KR100627607B1 - Recording system, recording apparatus, and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The physical layer, which depends on the hardware of the general-purpose interface, determines whether the image supply device supports a predetermined communication protocol. The transport layer that controls communication as an upper layer of the physical layer determines whether the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol. If either of the physical layer and the transport layer determines that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, the image supply apparatus is determined to support the predetermined communication protocol. If both of the physical layer and the transport layer do not determine that the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol, the application layer serving as an upper layer of the transport layer may be provided by the image supply device. Determine if the communication protocol is supported.

Photo direct printer, physical layer, transport layer, manufacturer name, device information, communication function check

Description

RECORDING SYSTEM, RECORDING APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR}             

The present invention relates to a recording system for recording an image based on image data from an image supply device such as a digital camera, a recording device, and a control method thereof.

Background Art In recent years, digital cameras (imaging apparatuses) capable of capturing images by simple operation and converting the photographed images into digital image data have been widely used. In order to print an image photographed by this camera and use the printed matter as a photograph, the photographed digital image data is temporarily input from a digital camera to a PC (computer), and image processing is performed by the PC. Then, the processed data is output from a PC to a color printer, which prints image data.

On the other hand, a color printing system capable of printing the data by directly transmitting digital image data from a digital camera to a color printer without going through a PC, and a memory card storing images captured by the digital camera are stored in the color printer. A so-called Photo Direct (PD) printer has been developed which can be directly mounted and capable of printing photographed images stored in the memory card.

In particular, when image data is transferred directly from a digital camera to a printer and printed, the specifications and operation methods of digital cameras are different among companies. Therefore, there has been a demand for the emergence of photo direct printers capable of supporting digital cameras of various companies. . Such a photo direct printer receives and prints image data from a mobile phone, a PDA, and other devices as well as the digital camera described above. In addition, the printer has various functions. The printer and the image supply device must confirm whether they can communicate with each other according to a predetermined communication protocol.

When confirming that communication following the new communication protocol is possible, a dedicated command or the like should be prepared. It is difficult to check whether communication is possible without changing existing rules (such as Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP)).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and is characterized by providing a recording system, a recording device, and a control method thereof, which can quickly confirm a communication function of a connected image supply device.

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus connected to an image supply apparatus through a general-purpose interface, which receives image data from the image supply apparatus and records the image data.

First determination means for causing a physical layer that depends on the hardware of the general-purpose interface to determine whether the image supply device supports a predetermined communication protocol;

Second determining means for causing a transport layer for controlling communication as an upper layer of the physical layer to determine whether the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol;

If it is determined by any of the first and second determination means that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, it is determined that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, and the first If, by both the first and second judging means, the image supply device is not determined to support the predetermined communication protocol, the application layer functioning as an upper layer of the transport layer may cause the image supply device to communicate with the predetermined communication layer. And control means for determining whether or not the protocol is supported.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a PD printer according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2 shows a schematic diagram of an operation panel of a PD printer according to the embodiment;

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of main parts related to control of a PD printer according to the embodiment;

4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ASIC of the PD printer according to the embodiment;

5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital camera according to the embodiment;

6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an interface and software configuration of a PD printer and a digital camera equipped with a CDPS according to the embodiment;

7 is a flowchart for explaining a confirmation process of the CDPS communication procedure in the PD printer according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a CDPS service discovery (CDPS_ServiceDiscovery) by the PTP of step S9 of FIG. 7.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a photo direct printer (hereinafter referred to as a "PD printer") 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The PD printer 1000 has a general PC printer function for printing data received from a host computer (PC), prints data read directly from a storage medium such as a memory card, or prints image data received directly from a digital camera. Has the ability to

Referring to FIG. 1, the main body constituting the housing of the PD printer 1000 according to the present embodiment includes a case 1001, an upper case 1002, an access cover 1003, and a discharge tray 1004 as an exterior member. Have The lower case 1001 forms approximately the lower half of the PD printer 1000, and the upper case 1002 forms the approximately upper half of the main body. By combining these cases, a hollow structure having a storage space for storing the mechanisms to be described later is formed. Openings are formed in the upper and front surfaces of the main body, respectively. One end of the discharge tray 1004 is rotatably supported by the lower case 1001, and the opening formed in the front surface of the lower case 1001 is opened and closed by the rotation of the tray 1004. For this reason, when causing the printer to execute print processing, the discharge tray 1004 is rotated to the front side to open the opening, whereby printed paper can be discharged from the opening. The discharged printed sheets are sequentially stacked on the discharge tray 1004. The discharge tray 1004 accommodates two auxiliary trays 1004a and 1004b. When these auxiliary trays are pulled out as needed, the loading area of the printing paper can be enlarged / reduced in three steps.

