data communication apparatus and method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network configured using a printer 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The network constitutes a network conforming to the 1394 serial bus.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is a portable device such as a digital camera, 102 is a printer that can be connected to a portable device such as a digital camera and a stationary device such as a digital VTR, and functions as a direct printer and a network printer. 103 is a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) capable of recording image data from the digital camera 101 and various image processing, and 104 is a scanner. Note that data communication is performed wirelessly (for example, IrDA infrared data communication) between the digital camera 101 and the printer 102, and data communication is performed between the printer 102, the PC 103, and the scanner 104 using a 1394 serial bus cable compliant with IEEE1394. Is doing.

  In this embodiment, the printer 102 has two interfaces conforming to IEEE 1394 (hereinafter referred to as 1394 interface) and one interface that performs data communication according to a standard different from the 1394 serial bus. One of the two IEEE 1394 interfaces is an interface that can be connected to an external device, and node information assigned by the physical layer indicates the printer 102 itself. The other is a 1394 interface provided in the printer 102, and node information assigned by the physical layer indicates an external device connected to the printer 102, that is, the digital camera 101. Here, the digital camera 101 and the printer 102 communicate using an infrared data communication system compliant with the IrDA standard as a data communication system of a standard different from the 1394 serial bus. The node information is information for specifying each device (node) on the 1394 serial bus network, and a node ID consisting of a node number and a bus number, an address unique to each node, and the like are based on a method conforming to IEEE 1394. Set.

  Image data transmitted from the digital camera 101 to the printer 102 by data communication compliant with the IrDA standard is received by an interface compliant with the IrDA standard of the printer 102, and 1394 via a 1394 interface provided in the printer 102. Output on the serial bus. As a result, the digital camera 101 can be connected to the 1394 serial bus via the 1394 interface for the digital camera 101 even when data communication with the printer 102 is performed wirelessly. Can perform data communication with the printer 102 without deteriorating its characteristics.

  In this embodiment, data communication between the printer 102 and the digital camera 101 is performed by infrared data communication conforming to the IrDA standard. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the characteristics of the portable device such as the digital camera 101 are impaired. Any data communication method may be used as long as there is no data communication method. Further, the digital camera 101 has been described as a device connected to the printer 102 by a data communication method other than IEEE 1394. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a device such as a camera-integrated digital VTR may be used.

In addition, the network illustrated in FIG. 1 is an example, and a configuration in which a plurality of devices are directly or indirectly connected to the PC 103 or the scanner 104 may be employed.
The devices on the network are, for example, the PC 103 and the scanner 104, and any devices can be used as long as they can form an external storage device such as a hard disk or a network conforming to a 1394 serial bus such as a CD or DVD.

  2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the digital camera 101 and the printer 102 on the network of FIG. 1, and the operation will be described in detail.

  On the digital camera 101 side in FIG. 2, 201 is an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject, 202 is an image processing unit that converts a captured image output from the imaging unit 201 into image data in a predetermined format, and 203 is an output from the image processing unit 202. An encoding / decoding circuit that performs predetermined high-efficiency encoding on the recorded image data and decodes the image data reproduced from the recording / reproducing unit 204, and a recording unit 204 that records and reproduces the image data on a recording medium (not shown) A playback unit, 205 is an operation unit that can operate the operation of the digital camera 101, 206 is a system controller that controls the operation of each processing unit in the digital camera 101, and 207 is an EVF (Electric View) image captured by the image capturing unit 201 A display unit 208 that displays images using a finder or a liquid crystal panel is captured by the digital camera 101. A wireless communication unit that communicates image data using a data communication method compliant with, for example, the IrDA standard. Note that the digital camera 101 of this embodiment encodes the image data using a well-known JPEG method as a technique for encoding image data.

  On the printer 102 side, 209 is a wireless communication unit capable of infrared data communication with the digital camera 101 using a data communication method compliant with the IrDA standard, and 210 is suitable for output from the wireless communication unit 210 to a 1394 serial bus. The 1394 I / F units b and 211 that convert to a data format and output on the 1394 serial bus are connected to the 1394 I / F unit b inside the printer, and can be connected to devices such as the PC 103 and the scanner 104. The units a and 212 are image processing units for processing the image data output from the 1394 I / F unit a 211, the 1394 I / F unit b 210, and the wireless communication unit 209 as printable images, and 213 can print the image data. A memory 214 used to form an image, and a printer 214 215, a printer head 214 and a driver for feeding paper, 216, an operation unit for operating the operation mode of the printer 102, 217, a printer controller for controlling the operation of each processing unit in the printer 102, 218, 1394I / F unit a 211, 1394 I / F unit b 210, and a power supply unit for supplying necessary power to the wireless unit 209.

