JPH05265911A - Interface function-extension system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extend an interface function between an initiator and a target by outputting a command for controlling the target by the initiator according to the operating state of the target without an initiator function. CONSTITUTION:A scanner 8 is constituted of a picture reading circuit 1, CPU 2 which controls the operation of the scanner 8, memory 3 necessary for the operation of the CPU 2, reading start switch 4, and SCSI controller 5. The SCSI-corresponding scanner 8 is equipped with the reading start switch 4, so that the reading of the scanner 8 can be started by the switch 4 even when the scanner 8 is not equipped with the initiator function. Thus, an operator can operate the reading of an original only by pressing the reading start switch 4 of a scanner control panel 80 in hand after setting the original at the scanner 8 without going to control a remote host.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

This invention relates to SCSI (Smal).
l Computer System Interfa
ce) and other standard interface enhancements. In particular, it relates to improvement of the reading operation in a SCSI compatible image scanner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For computer peripherals such as image scanners, a versatile and highly functional SCSI interface is often used. This SCSI is ANSI
(American National Standard
It is standardized by X.131 of the rd Institute) and consists of hardware for exchanging data and a protocol (protocol) for exchanging the data.

A total of eight devices can operate on the SCSI bus, but when actually operating, these devices are
In terms of its operation, it is classified into two types, an initiator and a target. The initiator is a device that issues various SCSI commands, and the target is a device that receives and executes the commands.

Each device on the SCSI bus can be both an initiator and a target according to the standard. However,
Actual SCSI-compliant devices often have only a target function because of cost issues.

For example, many SCSI compatible image scanners support only the target function, and the operation thereof is S.
It is often controlled by a host device (personal computer or the like) as a CSI initiator.

[0006]

Since the SCSI-compatible scanner which can only be a target does not have an initiator function (command sending function), its operation can only be controlled from the host side.

Therefore, when the scanner and the host are installed apart from each other and connected by a relatively long SCSI cable, the scanner operator starts the reading.
Each time you start it, you have to move to where the host is and perform the start operation.

An object of the present invention is to configure the initiator target by issuing a command for controlling the target according to the operating state of the target having no initiator function. -To provide a system for expanding the interface function between the get.

Another object of the present invention is an initiator.
Initiator depending on the operating status of a target that has no
It is to provide a method for expanding the interface function between an initiator and a target by configuring the target to issue a command to control the target.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, in the system of the present invention, an initiator section (9) for sending a command in conformity with a predetermined standard interface (SCSI); A command that receives a command from the standard interface and executes that command.
A get section (8); a bus (10) connecting the initiator section (9) and the target section (8),

A specific command (reading start switch status request command; a SCSI vendor unique command) for confirming a specific operation mode (reading start switch on / off state) of the target section (8). ) Is repeatedly transmitted to the target unit (8) via the bus (10) in the initiator unit (9).

In response to the specific command, the specific operation mode of the target section (8) at the time of the response is returned to the initiator section (9) via the bus (10). The target part (8) has a function.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned other object, in the method of the present invention, an initiator unit for transmitting a command conforming to an interface of a predetermined standard and a command for the interface of the predetermined standard are received. In a system including a target unit for executing the command, a specific operation mode of the target unit is used.
A specific command for confirming the command is repeatedly transmitted from the initiator unit to the target unit,

In response to the specific command, the specific operation mode of the target section at the time of the response is returned from the target section to the initiator section.

[0015]

In the above structure, the initiator unit (9)
The target unit (8) sends a predetermined command (read start command) corresponding to the specific operation mode based on the content of the specific operation mode returned by the target unit.
Send to the get section (8). As a result, the target unit (8) executes the predetermined command.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram explaining the composition of a face function expansion system.

The scanner 8 includes an image reading circuit 1, a CPU 2 for controlling the operation of the scanner, a memory 3 required for the operation of the CPU, a reading start switch 4, and an SC.
It is composed of SI controller 5. The reading start switch 4 is provided on the operation panel on the scanner 8 side as shown in FIG. The scanner 8 functions as a target unit that executes commands of the SCSI interface. The SCSI controller 5 on the scanner 8 side is SCS
SCSI controller 6 on I-bus 10 and host 9 side
Is connected to the host computer 7 via. The host 9 functions as an initiator unit that sends out commands conforming to the SCSI interface. 2 is shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation on the scanner 8 side in the system of FIG.