One end of the access cover 1003 is rotatably supported by the upper case 1002 to open and close the opening formed in the upper surface of the main body. When the access cover 1003 is opened, a printhead cartridge (not shown), an ink tank (not shown), and the like stored in the main body can be exchanged. Although not shown, when the access cover 1003 is opened and closed, a protrusion formed on the rear surface of the cover 1003 rotates the cover opening and closing lever. By detecting the rotational position of the lever using a micro switch or the like, the open / closed state of the access cover can be detected.

The upper surface of the upper case 1002 is provided with a power key 1005. On the right side of the upper case 1002, an operation panel 1010 including a liquid crystal display portion 1006, various key switches, and the like is provided. The structure of the operation panel 1010 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 2. Reference numeral 1007 denotes an automatic paper feeder which automatically carries printing paper to the apparatus main body. Reference numeral 1008 denotes a paper gap select lever used to adjust the gap between the print head and the print sheet. Reference numeral 1009 denotes a card slot for receiving an adapter for accommodating a memory card. Through the adapter, image data stored in the memory card can be directly retrieved and printed. As this memory card (PC card), compact flash memory ™, smart media ™, memory stick and the like can be used. Reference numeral 1011 denotes a viewer which is detachable from the main body of the PD printer 1000 and is used to display an image of one frame, an index image, or the like when a user wants to search for an image to print from an image stored in a PC card. Liquid crystal display). Reference numeral 1012 denotes a USB terminal used for connecting a digital camera (described later). In addition, the back of the PD printer 1000 is provided with another USB connector used for connecting a personal computer (PC).

2 shows a schematic diagram of the operation panel 1010 of the PD printer 1000 according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display 1006 displays menu items used for setting data relating to item names printed on the left and right sides of the display portion 1006. The items displayed here are, for example, the first number of the group of images to be printed or the specified frame number (starting frame designation / printing frame designation), the last number of the image group to be printed (ending), the number of copies to be printed (number of copies). , The type of paper (print paper) used for print processing (paper type), setting the number of photos to be printed per sheet (layout), specifying the print quality (quality), and specifying whether or not to print the shooting date ( Date printing), designating whether or not to print a photo after correction (image correction), indicating the number of print sheets required for print processing (number of print sheets), and the like. These items are selected or specified using the cursor keys 2001. Reference numeral 2002 denotes a mode key. Each time this key is pressed, the print type (index print, full frame print, one frame print, etc.) can be switched, and the corresponding one of the LEDs 2003 lights up according to the selected print type. Reference numeral 2004 denotes a maintenance key used for maintenance of the printer (for example, cleaning of the print head). Reference numeral 2005 denotes a print start key which is pressed when instructing to start print processing or when determining setting of maintenance. Reference numeral 2006 denotes a print cancel key that is pressed when canceling print processing or maintenance.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3, the structure of the principal part related to control of the PD printer 1000 which concerns on a present Example is demonstrated. It should be noted that the same reference numerals are used to denote common parts in the drawings, and the description thereof is omitted.                 

Referring to Fig. 3, reference numeral 3000 denotes a controller (control board). Reference numeral 3001 denotes an ASIC (Dedicated Custom LSI). The configuration of the ASIC 3001 will be described later in detail with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 4. Reference numeral 3002 denotes a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) which executes various controls to be described later, including a CPU, and image processing such as conversion from a luminance signal RGB to a density signal CMYK, scaling, gamma conversion, and error diffusion. ). Reference numeral 3003 has a memory area functioning as a program memory 3003a for storing control programs executed by the CPU of the DSP 3002, a RAM area for storing a program being executed, and a working memory for storing image data and the like. Represents memory. Reference numeral 3004 denotes a printer engine. In this embodiment, a printer engine of an inkjet printer that prints a color image using a plurality of color inks is mounted in the printer. Reference numeral 3005 denotes a USB connector as a port for connecting the digital camera 3012. Reference numeral 3006 denotes a connector for connecting the viewer 1011. Reference numeral 3008 denotes a USB hub. When the PD printer 1000 executes print processing based on the image data from the PC 3010, the USB hub 3008 causes the data received from the PC 3010 to pass through, and passes the data to the USB 3021. Output to the printer engine 3004 through. In this way, the PC 3010 connected to the printer can execute print processing by directly exchanging data, signals, and the like with the printer engine 3004 (the printer functions as a general PC printer). Reference numeral 3009 denotes a power supply connector for inputting a DC voltage converted from commercial AC power by the power supply 3011. The PC 3010 is a general purpose personal computer. Reference numeral 3010 denotes a memory card (PC card) described above, and reference numeral 3012 denotes a digital still camera (DSC).

It should be noted that signals are exchanged between the controller 3000 and the printer engine 3004 via the USB 3021 or IEEE1284 bus 3022.

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ASIC 3001. In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are used to denote common parts in the drawings, and description thereof is omitted.

Reference numeral 4001 denotes a PC card interface used to read image data stored in the inserted PC card 3011 and to record data on the PC card 3011. Reference numeral 4002 denotes an IEEE1284 interface used for exchanging data with the printer engine 3004. The IEEE1284 interface 4002 is a bus used when image data stored in the digital camera 3012 or the PC card 3011 is to be printed. Reference numeral 4003 denotes a USB interface for exchanging data with the PC 3010. Reference numeral 4004 denotes a USB host interface for exchanging data with the digital camera 3012. Reference numeral 4005 denotes an operation panel interface for receiving various operation signals from the operation panel 1010 and outputting display data and the like to the display portion 1006. Reference numeral 4006 denotes a viewer interface for controlling display of image data on the viewer 1011. Reference numeral 4007 denotes an interface for controlling an interface with various switches, LEDs 4009, and the like. Reference numeral 4008 denotes a CPU interface for exchanging data with the DSP 3002. Reference numeral 4010 denotes an internal bus (ASIC bus) interconnecting these interfaces.                 

5 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the DSC 3012 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Among the digital cameras that can be connected to the PD printer 1000 of the present embodiment, some devices may not have the indicator 2700 (to be described later).

Referring to Fig. 5, reference numeral 3100 denotes a CPU that controls the entire DSC, and reference numeral 3101 denotes a ROM that stores a processing sequence of the CPU 3100. Reference numeral 3102 denotes a RAM used as a work area of the CPU 3100, and reference numeral 3103 denotes a switch group used for performing various operations and including various switches, cursor keys and the like. The liquid crystal display 2700 is used to confirm the captured image and to display a menu when various settings are made. Reference numeral 3105 denotes an optical portion mainly including a lens and a drive system thereof. Reference numeral 3106 denotes a CCD element, and reference numeral 3107 denotes a driver for driving and controlling the optical unit 3105 under the control of the CPU 3100. Reference numeral 3108 denotes a connector for connecting the storage medium 3109 (compact flash ™ memory card, smart media card, etc.), and reference numeral 3110 denotes a USB interface (USB) for connecting with a PC or the PD printer 1000 of the present embodiment. Slave side).

This embodiment mainly exemplifies the case where the PD printer 1000 and the DSC 3012 are connected to perform printing. The purpose of this embodiment is to obtain a digital camera and a device such as a mobile phone and a memory device (DSPD: Digital Still Photography Devices) from each company, and to obtain an image output device such as a PD printer 1000. It is to provide a PD printer capable of printing based on image data. The communication protocol in the case where printing is performed by connecting the PD printer 1000 and the DSPD according to the present embodiment will be described. This embodiment proposes a new CDPS (Canon Direct Print Service) in which communication control between a PD printer and a DSPD is performed using a general-purpose file and a general-purpose format irrespective of the interface.

The concept of a print service function has been adopted in accordance with various communication protocol architectures between the DSPD and the image output apparatus, for example, USB PTP (Still Image Class) and Mass Storage Class, Blue Tooth OBEX, and UPnP. The print service function is a collection of execution functions in the application layer and does not depend on various interfaces.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure of interface functions when the DSC 3012, which is a representative DSPD, and the PD printer 1000, which is a representative image output device, are connected.

Referring to FIG. 6, reference numerals 600 and 603 denote application portions, and reference numerals 601 and 602 denote physical layers for USB I / F and Bluetooth. The DSC 3012 and PD printer 1000 build application CDs 600 and 603 respectively. As represented by 601 and 602, the CDPS system presupposes the implementation of an architecture such as a PTP and BIP of a protocol layer and a file system of a mass storage class (MSC). The substance of the print service function exists in each of the application parts 600 and 603, and the print service function is executed by the part where the CDPS is converted to each protocol.

As such, a direct print service can be realized between the DSC 3012 and the PD printer 1000, regardless of the physical interface.                 

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the confirmation process whether the communication protocol CDPS is supported between the PD printer 1000 and the DSC 3012 of this embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a diagram for explaining the processing in step S9 of FIG. Before explaining the process shown in Fig. 7, the confirmation process for the communication protocol CDPS service of Fig. 8 will be described.

At 1402, printer 1000 allocates DSC 3012 as a resource by OpenSession. If necessary, a start request is issued for assigning a handle to a data object or performing a special initialization. In response, when the DSC 3012 returns an OK, PTP communication begins. At 1403, when all handles of the script format are requested from the DSC 3012 (GetObjectHandles) (Storage ID: FFFFFF, Object Type: Script), a list of all handles held by the DSC 3012 is returned (ObjectHandleArray 1404). ). At 1405, information regarding the i-th object handle (Handle i) (i = 1 to n (n is a handle number)) is obtained from the PD printer 1000. At 1406, the i-th object (object i data) is obtained. If the object includes a keyword (eg, "Macro") indicating the identification of the DSC 3012, the PD printer 1000 instructs the transmission of object information (SendObjectInfo) at 1407. In response to this, when an OK is received, the object is sent from the PD printer 1000 to the DSC 3012 by SendObject. The object includes, for example, "Pole" as a response keyword (password) to the aforementioned keyword. As a result, it may be determined between the PD printer 1000 and the DSC 3012 whether the PD printer 1000 and the DSC 3012 support CDPS.                 

In the above example, before the DSC 3012 returns "macro" (password) in response to "GetObject i", all image files held by the DSC 3012 must be retrieved. When many image files are held, it takes a long time for the PD printer 1000 to receive a "macro".

For example, when the memory card of the camera 3012 stores a large amount of image data (object), in order to generate a script handle list, the attributes of all files including the image data must be checked. Next, a script handle list for the script file should be created. It takes a long time to notify the printer 1000 of the script handle list. The time until checking whether the camera 3012 and the printer 1000 have a communication function conforming to a predetermined communication protocol becomes longer.

In order to prevent this, a printer and a control method capable of quickly checking the communication function of the image supply device (in this case, the DSC 3012) connected to the PD printer 1000 and shifting to the communication mode are provided. To do this, the following method is used.

It is determined in each of a plurality of hierarchies that realize the interface between the PD printer 1000 and the DSC 3012 as to whether a transition to a predetermined communication mode is possible. As soon as it is determined from the determination result that the transition is possible by the determination in any hierarchy, the mode shifts to the communication mode. At this time, the determination is executed sequentially from the lower layer. If it is determined that the transition is impossible, the determination using the encryption at the application layer described above is finally executed.                 

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a confirmation process as to whether the communication protocol CDPS is supported between the PD printer 1000 and the DSC 3012 in this embodiment. In this example, the PD printer 1000 and the DSC 3012 are connected via a USB interface.

In step S1, when the PD printer 1000 and the DSC 3012 are connected via a USB cable, the USB I / F is established.

The GetStringDescriptor command is issued from the USB I / F to obtain device (DSC 3012) information. The device returns the Manufacturer and Product in response to the GetStringDescriptor command.

