JP3579884B2 - Data communication method and apparatus, printer and control method therefor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a data communication method and apparatus,AndPrinter and its controlTo the lawA data communication method and apparatus for transferring data between a host device and a target device via a serial bus conforming to or conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard,AndPrinter and its controlTo the lawRelated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, as computer peripherals have become capable of processing large amounts of data with higher resolution printers and larger hard disk capacities, serial buses as data communication devices that enable higher speed data communication have become increasingly popular. It is being used.
[0003]
Among various serial buses, an IEEE 1394 serial bus (hereinafter, referred to as a “1394 serial bus”) that permits not only one-to-one connection but also many-to-many connection between a host device and a target device has a high speed. There is a proposal for connecting a printer or a hard disk to a computer.
[0004]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a host device and a target device connected by a conventional data communication device.
[0005]
12, a computer 100 (host device) includes an arithmetic processing unit 101 such as an MPU, a decoder 102, a display unit 103 such as a display, a hard disk drive (HD) 104, an operation unit 105 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a memory such as a RAM. 106. These components are connected to a 1394 interface (I / F) unit 108 for a 1394 serial bus via an internal bus 107 such as a PCI.
[0006]
The printer 110 (target device) includes an operation unit 112 such as a button, a driver 113 for controlling paper feed and the like, an image processing unit 116, a decoder 117, and a printer head 114 for printing on a recording medium such as printing paper. . These components are connected to a 1394 interface (I / F) unit 119 for a 1394 serial bus via a printer controller 111 and a data selector 118. The image processing unit 116 and the decoder 117 are connected to each other, and the printer head 114 and the image processing unit 116 are connected to a memory 115 for temporarily storing images and the like.
[0007]
The 1394 I / F unit 108 of the computer 100 and the 1394 I / F unit 119 of the printer 110 are connected via a 1394 serial bus, are recognized as 1394 serial bus nodes, and can transfer data.
[0008]
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a printing flow between the computer 100 and the printer 110 in FIG.
[0009]
In FIG. 13, first, when the computer 100 requests the printer 110 to log in, the printer 110 returns a success of the login to the computer 100 if the user has not already logged in from another computer. When the login is successful, the computer 100 transmits to the printer 110 a status request command for requesting the current status of the printer 110, such as whether an error such as out of paper has occurred. As a status command. If no error such as out of paper has occurred due to the status command of the printer 110, transmission of the print data to the printer 110 is started, and after the transmission of the print data, a logout of the printer 110 is requested. Receive success.
[0010]
The data transmitted from the computer 100 includes print data including printing conditions such as paper size when printing by the printer 110 and an image to be printed, and the configuration of the printer 110 such as mountable paper and the printer 110 such as running out of paper. It is roughly divided into a status request command for requesting information on the operation status. When receiving the status request command, the printer 110 returns a status command, which is a reply, to the computer 100.
[0011]
FIGS. 14A and 14B are explanatory diagrams of a 1394 command packet ORB (Operation Request Block) used in the conventional 1394 serial bus. FIG. 14A shows SBP-2 (ANSI NCITS 325-1998) (serial bus processor).Tokor2B shows the format of the command packet, and FIG. 2B shows the format of the command packet that mainly defines the SCSI command part used in the Windows (registered trademark) OS of Microsoft Corporation.
[0012]
This packet is an asynchronous (Asynchronous) packet, and is a command packet in units of 4 bytes (32 bits, hereinafter referred to as “quadlet”). 14A and 14B have the same definition for the first five quadlets.
[0013]
The next ORB of the first two quadlets is a pointer to the next ORB. If there is no next ORB, NULL is set. The data_descriptor of the next two quadlets indicates the address of the data buffer or page table. Notify_bit indicates whether or not notification is required at the time of completion. Further, rq_fmt is the format of the ORB, r bit is a reply (reply), d bit is the data transfer direction, spd is the data transfer speed, max_payload is the maximum transfer data length, p is the presence / absence of the PageTable, and page_size is the size of the PageTable's Buffer. Is a bit that indicates
[0014]
In FIG. 14A, a command for performing transfer with the target device is set from the sixth quadlet. On the other hand, in FIG. 14B, the SCSI CDB (Command Descriptor Blocks) is set. CDB(FIG. 14 (b) cdb )Is a SCSI command of 6, 10 or 12 bytes, in which various commands for instructing data transfer and the like are set.
[0015]
As described above, SBP-2 packet (Figure14In (a)), since the print data of the printer 110 and the status request command cannot be distinguished, the data selector 118 in the printer 110 analyzes all the commands transferred from the computer 100 to obtain the print data and the status request command. The request command is separated and transferred to the printer controller 111. Therefore, there is a problem that the load on the printer 110 is large and the processing becomes heavy.
[0016]
On the other hand, when a peripheral device (target device) such as the printer 110 or a scanner is shared and used by a plurality of users, there is a request to acquire status information of the target device. In addition, when data to be processed by the target device is simultaneously transmitted from a plurality of computers (host devices), it is required that the user be notified of the state of the target device and appropriate processing such as suspension or continuation can be performed. .
