JP3985010B2 - Data communication device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is related to a data communication apparatus capable of transmitting the still image data with moving image data.

  In recent years, there is an increasing need to use home appliances such as digital VTRs and camera-integrated digital VTRs as one of means for inputting to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC). Along with this, moving images played back by digital VTRs or camera-integrated digital VTRs are imported into editing equipment such as PCs as digital data, edited as necessary, edited, and recorded on hard disks, etc. The technology in the field of recording on a medium or printing with an image output device such as a printer is advancing.

  For example, in a communication system configured by connecting a digital VTR and a printer via a PC, when a still image is printed from a moving image reproduced by the digital VTR, the PC transmits a moving image transmitted from the digital VTR. Image data is taken in, and a desired still image for one frame is extracted from the moving image data. The PC edits the still image as necessary, and supplies the image data based on the still image for one frame to a printer connected to a communication interface different from the digital VTR, thereby printing out the still image. It was done by the procedure of doing.

  However, in the communication system as described above, when moving image data from a digital VTR is taken into a PC, the PC takes in a large amount of moving image data reproduced by the digital VTR and once holds it in a recording medium such as a hard disk. In the above, it is necessary to select and extract a desired still image, and the burden on the PC itself is large. In addition, depending on the processing capability or use environment of the PC itself, it may take time to print out from an external printer, or the PC or printer may not operate normally.

Accordingly, the present invention, even without editing equipment, such as PC, the data communication apparatus capable of providing the still image data corresponding to a portion of the moving image data and the moving image data to the equipment on the communication system The purpose is to provide.

The data communication apparatus according to the present invention includes, for example, a generation unit that generates moving image data, a storage unit that stores still image data corresponding to a part of the moving image data, and transmits the moving image data by isochronous transfer. and, the still image data have a transmission means for transmitting the asynchronous transfer, during transmission of the moving image data, when instructed to request the still image data from an external device, said transmitting means, said The moving image data is transmitted by isochronous transfer, and the still image data is transmitted by asynchronous transfer .

According to the data communication apparatus according to the present invention, even without editing equipment, such as PC, to provide a still image data corresponding to a portion of the moving image data and the moving image data to the equipment on the communication system It is Ru can.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication network configured using a camera-integrated digital VTR 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication network is capable of communication conforming to the IEEE 1394 serial bus.

  Since the communication network of the present embodiment is configured using an IEEE 1394 serial bus, the technology of the IEEE 1394 serial bus will be briefly described below.

<< Overview of IEEE 1394 Technology >>
With the advent of home digital VTRs and DVDs, it is necessary to support real-time and high-information data transfer such as video data and audio data. In order to transfer such video data and audio data in real time and transfer them to a personal computer (PC) or other digital devices, an interface capable of high-speed data transfer with the necessary transfer functions is required. The interface developed from such a viewpoint is IEEE 1394-1995 (High Performance Serial Bus) (hereinafter, 1394 serial bus).

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a network system configured using a 1394 serial bus. This system includes devices A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. Between A and B, between A and C, between B and D, between D and E, between C and F, and C -G and CH are connected by a twisted pair cable of a 1394 serial bus. Examples of the devices A to H are a PC, a digital VTR, a DVD, a digital camera, a hard disk, and a monitor.

  As the connection method between the devices, the daisy chain method and the node branch method can be mixed, and a connection with a high degree of freedom is possible.

  Each device has its own unique ID, and each device recognizes each other to form one network within a range connected by the 1394 serial bus. By simply connecting each digital device with one 1394 serial bus cable in sequence, each device serves as a relay and constitutes a single network as a whole. In addition, it has a function of automatically recognizing a device and recognizing a connection state when the cable is connected to the device by the Plug & Play function, which is a feature of the 1394 serial bus.

  In addition, in the system as shown in FIG. 9, when a device is deleted from the network or newly added, the bus is automatically reset, and the network configuration up to that point is reset. A reliable network. This function makes it possible to always set and recognize the network configuration at that time.

  The data transfer rate is 100/200/400 Mbps, and devices with higher transfer rates support lower transfer rates and are compatible.

  As the data transfer mode, asynchronous data such as control signals (Asynchronous data: hereinafter referred to as “Async data”) is transferred. Asynchronous transfer mode for transferring asynchronous data such as real-time video data and audio data (Isochronous data: hereinafter referred to as “Iso data”). There is a transfer mode. This Async data and Iso data are mixed in the cycle while giving priority to the transfer of Iso data following the transfer of the cycle start packet (CSP) indicating the start of the cycle in each cycle (usually 125 μS per cycle). Transferred.