A document is set on the scanner 8 and a reading star is set.
When the switch 4 is pressed, the CPU 2
A parameter (flag) indicating ON (read start switch state) is stored in a predetermined address of the memory 3. When the reading start switch 4 is not pressed, the CPU 2
Stores a parameter indicating that the switch 4 is off at a predetermined address of the memory 3.

When the CPU 2 receives a read start switch status request command (ST10), which will be described later (ST10), the read start switch 4 is received at or before this command is received.
Is checked whether it was turned on (ST1
2).

When a parameter indicating that the switch 4 is turned on is stored at a predetermined address of the memory 3 (ST12
Yes), the CPU 2 returns this on parameter to the host 9 via the SCSI controllers 6 and 5 (ST
14).

When a parameter indicating that the switch 4 is off is stored in a predetermined address of the memory 3, (ST12
No), the CPU 2 returns this off parameter to the host 9 via the SCSI controllers 6 and 5 (ST1).
6). FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation on the host 9 side in the system of FIG.

The computer 7 of the host 9 sends a read start switch status request command to the CPU 2 via the SCSI controllers 6 and 5 (ST20). This read start switch status request command is an ANSI
It can be created by using a custom command called "vendor unique" in the SCSI command group standardized by X3.131.

If the parameter returned from the scanner 8 side in response to this request command is the on parameter (YES in ST22), the computer 7 reads the read start standardized by SCSI. Issue a command (ST2
4). This read start command is sent to the scanner 8 via the SCSI bus 10. Then, the scanner 8 starts reading, and the read image data is read by the SCSI bus 10.
It is transmitted to the host 9 via.

When the computer 7 receives the image data sent from the scanner 8 (ST26), the SCSI
After the information transfer phase of (1), the predetermined processing as a host is performed (ST28). After this host processing is completed,
It returns to the process of step ST20.

If the parameter returned from the scanner 8 side in response to the request command is an off parameter (NO in ST22), the processes in steps ST24 and ST26 are skipped, and the host process in step ST28. Is executed. After the end of this host processing, the processing of step ST20 is always executed periodically. The read start switch status request command is repeatedly transmitted to the scanner 8 side periodically by repeating the loop of steps ST20 to ST28 described above.

As described above, according to the present invention, S
By providing the reading start switch 4 in the CSI compatible scanner 8, even if the scanner 8 does not have the function of the initiator, the reading of the scanner 8 can be started by the switch 4. For this reason, the operator reads a document by setting the document on the scanner 8 and then pressing the reading start switch 4 on the scanner operation panel 80 at hand without having to operate a remote host. be able to.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to SCSI has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the standard interface such as GPIB (General).
It can also be applied to a system using the Purpose Interface Bus). In this case, GPIB
Talkers and listeners correspond to SCSI initiators and targets, respectively.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to send a command for operating itself to the initiator device from the target side having no initiator function. Therefore, even if the target device and the initiator device are installed apart from each other, the operator of the target device can operate the target device without moving to the initiator device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an interface function expansion system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation on the scanner side in the system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation on the host side in the system of FIG.

4 is a plan view showing a specific example of an operation panel of the scanner in the system of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Image reading circuit, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... Memory, 4 ... Reading start switch, 5, 6 ... SCSI controller, 7
... host computer, 8 ... scanner, 9 ... host, 1
0 ... SCSI bus, 80 ... Operation panel.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An initiator unit for transmitting a command conforming to an interface of a predetermined standard; a target unit for receiving a command of the interface of the predetermined standard and executing the command; the initiator. In a bus connecting the target unit and the target unit, a specific command for confirming a specific operation mode of the target unit is repeated to the target unit via the bus. The initiator unit has a function of transmitting, and a function of responding to the specific command and returning the specific operation mode of the target unit at the time of the response to the initiator unit via the bus. The specific operation mode is held by the target section, and the initiator section is based on the content of the specific operation mode returned from the target section.
An interface function expansion system, characterized in that the target unit executes the predetermined command by transmitting a predetermined command corresponding to the command to the target unit. 2. Adopted in a system including an initiator section for transmitting a command conforming to a predetermined standard interface and a target section for receiving a command of the predetermined standard interface and executing the command. In the above, a specific command for confirming a specific operation mode of the target section is repeatedly transmitted from the initiator section to the target section, and a response time point in response to the specific command. The specific operation mode of the target section in the above item is returned from the target section to the initiator section, and the specific operation mode is returned based on the content of the specific operation mode returned from the target section. The target unit executes the predetermined command by transmitting a predetermined command corresponding to a specific operation mode to the target unit. And an interface function expanding method characterized by: