JPS585049A - Information processing method of optical transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform high-speed image transmission by dividing image information, transmitted from an optical fiber, into two and transmitting them to a next image information processor, and also inputting them to the reader and printer device of the receiving device. CONSTITUTION:An image packet of image information sent through an optical fiber from an image processor connected as a leading stage and a command packet of control information are converted by an optoelectric converter 11 into electric signals, and a command image discriminating circuit 12 discriminates between the image information and control information. The image information is outputted to a line 13 to be divided into two; one part is passed through an AND circuit 18 together with the nonoriginating terminal signal of a command generating circuit 28, and is recovered into a light signal by an electropic converting circuit 26 together with the output of an image discrimination signal generating circuit 23, so that it is transmitted to a succeeding image processor through an optical fiber. The remainder of the image information is inputted to a reader and printer device 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image transmission system, and more particularly to an information processing method in an image optical transmission system using optical communication for transmitting image information using an optical fiber as a medium.

In recent years, Optical 7-IPA has been put into practical use as an optical transmission member, and attempts have been made to transmit information converted into optical signals using optical fibers as a medium instead of transmitting information as electrical signals. According to such a transmission method using Hikari 7-IPA, the signal to be transmitted is not affected by external influences such as electromagnetic induction, and high-speed transmission is possible. Fibers have advantages such as being lightweight and easy to install.

By the way, information can be broadly divided into two types. One is data information that can only be recognized by the tumbiator means, and the other is image information that can only be recognized by humans through their vision. The transmission methods that have been proposed so far using optical fibers have dealt with data information. However, the disadvantage of the hour/minute method is that there is a limit to the amount of information that can be transmitted per unit time, and the advantages of optical 7T IPA, which is a medium capable of high-speed transmission, cannot be fully utilized. In addition, in order to transmit images clearly, the image information for 111 original images becomes extremely large, and furthermore, due to the nature of the image information, it is preferable to transmit the amount continuously. In this respect as well, if the timer unit is used, the optical 7-eyeper will be monopolized for a long period of time while a large amount of information is being transmitted. Further, in the conventional image transmission system, image information is stored in a recording means, and image recording is performed based on images successively transmitted from the recording means.

This also requires time for writing to the main memory and for successively reading data from the memory, which impedes high-speed transmission. Furthermore, since the capacity of the memory 9 for storing image information is required to be very large, this results in an increase in the size of the system.

In view of the above points, it is an object of the present invention to provide a transmission system that enables high-speed image transmission. Below, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing connections in an embodiment of a loop transmission system using optical fibers to which the present invention is applied. A schematic explanation will be given using FIG. Hereinafter, the packetized image information will be referred to as an image packet, and the packetized control information will be referred to as a command packet. A, B, O, and D are terminals, which are equipped with a solid-state image sensor such as a COD and which reads an original image, an image recording unit such as a laser beam printer, and an optical-electrical converter (hereinafter referred to as 07E converter). ), electrical-optical converter (hereinafter referred to as E10 converter)
This is an image processing device having the following functions. Terminals A, B, C as shown in the diagram
and D are connected in a loop by two parallel optical fibers. 1 is a packet line through which command packets and image packets are transmitted; 2 is a transmission line with a clock synchronized with packets on packet line 1;

That is, the system of this embodiment has a configuration in which command packets and image packets are transmitted through a common optical fiber, and high-speed transmission can be achieved by transmitting information in packet format.

When the system is started, that is, when the power is turned on to each terminal, a command packet (hereinafter referred to as "kent") containing no information is transferred through the loop. Also, the clock synchronized with this Soranoku Kent is clock line 2.
The above will be transferred. When the system is started, one terminal and one master terminal that can issue this Empty (Kent) are set in advance. , and are sequentially transferred to the terminals, and the terminals form the control information necessary for this empty node and transmit it on the loop as a command node.

Then, each terminal can issue a command packet only when the terminal inputs one node being transferred through the loop. This prevents command information from being output from multiple terminals simultaneously on the loop. Furthermore, the terminals that can issue command packets when the system is started can be arbitrarily set. Similarly, each terminal determines the input of a packet based on the input of the clock transmitted through the clock line 2. On the other hand, image packets are transmitted after mutual understanding is obtained between the sender and receiver through the command packet, so only the command packets are transferred on the loop when the device is started.

In the system shown in FIG. 1, terminal A is assumed to be a master terminal that can issue command packets when the system is started. now,
Terminals A, B, C! When the power is turned on to the terminal A and the terminal "However, the command input is recognized by the clock synchronized with the command being input to the terminal from clock line 2. The terminal analyzes the input command packet and returns an empty packet). When it is determined that there is a transmission request from the user, the terminal next checks whether there is a transmission request from the user, and if there is no transmission request, it transmits an empty packet containing only a clock to terminal C. However, if there is a transmission request to the terminal, the input empty packet will contain a pit indicating that a loop connection is in progress, the address of the terminal to which the image should be sent, the address of the terminal that sent the image (in this case, the address of the terminal), and the image. Set pits corresponding to the number of transmissions and image size information,
The command is transmitted to terminal C, and thereafter a response to the command from the destination is awaited. The command packet, which was an empty packet at this point, has become a command packet containing the above-mentioned control information. Terminal C similarly analyzes and issues command packets, and further transmits the command packets to terminal B. Terminal B performs a similar operation and the command packet is transferred in one direction on the loop, such as to the terminal user and terminal A to the terminal. As is clear from the above, when the system is started, the terminal that can issue command packets is set as the only master, and after that, each terminal cannot issue command packets unless it receives a command packet. As such, no information collision occurs on the loop.

Each terminal A, B, C, and D is equipped with a timer.
This timer constantly detects loop breakage. This will be explained below.