  Next, FIG. 10 shows components of the 1394 serial bus.

  The 1394 serial bus has a layer structure as a whole. As shown in FIG. 8, the most hardware is a 1394 serial bus cable, which has a connector port to which a connector of the cable is connected, and there are a physical layer and a link layer as hardware.

  The hardware part is a substantial interface chip part, of which the physical layer performs coding and connector-related control, and the link layer performs packet transfer and cycle time control.

  The transaction layer of the firmware unit manages data to be transferred (transaction), and issues instructions such as Read and Write. The serial bus management is a part that manages the connection status and ID of each connected device and manages the network configuration.

  The hardware and firmware are the actual 1394 serial bus configuration.

  The application layer of the software part differs depending on the software used, and is a part that defines how data is put on the interface, and is defined by a protocol such as the AV protocol.

  The above is the configuration of the 1394 serial bus.

<Bus reset sequence>
In the 1394 serial bus, each connected device (node) is given a node ID and recognized as a network configuration.

  When there is a change in this network configuration, for example, when a change occurs due to increase / decrease in the number of nodes due to node insertion / extraction, power ON / OFF, etc., it is necessary to recognize a new network configuration. The node enters a mode to recognize a new network configuration by sending a bus reset signal on the bus. The change detection method at this time is performed by detecting a change in bias voltage on the 1394 port board.

  When a bus reset signal is transmitted from a certain node, the physical layer of each node receives the bus reset signal, and simultaneously transmits the generation of the bus reset to the link layer and transmits the bus reset signal to the other nodes. After all nodes have finally detected the bus reset signal, the bus reset is activated.

  The bus reset is also activated by issuing a command directly to the physical layer by means of hardware detection due to cable insertion / removal or network abnormality as described above, and host control from the protocol.

  Further, when the bus reset is activated, the data transfer is temporarily interrupted, and the data transfer during this time is awaited and resumed under a new network configuration after the end.

  The above is the bus reset sequence.

<Asynchronous transfer>
Asynchronous transfer is asynchronous transfer. FIG. 11 shows a temporal transition state in asynchronous transfer. The first subaction gap in FIG. 11 indicates the idle state of the bus. When this idle time reaches a certain value, the node desiring to transfer determines that the bus can be used, and executes arbitration for acquiring the bus.

  When the bus use permission is obtained by arbitration, data transfer is executed in the packet format. After the data transfer, the receiving node returns the response ack (reception confirmation return code) for the transferred data by sending back a response after a short gap called ack gap, or by sending a response packet. Is completed. The ack is composed of 4-bit information and a 4-bit checksum, and includes information such as success, busy status, and pending status, and is immediately returned to the transmission source node.

  Next, FIG. 12 shows an example of a packet format for asynchronous transfer.

  The packet has a header part in addition to the data part and the error correction data CRC, and the header part has a target node ID, source node ID, transfer data length, various codes, etc. as shown in FIG. Is written and transferred.

  Asynchronous transfer is one-to-one communication from the self node to the partner node. The packet transferred from the transfer source node is distributed to each node in the network. However, since the address other than the address addressed to itself is ignored, only one destination node reads.

  The above is the description of asynchronous transfer.

<< Isochronous (synchronous) transfer >>
Isochronous transfer is synchronous transfer. This isochronous transfer, which can be said to be the greatest feature of the 1394 serial bus, is a transfer mode suitable for transferring data that requires real-time transfer, such as multimedia data such as VIDEO video data and audio data.

  Asynchronous transfer (asynchronous) is a one-to-one transfer, but this isochronous transfer is uniformly transferred from one node of the transfer source to all other nodes by the broadcast function.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a temporal transition state in isochronous transfer.

  Isochronous transfer is executed at regular intervals on the bus. This time interval is called an isochronous cycle. The isochronous cycle time is 125 μS. The cycle start packet has a role of indicating the start time of each cycle and adjusting the time of each node. The node that transmits the cycle start packet is a node called a cycle master, and after the end of the transfer in the previous cycle, after passing through a predetermined idle period (subaction gap), the start of this cycle is notified. Send cycle start packet. The time interval for transmitting this cycle start packet is 125 μS.