  As described above, the printer 102 according to the present embodiment is configured to have two interface units. That is, the printer 102 main body is shown, and an interface unit (1394 I / Fa 211) that enables communication between the printer 102 and a device on the 1394 serial bus, and wireless communication between the printer 102 and an external device (digital camera 101) are possible. The interface unit (wireless communication unit 209 and 1394 I / Fb 210) that indicates the external device and can also communicate with the external device and the device on the 1394 serial bus is provided.

  Hereinafter, operations of the digital camera 201 and the printer 202 illustrated in FIG. 2 will be described.

  The image being picked up by the image pickup unit 201 is subjected to image processing suitable for display by the image processing unit 202 and displayed on the display unit 207. At this time, when the digital camera 201 is in the recording state, the image captured by the imaging unit 201 is supplied to the encoding / decoding circuit 203, subjected to JPEG encoding, and recorded by the recording / reproducing unit 204. It is recorded on a medium (not shown).

  When the digital camera 202 is in a playback state, a desired image is read from the recording medium of the recording / playback unit 204. At this time, the selection of a desired image is read by the system controller 206 by controlling the recording / playback unit 204 based on an instruction from the user input from the operation unit 205. Image data reproduced from a recording medium (not shown) is subjected to JPEG compression decoding by the image encoding / decoding circuit 203 and image processing suitable for display by the image processing unit 202. Displayed.

  Desired image data reproduced from the recording medium of the recording / reproducing unit 204 performs wireless communication with the printer 102 so as to be transferred to the printer 102 or a device on the network connected via the printer 102, for example, the PC 103. The image data communicated from the digital camera 101 is converted into data of a predetermined communication form as it is encoded by the JPEG method, and wirelessly communicated to the wireless communication unit 209 on the printer 102 side. In the present embodiment, the communication form used between the digital camera 101 and the printer 102 uses infrared data communication conforming to the IrDA standard.

  The image data received by the wireless communication unit 209 on the printer 102 side is directly supplied to the image processing unit 212 inside the printer, or on the 1394 serial bus via the 1394 I / F unit b210 for the digital camera 101. Supplied. At this time, output data from the wireless communication unit 209 corresponds to data before being input to the wireless communication unit 208.

  The 1394 I / F unit b210 for the digital camera 101 is connected to the 1394 I / F unit a 211 for the printer via a port. Since the printer 102 of this embodiment is configured to input data received by the wireless communication unit 209 to the 1394 I / F unit b 210, node information assigned to the 1394 I / F unit b 210 is transmitted via the wireless communication unit 209. A device to be communicated, that is, the digital camera 101 is shown. The 1394 I / F unit a 211 can be connected to an external device using a 1394 serial bus cable, and node information assigned by the physical layer indicates the printer 102 main body.

  When image data wirelessly transmitted from the digital camera 101 communicates with an electronic device on the 1394 serial bus network via the printer 102 configured as described above, the printer controller 217 supplies power to the 1394 I / Fa 211 and b 210. To enable the functions of these two 1394 I / Fs 211 and 210. At this time, the printer 102 functions as a network printer when viewed from the 1394 serial bus network.

  The image data transmitted from the digital camera 101 is output from the wireless communication unit 209 to the 1394 I / F unit b210, and is packetized into a data format conforming to IEEE 1394, for example, packet data in an isochronous transfer mode. The isochronous packet data output from the 1394 I / F unit b210 is transferred to all electronic devices on the 1394 network, the printer 102, the PC 103, and the scanner 104 via the 1394 serial bus. At this time, the image data transferred from the 1394 I / F unit b210 is sent to another device in the Isochronous transfer mode. However, the image data can be transferred using the Asynchronous transfer mode by designating the destination device.

