JP2023098530A - Data transmission/reception method and data transmission/reception device - Google Patents

Abstract

To transmit data and a file from a personal computer to the outside by means of a relatively inexpensive and simple method even in such a situation that a USB port and a wired or wireless LAN cannot be used.SOLUTION: Data and a file stored in a transmission side personal computer are once converted into a non-compressed image and the image is transmitted to the outside as an image via an HDMI cable. The image is taken by a reception side personal computer via a USB adapter connected to the HDMI cable and restored to the original data and file with restoration software in the reception side personal computer. The data and file are transmitted to a reception personal computer from a transmission personal computer with these procedures.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting data and files stored in a personal computer (PC) to the outside.

Data and files stored on a personal computer can be sent to an external storage device such as a hard disk drive, DVD, BD, or USB memory via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal, or via a wired LAN (Local Area). Network) or wireless LAN to an external storage device.

However, if the USB port, wired LAN, or wireless LAN is damaged or has limited functionality, it is difficult to transfer files to the outside.

On the other hand, many recent personal computers are equipped with an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface, registered trademark) terminal, and it is possible to display video/audio information and the like on an external monitor or the like via the HDMI terminal.

As prior art, there are Patent Documents 1 and 2, which propose a transfer method of complementary file data accompanying audio and video data via an HDMI cable. This technology is an example of application in video and audio equipment, and there is a problem that it cannot be applied to data and files stored in personal computers. Also, the two devices are classified into a source device and a sink device, and are characterized in that they are synchronized based on the clock emitted by the source device. Therefore, it is difficult to adapt to equipment that cannot be synchronized via an HDMI cable.

JP 2008-130664 A JP 2011-523287 A

Even if a USB port and wired/wireless LAN cannot be used, it is required to transmit data and files from a personal computer to the outside.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to transmit data and files from a personal computer to the outside by a relatively inexpensive and simple method without using a USB port or a wired/wireless LAN.

The present invention relates to a transmitting/receiving method and apparatus for transmitting data and files stored in a personal computer to the outside via an HDMI cable.

The file to be sent that is stored on the sending computer is converted into uncompressed image data, a so-called BMP (bitmap) format file, using conversion software stored on the sending computer, and stored in the sending computer. Temporarily save to the device. Next, the sending personal computer displays this uncompressed image on the monitor.

An HDMI cable is connected to the HDMI terminal of the transmitting personal computer, and the opposite end of the HDMI cable is connected to the receiving personal computer via a USB adapter.

The display of the image is displayed on the monitor of the personal computer on the transmitting side, and at the same time, it is transmitted to the personal computer on the receiving side via the HDMI cable and USB adapter, and is stored as image data in the personal computer on the receiving side.

Next, the non-compressed image data is restored to the original data file using demodulation conversion software in the personal computer on the receiving side.

The conversion software for the sending computer and the receiving computer must be paired. The image data to be displayed can easily be a non-compressed image, but it does not necessarily have to be a non-compressed image. The sending personal computer must have an HDMI terminal. In addition, the receiving personal computer must have a USB terminal.
One of the features of this system is that it does not require synchronization with a clock or the like between the sending and receiving personal computers. Data may be in a state of being streamed from the transmission side personal computer.

According to the present invention, even if a USB port and a wired/wireless LAN cannot be used, it is possible to transmit data and files stored in a transmitting personal computer to the outside via an HDMI cable. Recently, devices that capture HDMI signals via USB are available at low prices, so this can be achieved by a relatively inexpensive and simple method.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing a transmission/reception system of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a flow chart diagram showing the procedure of a transmission method in the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of image data in the first embodiment; FIG. 10 is a flow chart diagram showing the procedure of a transmission method in the second embodiment; FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of image data in Example 2; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of image data in Example 3;

For a more complete understanding of the invention, a detailed description of the invention will now be given with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that this is just an example, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 shows a transmitting/receiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention. A transmitting personal computer 1 is connected to a receiving personal computer 6 via an HDMI cable 4 connected to an HDMI terminal 3 and a USB adapter 5 . The display output of the transmitting personal computer 1 is displayed on the display monitor 2 and is also transmitted to the receiving personal computer 6 having the USB terminal 7 via the HDMI cable 4 and the USB adapter 5 .