  In addition, as indicated by channel A, channel B, and channel C in FIG. 13, a plurality of types of packets can be distinguished and transferred by being given channel IDs within one cycle. This enables real-time transfer between a plurality of nodes at the same time, and the receiving node captures only the data of the channel ID that it wants. This channel ID does not represent a destination address, but merely gives a logical number to the data. Therefore, transmission of a certain packet is forwarded by broadcast from one transmission source node to all other nodes.

  Prior to transmission of packets for isochronous transfer, arbitration is performed as in asynchronous transmission. However, since it is not one-to-one communication as in asynchronous transfer, there is no ack (reception confirmation reply code) in isochronous transfer.

  Further, the iso gap (isochronous gap) shown in FIG. 13 represents an idle period necessary for recognizing that the bus is empty before performing isochronous transfer. When this predetermined idle period elapses, a node that wishes to perform isochronous transfer determines that the bus is free and can perform arbitration before transfer.

  Next, an example of a packet format for isochronous transfer is shown in FIG.

  Each packet divided into each channel has a header part in addition to the data part and error correction data CRC, and the header part has a transfer data length, channel No., etc. as shown in FIG. Various codes, error correction header CRC, and the like are written and transferred.

  The above is the description of isochronous transfer.

《Bus cycle》
In the actual transfer on the 1394 serial bus, isochronous transfer and asynchronous transfer can be mixed. FIG. 15 shows a time transition state of the transfer state on the bus in which isochronous transfer and asynchronous transfer are mixed.

  Isochronous transfer is executed with priority over asynchronous transfer. The reason is that after a cycle start packet, an isochronous transfer can be started with a gap length (isochronous gap) shorter than the gap length (subaction gap) of the idle period required to start asynchronous transfer. is there. Therefore, isochronous transfer is executed with priority over asynchronous transfer.

  In the general bus cycle shown in FIG. 15, a cycle start packet is transferred from the cycle master to each node at the start of cycle #m. As a result, the time is adjusted at each node, and after waiting for a predetermined idle period (isochronous gap), the node which should perform isochronous transfer performs arbitration and enters packet transfer. In FIG. 15, channel e, channel s, and channel k are transferred isochronously in order.

  After repeating the operations from the arbitration to the packet transfer for a given channel, when all the isochronous transfers in the cycle #m are completed, the asynchronous transfer can be performed.

  When the idle time reaches the subaction gap where asynchronous transfer is possible, it is determined that a node that wishes to perform asynchronous transfer can move to execution of arbitration.

  However, the period during which asynchronous transfer can be performed is when a subaction gap for starting asynchronous transfer is obtained between the end of isochronous transfer and the time to transfer the next cycle start packet (cycle sync). Limited to.

  In cycle #m in FIG. 15, isochronous transfer for three channels and then asynchronous transfer (including ack) are transferred in two packets (packet 1 and packet 2). After this asynchronous packet 2, since it is time (cycle sync) to start cycle m + 1, the transfer in cycle #m ends here.

  However, if it is time to send the next cycle start packet during an asynchronous or synchronous transfer operation (cycle sync), do not forcibly suspend and wait for the idle period after the transfer is completed before Send cycle start packet for cycle. That is, when one cycle continues for 125 μS or more, it is assumed that the fractional cycle is shorter than the reference 125 μS. In this way, the isochronous cycle can exceed or shorten on the basis of 125 μS.

  However, isochronous transfer is always executed if necessary for every cycle in order to maintain real-time transfer, and asynchronous transfer may be passed to the next and subsequent cycles because the cycle time is shortened. This delay information is managed by the cycle master.

  The above is the description of the IEEE 1394 serial bus.

(First embodiment)
In FIG. 1, each electronic device on the communication network has a communication means capable of communication conforming to the 1394 serial bus, and is connected by a 1394 cable. Reference numeral 101 denotes an electronic apparatus capable of recording or reproducing digital image data in a predetermined format (for example, SD-VTR or MPEG system) on a recording medium, and packetizing the image data recorded on the recording medium in a predetermined procedure. This is a camera-integrated digital VTR that can be transmitted to an external device. Reference numeral 102 denotes a printer capable of printing out digital image data reproduced by the camera-integrated digital VTR 101, and reference numeral 103 denotes a monitor capable of displaying still images and moving image data transmitted from the camera-integrated digital VTR 101.

  Note that the network in FIG. 1 is an example, and the connection configuration may arbitrarily connect each device in FIG. 1 or may be a configuration in which other electronic devices are further connected from each device. Absent. Also, the connected device may be any device that can form a network conforming to the 1394 serial bus, such as a hard disk, a CD, and a DVD.

  The configuration and operation of each device on the communication network configured as described above will be described below.

  In the recording / reproducing apparatus 101 of FIG. 2, 4 is an imaging unit, 5 is an A / D converter, 6 is a video signal processing circuit, 7 is a compression / expansion circuit that compresses at the time of recording and expands at the time of reproduction by a predetermined algorithm, and 8 A recording / reproducing unit for recording and reproducing copper or a still image on a recording medium 19 using a recording / reproducing head, etc. 9 is a system controller, 10 is an operation unit for inputting instructions, 11 is a D / A converter, 12 Is an EVF (Electric View Finder) for displaying a reproduced image or a captured image, 13 is a still image memory for temporarily storing still image data to be transferred without compression, and 14 is a timing for reading or writing to the still image memory 13. A memory control unit for controlling, a moving image memory 15 for temporarily storing moving image data to be compressed and transferred, and 16 a moving image memory 1 5 is a memory control unit that controls the timing of reading and writing of data, 17 is a data selector that selects the output of each of the memories 13 and 15, 18 is an I / F unit that is communicable with the 1394 serial bus, and 19 is magnetic It is a storage medium composed of tape. In this embodiment, a camera-integrated digital VTR using a magnetic tape as a storage medium will be described. However, a digital camcorder using an optical disk, a solid-state memory or the like as a storage medium may be used.

  In the printer 102, 20 is a 1394 I / F unit in the printer 102, 21 is a data selector for selecting control data and image data, 22 is an image processing circuit for forming a print image, and 23 is image processing for forming a print image. A memory used by the circuit 22, 24 a printer head, 25 a driver for driving the printer head and paper feed, 26 a printer controller for controlling each processing unit in the printer 102, and 27 an operation unit for operating the printer. is there.

  In the monitor 103, 61 is a 1394 I / F unit mounted on the monitor 103, 62 is a decoding circuit for decompressing video data compressed by a predetermined algorithm, 63 is a D / A converter, 64 is a CRT, and 65 is A system controller 66 that controls each processing unit in the monitor 103, and an operation unit 66 that operates the operation of the monitor 103. The monitor 103 of this embodiment may be provided with a circuit for receiving and displaying a television signal in addition to the above-described configuration.

  Next, the operation of the communication network shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the camera-integrated digital VTR 101, the user operates the operation unit 10 to instruct the operation state of the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 to be in the recording mode (step S301).

  The moving image signal or still image signal captured by the imaging unit 4 is digitized by the A / D converter 5 and then subjected to predetermined image processing by the video signal processing circuit 6. For example, a standard television signal such as the NTSC system is used. Is generated. One of the outputs of the video signal processing circuit 6 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 11 and displayed on the EVF 12 as a captured image. The other outputs are supplied to the compression / decompression circuit 7, compressed by a predetermined algorithm, and then recorded on the recording medium 19 by the recording / reproducing unit 8. Here, the predetermined compression process is a compression method based on DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) and VLC (Variable Length Coding) used as one of the band compression methods for home digital VTRs, or a moving image with high efficiency. There are MPEG methods for encoding and compressing data.

  When transmitting moving image data in the recording mode to an external device, the user gives an instruction to transmit a moving image from a desired time using the operation unit 10. The moving image data output from the video signal processing circuit 6 is subjected to predetermined compression processing by the compression / decompression circuit 7 and supplied to the moving image memory 15 in a compressed state. In parallel with this, moving image data output from the video signal processing circuit 6 is supplied to a still image memory 13 for recording moving images in units of several frames.

  The moving image data recorded in the moving image memory 15 is read at any time so as to be transmitted to an external device in real time under the control of the memory control unit 16 and is output to the data selector 17. Still image data recorded in the still image memory 13 is appropriately read so as to be transmitted asynchronously as needed under the control of the memory control unit 14 and output to the data selector 17. The reading control of the memory control unit 14 is controlled so that the system controller 9 starts its operation based on an instruction from the operation unit 10.

  For example, when a user wants to communicate a moving image, the user starts communication by instructing the start of moving image communication using a communication mode start switch (not shown) or the like provided in the operation unit 10. Further, when a still image is to be transmitted from a moving image being transmitted to a printer or the like, the user selects a desired still image by operating the operation unit 10 according to a predetermined procedure, and the still image is synchronously communicated. The video is multiplexed in a time-division manner.

  When the operation state of the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 is instructed to be in the playback mode, the recording / playback unit 8 plays back a desired moving image from the recording medium 19. At this time, the selection of a desired moving image is selected according to various instructions input from the operation unit 10, and the system controller 9 controls the reproduction operation of the recording / reproducing unit 8 in accordance with the instructions. The moving image data reproduced from the recording medium 19 is supplied to the moving image memory 15 in a compressed state. In parallel with this, the moving image data is decompressed by the compression / decompression processing circuit 7 and then supplied to the D / A converter 11 and recorded in the still image memory 13 in units of several frames. The The moving image data supplied to the D / A converter 11 is converted into an analog signal and then displayed on the EVF 12 as an image being reproduced.

  When moving image data in the playback mode is transmitted to the external device, it is performed according to an instruction from the operation unit 10 as in the case of the recording mode described above.

  That is, the moving image data recorded in the moving image memory 15 is read as needed to be transmitted to the external device in real time under the control of the memory control unit 16 and is output to the data selector 17. Still image data recorded in the still image memory 13 is appropriately read so as to be transmitted asynchronously as needed under the control of the memory control unit 14 and output to the data selector 17. The reading control of the memory control unit 14 is controlled so that the system controller 9 starts its operation based on an instruction from the operation unit 10.

  For example, when a user wants to communicate a moving image, the user starts communication by instructing the start of moving image communication using a communication mode start switch (not shown) or the like provided in the operation unit 10. Further, when a still image is to be transmitted from a moving image being transmitted to a printer or the like, the user selects a desired still image by operating the operation unit 10 according to a predetermined procedure, and the still image is synchronously communicated. The video is multiplexed in a time-division manner.

  The system controller 9 controls each processing operation in the camera-integrated digital VTR 101, but generates a control command for controlling the operation of an external device (for example, the printer 102) connected via the 1394 serial bus. The control command data can be asynchronously transmitted from the 1394 interface unit 18 to an external device on the 1394 serial bus. The 1394 interface unit 18 can receive control data transmitted from an external device on the data bus, and the system controller 9 can control the operation of the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 according to the contents of the control data. it can. Therefore, for example, the operation unit of the monitor 103 can give an instruction to transmit a still image at a desired point in the moving image to the printer 102.

  The data selector 17 selectively outputs moving image data output from the moving image memory 15, still image data output from the still image memory 13, and control command data output from the system controller 9, and a 1394 interface unit 18 is supplied.

  The 1394 interface unit 18 transfers information data such as moving images and still images and control data for controlling external and internal devices to the external device based on a communication method compliant with the 1394 serial bus standard. A moving image shot by the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 is transmitted to an external device through synchronous communication with a guaranteed transfer bandwidth every predetermined communication cycle (for example, 125 μsec) after an instruction to start communication from the operation unit 10. (Step S302). That is, the moving image data is packetized into a packet for isochronous transfer for each predetermined unit, and transferred to each device on the communication network by the isochronous transfer method.

  In addition, a still image transmitted by an operation by the operation unit 10 or an instruction from an external device, a control command for controlling the operation of the external device, and the like are irregularly communicated to a communication destination designated by the operation unit 10 or the external device. Is done. For example, when transmitting and printing still image data using the printer 102 on the 1394 serial bus as a communication destination, the user instructs the communication unit to the communication unit 10 according to a predetermined procedure, and asynchronously transfers the still image (step S303).

  Still image data input to the 1394 interface unit 18 is packetized into packets for Asynchronous transfer, and is controlled to perform Asynchronous transfer. Thus, the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 can synchronously communicate moving image data to each external device on the data bus, and can asynchronously communicate a still image to a communication destination designated by the operation unit 10 or an external operation unit. It becomes possible (step S304).

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a temporal transition state between moving image data and still image data transmitted via the 1394 serial bus.