Loop breakage refers to situations such as when one of the terminals is not powered on or when the optical fiber itself is cut. In the case of a loop transmission system, it is clear that all connected terminals and all optical fibers must be in perfect condition for the system to function. Furthermore, if the system is normal, the packet will definitely go around the loop once within a certain time after the packet is issued, and will be input again. This fact is utilized to detect loop breakage. When the power is turned on, terminal A, which is the only master capable of issuing command packets at the time of system startup, immediately issues command packets and starts counting the built-in timer. Thereafter, if no command packet is input within a preset timer operation period, it is determined that the loop is likely to be broken. Other terminals B, O, and D start counting their timers after power-on, and then output command packets for the first time if no command packet is input within the timer operation period set for each terminal in advance. After that, if the next command packet is not input within a certain period of time, it is determined that the loop has been broken. In addition, if the serial loop is disconnected for some reason during system operation after the system is started, all terminals start a timer at the same time as the packet is output, and check whether the next packet is input within a certain amount of time. Always detect whether or not.

This eliminates the need for a dedicated protocol to detect loop breakage, and also eliminates the need for a dedicated circuit for that purpose. As mentioned above, the terminals that can issue command packets at the time of system startup can be set arbitrarily, and the setting time of the timer for detecting loop breakage is determined for each terminal according to this setting. According to the present invention, by packetizing and transmitting information in a loop transmission system, not only high-speed transmission is possible, but also information collision avoidance on the loop, loop disconnection detection, etc. can be easily achieved. can.

FIG. 2 shows image reading units (readers) provided at terminals A, B, O, and D. For the main scanning 9 copies, A4 size originals are sub-scanned in the horizontal direction and A3 size originals are scanned vertically, and the line density of the reading is 16" in / 16" in the main scanning direction. It has a resolution of /lIm. Therefore, the number of pits in one main scanning line is 16 bits, /m1 x 297 dragons = 4752 bits, and the sub scanning is 16 lines in A4 size. As shown in Figure 2, the reflected light from the original O illuminated by the fluorescent lamp I is reflected by the lenses L1 and L.
Two photoelectric converters C0 are arranged in the main scanning direction via 2.
The image is formed on DI and 00D2, and the image of the original O is divided into two parts, read, converted into electrical signals, and further generated by an adder P as image information of a shell line. In this way, 3360 lines (A
4 size) or 6720 lines (A3 size).

As mentioned above, the image information is electro-optically converted and transmitted as image packets through optical fibers. Figure 3 shows an image packet. As shown in the figure, the image packet is synchronized with the clock transmitted by the clock line 2, and the data changes at the rising edge of the clock, and the clock falls at a stable point in the middle of the data.

An identification signal S is added to the head of the image packet; a dummy clock DOL is formed on the line 2; The identification signal S is a control signal for distinguishing between an image packet and a command packet transmitted to the packet line, and is a "1" signal if it is an image packet, and an rOJ signal if it is a command packet.

Based on this identification signal inputted to the terminal prior to the packet, each terminal determines whether the following information is an image packet or a command packet, and performs predetermined processing.

FIG. 4 shows a command packet. As described above, a dummy clock DCL is added to the top black and white lines 2 of the command packet, and an identification signal S of a "0" signal is added to the packet line 1. Similarly to the above, the data is synchronized with the clock transmitted by the chronograph 2, and the data changes at the rising edge of the clock. Note that the command packet has a 32-bit configuration as shown in the figure.

FIG. 5 shows the details of the 32 bits of the command packet.

The first to m4 pits are for setting the first destination address, and the fifth
~ 8th bit, G is the setting of the number of transmissions to the first destination, 9th bit ~
The 12th pit sets the address of the second destination, and the 13th...
The 16th bit is the setting for the number of times of transmission to the second destination.

The 17th to 2nd o bits are used to set the source address. The 21st bit sets the size of image information to be transmitted; a "1" signal indicates A3 size, and a "0" signal indicates A4 size. The 22nd bit is a bit used by the sender to ask the destination whether it is ready to receive image information, and functions in the case of the rlJ signal. The 23rd bit is a pit that signals the start of transmission of image information and functions as an rlJ signal. The 24th bit is a pit used by the sender to ask the destination if the reception of the image information is complete, and it functions as a "1" signal. The 25th to 29th bits are blank. The 30th bit is a response pit from the first destination in response to the command from the receiving source, and when it is ``1'', it indicates acceptance of the command.

The 31st bit and g are the response bits from the second destination and are “1
” indicates acceptance of the command.

The 32nd pit indicates that a transmission request has been issued from one of the terminals in the system and that the terminal is connected to the loop.When it is "1", it indicates that the terminal is connected.

In this way, one command packet has the function of specifying multiple destinations, the function of transmitting responses from them, the function of specifying the number of transmissions to multiple destinations and the image size, and the function of preparing for reception from the source to the destination. Complete, start sending,
It has a function of inquiring or instructing completion of reception.

FIG. 6 shows the procedure of a protocol related to image transmission when different numbers of image information are transmitted from terminal A to terminals B, O, and D as an example of using the system of FIG. 1. Similarly, the addresses of each terminal are 1ooo for terminal A, 0100 for terminal B, and 1100 for terminal C. Terminal Riwa 001
It is decided to be 0. To describe a specific usage example, image information is transmitted from terminal A to terminal B, one image to terminal C, two images to terminal C, and three images to terminal R in A4 size.

Terminal A, which received the empty packet in (1), sets "1" to the pit in the loop connection of the command packet, and
Set the address of terminal B to "0100" as the destination, set the address of terminal C as "l100J" as the second destination, and set the number of sheets to be sent to terminal B, which is the first destination, as "1" in binary notation.
000'' and roxoo is set to 2, which is the number of sheets to be sent to terminal C, which is the second destination, in binary notation, and furthermore, the image information size is set to A4 and ``1'' to form a command packet.