Although the HDMI cable and the USB adapter are shown separately in FIG. 1, a device in which these two are integrated may be used. Devices and cables already available on the market can also be used, in which case the present invention can be realized in a cheap and simple manner.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the procedure of data transmission/reception. Image data is used for data transmission. The data of the file to be transferred from the sender's personal computer is converted into an image file using conversion software stored on the sender's personal computer, and saved on the hard disk or solid state drive of the sender's personal computer.

As an example, generation of an uncompressed image file with a resolution of full high definition (1920 horizontal pixels, 1080 vertical pixels) and 8-bit gradation will be described below. To simplify the model, pixel output is assumed to be binary data, and 0 or 255 (2 to the 8th power - 1) is entered.
Since 1 byte corresponds to 8 bits, each pixel A(i,j) (i=1 to 1920, j=1 to 1080) is divided into 8 pixels and assigned to 1 byte.
An example of the generated image file is shown in FIG.
For example, when the first byte of the binary code of the data or file to be sent is "D6", "D6" expressed in hexadecimal notation is "1101 0110" in binary notation, as shown in Table 1. 255 255 0 255 0 255 255 0 when converting 1 to 255 and 0 to 0. "255 255 0 255 0 255 255 0" in the BMP format means "white-black-white-white-black-white-black-white" as pixel data.
In this way, the contents of the file are sequentially read one byte at a time from the beginning of the file and converted into numerical values corresponding to each byte, and finally a BMP format file is generated. The conversion method in Table 1 is merely an example, and the conversion method is not limited to this method.

Using this method, it is possible to convert and generate data equivalent to 259,200 bytes (1920*1080/8) per image in full high definition. Also, the data capacity of the generated uncompressed image is 6,220,800 bytes (1920×1080×3).

When converting the data into image data, it is possible to use specially developed software. And it can be realized by a simple method.
Using a moderately powerful personal computer, it takes approximately 30 seconds to generate one uncompressed image file.

Next, the saved uncompressed image file is displayed in full screen on the monitor of the transmission personal computer. At the same time, the data is transmitted from the HDMI terminal to the receiving personal computer via the HDMI cable and USB adapter.

The personal computer on the receiving side stores the transmitted image data in its memory, and restores the original data by reversing the conversion procedure on the personal computer on the sending side.

If the above-described software using Microsoft's Excel macro function is used, the transmission itself takes less than 1 second, but the data restoration after reception takes about 30 seconds.

As a further application example, it is convenient to store an executable file for restoration in a USB adapter and set the restoration software to automatically start up when the USB adapter is attached to the receiving-side personal computer.

In the first embodiment, transmission and reception of one image data, that is, data within 259,200 bytes and files have been described. In order to transmit and receive data with a capacity of 259,200 bytes or more, Embodiment 1 may be simply repeated, but in this case, it is necessary to always connect the personal computer on the transmitting side and the personal computer on the receiving side during the transmission and reception work. , and during that time, the problem arises that the operation of the personal computer is restricted.
As described above, in conversion using a personal computer with moderate capability, it takes about 30 seconds to generate image data for one sheet, and about 30 seconds more to restore the data after reception. The transmission/reception itself takes less than one second, but the data conversion and restoration takes about one minute in total. Therefore, for example, when transmitting 100 MB of data in Example 1, it takes eight hours or more.

As a method of reducing the exclusive time of two personal computers, a series of image files are generated in advance on the sending personal computer, and after the series of image files have been generated, the images are sequentially displayed and transmitted at the same time. be. In this method, the time for connecting two personal computers is only the time for displaying the image file and the time for transmitting the image, and the time can be shortened considerably. For example, in the transmission/reception of 100 MB shown above, the connection time between two personal computers can be shortened to about 10 minutes.

FIG. 4 shows a process flow chart in Example 2. As shown in FIG. Also, an example of a series of image files is shown in FIG.

The number of image files N required to transmit the file capacity F bytes of the data to be transmitted is calculated by Equation (1).

As in the first embodiment, one image file is generated every 259,200 bytes, and conversion is repeated N times. Once the conversion is complete, N image files are generated.

Here, the sending personal computer and the receiving personal computer are connected via an HDMI cable and a USB adapter. There is no problem even if these two computers are connected in advance.

Next, the computer for transmission displays the image file on the monitor at regular intervals, and at the same time, the corresponding image data is also transmitted to the HDMI cable.