  In FIG. 4, ch (channel) a is moving image data packetized into a predetermined unit of packet data by the isochronous transfer method. A communication cycle period (for example, 125 μs) on the 1394 serial bus is delimited by a cycle start packet necessary for making the values of the cycle timers of the devices on the 1394 serial bus substantially coincide. After the cycle start packet, the isochronous packet is transferred, and the 1394 interface unit 18 transmits moving image data packetized by a predetermined communication protocol to the transfer band of cha. Further, since the period from the end of isochronous transfer to the next communication cycle is assigned to the transfer of asynchronous packet data, the 1394 interface unit 18 transfers the asynchronous packet as necessary. As a result, the isochronous packet (synchronous communication data) and the asynchronous packet (asynchronous communication data) are multiplexed on a time-division basis for each predetermined communication cycle period and transmitted onto the data bus.

  The camera-integrated digital VTR 101 according to the present embodiment generates an isochronous transfer packet from compressed moving image data (compressed moving image such as SD-VTR or MPEG standard) using a predetermined communication protocol, and acquires the acquired predetermined transfer. Using the bandwidth (cha), synchronous transfer is performed for each communication cycle. Further, uncompressed still image data generated based on the moving image is packetized into Asynchronous packets according to instructions from the operation unit 10 or the operation unit of the external device, and is asynchronously transferred. Thus, the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 performs asynchronous communication by moving the moving image data synchronously every predetermined communication cycle period and multiplexing still image data synchronously every predetermined communication cycle period in a time division manner. Can do. In addition, the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 can also perform asynchronous transfer (asynchronous transfer) of control commands for controlling the operation of external devices on the 1394 serial bus as necessary, as with still image data. That is, the 1394 interface unit 18 performs synchronous communication (Isochronous transfer) of moving image data every predetermined communication cycle period, and asynchronously uses still image data using a period in which the predetermined communication cycle period is free as necessary. By using communication (Asynchronous transfer), the data bus utilization efficiency can be improved. Note that, until there is no instruction for requesting transmission of a still image via the operation unit 10 until the moving image data communication process is completed, the still image is not transmitted (step S305).

  The moving image and still image data generated by the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 is transmitted to each device on the 1394 serial bus. At that time, the monitor 103, which is a device on the 1394 serial bus, is set so as to be able to receive the transfer band (cha) used by the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 and is isochronously transferred from the camera-integrated digital VTR 101. Can receive moving image data. The isochronous packet received by the 1394 interface unit 61 is supplied to the decompression processing circuit 62 and used in the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 to undergo decompression processing corresponding to the compression method. The expanded moving image data is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 63, and then the moving image is displayed on the CRT 64. The operation unit 66 instructs control of each process of the monitor 103, and the system controller 65 controls the monitor 103 based on an input instruction of the operation unit 66. The operation unit 66 may transmit a control command so as to transmit a still image to the camera-integrated digital VTR. In this case, the user controls the operation unit 66 so as to designate a desired still image while watching the moving image displayed on the monitor 103, and the system controller 65 controls the still image with respect to the camera-integrated digital VTR 101. A control command for controlling the start of transmission is generated and transmitted.

  The 1394 interface unit 20 of the printer 102 receives the Asynchronous packet transmitted from the camera-integrated digital VTR 101. The 1394 interface unit 20 supplies the received data to the subsequent data selector, and the data selector supplies the received data to the subsequent printer controller 26 and the image processing circuit 28 according to the type of data. The still image supplied to the image processing circuit 28 is subjected to image processing suitable for printing using the memory 23, and is sequentially sent to the printer head 24 as a still image that can be printed and printed. The printer head 24 controls the driving of the head and the paper feed mechanism, and the printer controller 26 controls the operation of the printer head 24 and the driver 25 and the control of each processing unit.

  The printer operation unit 27 has a monitor for displaying paper feed, reset, ink check, or printer operation status (standby / printing start / stop, etc.). The operation status, warnings, etc. are displayed. The user operates the operation unit 27 based on these display information to control the printer 102.

  If the data input to the 1394 interface unit 20 is control command data for the printer 102, the data selector 21 supplies the data to the printer controller 26 as a control command, and the printer controller 26 performs control corresponding to the control command. Is done.

  Note that the printer 102 of this embodiment is configured to be able to print out asynchronously transferred uncompressed still image data. Accordingly, even a low-function printer such as the printer 102 of the present embodiment that does not include an expansion processing unit can print out high-quality images with a simple system configuration.

