JPH11110337A - Data for transferring method and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data transferring method which accelerates the access speed in transferring data from one extended I/F to another extended I/F, and to provide the device therefor. SOLUTION: This device is provided with plural interfaces 1 and 2 which share a data bus, controls data transfer between plural interfaces 1 and 2 and performs data transfer. In such cases, it synchronizes with a signal (RD) to read from one interface 1, outputs a signal (WE) to write in the other interface 2 and directly writes data read from the interface 1 to the other interface 2. The interface 1 is connected to a scanner 101 and the interface 2 is connected to a network 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transfer method and apparatus, and more particularly to a data transfer method and apparatus for a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an apparatus such as an MFP (multi-function printer), an extension interface (I / F) of a printer is used to transmit data read from a scanner or the like to a network (Net Work).
Temporarily stores data via a storage unit (eg, DRAM)
Then, the data was read from the DRAM and output to the network.

[0003] The following describes how the conventional control was performed.
An example will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining a conventional example, in which the configuration and connection of data flow are simplified. 8, reference numeral 1101 denotes a scanner connected to the extension I / F 11 of the printer controller 1106. Reference numeral 1102 denotes an extended I / F control unit that controls the extended I / F 11 on the scanner side and the extended I / F 12 on the network side of the printer controller 1106. A control unit 1103 controls the print controller 1106, and is a CPU unit including a program storage unit for control and a processor.

[0004] As shown in FIG.
The portion indicated by (1) is a portion where data is sent from the scanner 1101 to the extension I / F control unit 1102, and the portion indicated by (2) is a portion where data is sent from the extension I / F control unit
The part sent to the M1104, the part indicated by (3) is the part where the data is sent from the DRAM 1104 to the extended I / F control unit 1102, and the part indicated by (4) is the data
This part is transmitted from the F control unit 1102 to the network 1105. That is, in the conventional control, the data read by the scanner 1101 is not transferred until the data is transmitted to the network 1105.
1 through the extended I / F control unit 1102 in DMA
It was sent to the AM 1104 and then sent from the DRAM 1104 to the network 1105 by DMA via the extended I / F control unit 1102.

[0005] In FIG. 8, a thick black portion on the extension interface side indicates a shared data bus. That is, in FIG.
The extension I / F 11 and the extension I / F 12 inside the printer controller 1106
In addition, the data bus of the extended I / F control unit 1102 is shared.

The timing of data flow in the configuration shown in FIG. 8 is as shown in the timing chart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 6A, the scanner 110
When the DREQ 602, which is a data transmission request, is transmitted from the extension I / F 1, a response of the signal DACK 603 as an acknowledgment is received from the extension I / F control unit 1102.
/ Read by the control F unit 1106 (corresponding to (1) in FIG. 8) and stored in the DRAM 1104 ((2) in FIG. 8)
Corresponding to). Next, the CPU unit 1103 performs necessary internal processing in the printer.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the DREQ 605 which is a data transmission request from the network 1105 is transmitted, the extended I / F is transmitted to the network 1105 as shown in FIG. Control unit 11
02, there is a response of the signal DACK 606 as an acknowledgment, and subsequently the data is transmitted to the network 1105 at the timing of WR 607.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional system in which image signal data input by a scanner 1101 is extended I / F.
Read from the scanner 1101 by the control unit 1102,
Stored in DRAM 1104 by DMA, then
4 is a flowchart of control by a CPU unit 1103 when sending data to a computer 105 by DMA. When an interrupt occurs from the scanner 1101 via the extension I / F control unit 1102 in step S50, a register (channel number and data length) for interruption control in the extension I / F control unit 1102 is read in step S51. Based on the read contents of the control register, the process proceeds to step S5.
2, an open packet (DMA) is transmitted, then a data packet (DMA) is transmitted in step S53, and a closed packet (DMA) is transmitted in the next step S54.
The process ends.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional printer controller 11.
6 shows an example of a circuit that controls the control by the control unit 06.
In FIG. 7, the flow of data is omitted. FIG. 7 (FIG. 8,
In FIGS. 6 and 5, the control corresponding to the portion shown in FIG. 6A is as follows. First, the scanner 1101 sends the data request signal DREQ 602 via the arbiter 702 to the extended I / F controller 1102 ( When the extended I / F sequencer 703 is sent to the CPU 1103 via a part thereof, an interrupt occurs in the CPU 1103,
The CPU unit 1103 recognizes that the DREQ 602 has been interrupted by CPU access (software).

Next, the CPU 1103 sends the scanner 1 from the extension I / F 11 via the extension I / F controller 1102.
The DACK 601 is sent to 101 via the inverter 715 in negative logic. At the same time, the extension channel select signal EX
CS 608 is transmitted as a selection signal through inverter 716 in negative logic. Further, a signal RD 604 for reading image signal data from the scanner 1101 is supplied to an inverter 717.
As an extended I / F 11 (to the extended I / F signal 12 connected to the network at the same time) as a negative logic signal. Next, necessary internal processing in the printer is performed, and a DREQ 12 from the network 1105 is waited.