[0017]
In addition, when a plurality of data are received simultaneously, the target device needs to manage which host device transmitted the received packet and to appropriately classify the packet.
[0018]
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional image communication method using a host device and a target device connected by a 1394 serial bus.
[0019]
15, the host device 1201 has a data generation unit 1202 that generates data 1204 and a driver 1203 that generates a 1394 packet 1205 to which information unique to the host device 1201 is added. It has a data generation unit 1212 to generate and a driver 1213 to generate a 1394 packet 1215 to which information unique to the host device 1211 is added. The 1394 packets 1205 and 1215 are packets used on the 1394 serial bus, and information unique to the host device added to the data 1204 and 1214 includes, for example, information such as a login ID used when logging in to a target device 1221 described later. There is.
[0020]
On the other hand, the target device 1221 has a 1394 packet receiving unit 1222, a buffer 1223 for the host device 1201, and a buffer 1224 for the host device 1211. The 1394 packet receiving unit 1222 receives the 1394 packets 1205 and 1215 respectively, analyzes information unique to each host device, and stores data 1225 corresponding to the data 1204 in the buffer 1223 and data 1214 in accordance with the analyzed result. Are stored in the buffer 1224, respectively. Specifically, the 1394 packet receiving unit 1222 includes the 1394 I / F unit 119 and the data selector 118 in FIG.
[0021]
According to the above configuration, by adding the host device-specific information to the 1394 packets 1205 and 1215 in the host devices 1201 and 1211, the target device 1221 can send the received 1394 packets 1205 and 1215 to the host devices 1201 and 1211. Can be identified(For example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
[Non-patent document 1]
"Working Draft Revision 4" Information technology-Serial Bus Protocol 2 (SBP-2) "", [online], May 19, 1998, Internet <URL: http://www.t10.org/ftp/t10/ drafts / sbp2 / sbp2r04.pdf>
[0022]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described conventional data communication method has a problem that the processing in the drivers 1203 and 1213 of the host devices 1201 and 1211 and the processing of the 1394 packet receiving unit 1222 of the target device 1221 are complicated. That is, the host devices 1201 and 1211 need a function to add information unique to the host device, and the target device 1221 needs a function to analyze and sort the received data. There is a problem that the load on the device is large. For this reason, login from a plurality of host devices is restricted, and simultaneous communication with a plurality of host devices cannot be performed.
[0023]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and a data communication method and apparatus capable of reducing a load on a data selector of a target device.AndPrinter and its controlThe lawTo provide.
[0024]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above objectives,The data communication method according to claim 1, IEEE1394 In a data communication method for performing data communication between a host device and a target device via a serial bus conforming to or conforming to a standard, a request is made for a job channel for data to be processed by the target device and a status of the target device. Data communication is performed via one of a management channel for information to be transmitted and an extension channel for extension information.
Claim2The data communication method described is2. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the data is a channel to be used.Identification information indicating the type ofat leastIncludingMukoAnd features.
[0025]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the data communication method of the first or second aspect, the type of the channel is set for a data packet transferred at an arbitrary timing in asynchronous data transfer. It is characterized.
Claim4The data communication method described in claim 1To any one ofIn the data communication method described above, the extended information is information on the host device.
[0026]
Claim5The data communication method described in claim 1To any one of 4 toIn the data communication method described above, the extension information is information on a transmission state of data to be processed by the target device.
[0027]
Claim6The data communication method described in claims 1 to5In the data communication method according to any one of the above, a plurality of from the host device to the target devicedataWhen transferring a plurality ofDataEach of them includes information on the order of the transferred data.
[0028]
Claim7The data communication method described in claims 1 to63. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the host device includes a plurality of host devices.
[0029]
Claim8The data communication method described in the claims7In the data communication method described above, the extended information is information for requesting information about another logged-in host device among the plurality of host devices.
[0030]
Claim9The data communication method described in the claims7Or8In the data communication method described above, the information on the host device is independently classified for each of the logged-in host devices among the plurality of host devices.
[0031]
Claim10The data communication method described in claims 1 to93. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the target device includes a plurality of target devices.
[0032]
Claim11The data communication method described in claims 1 to10The data communication method according to any one of the above, wherein the data communication method conforms to or conforms to the SBP-2 (ANSI NCITS 325-1998) standard on the IEEE1394 standard.
[0042]
To achieve the above objectives,The data communication device according to claim 12, IEEE1394 A data communication device for performing data communication between a host device and a target device via a serial bus conforming to or conforming to a standard, wherein a job channel for data to be processed by the target device, a state of the target device The data communication is performed via one of a management channel for information requesting the extension and an extension channel for extension information.
ClaimThirteenThe data communication device described is13. The data communication device according to claim 12, wherein the data is a channel to be used.Identification information indicating the type ofat leastIncludingMukoAnd features.
[0043]
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the data communication device according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect, the type of the channel is set for a data packet transferred at an arbitrary timing in asynchronous data transfer. It is characterized by.