The personal computer on the receiving side sequentially saves the transmitted image information as a file at regular intervals. As another method, it is also possible to save the image information as a new file when there is a change in the image information received by the personal computer on the receiving side. In any case, the point worthy of special mention in the present invention is that a synchronizing signal or clock is not required from the sending personal computer to the receiving personal computer.
The above operation is repeated N times until the last image file is transmitted.
After the transmission of a series of images is completed, the restoration file is used to restore the original data and files.

A point that requires attention is that there is a delay in capturing images from HDMI via a USB adapter, and it is desirable to determine the transmission interval in consideration of this delay. Using a high-performance USB adapter enables high-speed transmission, but increases the system cost of the device.

When it is desired to execute transmission at a higher speed than in Embodiment 2, the gradation of the display is used instead of the uncompressed binary data (255 for white and 0 for black) described in Embodiments 1 and 2. is also valid. In 8-bit gradation, the transmission efficiency can be theoretically increased by 255 times. In addition, by expressing in RGB instead of black-and-white gray gradation, it is possible to significantly increase the amount of information that can be transmitted per image.
However, it is necessary to find the optimum condition by considering the time interval during which one image is displayed and the associated reading transmission error. In addition, there is a demand for improved circuit implementation of HDMI cables and USB adapters that realize high performance and high-speed communication, which increases the cost of the system. FIG. 6 shows an example of image data to be transmitted. A diagram of the data transmission/reception procedure is omitted.

Also, in order to realize transmission in a short time, a system may be used in which the transmission interval is not fixed, but is not fixed, and the image is recorded when it changes.

Embodiments 1, 2, and 3 show that data is transmitted in one direction from the personal computer on the transmitting side to the personal computer on the receiving side via the HDMI terminal and USB adapter. By preparing two pairs of HDMI terminals and USB adapters and connecting them to the respective terminals, two-way data transmission and reception between two personal computers becomes possible. Illustrations are omitted.

1 Sending PC 2 Monitor connected to or built into the sending PC 3 HDMI terminal 4 HDMI cable 5 USB adapter 6 Receiving PC 7 USB terminal

Claims (9)

A method for transmitting data or files inside a personal computer to the outside,
a transmitting personal computer having an HDMI (registered trademark) terminal;
an HDMI cable connected to the HDMI terminal;
A USB adapter connected to the HDMI cable, and
In a system consisting of a receiving personal computer having a USB terminal connected to the USB adapter,
converting the data or file to be transmitted into image data;
a step of transmitting image data from a transmitting personal computer as an HDMI signal;
a step of receiving image data transmitted by the receiving personal computer via an HDMI cable and a USB adapter;
A transmission/reception method comprising a step of restoring the received image data to the original data or file in the receiving personal computer. 2. The transmission/reception method according to claim 1, wherein said image data is uncompressed image data. When sending and receiving multiple image data, after converting the multiple image data to be sent and received in advance on the sending computer, the images are continuously displayed and transmitted via an HDMI cable and a USB adapter to the receiving computer. 3. The transmitting/receiving method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmission is performed to the. 4. The transmission/reception method according to claim 3, wherein the receiving personal computer continuously captures the image data without using a clock issued from the transmitting personal computer. A method for transmitting data or files inside a personal computer to the outside,
a transmitting personal computer having an HDMI terminal;
an HDMI cable connected to the HDMI terminal;
A USB adapter connected to the HDMI cable, and
In a system consisting of a receiving personal computer having a USB terminal connected to the USB adapter,
converting the data or file to be transmitted into image data;
a step of transmitting image data from a transmitting personal computer as an HDMI signal;
a step of receiving image data transmitted by the receiving personal computer via an HDMI cable and a USB adapter;
and a step of restoring the received image data to the original data or file in the receiving personal computer. 6. The transmitting/receiving device according to claim 5, wherein said image data is uncompressed image data. When sending and receiving multiple image data, after converting the multiple image data to be sent and received in advance on the sending computer, the images are continuously displayed and transmitted via an HDMI cable and a USB adapter to the receiving computer. 7. The transmitting/receiving device according to claim 5 and claim 6, characterized in that it transmits to. 8. The transmitting/receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the receiving personal computer continuously captures the image data without using a clock issued from the transmitting personal computer. 9. The transmitting/receiving device according to claim 8, comprising a device in which an HDMI cable and a USB adapter are integrated.

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