Then, in (2), it is transmitted to the terminal. Since this command packet is irrelevant to the terminal, it is transmitted to terminal C as is in step (3). Terminal C analyzes the command packet, and if it is understood, sets the response bit of the second destination to "1" and transmits it to terminal B in step 4). Terminal B analyzes the command packet, and if it is understood, sets the response bit of the first destination to "1" and transmits it to terminal A in step 5). Terminal A analyzes the command packet and checks responses from the first and second destinations. and change the first destination to the terminal's address 0010 and set it, and leave the second destination blank. 4. In addition, the number of sheets to be sent to the terminal, which is the first destination, is 3, which is expressed as 0 in binary notation.
010'', the number of sheets to be sent to the second destination is left blank, and the image size is A4, and the command packet is set to ``1'' and is transmitted to the terminal at (6). The terminal parses the command (kerato), and if it is understood, sets "1" to the response bit of the first destination, and transmits it to terminal C in (7). Since terminal C is irrelevant, it is sent to the terminal as is in (8). B
to be transmitted. Terminal B is also unrelated, so it is transmitted directly to the terminal user in (9). When terminal A confirms the response from the first destination, it then sends a command packet to terminal B to the first destination.
1. Specify terminal C as the second destination and send a beep to ask if the preparation for receiving image information is complete. K rlJ is transmitted to the terminal at set value α0. Since the terminal is irrelevant, it is transmitted directly to terminal C with 0υ. Terminal C analyzes the command packet, and if it is ready for reception, sets the second destination's response pin to "1" and transmits it to terminal B at B2. Terminal B analyzes the command packet, and if it is ready for reception, sets the response bit of the first destination to "1" and transmits it to the terminal person at B3.

When terminal A analyzes the command Pakeno) and confirms that the first destination B and second destination C are ready for reception, it sets a new D in the first destination and leaves the second destination blank. Sets the bit ``1'' to inquire about reception preparation completion with ``I'' and transmits to the terminal with ``I''. The terminal analyzes the command packet, and if it is ready for reception, sets the response bit of the first destination to "1" and transmits it to terminal C at step 151. 6 Terminal C is unrelated, so it is transmitted as is to terminal B using IIEI. Terminal B is unrelated, so it is transmitted as is to terminal person using aη. Terminal A
After confirming the response from the first destination, it sets the transmission start bit to ``1'' in the command packet, further specifies terminal B as the first destination and terminal C as the second destination, and sends the terminal α suddenly. Transmit to, do. In αU to Qυ, similarly to the sequence described above, this command packet is sequentially transmitted from the terminal to C and B, analyzed, a response bit is set, and transmitted to the terminal person. After terminal A confirms the responses of terminals B and C,
Specify the terminal as the first destination and set the transmission start bit to "1"
Set it and send it to the terminal with @. In (c) to (c), similarly to the above-mentioned sequence, this command message is transmitted to the terminal, O and B sequentially, analyzed, a response bit is set, and transmitted to the terminal person. Terminal A is checked for a response from the terminal. Up to this point, the destination terminals B and O
When terminal A and D are ready to receive images, terminal A reads the first document and forms an image packet, (c)
~ (28) This image packet is sent to the terminal, C! , B
are transmitted sequentially. At this time, both terminals C and B capture the image information of the original. When the first image packet is input to the terminal person, terminal A reads the second document and forms an image packet. , B are transmitted sequentially. At this time, terminal C captures this image information. Terminal B does not capture the image information and transmits it as is (c) to the terminal user.

When the second image packet, ) is input to the terminal person, terminal A reads the third document and forms a "reimage packet," and from (to) to (to), this image packet is transferred to the terminal. , O and B are transmitted sequentially.

Only the terminals take in this image information, and terminal C directly transmits the image packet to terminal B, and terminal B directly transmits the image packet to terminal A. At (9), the third image packet is input to the terminal person.

As a result of the above, one card is sent from terminal A to terminal B, and two cards are sent to terminal C.
Image information for three images was transmitted to each terminal. When the third image packet is input, terminal A specifies terminal B as the first destination and terminal C as the second destination of the command packet, and also sets the bit that asks whether the reception is complete, similar to the sequence described above. 1" and transmits to the terminal at (to). This command packet is sent to terminal C31-(4D, O and B are transmitted sequentially, and terminal A sends terminal B and C
When the response is confirmed, terminal A specifies the first destination terminal and waits until the reception is complete.
)L, (42) is transmitted to the terminal.

This command packet is (43 to (451) terminal, O
and B are transmitted in sequence, and when terminal A confirms the response from the other terminal, the global call for image transmission of all-C ends. Then, in (46), the empty packet is transmitted again from terminal A to the other terminal. Thereafter, the empty packet is sequentially transmitted to terminals A, D, C, and B, waiting for the next transmission request. In this way, before transmitting image information, all terminals are prepared for reception, and then the image information is transmitted to multiple devices at the same time, making effective use of the transmission speed of optical fiber. High-speed transmission becomes possible.

Also, if a terminal is not specified as a destination by a frame or an end packet, this terminal will transmit the input image packet to the next terminal without performing any processing, according to K.
Transmission of a different number of image information for each terminal can be performed by the same operation as when transmitting image information to all terminals.

Furthermore, since each terminal's response to the control information in the command packet is confirmed before proceeding to the next step, erroneous transmission of image information will not occur.