ClaimFifteenThe data communication device described in the claimIn any one of 12 to 14In the data communication device described above, the extension information is information on the host device.
[0044]
Claim16The data communication device described in the claimIn any one of 12 to 15In the data communication device described above, the extension information is information on a transmission state of data to be processed by the target device.
[0045]
Claim17The data communication device described in the claim12Or16The data communication device according to any one of the above,dataWhen transferring multipledataInclude information on the order of the data to be transferred.
[0046]
Claim18The data communication device described in the claim12Or173. The data communication device according to claim 1, wherein the host device includes a plurality of host devices.
[0047]
Claim19The data communication device described in the claim18In the data communication device described above, the extended information is information for requesting information on another logged-in host device among the plurality of host devices.
[0048]
Claim20The data communication device described in the claim18Or19In the data communication device described above, the information on the host device is classified independently for each of the logged-in host devices among the plurality of host devices.
[0049]
Claim21The data communication device described in the claim12Or205. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target device includes a plurality of target devices.
[0050]
Claim22DescriptionofClaims:12Or21The data communication device according to any one of the above, characterized in that it conforms to or conforms to the SBP-2 (ANSI NCITS 325-1998) standard on the IEEE1394 standard.
[0051]
Claim23The data communication device described in the claim12Or225. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the host device includes a generation unit configured to generate data to be processed by the target device or information requesting a state of the target device. .
Claim24The data communication device described in the claim12Or23In the data communication device according to any one of the above, the target device includes an analysis unit that analyzes data to be processed by the target device or information requesting a state of the target device.You.
UpClaims to achieve the stated purpose25The listed printer isIEConnected via a serial bus conforming to or conforming to the EE1394 standardWith each of multiple computers,At least during one login processJob channelWhenExpansion channelMultiple channels consisting ofToBy switchingPrinter that communicates dataWhile receiving print data from the first computer of the plurality of computers via the job channel,Receiving a request to start print data transfer from the second computer of the plurality of computers via the extension channelIf you doTo the second computerfor,Failure to start the print data transfer via the extension channelWhen,From the first computerofReceive print dataInsideThatWhenTonotificationIt is characterized by having means for performing.
Claim26The printer described in the claims25The printer according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving a print data transfer start request from said second computer via said extension channel, wherein when the print data reception from said first computer has been completed, Means for transmitting, to the second computer, the success of the start of the print data transfer via the extension channel.You.
UpClaims to achieve the stated purpose27The printer control method describedIEConnected via a serial bus conforming to or conforming to the EE1394 standardWith each of multiple computers,At least during one login processJob channelWhenExpansion channelMultiple channels consisting ofToBy switchingA method of controlling a printer for communicating data byWhile receiving print data from the first computer of the plurality of computers via the job channel,Receiving a request to start print data transfer from the second computer of the plurality of computers via the extension channelIf you doTo the second computerfor,Failure to start the print data transfer via the extension channelWhen,From the first computerofReceive print dataInsideThatWhenTonotificationIt is characterized by doing.
Claim28The printer control method described in the claims27In the method of controlling a printer according to the above, when a request for starting print data transfer is further received from the second computer via the extension channel, reception of print data from the first computer has been completed. Transmits the start of the print data transfer to the second computer via the extension channel.You.
[0052]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, configurations of a host device and a target device connected by a data communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0053]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a host device and a target device connected by a data communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0054]
1, a computer 400 (host device) includes an arithmetic processing unit 401 such as an MPU, a decoder 402, a display unit 403 such as a CRT display, a hard disk device (HD) 404, an operation unit 405 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a RAM and the like. The memory 406 has a driver 409 for generating 1394 packets. These components are connected to a 1394 interface (I / F) unit 408 for an IEEE 1394 serial bus via an internal bus 407 such as a PCI. The 1394 packet is a packet used in the 1394 serial bus.
[0055]
The printer 420 (target device) includes an operation unit 422 such as a button, a driver 423 for controlling paper feed, an image processing unit 426, a decoder 427, and a printer head 424 for printing on a recording medium such as printing paper. . These components are connected via a printer controller 421 and a data selector 428 to a 1394 interface (I / F) unit 429 for a 1394 serial bus. The image processing unit 426 and the decoder 427 are connected to each other, and the printer head 424 and the image processing unit 426 are connected to a memory 425 for temporarily storing an image or the like. The 1394 I / F section 429 is connected to a 1394 decoder 430 for a 1394 serial bus.
[0056]
The 1394 I / F unit 428 of the computer 400 and the 1394 I / F unit 429 of the printer 420 are connected via a 1394 serial bus, are each recognized as a 1394 serial bus node, and can transfer data.
[0057]
Between the 1394 I / F unit 408 of the computer 400 and the 1394 I / F unit 429 of the printer 420, there are three virtual channels: a job channel 440 for print data, a management channel 441 for a status request command, and an extension channel. 442 transfers the data.
[0058]
The job channel 440 is a one-way transfer path of a command packet for transmission from the computer 400 to the printer 420 and a data packet indicating the content thereof, and transfers print data to the data selector 428.
[0059]
The management channel 441 is a bidirectional transfer path for 1394 packets between the computer 400 and the printer 420. The management channel 441 transmits a status request command to the printer controller 421 via the data selector 428, and sends a status command which is a reply from the printer 420. Is returned to the computer 400.
[0060]
The extension channel 442 is a bi-directional transfer path for 1394 packets and data packets between the computer 400 and the printer 420, and transmits extension commands such as information on the job channel 440 and various control information between the computer 400 and the printer 420. To transfer.
[0061]
In the computer 400, the arithmetic processing unit 401 executes software recorded on the hard disk 404 in accordance with an operation of the operation unit 405 by an operator, moves various data to the memory 406, The arbitration operation of each component connected to 407 is performed. In addition, information such as software recorded on the hard disk 404 is displayed on the display unit 403 and shown to the operator.
[0062]
The decoder 402 generates print data and a status request command through the software, and writes the generated command into the driver 409. The driver 409 has a function of separating the generated print data and the status request command, generates a 1394 packet, and writes the 1394 packet in the 1394 I / F unit 408. The driver 409 is hardware connected to the internal bus 407 in the present embodiment, but may be software inside a computer.
[0063]
On the other hand, in the printer 420, the 1394 I / F unit 429 sends print data from the 1394 I / F unit 408 of the computer 400 via the job channel 440, a status request command via the management channel 441, and a status request command via the extension channel 442. The information and the like regarding the job channel 440 are received.
[0064]
Data, command information, and the like of each channel 440, 441, 442 are separated by the 1394 decoder 430. The 1394 decoder 430 decodes the input status request command based on the Kind information described later to separate print data from the status request command, and transfers the status request command to the data selector 428.
[0065]
The received print data is input to a decoder 427 via a data selector 428. The decoder 427 decodes the input print data and outputs the decoded print data to an image processing unit 426. The image processing unit 426 Data is temporarily stored in the memory 425.
[0066]
Various printing conditions are determined in accordance with settings made by the operation unit 422 and the like and setting commands related to printing conditions received by the printer controller 421. The driver 423 performs various controls related to printing, such as control of the printer head 424 and paper feed control, based on printing conditions and image data temporarily stored in the memory 425.
[0067]
According to the above configuration, the 1394 decoder 430 is capable of transmitting the status request command.ToWhen transferring the print data and the status request command to the data selector 428, the processing load of the data selector 428 can be reduced.
[0068]
Information received via the extension channel 442 is not transferred to the data selector 428 but is processed in the 1394 decoder. The information of the extension channel 442 performs various controls such as registration of the current status of the job channel and the name of a user who uses the job channel.
[0069]
The present invention also includes the case where the driver 409 realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments in cooperation with the OS or other application software running on the computer 400.
[0070]
Further, after the program code related to the driver 409 is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is stored in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention includes a case where a provided CPU or the like performs part or all of the actual processing and implements the functions of the above-described embodiments by the processing.
[0071]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a format of a packet used in the data communication device of FIG.
[0072]
The packet of FIG. 2 is asynchronous (Asynchronous) and consists of eight quadlets. 14A to 14B are defined in the same manner as the ORB in FIGS. 14A and 14B.
[0073]
Six and seven quadlets are reserved for future expansion. In addition, various parameters are set in the 8 quadlets, and more specifically, the types of channels (job channel 440, management channel 441, and extension channel 442) used in the kind byte (Kind information) are received in the option byte. Various optional functions relating to data and the like, various functions in the extension channel 442 in command bytes, seq. The sequential number of the ORB is set in no byte.
[0074]
The above packet format is an example for achieving the object of the present invention, and its detailed definition is not limited to this example.
[0075]
Further, this packet has a feature that it does not depend on an OS such as the Macintosh OS and the Windows OS, and does not limit the OS installed in the host computer.
[0076]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a printing flow between the computer 400 and the printer 420 in FIG.
[0077]
After the computer 400 and the printer 420 are recognized as nodes of the 1394 serial bus, the computer 400 requests a login to the printer 420, and a successful login is returned. If the login is successful, the name of the computer 400 that has logged in via the extension channel 442 is registered.
[0078]
Computer 400 is a management channel441A status request command is transmitted to the printer 420 via the printer 420, and a status command replied from the printer 420 is received. If the current state is the printable state, transfer of print data is started. Specifically, first, the computer 400 transmits a transfer start request for print data to the printer 420 via the extension channel 442. If the print data is not being transferred from another computer at the time of this request, the successful start of the transfer of the print data is replied to the computer 400 via the extension channel 442.
[0079]
The computer 400 transmits the print data via the job channel 440 when the transfer start of the print data is successful. Depending on the size of the print data, the print data is divided into a plurality of packets and transferred.
[0080]
After transmitting all the print data, the computer 400 notifies the printer 420 of the completion of the transfer of the print data via the extension channel 442. Finally, a logout request is made, and the user logs out of the printer 420.
[0081]
The number of times that the status request command is transmitted and the number of times the reply status command is received depend on the model of the printer 420, the type of the computer 400, and the like, and are not necessarily the number of times of the flow. In some cases, transmission of the status request command and reception of the reply status command may be performed during the transfer of the print data or even after the transfer of the print data is completed.
[0082]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a host device and a target device connected to the data communication device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, two computers 700 and 720 (host devices) are connected to a printer 740 (target device) via a data communication device.
[0083]
4, a computer 700 includes an arithmetic processing unit 701 such as an MPU, a decoder 702, a display unit 703 such as a CRT display, a hard disk device (HD) 704, an operation unit 705 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and memories 706 and 1394 such as a RAM. It has a driver 709 for generating a packet. These components are connected to a 1394 interface (I / F) unit 708 for a 1394 serial bus via an internal bus 707 such as a PCI.
[0084]
The computer 720 generates an arithmetic processing unit 721 such as an MPU, a decoder 722, a display unit 723 such as a CRT display, a hard disk drive (HD) 724, an operation unit 725 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a memory 726 such as a RAM, and 1394 packets. A driver 729 is provided. These components are connected to a 1394 interface (I / F) unit 728 for a 1394 serial bus via an internal bus 727 such as a PCI.
[0085]
The printer 740 includes an operation unit 742 such as a button, a driver 743 for controlling paper feeding, an image processing unit 746, a decoder 747, and a printer head 744 for printing on a recording medium such as printing paper. These components are connected to a 1394 interface (I / F) unit 749 for a 1394 serial bus via a printer controller 741 and a data selector 748. The image processing unit 746 and the decoder 747 are connected to each other, and the printer head 744 and the image processing unit 746 are connected to a memory 745 for temporarily storing images and the like. The 1394 I / F unit 449 is connected to a 1394 decoder 750 for a 1394 serial bus.
[0086]
The 1394 I / F section 708 of the computer 700 and the 1394 I / F section 749 of the printer 740 are connected via a 1394 serial bus, are recognized as 1394 serial bus nodes, and can transfer data.
[0087]
1394 I / F section of computer 700708Between the printer and the 1394 I / F unit 749 of the printer 740, data is transferred by three virtual channels, that is, a job channel 760 for print data, a management channel 761 for a status request command, and an extension channel 762.
[0088]
The job channel 760 is a one-way transfer path of a command packet for transmission from the computer 700 to the printer 740 and a data packet indicating the content thereof, and transfers print data to the data selector 428.
[0089]
The management channel 761 is a bi-directional transfer path of 1394 packets between the computer 700 and the printer 740. The management channel 761 transfers a status request command to the printer controller 741 via the data selector 748, and sends a status command as a reply from the printer 740. Is returned to the computer 700.
[0090]
The extension channel 762 is a bi-directional transfer path for 1394 packets and data packets between the computer 700 and the printer 740, and transmits extension commands such as information on the job channel 760 and various control information between the computer 700 and the printer 740. To transfer.
[0091]
The 1394 I / F section 728 of the computer 720 and the 1394 I / F section 749 of the printer 740 are connected via a 1394 serial bus, are recognized as 1394 serial bus nodes, and can transfer data.
[0092]
Between the 1394 I / F unit 728 of the computer 720 and the 1394 I / F unit 749 of the printer 740, data is transferred by two virtual channels, that is, a management channel 763 for a status request command and an extension channel 764.
[0093]
The management channel 763 is a bi-directional transfer path for 1394 packets between the computer 720 and the printer 740. The management channel 763 transfers the status request command to the printer controller 741 via the data selector 748, and sends the status command as a reply from the printer 740. Is returned to the computer 720.
[0094]
The extension channel 764 is a bidirectional transfer path for 1394 packets between the computer 720 and the printer 740, and transfers extension commands such as various control information between the computer 700 and the printer 740.
[0095]
The 1394 decoder 750 of the printer 740 separates the data received by the 1394 I / F 749 for each logged-in computer and processes each of them independently. It is returned to the corresponding computer 700, 720.
[0096]
Even when the computer 700 logs in, the computer 720 can log in. The operation of the computer 700 is the same as when the computer 700 and the printer 740 are connected one-to-one. On the other hand, the computer 720 cannot connect the job channel to the printer 740 because the computer 700 is currently connected to the job channel 760, but the management channel 763 and the extension channel 764 can be used, and the status request command and various Extended commands and their replies can be forwarded. Computer 700 and computer 720 can operate independently and have no effect on the other.
[0097]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the data communication apparatus is intended for the connection configuration of two computers 700 and 720 and one printer 740, but the connection between three or more computers and one printer is intended. It may be a configuration.
[0098]
The 1394 I / F 749 of the printer 740 does not affect each other even if another printer exists in the 1394 serial bus. Therefore, the present invention relates to the connection between a plurality of computers and a plurality of printers. The configuration is also effective.
[0099]
5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams of the printing flow between the computers 700 and 720 and the printer 740 in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows a case where the computer 720 has performed the print stop processing of the printer 740, and FIG. And a case where the transfer of print data from the computer 720 is retried.