  In addition, when the image data transmitted from the digital camera 101 is directly printed out from the printer 102 (that is, direct printing), the printer controller 217 shuts off the power supplied to the 1394 I / F units a211 and b210, and these two 1394Is. The functions of the / F units 211 and 210 are invalidated. At this time, each device on the 1394 serial bus network recognizes that the printer 101 is disconnected from the network, and configures the network excluding the printer 102. Further, the printer 102 itself enables only data communication with a device that can communicate with the wireless communication unit 209. By doing so, the image data transmitted from the digital camera 101 is directly supplied to the image processing unit 212 inside the printer 201 via the wireless unit 210 and is not supplied to the 1394 I / F unit b210.

  Each device on the 1394 serial bus detects the insertion / removal of the device on the serial bus according to a change in the bias voltage output from each device on the serial bus. Therefore, as described above, the power supplied to each 1394 interface unit (1394 I / F units a211, b210) is completely cut off, and all functions and physical layers related to communication in the 1394 interface unit are supplied on the 1394 serial bus. The supply of the bias voltage may be stopped. Alternatively, only the bias voltage supplied from the physical layer in the 1394 interface to the 1394 serial bus may be cut off.

  The image processing unit 212 uses JPEG compression applied to the supplied image data, a JPEG decoding program file held in a ROM (not shown), or decoding data transmitted from the digital camera 101 together with the compressed image data. To decrypt. The image processing unit 212 further performs image processing suitable for printing on the decoded image data using the memory 213, and stores the image data in the memory 213. The print image data stored in the memory 213 is sent to the printer head 216 and printed out. Note that the driver 215 drives the printer 102 such as the head and paper feed.

  Further, when printing data output from a device on the 1394 network, for example, the PC 103, the data input from the 1394 I / F unit a211 can be supplied to the image processing unit 212 to be printed out. In this case, when the operation state of the digital camera 101 is not required to perform data communication with each device on the 1394 serial bus including the printer 101, for example, when the digital camera 101 is in the imaging state, the printer controller 217 is set to 1394I. The power supplied to the / F unit b210 is cut off, and the function is invalidated.

  Furthermore, image data and command data can be transferred from the PC 103 to the digital camera 101. In this case, the transferred data is supplied to the wireless communication unit 209 via the 1394 I / Fa unit 211 and the 1394 I / Fb unit 210 of the printer 102, converted into a data format compliant with the IrDA standard, and then transferred to the digital camera 101. Sent.

  A printer controller 217 controls the operation of each processing unit in the printer 102. When using the printer 102 as a direct printer or a network printer, the user inputs an instruction to the operation units 205 and 216 of the digital camera 101 or the printer 102, and the printer controller 217 performs control according to the instruction. The printer controller 217 controls the power supply circuit 218 according to the operation of the digital camera 101 as described above, and cuts off or energizes the power supplied to the 1394 I / F units b211 and a212 and the wireless unit 210.

  As described above, by configuring the printer 102 as in this embodiment, a device that does not have a 1394 interface and communicates with the printer 102 using a data communication method different from the IEEE 1394 standard can also perform data communication complying with IEEE 1394. it can. Each device on the 1394 serial bus network can also recognize the digital camera 101 as a separate node from the printer 102. Furthermore, the printer 102 can properly use a function as a network printer on the 1394 serial bus network and a function as a direct printer that directly prints output from the digital camera 101 by appropriately switching the internal interface of the printer 102. it can.

  In this embodiment, the image data compressed by the JPEG method is transferred from the digital camera 101 to the printer 102 and is decoded in the printer 102, so that it is converted to uncompressed data and then transferred. Transfer efficiency is good. Further, JPEG decoding can be performed by a configuration in which a JPEG decoding circuit (board) is provided as hardware decoding, but software decoding is also possible. In this case, even if a decoder is provided in the printer 102 itself, there is no problem in cost, which is convenient for downsizing the circuit configuration. Furthermore, when data that does not need to be decoded by the JPEG decoding method is input, a structure that does not operate the decoding circuit or a through structure can be used.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining in detail the main parts of the digital camera 101 and the printer 102 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of each I / F unit of the digital camera 101 and the printer 102. Infrared data communication conforming to the IrDA standard is performed between the digital camera 101 and the printer 102, and the printer 102 and other electronic devices are connected. Performs data communication conforming to IEEE 1394. Further, the digital camera 101 can perform data communication conforming to IEEE 1394 with a device connected to the 1394 I / F unit a211 of the printer 102.