The control corresponding to the portion shown in FIG. 6B is performed when the data request signal DREQ 605 is transmitted from the network 1105 via the arbiter 702 to the extended I / O.
When sent to the CPU unit 1103 via the F control unit 1102, an interrupt occurs in the CPU unit 1103, and the CPU unit
The unit 1103 recognizes that the DREQ 605 has been interrupted by the CPU access.

Next, the CPU section 1103 sends the DACK 606 to the network 1105 from the extension I / F 12 via the extension I / F control section 1102 to the network 1105 in negative logic via the inverter 713. At the same time, the extended channel select signal EXCS 609 is sent out as a select signal via the inverter 714 in negative logic. Further, the network 1105 reads the image signal data (writes from the extended I / F unit).
The signal WR 607 is transmitted as a negative logic signal via the inverter 712 to the extension I / F 12 (to the extension I / F 11 at the same time).

[0013]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since data is stored in the DRAM of the printer once and then read and transmitted, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. Internal processing by the printer intervenes between reception and transmission to the network. Therefore, there is a drawback that a considerable time is required from reading by the scanner to transmission on the network, and a delay is generated accordingly.

Furthermore, since data is once stored in the DRAM of the printer, there is a drawback that access to other DRAMs in the printer is hindered. An object of the present invention is to speed up access when data is transferred from one extension I / F to another extension I / F.

[0015]

To solve this problem, a data transfer method according to the present invention includes a plurality of interfaces sharing a data bus, and controls data transfer between the plurality of interfaces. The method
A signal for writing read data to the other interface is output in synchronization with a signal for reading for one interface, and the data read from the one interface is directly written to the other interface. It is characterized by the following. Here, the other interface is connected to a network.

A data transfer device according to the present invention includes a plurality of interfaces that share a data bus, and controls data transfer between the plurality of interfaces. Means for outputting a read signal for synchronizing with the read signal, and means for outputting a write signal for writing read data to the other interface in synchronization with the read signal. The written data is directly written to the other interface. Here, the other interface is connected to a network. The data transfer device is included in a printer controller, and the one interface is connected to a scanner.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of an interface according to the present embodiment, which simplifies the configuration, the flow of data, and the connection of control signals. Is shown.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a scanner connected to the extension I / F 1 of the printer controller 106. Reference numeral 102 denotes an extension I / F control unit that controls the extension I / F1 and the extension I / F2 of the printer controller 106. A control unit 103 controls the print controller 106, and is a CPU unit including a processor including a program storage unit for control.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a DRAM for storing drawing data and communication data of the printer controller 106 as necessary. 105 is the printer controller 20
6 is a network connected to the extension I / F2. Reference numeral 107 denotes a flow of data from the scanner 101 to the network 105 according to the present embodiment. A signal of the data request DREQ 202 is sent from the scanner 101 to the extension I / F control unit 102, and the data acknowledgment D is sent from the extension I / F control unit 102 to the scanner 101.
An ACK 203 signal is sent. Network 1
05 to the extended I / F control unit 102
REQ 205 is transmitted, and the extended I / F control unit 102
To the network 105, the data acknowledge DA
The signal of CK206 is sent.

Here, in FIG. 1, the thick black portion on the extension interface side indicates a shared data bus. That is, in FIG. 1, the scanner 101 and the network 105 share the data bus of the extension I / F1 and the extension I / F2 and the extension I / F control unit 102 inside the printer controller 106.

<Example of Control Timing Chart of this Embodiment> FIG. 2 shows a scanner 101 and an extended I / F controller 102.
4 is a timing chart showing the relationship between signals between the network 105 and the signal between the network 105 and the extended I / F control unit 102. CLK201 in FIG. 2 is a clock, and all controls are performed based on CLK201.

A DREQ 202 is a data request signal when DMA transfer is performed from the scanner 101 to the extended I / F control unit 102. The DACK 203 is provided by the extended I / F control unit 102 on the printer controller 106 side.
This is a data acknowledge signal output in response to REQ202. An RD 204 is a read signal indicating to the scanner 101 that the printer controller 106 reads.

A DREQ 205 is a data request signal transmitted from the network 105 to the extended I / F control unit 102 of the printer controller 106. D
The ACK 206 is the DR on the printer controller 106 side.
This is a data acknowledge signal output in response to the EQ 205. WR 207 is a write signal indicating that the printer controller 106 writes to the network 105.

In FIG. 2A, first, a DREQ 205 is provided from the network 105 (indicated by T1), and then a DREQ 202 as a request signal for transmitting a signal obtained by reading an image by the scanner 101 is an extended I / O. F part 2
02 (indicated by T2), a response of the DACK 203 as an acknowledgment is issued from the extended I / F control unit 102 to the scanner 101, and the image information data is synchronized with the DACK 203 by the RD 204 to the scanner 101.
Is read out. At the same time as DACK203, extended I /
A DACK 206 is issued by the F control unit 102 and at the same time, a W
R207 is issued.

FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the scanner 10.
1, there is a DREQ 202 (indicated by T3), and then DR
This is the case where the EQ 205 exists from the network 105, and the DACK 203, the DACK 206, the RD 204, and the W
The timing of R20 is the same as that of the part (A). <Example of Control Flow of the Present Embodiment> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control flow of the system in the embodiment of the present invention at the time of DMA transfer.

In the present embodiment, a flow of control in which image signal data input by the scanner 101 is read from the scanner 1101 by the extended I / F control unit 102 and transmitted to the network 105 by DMA without being stored in the DRAM 104. FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in step S30, the extended I / F control unit 1
When an interrupt to the CPU unit 103 occurs via the CPU 102 in step S31, the CPU unit 1103
The register for interrupt control (channel number, data length, and through flag) in the F control unit 1102 is read. Then, based on the contents of the read register for control, an open packet (DM
A), then a data packet (DMA) is transmitted in step S33, and a close packet (DMA) is transmitted in the next step S34, and the process is terminated.

Here, when the new signal of "through" is true, it means that the data flow is set as shown in FIG. 1 without storing the data read by the scanner 101 in the DRAM 104 of the printer. <Example of Circuit of the Present Embodiment> FIG. 4 shows an example of a circuit embodying the present invention. Hereinafter, an example of a circuit of a portion that controls the printer controller 106 will be described. In FIG. 4, the flow of data is omitted.

In this example, a description will be given of a case where the flip-flop 401 is set to true by the port set signal when the port data from the CPU 103 is 1 in FIG. .
When the flip-flop 401 is not set, the AND circuits 404 and 405 are used, and the AND circuit 406 is prohibited. Also, AND circuits 409 and 41
0 is prohibited, and the AND circuit 408 is activated. That is, the function of the circuit when the flip-flop 401 is not set is the same as the conventional circuit example shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described on the assumption that the flip-flop 401 is set. FIG.
In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the control corresponding to the portion shown in FIG.
5, the data request signal DREQ 205 is sent to the CPU 103 via the extended I / F control unit 102 (a part of the extended I / F sequencer 403) (FIG. 2).
T1), when the DREQ 202 is sent from the scanner 101, the flip-flop 401 is set, so that the AND circuit 406 is satisfied. The output of the AND circuit 406 is provided to the extended I / F sequencer 403 via the OR circuit 407 and the arbiter 402.

Therefore, the DACK 203 is output from the extension I / F sequencer 403 to the extension I / F 1 as a negative signal via the inverter 415. At the same time, the AND circuit 41
Since 0 is utilized, via the OR circuit 413,
DACK 206 is output to extension I / F2 as a negative signal. Further, the RD 204 is output as a negative signal to the extension I / F 1 via the inverter 417 and is sent to the scanner 101. At the same time, since the AND circuit 409 is utilized, the WR 207 is connected to the extended I through the OR circuit 412.
/ F2.

At the same time, the extension channel select signal EXC
S208 is transmitted as a selection signal to the extended I / F1, that is, the scanner 101, via the inverter 416 in negative logic. At the same time, the extension channel select signal EXCS
209 is transmitted as a selection signal to the extended I / F 2, that is, the network 105 via the inverter 414 in negative logic.

By controlling as described above, data is read from the scanner 101 and simultaneously the network 1
05 (data flow 107). In other words, by performing the above, data can be transmitted to the printer-side DRAM without accumulating data during DMA transfer from the extension I / F1 to the extension I / F2, so that high-speed data transfer can be performed.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile). Device). Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to store the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the program.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Examples of a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, and C
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is written based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Data transfer from the extension I / F to the extension I / F can be performed at a high speed with a small load on the printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a data flow according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart illustrating an example of a signal relationship between I / Fs according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart simply showing a DMA transfer according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a simplified circuit example for explaining an example of a control unit of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart simply showing a conventional DMA transfer.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart illustrating an example of a conventional signal relationship between I / Fs.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a conventional circuit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a conventional data flow.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A data transfer method comprising: a plurality of interfaces sharing a data bus; and controlling data transfer between the plurality of interfaces, wherein a read operation is performed in synchronization with a read signal for one interface. A data transfer method comprising: outputting a signal for writing output data to the other interface; and writing data read from the one interface directly to the other interface. 2. The data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein said other interface is connected to a network. 3. A data transfer device having a plurality of interfaces sharing a data bus and controlling data transfer between the plurality of interfaces, and outputs a read signal for reading to one of the interfaces. Means, and means for outputting a write signal for writing read data to the other interface in synchronization with the read signal, and directly reading the data read from the one interface to the other interface. A data transfer device for writing to an interface. 4. The data transfer device according to claim 3, wherein said other interface is connected to a network. 5. The data transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the data transfer device is included in a printer controller, and the one interface is connected to a scanner.