[0100]
In FIG. 5, after a successful login, the computer 700 registers a login name, transmits a status request command (information for requesting the status of the target device), and receives its reply. If the printer is in a printable state, a transfer start request for print data (data to be processed by the target device) is transmitted via the extension channel, and a successful transfer start request (transmission state) for the print data is transmitted from the 1394 decoder 750 of the printer 740. When the reply is received, the transmission of the print data starts.
[0101]
After logging in, the computer 720, after logging in, registers a login name, transmits a status request command, and receives a reply thereto. In response to the print data transfer start request, since the job channel has already been used, the printer 740 replies that the print data transfer start has failed (transmission state). The computer 720 transmits a request for host information (information about the host device) of the job channel by using the extension channel 764.
[0102]
The 1394 decoder 750 of the printer 740 holds the login name information transmitted from the logged-in computer for each computer. Since the current job channel 760 has been transferred from the computer 700, in response to the request for the host information, the login name of the computer 700 is replied through the extension channel 762.
[0103]
The computer 720 notifies the operator of the computer 720 that print data is being transmitted from another computer on a display unit or the like. The notification method differs depending on the type of the computer, the installed OS, and the printing environment, and various forms such as an error dialog, display of an icon, and reproduction of a sound such as a beep sound are used.
[0104]
If the host information can be displayed, the login name of the computer 700 is notified to the operator to urge the user to continue or cancel.
[0105]
Next, when a command to stop the printing process is issued from the computer 720, the computer 720 requests a logout and stops the printing process.
[0106]
FIG. 6 shows a case where a command to continue the printing process is issued from the computer 720. The process until the command to continue the printing process is issued from the computer 720 is the same as the printing flow in FIG.
[0107]
When the computer 720 instructs the continuation of the printing process, the computer 720 transmits the print data transfer start request again and receives the reply. If a reply is made again due to a failure, a print data transfer start request is transmitted again after a predetermined period.
[0108]
When the transmission of the print data from the computer 700 ends and the print data transfer end command is transmitted, the printer 740 determines that the job channel has ended. Then, success is returned to the print data transfer start request of the computer 720.
[0109]
When the computer 720 receives the transfer start success of the print data, the computer 720 starts transmitting the print data. After the transmission of the print data is completed, a print data transfer end command is transmitted, and the user logs out.
[0110]
The retransmission cycle of the print data transfer start command of the computer 720 differs depending on the type of the computer 720, the installed OS, and the printing environment. In addition, the retransmission may be repeated within a certain period of time or up to a certain number of times.
[0111]
According to the processes in FIGS. 5 and 6, the printing process can be performed between the computer 700 and the computer 720 without mixing print data. 5 and 6 can obtain the same effect not only between the two computers 700 and 720 but also between a plurality of computers.
[0112]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a printing process of the printer 740 according to instructions from the two computers 700 and 720 in FIG.
[0113]
First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the received data is an end event. If not, the process proceeds to step S3, where it is determined whether or not the received data is print data. As a result of the determination in step S3, if the received data is print data, the print data is processed (step S4), and then the processing from step S1 is executed. It is determined whether or not the data is channel data.
[0114]
As a result of the determination in step S5, if the received data is the management channel data, the processing of the management channel data is performed (step S6), and then the processing from step S1 is executed. Proceeding to S7, it is determined whether or not the received data is extension channel data. If the result of determination in step S7 is that the data is not extended channel data, the process from step S1 is executed. If extended channel data is received, the process proceeds to step S8, where the received data is a job channel login request. It is determined whether or not.
[0115]
As a result of the determination in step S8, if it is extended channel data other than the job channel login request, the processing of the extended channel data is performed (step S9), and the processing after step S1 is executed. For example, it is determined whether or not the user has already logged in (step S10).
[0116]
As a result of the determination in step S10, if the user has already logged in, a failure is returned (step S11). If the user has not logged in, success is returned (step S12), and the processing from step S1 is executed. If the result of determination in step S1 is that the event is an end event, end processing is performed (step S2), and this processing ends.
[0117]
The above-described packet, flow, etc. can exert the same function not only when the host device is a computer, but also when the other host device is a host device. Function can be demonstrated.
[0118]
The data of the extension channel is composed of a command packet and a data packet as described above, and this data packet is asynchronous (As(ynchronous) packet.
[0119]
FIG. 8 shows the asynchronous (AsFIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an (ynchronous) packet.
[0120]
In FIG. 8, Destination ID indicates a destination device, tLabel indicates a label indicating a series of data transfer, rt indicates a retransmission status, tcode indicates a packet type, and Pri indicates a priority. The Source ID indicates the source device, and the Destination Offset indicates the destination device address. Data Length indicates a data length, and Extended tcode indicates an extended packet type. Header CRC indicates the CRC of the Header part, Data indicates the data part, and Data CRC indicates the CRC of the data part.
[0121]
When the computer logs in to the printer, the computer issues a log-in request to the printer and allocates an address defined by IEEE1212. Thereafter, the computer performs data transfer to the address.