  The wireless communication unit 208 on the digital camera 101 side includes a modulation / demodulation circuit 301, a light receiving unit 302, and a light emitting unit 303. Similarly, the wireless communication unit 209 on the printer 102 side includes a light receiving unit 304, a light emitting unit 305, and a modem circuit 306. Further, the 1394 I / F units a211 and b210 of the printer 102 are configured in conformity with IEEE1394.

  Each 1394 interface includes at least a physical layer, a link layer, and a bus management unit to enable data communication through the 1394 serial bus. Here, the physical layer has functions such as bus initialization, transmission / reception data encoding / decoding, and bus use right arbitration, and the link layer generates error correction code generation / detection, packet generation / detection, cycle control, etc. It has the function of. The bus management layer has a function of controlling the physical and link layers and controlling communication with applications.

  In this embodiment, the port 307 of the 1394 I / F unit b210 is always connected to the port 308 of the 1394 I / F unit a211 by a 1394 serial bus.

  The port 309 of the 1394 I / F unit a211 is connected to the PC 103 shown in FIG. 1 via a 1394 serial bus cable. Since each 1394 I / F unit 211, 210 has an independent configuration, each 1394 I / F unit 211, 210 can set a separate node. Since the printer 102 sets the node information for the 1394 I / F unit a 211 for the printer 102 main body and the 1394 I / F unit b 210 for the device (digital camera 101 in this embodiment) connected to the wireless communication unit 209, the printer 1394 serial number is set. The PC 103 and the scanner 104 on the bus network can recognize both the digital camera 101 and the printer 102 as nodes. In this embodiment, the printer 102 is provided with two independent 1394 interfaces in order to realize a configuration having two nodes in one apparatus, and connects each port via a 1394 serial bus cable. However, the physical layer of each 1394 interface can be backplane connected and realized by a backplane environment compliant with IEEE1394.

  The power supplied to each of the 1394 I / F units 211 and 210 is supplied from the power supply unit 218. The printer controller 217 controls the power supplied to the 1394 I / F units 211 and 210 according to the operation mode of the digital camera 101. For example, when the digital camera 101 wishes to directly communicate with the printer 102 and print out the captured image, the printer controller 217 shuts off the power supplied to the 1394 I / F units 211 and 210 and stops the function of the physical layer. As a result, the function of the 1394 I / F units 211 and 210 is disabled because the supply of the bias voltage to the 1394 serial bus is stopped, and the function is invalidated. A bus reset occurs in the 1394 serial bus network and the recognition of a new network is started. . That is, the 1394 network recognizes a network in which the digital camera 101 and the printer 102 are separated. In addition, only the function of the wireless communication unit 209 is enabled in the printer 102, and communication with the digital camera 101 is performed through the wireless communication unit 209 to give priority to the function as a direct printer.

  When the digital camera 101 wants to communicate a photographed image to the PC 103 via the printer 102, the printer controller 217 supplies power to the 1394 I / F units 211 and 210 and functions as a network printer. As a result, the printer 102 can print data from devices on the 1394 serial bus including the digital camera 101. When the printer controller 217 disables the functions of the 1394 I / F units 211 and 210, the power supplied to the 1394 interface may be completely shut off as described above. Alternatively, control may be performed so that power is supplied only to the physical layer in the 1394 interface and no bias voltage is supplied to the 1394 serial bus.

  As described above, the printer controller 217 controls the power supplied to the interface units 210 and 211 according to the operation mode of the digital camera 101, so that the printer 102 can change the operation and network configuration according to the user's application. It can be carried out. Further, as in this embodiment, the 1394 I / F unit a211 is configured as an interface for the printer 102, and the 1394 I / F unit b211 and the wireless communication device 209 are configured as an interface for the digital camera 101. Thus, even a device that does not have a 1394 interface is recognized as a node if it can communicate with the printer 102. In this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 209 is always supplied with power from the power supply unit 220.

  In this embodiment, data communication between the wireless communication unit 208 of the digital camera 102 and the wireless communication unit 209 of the printer 102 is performed by a data communication method compliant with the IrDA standard.