Next, the priority will be explained below when two or more terminals have requests to transmit image information while empty packets are being transferred on a loop. As an example, a case will be described in which transmission requests are issued from terminals A and B in FIG. Now, if terminals A and B have a transmission request when an empty packet is input to the terminal, the empty packet is transferred from the terminal to terminal C and then to terminal B. In other words, the information is input to terminal B before being input to the terminal person. As a result, the empty packet is set in terminal B, which indicates that the empty packet is in a loop connection.

In this way, the terminal connected to the output side of the terminal that currently outputs empty packets has the highest priority, and the priority is gradually lowered according to the order in which empty packets are transferred, and the terminal that is connected to the input side of the terminal that outputs empty packets has the highest priority. terminal has the lowest priority. Also, if an image is currently being transmitted and another terminal receives a transmission request at this point, the current transmission operation ends and the terminal that was the source of the image information outputs an empty packet. The terminal connected to the output side of this source has the highest priority, and the terminal connected to the input side has the lowest priority. That is, at the time when the previous transmission of image information is completed, the priority of the loop related to the next transmission is automatically determined based on the previous transmission source. As described above, the priority changes dynamically from moment to moment.

FIG. 7 shows a circuit embodiment of a terminal of an image transmission system according to the present invention. Reference numeral 11 denotes an optical-to-electrical converter (hereinafter referred to as an OA converter) provided at the input section of the terminal, which converts information input as an optical signal from a signal transmission line using an optical fiber into an electrical signal. 12 is a command/image discrimination circuit q
As described above, the electric signal input from the converter 1 is ANDed with the identification signal S added before the packet and the clock to determine whether the input packet is an image packet or a command packet. If so, a "1" signal is output to line 13, and if it is a command packet, an rlJ signal is output to line 14. It also outputs a packet from which the identification signal S has been removed to 2-in-15. 16
Reference numerals denote a recording section that records an image based on an input image packet, and a reader/printer section that reads a document and forms an image packet as an electrical signal. Line 17 is a non-source signal line to which a "1" signal is always output when this terminal is not the source of image information. 18 and 19
is an AND circuit, and when the "1" signal on line 13 from the command/image discrimination circuit 12 and the rlJ signal of the non-source signal on line 17 are input to the AND circuit 18, the image input through line 15 is input to the AND circuit 18. Output the packet to line processing. Also, a line 13- from the command/image discrimination circuit 12 is connected to the AND circuit 19.

If the "1" signal is input, the command packet input via line 15 is output onto line 21. If the terminal is the source of image information, the non-source signal on line 17 is a "0" signal, which prohibits the output of input image packets to the line. If the image packet is an image packet, the image packet is output to the line 20 and the line and delay circuit are input to the printer device 16. 22. The delay circuit 22 outputs the image packet to the next terminal.
Since the identification signal must be added before the image packet, it is provided to delay the image packet for the formation of the identification signal S. Reference numeral 23 denotes an image identification signal generation circuit which, when receiving the rLl signal from line 13, forms an identification signal to be added in front of the image packet currently being input. 24 is an OR circuit that adds the identification signal S of the "1" signal output from the image identification signal generation circuit 23 to the image packet output from the delay circuit 22, and also connects the reader when the terminal is the source of the image information. Then, an identification signal S is added to the image information outputted from the printer device 16 on line 33 and outputted on line 25.

26 is an electrical-to-optical converter (hereinafter referred to as E10 converter) provided at the output section of the terminal, which converts the image packet input via line 25 into an optical signal, and transmits it to the next terminal using the optical fiber as a medium. .

On the other hand, if the input packet is a command packet,
The command packet output on line 21 is input to input command register 27.

The input command register 27 stores all 32-bit command packets. 028 is a command analysis and generation circuit, and the image packet discrimination signal output on line 13 and the command packet discrimination signal output on line 15 are input. When it determines that all 32-bit command packets have been input to the 0-input command register 26, it takes in all of the 32-bit command packets, analyzes its contents, and then extracts the response bits and specified bits as described above. All 32 bits are set in the output command register 29 at the same time. If the terminal mentioned above is not the source, a non-source signal is output on the line/17. 30 is a command identification signal generation circuit which generates an identification signal S to be added before a command packet. 31 is an OR circuit which adds an identification signal S from a command identification signal generation circuit 30 to the front of the command packet input from the output command register 29 and outputs it to a line 32. The line 32 is input to the converter 26, where it is converted into an optical signal in the same way as the image packet, and transmitted to the next terminal via the optical 7 ino used to transmit the image packet. The four switches SW1 to SW4 provided are for setting the address of the terminal, and the switch SW5 is for setting whether or not a command can be issued when the system is started. These five switches are operated by the only terminal in the system. These five switches are preset when the system is installed, and cannot be operated again unless a special problem such as system improvement occurs. Not necessary. FIG. 8 is a detailed circuit diagram of the command analysis and command generation circuit 28 shown in FIG.