In step S2, on the basis of the manufacturer name and product name contained in a string representing a manufacturer and a product name at indexes 1 and 2 (Index1, Index2) defined by the USB interface, the connected DSC 3012 is connected. Is determined whether the communication protocol supports CDPS. If it is determined that the DSC 3012 supports CDPS, the process flow goes to step S3 to set the CDPS support flag of the memory 3003, and proceeds to step S4. If NO in step S2, the processing flow advances from step S2 to step S4.

In step S4, communication by PTP which is a higher layer of the USB I / F layer (601 and 602 in Fig. 6) is established. The flow advances to step S5 to issue "GetDeviceInfo" to the DSC 3012. On the basis of "Manufacture", "Model", "DeviceVersion", and "SerialNumber" contained in "DeviceInfo Dataset" returned from DSC 3012 in response to "GetDeviceInfo", the manufacturer name of the connected DSC 3012 is The product name (including the version) and the like are determined. Based on the manufacturer name and product name, it is determined whether the connected DSC 3012 supports the aforementioned communication protocol CDPS.

As the determination method, it may be determined whether the returned information includes a predetermined character string, a code, or the like, whether the number of characters is predetermined, or whether the returned contents change a plurality of times.

If it is determined that the DSC 3012 supports CDPS, the process proceeds to step S6 to set the CDPS support flag of the memory 3003 and proceeds to step S7. If NO in step S5, the processing flow advances from step S5 to step S7.

In step S7, it is determined whether the CDPS support flag of the memory 3003 is ON. In step S7, if YES, the process flow goes to step S8 to start communication based on the CDPS.

If it is determined in step S7 that the CDPS support flag of the memory 3003 is OFF, for example, the above-described corresponding information is not described in the obtained string such as the GetStringDescriptor command in the USB I / F, or in the PTP. If it is determined that "corresponding information" described above is not included in "DeviceInfo Dataset", the process proceeds to step S9 to determine whether the DSC 3012 can support CDPS by the PTP protocol. In step S10, if YES, the processing flow advances to step S8 to start communication based on the CDPS, and if NO, the confirmation processing ends without entering the CDPS communication mode.

CDPS support determination in the USB I / F may be performed based on other information obtained by using other commands such as GetVendorDescriptor, rather than information obtained by the GetStringDescriptor command.

In this embodiment, determination is made in two physical and transport layers in addition to the application layer. However, if the determination is not necessarily performed at the two layers, and the determination is made before the determination at the application layer, and the determination at the application layer can be skipped, the determination may be performed at any of the layers. . Another method may be employed as the determination method.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the determination is performed in a plurality of hierarchies constituting the interface. In the second embodiment,

1. a judgment in at least one hierarchy is essential;

2. In this case, the determination at the lowest layer with large hardware constraints, for example, the USB interface of the above-described embodiment, is not essential.

More specifically, in the first embodiment, it is checked whether the transition from the physical layer, the transport layer, and the application layer to the CDPS is possible. Finally, if it is determined in step S7 of FIG. 7 that CDPS is supported for the inspection in the lower layer than the application layer, the inspection in the application layer is skipped and the mode shifts to the CDPS mode. In contrast, in the second embodiment, if it is determined that the transition to the CDPS is possible in step S3 or step S5 in the example of Fig. 7, the processing flow goes directly to step S8 to enter the CDPS mode.

By the above setting, a high speed connection with little load on the mounting can be stably realized while maintaining future power generation and expandability.

Third Embodiment

In the first and second embodiments, since the PD printer 1000 functions as a USB host, the printer 1000 performs the determination. In a system such as USB-OTG (On The Go) in which the DSC 3012 functions as a host, the above relationship is reversed. In this case, the DSC 3012 may determine whether the transition to the CDPS is possible.

That is, in the third embodiment, in Fig. 8, the positions of the PD printer 1000 and the DSC 3012 are exchanged. The flowchart in FIG. 7 is interpreted to be processed by the DSC 3012.

In the first to third embodiments, the PTP protocol is used in the USB interface, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even in a connection or a SCSI connection by a wireless LAN such as Bluetooth of FIG. 6, the CDPS is supported by the interface hardware and a module running on the interface before the application checks whether the CDPS is supported. May be determined.