  FIG. 4A shows the state of the IrDA standard data format. In the IrDA system, the data is in units of “frames”, the data BOF 401 for recognizing the head of the frame, the data EOF 407 for recognizing the end of the frame, the data FCS 406 for error correction, the address data portion 402, the control It consists of a data part 403 and a main data part 405. The light receiving unit 304 on the printer 102 side that has received such format data transmits the control data unit 403 in the received light data to the printer controller 217, and controls the internal operation of the printer. Here, the data stored in the control data unit 403 is, for example, data indicating the operation mode of the digital camera 101, and controls the power supply unit 218 according to the content of the data. The JPEG-encoded image data that is the main data 405 is demodulated by the modem circuit 306 and supplied to the 1394 I / F unit b210 or the image processing unit 212.

The image data input to the 1394 I / F unit b210 is converted into a packet format format (Isochronous transfer packet) compliant with IEEE1394.
Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the 1394 packet is composed of a header portion 408, a header portion CRC 409, a data portion 410, and a data portion CRC 411. In this embodiment, JPEG-encoded image data is stored in the shaded portions (main data 405 and data portion 410) in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). The 1394 packet data output to the 1394 serial bus via the port 307 of the 1394 I / F unit 210 is transferred to a predetermined device according to the packet data transfer mode (Isochronous transfer mode or Asynchronous transfer mode).

  In addition, when a device on the 1394 serial bus network (for example, the PC 103) wants to communicate with the digital camera 101 via the 1394 I / F unit 211 for the printer 102, data output from the PC 103 or the like is transmitted from the 1394 I / F unit 211. The data is input to the wireless communication unit 209 via the 1394 I / F unit b210. The wireless communication unit 209 converts the data in the 1394 packet data input from the 1394 I / F unit b210 into IrDA standard packet data, modulates the data for infrared data communication by the modulation / demodulation circuit 306, and transmits the data from the light emitting unit 304 to the digital camera. 101 is transmitted. The wireless communication unit 208 of the digital camera 101 receives the transmission data by the light receiving unit 302, demodulates it by the modulation / demodulation circuit 301, and supplies it to the recording / reproducing unit 204 or the system controller 206.

  A method for controlling the printer 102 of this embodiment according to the operation mode of the digital camera 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a part of the operation unit 205 of the digital camera 101, which is a changeover switch 501 for switching the operation mode of the digital camera. FIG. 6 shows the operation state of the interface corresponding to each operation mode indicated by the changeover switch 501, that is, whether the function of each interface is valid or invalid. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the network shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, “OFF” is a state in which the power source of the digital camera 101 is turned off, “Shooting” is a state in which the image capturing unit 201 of the digital camera is operating and capturing an object, and “Reproduction” is the captured image data. A state in which reproduction is performed in accordance with a user instruction from a recording medium (not shown) is shown. In the present embodiment, the above three operation states are called “normal operation mode”. In this mode, the digital camera 101 does not communicate with an external device.

  In this case, the digital camera 101 transmits control data indicating the “normal operation mode” to the printer 102 (step S701). The printer 101 that has received the control data stops communication with the digital camera 102 to control each of the 1394 interface units 210 and 211, and always monitors changes in the operation mode of the digital camera 101. The printer controller 217 controls the power supply unit 218 to disconnect the interface (1394 I / F unit b210) on the digital camera side from the network (invalid state) and to communicate with the interface (1394 I / F unit a 211) on the network printer side. (Effective state) (step S702). As a result, the printer 102 can communicate with devices on the 1394 network excluding the digital camera 101, and can print the output of the devices. At this time, the wireless communication unit 209 on the printer 102 side is always supplied with power in order to receive control data from the digital camera 101. Note that the printer 102 according to the present exemplary embodiment determines that the “normal operation mode” is in accordance with the control data transmitted from the digital camera 101 side. However, the control data indicating the “normal operation mode” is transmitted from the operation unit 216 of the printer 102. It is also possible to configure such that direct input is possible. Further, the printer 102 is provided with a time measuring means, which measures the time after the end of communication with the digital camera 101, and is automatically determined to be in the “normal operation mode” when a predetermined time has elapsed. It is also possible.

  When the control of each of the 1394 interface units 210 and 211 is completed, the devices on the 1394 serial bus network perform topology setting excluding the digital camera 101 by a method conforming to IEEE 1394 (step S703). The printer 102 prints out the information data input via the 1394 interface unit a211 (step S704). That is, when the operation state of the digital camera 101 is “normal operation mode”, the printer 102 functions as a network printer that prints information data from the network connected to the 1394 I / F unit a211.