[0122]
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a flow in a case where data is synchronously transferred from the host computer to the printer in a plurality of 1394 packets.
[0123]
In FIG. 9, when data is transferred synchronously from the host computer 1001 to the printer 1000 in a plurality of 1394 packets, when the host computer 1001 prepares the transfer data, the printer 1000 issues an Asynchronous Request packet at tLabel = 0. The host computer 1001 transmits an Asynchronous Response packet including data at tLabel = 0. The printer 1000 that has received the data extracts the data and processes it as the first data Data0.
[0124]
When the next transfer data is prepared, the host computer 1001 issues an Asynchronous Request packet from the printer 1000 with tLabel = 1. The host computer 1001 transmits an Asynchronous Response packet including data at tLabel = 1. The received printer 1000 extracts the data and processes it as the second data Data1.
[0125]
For the subsequent data, similarly, the order of the received data can be easily known by increasing the tLabel.
[0126]
The Asynchronous Request and Response between the printer and the host computer do not need to be synchronous, and there is no problem if the transmission and reception buffers of the printer 1000 and the host computer 1001 are sufficient if they are sufficient.
[0127]
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a flow when data is asynchronously transferred from a host computer to a printer in a plurality of 1394 packets.
[0128]
In FIG. 10, the printer 1500 performs the Asychronous Request a plurality of times continuously while updating the value of tLabel, and receives a Response for each Request. The received Response's tLabel is the same as the Request's tLabel, and is the order of the data to be processed in the data received in the order of tLabel.
[0129]
In the asynchronous data transfer as described above, the printer 1500 can issue a Request packet without waiting for the Response packet of the computer 1501, and the processing speed can be improved.
[0130]
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of data transfer between a plurality of computers and one printer.
[0131]
In FIG. 11, in data transfer between one printer 1410 and a plurality of computers 1411 and 1412, data transfer with each computer is managed as a different node. The node 1 transfers data between the computer 1411 and the printer 1410, and the node 2 transfers data between the computer 1412 and the printer 1410.
[0132]
The data transfer in each node is completely independent, and the data transfer between the node 1 and the node 2 does not depend on one state depending on the other. In the data transfer in the node, the Request and Response packets are asynchronous as described above, and tLabelIt is possible to identify the order of the received data according to the order set in.
[0133]
It goes without saying that data transfer between a plurality of computers operates even if the number of computers is not two but the maximum number of computers specified by IEEE1394.Also, IEEE1394 Standards, especially SBP -2 ( ANSI NCITS 325 − 1998 ) (Serial bus protocol - 2) It is preferable to conform to or conform to the standard.
[0134]
Such a data transfer method in which information on the order of packets is set in tLabel is simple, and is particularly effective when connected to a plurality of computers and holds a plurality of nodes.
[0135]
The method of managing data transfer between a plurality of devices using tLabel can be applied even when the host device is not a computer or the target device is not a printer.
[0136]
In the above-described embodiment, the data communication process for transferring data between the host device and the target device has been described. However, this process is programmed and written in a storage medium, and the program is read from the storage medium by a known device. , The above-described processing can be executed.
[0137]
Various storage media such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, and an MO may be used as the storage medium.
[0138]
【The invention's effect】
As explained in detail above,1Data communication method described,as well asClaim12According to the described data communication device,Data communication is performed via one of a job channel for data to be processed by the target device, a management channel for information requesting the status of the target device, and an extension channel for extension information.Therefore, the load on the data selector of the target device can be reduced.
[0139]
Claim4Data communication method described,as well asClaimFifteenAccording to the described data communication device,ExpansionExtension information is information about the host device.ToTherefore, the target device can specify the host device that has transmitted the data.
[0140]
Claim5Data communication method described,as well asClaim16According to the described data communication device,ExpansionZhang information,Information about the transmission status of data to be processed by the target device.ToTherefore, the host device can recognize the state of data transmission to the target device.
[0141]
Claim6Data communication method described,as well asClaim17According to the data communication device described above, the target deviceForward toBe doneMultiple dataEach contains information about the order of the data to be transferred.MTherefore, data transfer can be performed efficiently.
[0142]
Claim25Described printer,as well asClaim27According to the printer control method ofNumber of computersFrom one computerVia job channelPrint dataToReceivingThe second of the plurality of computersFrom the computerVia an extension channelPrint datatransferstartIs received, the second computer is informed that the start of the print data transfer via the extension channel has failed,From one computerofReceiving print dataWhenIs notified, the load on the data selector of the printer can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a host device and a target device connected by a data communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a format of a packet used in the data communication device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a print flow between a computer 400 and a printer 420 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a host device and a target device connected by a data communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a printing flow between the computers 700 and 720 and the printer 740 in FIG. 4, showing a case where the computer 720 has performed a print stop process of the printer 740.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a print flow between the computers 700 and 720 and the printer 740 in FIG. 4, showing a case where transfer of print data from the computer 720 is retried.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a printing process of a printer 740 in accordance with instructions from two computers 700 and 720 in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an asynchronous (Asynchronous) packet.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a flow when data is transferred from a host computer to a printer using a plurality of 1394 command packets.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a flow in a case where data is asynchronously transferred from a host computer to a printer using a plurality of 1394 command packets.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of data transfer between a plurality of computers and one printer.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional data communication device.