60 is an address bus, 61td, f-1' bus, 62 is a read signal line, 63 is a write signal line, 40 is a central control unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that controls the operation of the circuit shown in FIG.
For example, the Intel 8085 microcomputer 041 inputs interrupt signals to the CPU 41 to control interrupts of the CPU 40. For example, the Intel 8259 oCPU 40 receives interrupt input from the interrupt controller 41. It works if there is. Similarly, the signals input to the interrupt controller 41 are a signal (INTI) indicating that the timer for detecting loop disconnection has elapsed for a predetermined period of time, and a signal (INTI) indicating that the timer has expired, and a signal (INTI) indicating that the timer for detecting loop disconnection has timed up, and a signal (INTI) indicating that the timer for detecting loop disconnection has timed up, and a signal that indicates that a key on the operation unit provided in the device has been operated. A signal indicating (I
When these four types of signals are input, the interrupt controller 41 sends an interrupt signal to the CPU 40. 042 is the address bus 60 output by the CPU 40.
This is an address decoder that accesses each section controlled by the CPU 4Q using the above address information. 43 is C
This is a read-only memory (ROM) in which the operation control program for the PU4Q is stored. 44 is a random access memory (RAM) having a storage space as shown in Table 1.
). Reference numeral 45 is an event timer for detecting the loop break described above. 46 is an operating section of the terminal, and 47 is a key and display controller for controlling input/output of keys, display, etc. provided on the operating section 46, such as Intel's 8279. 47 and 48 are input/output ports (I10 ports), such as Intel 8255. ■The ρ boat 47 receives operation signals of five switches sw1 to SW5 provided in the command analysis and command generation circuit, and a signal S IZE from the reader and the printer device 16 indicating the size of the recording material set in the printer device.
Eight signals are input: a signal POK indicating completion of operation preparation of the printer device, and a signal PEND indicating completion of operation of the printer device. ■The β boat 48 is a command signal CM that causes the command discrimination signal generation circuit 30 to generate a command discrimination signal.
DS, a signal PRE that instructs the printer device to prepare for operation.
D. Printer device activation request signal PST, 1ji1. ．．
29 is an output command register shown in FIG. 7, and 27 is an input command register.

Table 1 RAM TABLH Master flag Channel shop line check 7 rung Address 1 number code area Line normal flag Address 2 〃 Line abnormal flag Address 3 〃 Destination (I) flag
Address 4 〃FiLL2 Flang
Destination address code FiLL37 Lanog
Original size repeat, 7 rungs Received number of sheets area Send request, 7 rasog Maximum number of sheets area Source flag Transmission command/packet reception source flag Reception command/packet reception completion flag Figures 9 to 13 show command analysis and command generation circuit 2
8 is a control flowchart of the CPU 40, and these programs are stored in advance in the ROM 43.
These flowcharts will be explained below. When the power is turned on to the terminal, the above-mentioned loop disconnection detection will be performed first. Figure 9 shows the terminal that is powered on 70-. When the power is turned on, in step 70, the interrupt controller 41, event timer 45, and key antenna display controller 4 shown in FIG.
7. The I10 controllers 47, 48 and RAM 44 are initialized. Then, in step 71, I1
0 reads the controller 47 and determines whether the 5th bit input is "1". In other words, by determining whether 8W5 in FIG. If the input of 0 bit 5, which determines whether or not it is a master-terminal that can be issued, is "1", the terminal is a master-terminal, so the master flag is stored in the RAM 44, and if not, the master flag is stored in the RAM. Reset. Next, in step 72 ■ρ
Bits 1 to 4 of the controller 47 are set in the channel number area of the RAM 44. That is, the address of the terminal set by SW1 to SW4 is stored in the RAM 44. Then, in step 73, a predetermined timer value is set in the event timer 73 to start timer operation, and a line check flag is set in R and AM44. In step 74, it is determined whether or not the master flag is set in the RAM 44. If it is set, the output command register 29 is set to 0, which is an empty packet, and if the master flag is not sectored, the power-on flow is set. 0 After this, if there is no broken part in the loop and it is normal, if it is a master terminal, the command packet issued by itself ends the loop by 1 before the event timer 45 times up.
Also, for terminals other than the master terminal, the command packet issued by the master terminal is input to event timer 4.
5 is input before the time knob. Therefore, if the loop is normal, the command discrimination signal INT3 is input to the interrupt controller 41, and this fact is also transmitted to the interrupt terminal of the 0PU 40, and C! The PU40 operates.However, if there is a break in the loop, the event timer 45 times up before the command packet is input.Then, the time-up signal lNTl, which is a signal indicating this time-up, is input to the interrupt controller 41, and is further input to the interrupt terminal of the PU40. This is communicated and the 0PU40 operates.

Figures 10A to 1OJ are command discrimination signal interrupt routines when the command discrimination signal NT3 indicating that a command packet has been input to the terminal is input. Detect disconnection 0 Since the line check flag was set in step 73 of the power-on flow in Figure 9, step 8
At step 81, the loop 1 flag indicating that a command packet has already been input has not yet been set, so the loop 1 flag is set. In step 82, input command register 2 is input.
7 is loaded into the received command packet area of the RAM 44. In step 83, it is determined whether or not the command packet loaded into the RAM 44 is an empty packet. In this case, since it is an empty packet, the process proceeds to step 84, where a transmission request 7 rasog is set, indicating that the terminal has a transmission request. Determine if there are any. In this case, since there is no transmission request, the process proceeds to step 85 and forms an empty packet in the transmission command packet area of the RAM 44, and loads it into the output command register 29 in step 86. Then, in step 87, the event timer 45
A predetermined timer value is set in , the timer operation is started, and the command discrimination signal interrupt routine is ended. Thereafter, when a command packet is input again before the event timer 45 times up, the command discrimination interrupt routine is started again. At this point, loop disconnection detection is completed, and at step 81, where it is determined that the loop is normal, RA is
Since the loop 17 rasog is set in M44, reset the loop 1 flag, further reset the line check flag, set the line normal flag, and reset the abnormal flag.0 and receive command loaded into RAM44 again. The content of the packet is analyzed, and if no transmission request is input to the terminal, an empty packet is loaded into the output command register 29 and the timer operation of the event timer 45 is started again. When the event timer 45 times up, the time-up signal lNTl is input to the interrupt controller 41 and the timer interrupt routine of FIG. 11 is called. At step 50, the disconnection of the series is not detected by the routine of FIG. 10A and the loop is normal. If so, the line flag is set in the RAM 44, and in this case, the timer interrupt routine is terminated assuming that the command packet was input before time-up.0However, if the line flag is not set, the command packet is input before time-up. In step 51, it is determined whether the master flag indicating that the terminal is a master terminal is set or not. If the terminal is the master and the master flag is set, an empty packet is set in the output command register 29 and the process proceeds to step 52; if the terminal is not the master, the process proceeds to step 52.0 At step 52, a predetermined timer is set in the taste event timer 45. Set the value and start timer operation. In this way, when the terminal is the master, when the time-up occurs before inputting a command packet, it outputs an empty command packet again and at the same time sets the event timer to 4.
5 starts the timer operation. Additionally, the terminal that is not the master restarts the timer operation of the event timer 45.
In this way, loop break detection is repeated several times, and if a command packet is still not input normally even after performing the detection operation a predetermined number of times, it is determined that there is definitely a break in the loop, and a In addition, since each terminal is configured to individually detect loop breakage in this way, if there is a break in the loop, the cut position can be accurately determined.12. The figure shows a key-in interrupt routine when a key input signal INT2 indicating that a key has been operated on the operating section 46 is input. Information input from the operating section 46 is as follows:
There are four types: the destination of image information, the number of image information to be transmitted, the size of image information to be transmitted, and an instruction to start transmission. In step 90, the entered key information is stored in the RAM 44.
Store it in the corresponding area. If the destination address key is entered, send that address code to RA.
Set it to M44. Further, when the transmission number key is entered, the number of sheets is set in the number of sheets code area of the RAM 44 corresponding to the destination address. Also, set the size in the document size area. After the above three types of information are entered, when the transmission start key is entered, the RAM
Check whether the number of sheets has been set in the areas corresponding to the four sending addresses of 44 in order from address 1 to address 4. If there is a setting of the number of sheets, the first transmission address that is confirmed is checked in the sending command packet area of RAM 44. 1st of
The destination address bit is set to the number of sheets to be sent, and the number of sheets is set to the transmission count bit.Then, the transmission address that has been confirmed to have a number of sheets set is set to the second destination address bit of the transmission command packet, and the number is set to the number of times to send. Set to bit.

In addition, if a destination with a number of copies is confirmed, RA
M44 internal code Pete flag is set to 0. If the destination is not confirmed any further, the original size bit and destination address bit of the transmission command packet are set. Then, the transmission request flag in the RAM 44 is set. Here, in the transmission command packet area of the RAM 44, a transmission command packet to be output when an empty command packet is received is set to 0.
That is, the command number based on the destination address, number of sheets to be sent, document size, etc. input from the operation unit 46 is sent to the RA.
The transmission command number in M44 (of#1 and FiLL2 flags that will be formed in the kerat area are stored in RAM4
Indicates that information regarding the terminals with addresses 1 and 2 has been set in the transmission command notation area in 4, and the FiLL
3 indicates that information regarding the terminals with addresses 1 and 3 or 2 and 3 has been set in this area.0 In this way, a command packet is formed in the kerato area according to the transmission command of the RAM 44, and the transmission request flag is set. When an empty packet is input to a terminal, a command discrimination signal interrupt routine is called by the command discrimination signal INT3. As a result, this terminal becomes the source of the image information, and starts a global call necessary for transmitting the image information to the destination.0 Below, the operation of the source terminal will be explained. Refer to the command discrimination signal interrupt routine in the IOJ diagram.0 As mentioned above, when a send command packet is formed in the send command packet area of the RAM 44 and an empty packet is input to the terminal where the send request flag is set, the command is Since the 0 line check flag, by which the routine of the first OA- is called by the discrimination signal INT3, has already been reset, the process advances to step 82 and loads the command bucket inputted into the command register into the received command packet in the RAM 44. Then, in step 83, the content is determined and since it is an empty packet, step 8
Proceed to step 4 and check whether the transmission request flag is set. In this case, there is a transmission request and the transmission request flag is set in the RAM 44, so proceed to step 92. In step 92, the transmission request flag in the RAM 44 is reset. Furthermore, the sender 7 flag indicating that the terminal has become the sender is set in the RAM 44, and the process proceeds to step 86.In step 86, the data that has already been input from the operation unit is formed in the send command packet area of the RAM 44. Load the current command packet into the output register 29.

Then, while transmitting the command packet, a predetermined value is set in the event timer in step 87 to start timer operation, and the routine of FIG. 10A is ended. At this point, a command packet with bits set indicating the destination, the corresponding number of transmissions, the source, the original size, and the line connection is transferred onto the loop. The source terminal then waits for this command packet to pass through all terminals and be input again.

When a command packet is input again to the light emitting/receiving terminal, the routine shown in FIG. 10A is called by the command discrimination signal INT3. This command packet includes information regarding transmission and a response from the destination. Therefore,
At step 82, it is determined that the command packet loaded into the RAM 4.4 is not an empty packet, and the process proceeds to step 88.

Since the source flag is set in the RAM 44, the process advances to [F] in FIG. Then, in step 101, the command packet in the reception command packet area of the RAM 44 includes a reception preparation completion bit, a transmission start command bit,
Then, check whether the transmission completion bit is set. In this case, since these three types of bits are not set, the process proceeds to step 102. In step 102, it is determined whether bits corresponding to the first destination and the second destination are set in the received command packet area. If set, each bit is reset and the process proceeds to step 103; if not set, the number code area of R and AM44 corresponding to the destination is set to 0,
Furthermore, each response bit is reset and the process proceeds to step 103.