  “Direct print” in FIG. 5 is an operation mode in which image data designated by the digital camera 101 is directly communicated with the printer 102 and printed out. At this time, the printer 102 is a device on the 1394 serial bus network, for example, 1394I. Communication with the PC 103 connected to the / F unit a211 is not performed. In this embodiment, such an operation mode is referred to as a “direct print mode”, and the printer 102 preferentially prints output from the digital camera 101 over other devices on the 1394 serial bus network.

  In this case, the digital camera 101 transmits control data indicating the “direct print mode” to the printer 102 (step S705). Since the printer 102 performs data communication only with the digital camera 101, the printer 102 controls the power supply unit 218 so that the functions of the interface (1394 I / F unit b210) on the digital camera 101 side and the interface (1394 I / F unit a 211) on the network side are controlled. It is invalidated (step S706). As a result, the printer 102 can communicate only with the digital camera 101 without being affected by communication on the 1394 serial bus network, so that the user can preferentially execute output from the digital camera 101. In the “direct print mode”, the 1394 serial bus network connected to the 1394 I / F unit a211 automatically recognizes that both the digital camera 101 and the printer 102 have been disconnected from the network (step S707). . In this embodiment, the function of the printer 101 is controlled for the direct printer according to the control data transmitted from the digital camera 101. However, it can be configured to control according to the input from the operation unit 217. is there.

  The image data output from the digital camera 101 is supplied to the image processing unit 212 inside the printer via the wireless communication unit 208 (step S708) and printed out (step S709). If the digital camera 101 wants to print out another image data, the operation unit 205 on the digital camera 101 side is controlled to transmit the image data (step S710).

  “PC capture” in FIG. 5 indicates an operation mode in which captured image data designated by the digital camera 101 is transferred to the PC 103 on the 1394 serial bus network via the printer 102. In this embodiment, such an operation mode is called “network mode”, and the PC 103 receives image data or control data output from the digital camera 101 as packet data compliant with IEEE 1394, and stores the packet data in the PC 103. Either stored in the apparatus or edited in the PC 103 (steps S714, S715, S716). In addition, a command for controlling the digital camera 101 can be transmitted from the PC 103, and a captured image of the digital camera 101 can be selected and designated. As described above, the printer 102 functions as a network printer that prints information data output from devices on the 1394 serial bus network including the digital camera 101. In this embodiment, the image data transmitted from the digital camera 101 is packetized into an isochronous transfer packet by the 1394 I / Fb 210. However, the digital camera 101 designates a communication destination and the image data is converted into an asynchronous transfer packet. It is also possible to packetize.

  When the “PC capture” switch is selected with the changeover switch 501, the digital camera transmits control data indicating the operation mode (step S711). The printer 102 controls the power supplied to the 1394 I / F units 210 and 211 to make the 1394 serial bus network recognize the presence of the digital camera 101 (step S712). That is, the printer controller 217 controls both the 1394 I / F units 210 and 211 to be valid and assigns node information to the printer 102 and the digital camera 101 (step S713). Accordingly, since devices on the 1394 serial bus network can recognize not only the printer 102 but also the digital camera 101 as devices on the network, the digital camera 101 can perform data communication conforming to IEEE 1394. In the “network mode” of the present embodiment, the PC 103 is selected as the communication destination of the digital camera 101, but any device on the 1394 serial bus network may be used. In this embodiment, the function of the printer 101 is controlled for the network printer in accordance with the control data transmitted from the digital camera 101. However, it can be configured to control in accordance with the input from the operation unit 217. is there.

  With this configuration, the functions of the printer 102 can be controlled according to the operation mode of the main body of the digital camera 101, and an optimal network configuration for the digital camera 101 and the printer 102 can be realized. That is, the printer 102 functions as a network printer when the digital camera 101 is in the normal operation mode (power-off state, shooting state, playback state) or network mode, and when the digital camera 101 is in the direct print mode, the printer 102 Functions as a direct printer.

  With the above configuration, the digital camera 101 can be connected to the 1394 serial bus network without having the 1394 interface, and each device on the 1394 serial bus network can recognize the presence of the digital camera 101. it can. Therefore, the digital camera 101 can transmit captured image data to a predetermined device on the 1394 serial bus network or all devices, and control the digital camera 101 from other devices on the network. You can also.