  As described above, moving image data captured by the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 is transferred to the monitor 103 and displayed. At that time, the user transmits the still image while transmitting the moving image by controlling the operation unit 10 of the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 for the still image to be printed out while viewing the moving image displayed on the monitor 103. Is possible. That is, it is configured to output a moving image and a still image to an external device without using an editing device such as a PC.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication network according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the following second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for members that are the same as or equivalent to those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 5, the configurations of the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 and the printer 102 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The monitor 104 includes a selector 67 and an adder 68 in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment described above. The camera-integrated digital VTR 101 according to the second embodiment synchronously communicates still image data every predetermined communication cycle period in the same manner as moving image data. The operation of the communication network of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the camera-integrated digital VTR 101, the user operates the operation unit 10 to instruct the operation state of the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 to be in the recording mode (step S601). A moving image captured by the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 is transmitted to an external device through synchronous communication in which a transmission band is guaranteed every predetermined communication cycle (for example, 125 μsec) after an instruction to start communication from the operation unit 10. (Step S602).

  The still image recorded in the still image memory 13 starts to read predetermined still image data in response to an instruction from the operation unit 10 or an instruction from an external device (step S603). The still image data read out for each predetermined unit by the memory control unit 14 is supplied to the 1394 interface unit 18 through the data selector. The 1394 interface unit 18 packetizes still image data input for each predetermined unit into packets for isochronous transfer, and performs isochronous transfer to each device on the data bus (step S604).

  In the present embodiment, still image data is transferred to each device on the 1394 serial bus by isochronous transfer of the still image. Accordingly, the monitor 104 and the printer 102 on the communication network can receive still images output from the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 almost simultaneously, so that a desired still image can be displayed on each device or printed. It becomes possible to do.

  Note that control commands and the like for controlling the operation of the external device are irregularly communicated (asynchronous transfer) to a communication destination designated by the operation unit 10 or the external device, as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of temporal transition states of moving image data and still image data transmitted via the 1394 serial bus.

  In FIG. 7, ch (channel) a is moving image data packetized into packet data of a predetermined unit by an isochronous transfer method. Similarly, ch b is still image data packetized into a predetermined unit of packet data by the isochronous transfer method. A communication cycle period (for example, 125 μs) on the 1394 serial bus is delimited by a cycle start packet necessary for making the values of the cycle timers of the devices on the 1394 serial bus substantially coincide. After the cycle start packet, the isochronous packet transfer period starts, and the 1394 interface unit 18 transmits moving image data and still image data packetized by a predetermined communication protocol to the transfer bands of ch a and ch b. Further, since the period from the end of isochronous transfer to the next communication cycle is assigned to the transfer of asynchronous packet data, the 1394 interface unit 18 transfers the asynchronous packet as necessary. As a result, the isochronous packet (synchronous communication data) and the asynchronous packet (asynchronous communication data) are multiplexed on a time-division basis for each predetermined communication cycle period and transmitted onto the data bus.

  The camera-integrated digital VTR 101 according to the present embodiment generates an isochronous transfer packet from compressed moving image data (compressed moving image such as SD-VTR or MPEG standard) using a predetermined communication protocol, and acquires the acquired predetermined transfer. Using the bandwidth (cha), synchronous transfer is performed for each communication cycle. The uncompressed still image data generated based on the moving image is packetized into an isochronous packet according to a predetermined communication protocol in accordance with a transmission request instruction from the operation unit 10 or the operation unit of the external device, and is synchronously transferred. The Thereby, the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 can multiplex moving image data and still image data in a time-sharing manner as necessary, and perform synchronous communication every predetermined communication cycle period. The camera-integrated digital VTR 101 can also asynchronously transfer a control command for controlling the operation of an external device on the 1394 serial bus as necessary. In other words, the 1394 interface unit 18 performs synchronous communication (Isochronous transfer) of moving image data every predetermined communication cycle period, and the still image data is synchronized using a period in which the predetermined communication cycle period is free as necessary. By communicating (Isochronous transfer), the same still image can be transmitted almost simultaneously to each device on the data bus. Note that if there is no instruction for requesting transmission of a still image via the operation unit 10 until the moving image data communication process is completed, the still image is not transmitted (step S605).

  The moving image and still image data generated by the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 is transmitted to each device on the 1394 serial bus. At that time, the monitor 104, which is a device on the 1394 serial bus, is set so as to be able to receive the transfer band (ch a, ch b) used by the camera-integrated digital VTR 101, and is isochronous from the camera-integrated digital VTR 101. The transferred moving image data and still image data can be received. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the monitor 104 main body. In FIG. 8, 801 is a moving image display area for displaying a moving image, 802 is a still image display area for displaying a still image as necessary, and 803 is a display of a desired still image from a moving image being displayed. It is an operation switch to instruct.