In step 103, it is checked whether the repeat flag is set in the RAM 44 in the key-in interrupt routine shown in FIG. If the repeat flag is set, it is determined that there is another destination for which the number of sheets can be set, and in step 104 it is checked whether the FiLL2 flag is set. See if it is set. That is, F
If the iLL2 flag is set, step 104
Assuming that the information to the destination corresponding to addresses 1 and 2 was set in the previous command packet, address 3
Check whether the number of sheets is set to 4 or not. In this case, if the number of sheets is set in both addresses 3 and 4, address 3 is set in the first destination bit of the receive command packet area in RAM 44, the number of sheets is set in the number of transmission bits, and the number is set in the second destination bit. Set address 4 and the number of copies to the transmission count bit 0 Also, if the number of copies is set to only one of addresses 3 or 4, set that address to the first destination bit of the receive command packet area, Also, set the number of sheets in the transmission count bit 0 Then, reset the FiLL2 or FiLL37 rack and proceed to step 106 0 At step 106, reset the repeat flag and proceed to and starts the event timer 45. However, if the repeat flag is not set in step 103, the process proceeds to step 107. In step 107, it is checked whether or not there is a number of sheets set for destinations 1 to 4 in the RAM 44.0 If it is the sender terminal, the number of sheets has been set, so the process proceeds to step 108, and first prepares to receive the receive command packet. Set a bit in uAMj4 to inquire about completion. Then, in step 109, it is sequentially determined whether or not the number of sheets is set in the area corresponding to each address.
If the number of sheets has been set, set the address to the first and second destination address bits in the receive command packet area of the RAM 44 according to the 70-chart in Figures 10D to 10G corresponding to each address. . Furthermore, if the number of sheets is set in three or more terminals, a repeat flag is set. Then proceed to RA
The received command packet set in M44 is loaded into the output command register 29, and the event timer 45
In this way, a command packet with the bit set to inquire about the completion of reception preparation is output onto the loop.

The source terminal then waits for this command packet to be input again as described above.

When the next two command packets are input, the routine of FIG. 10A is called by the s j command discrimination signal INT3, and if the reception ready bit of the received command packet is set, step 10 of FIG.
1 to [F] in Figure 10H. And step 1
If the destination response bit should have been set in step 01 but is not, load the input received command packet into the output commander register 29 and return to step 3 to load the same command packet again. Appear. If the destination response bit that should have been set is set, the response bit is reset in step 111, and it is determined in step 112 whether the repeat flag is set in the RAM 44. If it is not set, the reception ready bit of the reception command packet is reset in step 113, the transmission start command bit is set, and the process proceeds to 0 in FIG. 1oc. and step 105
Then, it is again sequentially determined whether or not the number of sheets is set in the area corresponding to each address in the RAM 44. Then, set the address in the receive command packet area, and
The command packet returned to the RAM 44 is output. If the repeat 7 rasog is set in step 112, it is determined in step 114 whether the FiLL2 flag is set, and if it is set, the previous command packet is sent to the destination corresponding to addresses 1 and 2. Assuming that the bit for inquiring that reception preparation is complete is set and the response is focused, it is checked in step 115 whether the number of sheets is set in addresses 3 and 4.
44, set the addresses in the address bits of the first and second destinations, reset the repeat flag, and return to step 3.J) Bit-set command inquiring whether reception is ready for the new destination set in RAM 44. When a command packet with the 0th order transmission start command bit set is input, the command discrimination signal IN is output.
At T3, the routine shown in Figure 10A is called, and the first
Proceed from Step 101 in Figure 00 to ■■ in Figure 10I. In FIG. 1, it is determined in step 116 whether or not the response bit for the transmission start command is set. If it is not set, the process returns to (2) and a command packet containing the same information is sent out again. If the response bit is set, it is determined in step 117 whether the repeat flag is set. 10th if set
Proceed to ■ in Diagram H. It's not set C t'L Ir!
Proceeding to step 118, the transmission start command bit in the receive command packet area of RAM 44 is reset, and bit 3 of step 102, which instructs reader activation, is set. Then, among the set numbers corresponding to each destination address set in the RAM 44, the maximum number is set in the maximum number area of the RAM 44.

As described above, when a response from the destination to the transmission start command from the source is confirmed, the source terminal starts transmitting image information.

That is, an image packet formed by reading a document is output from the transmission source. When the image packet returns to the source terminal via each terminal, the image discrimination signal interrupt routine shown in FIG. 13 is called by the image discrimination signal INT4. If the terminal is the source, the process proceeds to step 120, where 1 is subtracted from the maximum number area, and if the content of the maximum number area becomes O, it is assumed that the transmission of the image packet has been completed, and the process proceeds to step 121.

Then, in step 121, l10
Reset bit 3 of 2 and set the bit inquiring whether the reception is complete in the reception command packet area.
Proceed to. Then, in step 105, the address of the terminal for which the number of sheets has been set is set in the first destination or second destination bit of the received command packet, and the process returns to step 1) to output the command packet set in the RAM 44. Further, in step 120, if the value of the maximum number of images area becomes 0, the image packet is output again.

The value in the maximum number area becomes 0, and the source terminal that outputs the command packet with the bit set to inquire about reception completion waits for a response bit from the destination. When this command packet is input, the command discrimination signal interrupt routine of FIG. 10A is called by the command discrimination signal INT3. Then, proceed to [F] in FIG. 100. When a command packet with a bit set to ask the sender whether reception is complete is input, it is determined in step 101 and the first
Proceed to 0J diagram ■. In the flowchart of FIG. 10J, it is determined in step 122 whether or not the response bit for the reception completion bit is set, and if it is not set, the value returns to 0 and a command packet containing the same information is sent out again. If the response bit is set, the process advances to step 123 to determine whether the repeat flag is set. If it has been set, the process proceeds to (2) in FIG. 10H and asks the remaining destinations whether the reception is complete. If not, the process proceeds to Stella 7' 124, sets the transmission command packet to 0, and proceeds to 2 in FIG. 10A. At this point, all image transmission from the source is completed, and empty packets are sequentially transferred onto the loop again.