13 is a diagram showing a data flow between the computer 100 and the printer 110 in FIG.
14A and 14B are explanatory diagrams of a 1394 command packet ORB (Operation Request Block) used in a conventional 1394 serial bus, and FIG. 14A shows the format of a command packet of SBP-2 (Serial Bus Pro and Call-2). (B) shows the format of a command packet defining a SCSI command part mainly used in the Windows OS of Microsoft Corporation.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional image communication method using a printer and a computer connected via a 1394 serial bus.
[Explanation of symbols]
400, 700, 720 computers
420, 720, 740 printer
408, 429, 728749 1394 interface
428,748 Data selector
430,750 1394 decoder
440,760 Job channel
441,761,763 Management channel
442, 762, 764 expansion channel

Claims (28)

IEEE1394 In a data communication method of performing data communication between a host device and a target device via a serial bus conforming to or conforming to a standard,
  The target device performs data communication via one of a job channel for data to be processed, a management channel for information for requesting a status of the target device, and an extension channel for extension information. Data communication method. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein at least including over there the identification information indicating the type of channel used. 3. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the type of the channel is set for a data packet transferred at an arbitrary timing in asynchronous data transfer. The extension information, a data communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the information relating to the host device. The extension information, a data communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the target device is information relating to the transmission status of the data to be processed. When transferring a plurality of data to the target device from the host device, each of the plurality of data, any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that includes information about the order of the data to be the transfer The data communication method described in 1. The host device is a data communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it consists of a plurality of host devices. 8. The data communication method according to claim 7 , wherein the extension information is information requesting information on another host device that is logged in among the plurality of host devices. It said information on the host device, a data communication method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the classified independently for each host device in the login of the plurality of host devices. The data communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the target device includes a plurality of target devices. The data communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the data communication method conforms to or conforms to the SBP-2 (ANSI NCITS 325-1998) standard on the IEEE1394 standard. IEEE1394 A data communication device that performs data communication between a host device and a target device via a serial bus conforming to or conforming to a standard,
  The target device performs data communication via one of a job channel for data to be processed, a management channel for information for requesting a status of the target device, and an extension channel for extension information. Data communication device. The data communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least including over there the identification information indicating the type of channel used. 14. The data communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the type of the channel is set for a data packet transferred at an arbitrary timing in asynchronous data transfer. 15. The data communication apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the extension information is information on the host device. 16. The data communication apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the extension information is information on a transmission state of data to be processed by the target device. When a plurality transferring the data, the data is data communication apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the information includes each related sequence of data to be the transfer. The host device is a data communication apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that it consists of a plurality of host devices. 19. The data communication device according to claim 18 , wherein the extension information is information requesting information on another host device that is logged in among the plurality of host devices. Information relating to the host device, the data communication apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the classified independently for each host device in the login of the plurality of host devices. The target device data communication apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that it consists of a plurality of target devices. SBP-2 on IEEE1394 standard (ANSI NCITS 325-1998) data communication apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 21, characterized in that fit or compliant. The data according to any one of claims 12 to 22 , wherein the host device includes data to be processed by the target device or generation means for generating information for requesting a state of the target device. Communication device. The data according to any one of claims 12 to 23 , wherein the target device includes an analysis unit configured to analyze data to be processed by the target device or information requesting a state of the target device. Communication device. IE EE1394 and each of the plurality connected via a serial bus computer to fit or compliant, at least once a job channel and the communication of data by that switch the plurality of channels composed of the extension channel during login process A printer that performs
While receiving print data from the first computer of the plurality of computers via the job channel, receiving a request to start print data transfer from the second computer of the plurality of computers via the extension channel . If, for the second computer has means for notifying the Oh and Rukoto in reception failure and start the printing data transfer, the print data from the first computer via the extension channel A printer characterized in that: In the case where a request for starting print data transfer is further received from the second computer via the extension channel, when the reception of print data from the first computer has been completed, the second computer 26. The printer according to claim 25, further comprising means for transmitting a success in starting the print data transfer via the extension channel. IE EE1394 and each of the plurality connected via a serial bus computer to fit or compliant, at least once a job channel and the communication of data by that switch the plurality of channels composed of the extension channel during login process Controlling the printer,
While receiving print data from the first computer of the plurality of computers via the job channel, receiving a request to start print data transfer from the second computer of the plurality of computers via the extension channel . If, wherein for the second computer, notifies failure and start the print data transferred via the extension channel, and Oh Rukoto in receiving print data from the first computer Printer control method. In the case where a request for starting print data transfer is further received from the second computer via the extension channel, when the reception of print data from the first computer has been completed, the second computer control how according to claim 27 according printer and transmits the success of starting the print data transferred via the extension channel.

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