  The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. For example, the printer 102 and the personal computer 103 according to the present embodiment constitute a communication system conforming to IEEE 1394. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any communication system that can identify each device on the network conforms to USB or the like. The communication system may be configured. Accordingly, the above-described embodiments are merely examples in all respects, and should not be interpreted in a limited manner.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a network configured using a printer 102 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of a digital camera 101 and a printer 102 according to the present exemplary embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating in detail main parts of a digital camera 101 and a printer 102 according to the present embodiment. The figure which shows the mode of the data format based on the data format of IrDA specification, and IEEE1394. The figure which shows a part (changeover switch 501) of the operation part 205 of the digital camera 101 of a present Example. The figure which shows the operation state of the interface corresponding to each operation mode which the changeover switch 501 of a present Example shows. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the network shown in FIG. The figure which shows the network comprised using the IEEE1394 interface.

Claims (23)

First interface means connected via a data bus to a first external device;
A second interface means capable of communicating with a second external device;
Detecting means for detecting an operation mode of the second external device;
A data communication apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls communication with the first external device as invalid according to a detection result of the detection unit.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a first operation mode in which the second external device communicates with the first external device via the first interface unit and the second interface unit. A data communication apparatus, wherein an external device detects a second operation mode for communicating with the data communication apparatus via the second interface means.   3. The data communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit invalidates communication with the first external device when the detection unit detects the second operation mode.   2. The data communication device according to claim 1, further comprising power supply means for supplying power to the first interface means, and the control means invalidates communication with the first external device using the power supply means. A data communication device characterized by that.   5. The data communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the power supply unit according to a detection result of the detection unit, and cuts off a power supply to be supplied to the first interface unit.   6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein when the communication with the first device is valid, the first interface unit outputs a bias voltage on the data bus and invalidates the communication with the first device. In this case, the data communication device does not output a bias voltage on the data bus.   7. The data communication device according to claim 1, wherein the data communication device sets node information in each of an internal device and the second external device in the data communication device, and the second interface means is the second interface device. A data communication apparatus that communicates with the first external device using node information corresponding to the external device.   8. The data communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data communication apparatus integrally includes the first and second interface means and the internal device.   9. The data communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an internal device in the data communication apparatus is capable of printing information data input via the first and second interface means.   10. The data communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first interface means is capable of communicating image data with the first and second external devices.   11. The data communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first interface means is an interface conforming to IEEE 1394-1995.   10. The data communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second interface unit is capable of communicating image data with the second external device having an imaging unit capable of imaging a subject.   13. The data communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second interface means is an interface capable of wireless communication with the second external device.   14. The data communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second interface means is capable of communication conforming to an IrDA system that is a standard for infrared data communication. Data communication comprising first interface means capable of communicating with a first external device, and second interface means capable of exchanging information data with the first interface means and capable of communicating with a second external device. A device,
The data communication device can set node information for each of an internal device and the second external device in the data communication device, and the first interface means uses the node information corresponding to the internal device to A data communication apparatus, wherein the data communication apparatus communicates with a first external device, and the second interface means communicates with the first external device using node information corresponding to the second external device.   16. The data communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second interface unit can communicate with the second external device using a communication method different from that of the first interface unit.   17. The exchange of information data between the first and second interface means according to claim 16, using the same communication method as that used for communication between the first interface means and the first external device. A data communication device.   18. The data communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein communication between the first interface unit and the first external device is performed by a communication method based on IEEE 1394-1995.   19. The data communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein an internal device in the data communication apparatus is capable of printing information data input via the first and second interface means. .   20. The data communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first interface means and the node information are an interface and node information conforming to IEEE 1394-1995.   20. The data communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the second interface means is capable of communication conforming to an IrDA system that is a standard for infrared data communication.   Communication with a first external device connected to the first interface unit via a data bus, communication with a second external device connected to the second interface unit, and an operation mode of the second external device And controlling the communication with the first external device as invalid according to the detection result.   Node information can be set for each of the internal device and the second external device that can communicate with the first and second interface units, and the first interface unit and the first device can be set based on the node information corresponding to the internal device. The second interface unit and the first external device capable of communicating with the external device and exchanging information data with the first interface unit based on node information corresponding to the second external device A data communication method characterized by performing communication with a computer.

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