Next, the operation of the destination terminal will be described. Assume that the check for one line is completed, the source outputs a command packet containing information specifying the destination, and this command packet is input to a terminal other than the source. As a result, the command discrimination interrupt routine of FIG. 10A is called by the command discrimination signal INT3. In step 80, since the line check flag has already been reset, the process proceeds to step 82, and the input command packet is stored in the RAM 44.
Load it into the received command packet area. and,
The process advances from step 83 to step 88, and since it is not the originator, the process further advances to step 89. In step 89, the first destination address bit of the received command packet is FLAM.
Check to see if it matches the channel number of your terminal, which is set to 44. If they match, the receiving source flag in the RAM 44 is set, and the process proceeds to (2) in FIG. 10B. Also, if it does not match the first destination address bit, step 9
0, check for a match with the second destination address bit 0 And if they match, proceed to ■ in Figure 10B 〇 If they do not match, that is, it is not specified as either the first or second destination If so, proceed to step 91, load the received command packet as is into the output command register 29, reset the RAM 4417) reception source flag, and proceed to step 87, set a predetermined timer value in the event timer, start the timer, and empty it. If the first or second destination is specified as described above, proceed to ■ in Figure 10B0.Then, step 1 determines what questions the received command packet should ask. Judge from 93 to 95.

In other words, if the first question is whether reception preparation is complete, l101
is read and the signal of bit 7 of l101 indicating whether printing operation is possible -IJ\ is checked. If the print operation is possible, proceed to ◎, and in step 99 it is determined whether the receiving source flag is set or not. If it is set, it is assumed that the own terminal is the first destination, and the response focus of the first destination of the received command is set. Load into the transmission command packet area.Furthermore, if the reception source flag is not set, it is assumed that the own terminal is the second transmission destination, and the second transmission destination response bit of the reception command packet is set. Then, I, which is a print operation preparation command,
Set bit 2 of lo 2, load the instructed number of transmissions into the reception number area of RAM 44, and
Proceed to ■ in Figure A to output to the loop and start the timer.

However, if printing is not possible, the process proceeds to O, without setting the response bit of its own terminal, and proceeds to FIG. 10A, 00, where it outputs the received command.

At t7't, secondly, if the received command (kerato) instructs to start transmission, in step 94, the printer device is made ready to receive the image signal, and the process advances to 0 to set the response bit.

Also, if the third question is to inquire about reception completion, step 95
Then read Ilo 1 and check the signal at node 8 of l10f, which indicates whether the printing operation has ended or not. If the printing operation is completed, the process advances to O and a response pit is set. Also, if the printing operation has not been completed, proceed to ◎ and do not set the response pit. Also, if the received command packet does not ask any of the above three questions, read ■101, and send the printer to the printer in step 97). It is determined whether the pit 6 of the work 102 indicating the size of the recording material being used is equal to the size specified by the received command packet. If they are equal, the process proceeds to step 99 and the response bit is set; if they are not equal, the command packet is output without setting the response bit.

In Figure 10B, a command packet with a response pit set for the transmission start command is sent, and when this command packet is confirmed by the sending terminal, the image packet is sent to the destination terminal. Then, the image discrimination signal INT4 causes the 13th
The image discrimination signal interrupt routine shown in the figure is called.

In step 119, since this is the destination terminal, the source flag is not set.

If the image packet corresponding to the set number of images has not been received, the reception completion flag is not set in the RAM 44, so 1 is subtracted from the received image number area of the RAM 44, and whether the number in the received image number area has become O or not is determined. see what When it becomes 0, a reception completion flag is set in the RAM 44, and furthermore, the pit 2 of the switch 102, which is a signal output terminal for copying operation, is reset.

In this way, when the destination terminal inputs an image packet, it subtracts 1 from the reception number area of the RAM 44, and when that value becomes 0, it determines that the reception is complete, sets a reception completion flag in the RAM 44, and starts receiving the image packet. finish. Then, a response bit is set for the next input reception command packet in which a pit is set inquiring about the completion of reception.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the image information transmitted by the optical 7-eyeper does not require a large-capacity storage means, and is directly sent to the recording section through the first signal line and the next image processing device. It is branched into the signal line of Yuki 2 which is transmitted to 6
When image information is transmitted to multiple terminals, the transmission to the next image processing device is delayed by the time required to process the image, so image transmission between multiple terminals is difficult. is performed at high speed.

In this embodiment, an example in which four terminals are connected has been described, but it goes without saying that the number of terminals is not limited to this. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the terminal device to have both an image recording function and a reading function, and the present invention can be easily applied to devices that have only one of the functions or a device that has a display function. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the connection of a loop transmission system using a large fiber to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image reading section, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image packet, and FIG.
5 is a diagram showing the contents of the command packet, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the protocol procedure related to image transmission, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the terminal circuit, and FIG. Figure 8 is a detailed circuit diagram of the command analysis and command generation circuit, Figures 9 to 13 are CPU control flowcharts, 12 is a command/image discrimination circuit, 27 is an input command register, and zsti command analysis and generation circuit. The analysis paralysis command generation circuit is an output command register, 40 is a CPU, 41 is an interrupt controller, 43
is ROM. 44 is a RAM. (Timer wealth 1 Hiro μ Sosen/)

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an optical image transmission system in which images are transmitted between II number of image processing devices using an optical 7-eyeper as a medium,
The image information input to the above-mentioned l1ii image analysis device is branched into a first signal line and a second signal twin, and the above-mentioned image information is transmitted to the next device by the above-mentioned signal line *i. signal law. (2. In Claim II, Paragraph 1, if the image processing device is a source of transmitted image information,