  In the monitor 104, the selector 67 performs a process of selectively supplying a moving image and a still image received via the 1394 interface unit 61 to a subsequent processing unit. The moving image data selectively output by the selector 67 is supplied to the decompression processing circuit 62, decompressed, and then supplied to the adder 68. The still image data selectively output by the selector 67 is uncompressed image data, and is supplied to the adder 68 without the need for decompression processing. The adder 68 synthesizes the moving image data and the still image data so that the still image can be displayed as necessary in the screen displaying the moving image. The monitor 104 can display a moving image and a still image using the output from the adder 68 via the D / A converter 63 and the CRT 64.

  With the configuration described above, the user can view both moving images and still images on the monitor 103. Therefore, the user can view a still image printed together with the moving image on the monitor 104.

  In addition, the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 of this embodiment performs isochronous transfer of a desired still image instructed by the operation unit 10 or the operation unit 66. The still image is transferred not only to the monitor 104 but also to the printer 102 because it is transferred isochronously. The printer 102 can receive non-compressed still image data transmitted in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and print it out. Accordingly, even a low-function printer such as the printer 102 of the present embodiment that does not include an expansion processing unit can print out high-quality images with a simple system configuration.

  As described above, moving image data captured by the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 is transferred to the monitor 103 and displayed. At that time, the user transmits the still image while transmitting the moving image by controlling the operation unit 10 of the camera-integrated digital VTR 101 for the still image to be printed out while viewing the moving image displayed on the monitor 103. Is possible. It is also possible to view a still image to be printed out together with a moving image. That is, it is configured to output a moving image and a still image to an external device without using an editing device such as a PC.

  The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. For example, although the present embodiment has been described using a communication network capable of communication conforming to the IEEE 1394 serial bus, the present invention is not limited thereto, and synchronization is performed using a transmission band assigned for each predetermined communication cycle. The present invention can be applied to any communication network having a function capable of mixing communication and asynchronous communication for performing data communication irregularly within a predetermined communication cycle period.

  In this embodiment, still images are generated from moving images picked up by the image pickup unit 4 or read out by the recording medium 19, and each of them is time-division multiplexed and transmitted as necessary. Instead, it is also possible to read out a moving image recorded in advance on a recording medium and a still image corresponding to the moving image, and transmit each of them by time division multiplexing as necessary. Accordingly, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects, and is not construed in a limited manner.

1 is a diagram showing an example of a communication network configured using a camera-integrated digital VTR 101 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram explaining the structure of each apparatus on the communication network of a 1st Example. The flowchart explaining an example of operation | movement of the communication network of a 1st Example. The figure which shows an example of the time transition state of the moving image data and still image data transmitted via a data bus. The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication network of 2nd Example of this invention. The flowchart explaining an example of operation | movement of the communication network of a 2nd Example. The figure which shows an example of the time transition state of the moving image data and still image data transmitted via a data bus. The figure which shows an example of the monitor 104 main body of a 2nd Example. The figure which shows an example of the communication network comprised using 1394 serial bus. The figure which shows the component of 1394 serial bus. The figure which shows the time transition state of Asynchronous transfer. The figure which shows the structure of the packet for Asynchronous transfer. The figure which shows the time transition state of Isochronous transfer. The figure which shows the structure of the packet for Isochronous transfer. The figure explaining the mode of the packet transferred by 1394 serial bus.

Explanation of symbols

101 Digital VTR with integrated camera
102 Printer 103 Monitor

Claims (4)

Generating means for generating moving image data;
Storage means for storing still image data corresponding to a part of the moving image data;
The moving image data transmitted by isochronous transfer, have a transmitting means for transmitting the still image data by the asynchronous transfer,
If there is an instruction to request the still image data from an external device during the transmission of the moving image data, the transmission means transmits the still image data by asynchronous transfer while transmitting the moving image data by isochronous transfer. A data communication device for transmitting .   2. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a compression unit that compresses the moving image data by a predetermined compression method before the transmitting unit transmits the moving image data by isochronous transfer.   3. The data communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the still image data is still image data not compressed by the predetermined compression method.   4. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates the moving image data from an image captured by the imaging unit. 5.

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