The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer), and may be applied to an apparatus (for example, a copier or a fax device) consisting of one device. It may be.

An object of the present invention is a system or apparatus for storing a memory medium (or a recording medium) that stores software program code for realizing the functions (processes executed on the camera side and various print processes executed on the printer side) of the above-described embodiments. This is also achieved when the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code read out from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. When the computer executes the read program code, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized. Further, based on the instruction of the program code, when the OS (Operating System) or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

The program code read out from the storage medium is recorded in a memory of a function expansion card inserted into the computer, or in a memory of a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and based on an instruction of the program code, Even when the CPU of the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

As described above, according to this embodiment, an image supply device (camera or the like) and a recording device such as a printer are connected. The image data is transmitted from the image supply device to the printing apparatus and printed. In this configuration, the physical layer that depends on the interface hardware as to whether the image supply apparatus and the printing apparatus support the predetermined communication protocol before confirming in the application layer whether the image supply apparatus and the printing apparatus support the predetermined communication protocol. However, it is confirmed at the transport layer depending on the communication protocol. If the image supply device and the printing device are found to support the communication protocol in either of the physical layer and the transport layer, the confirmation process by the application layer can be omitted.

Therefore, it can be quickly confirmed whether the image supply apparatus and the printing apparatus support a predetermined communication protocol.

This embodiment is hardware dependent and can be confirmed immediately, but verification processing in the physical layer with low degrees of freedom, verification processing requiring a long verification time with high degrees of freedom, and a transport between the physical layer and the application layer Use identification in layers. If the confirmation processing is completed in a layer lower than the application layer before the confirmation processing in the application layer, the confirmation processing in the application layer may be omitted.

In particular, checking at the application layer using the PTP protocol as to whether communication by a predetermined communication protocol is possible may take longer than confirmation of all object handles.

According to the present invention, by determining at the lower layer whether communication by the above-described communication protocol at the upper layer is possible, the confirmation processing at the upper layer can be omitted.

In addition, in accordance with the establishment of communication in the upper layer, the application layer time can be shortened by automatically performing communication by a predetermined communication protocol.

The transition to a predetermined communication protocol is smoothed and the usability becomes good.

In this embodiment, the confirmation process as to whether the communication protocol is supported is set as confirmation that "the communication protocol is supported". The present invention is not particularly limited to this example, and other confirmation processing may be employed as long as the gist of the present invention is realized.

For example, the confirmation process may be set as confirmation that "the communication protocol is not supported". As a specific example of the verification method, similar to the confirmation that "communication protocol is supported", descriptor information obtained by a descriptor acquisition command such as GetStringDescriptor may be interpreted in the USB I / F. For PTP, dataset information acquired by a dataset acquisition operation such as GetDeviceInfo may be interpreted.

If it is determined that the predetermined communication protocol is not supported, the transition to the upper layer is canceled. Even if the processing does not proceed to the upper layer, it can be confirmed that communication by a predetermined communication protocol using the upper layer has not been established.

If it is determined that communication by the predetermined communication protocol is impossible, by setting display control indicating that communication by the predetermined communication protocol is impossible on at least one display unit of the image supply apparatus and the image printing apparatus, the user Alerts can be provided more quickly.

In this embodiment, the PD printer is set as a USB host, and the DSC is set as a slave. The present invention is not particularly limited to this combination, and as long as the gist of the present invention is realized, any device can function as a host and a slave.

In addition to the digital camera, the image supply device may be a PDA, a mobile phone, a television, a video device, an image storage device, or the like.

The general-purpose interface includes connection to a network such as the Internet in addition to the above-described USB and IEEE1394.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, to apprise the public of the scope of the present invention, the following claims are made.

Claims (27)

A recording apparatus connected to an image supply apparatus via a universal interface, for receiving image data from the image supply apparatus and recording the image data, First determination means for causing a physical layer that depends on the hardware of the general-purpose interface to determine whether the image supply device supports a predetermined communication protocol; Second determining means for causing a transport layer for controlling communication as an upper layer of the physical layer to determine whether the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol; If it is determined by any of the first and second determination means that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, it is determined that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, and the first If, by both the first and second judging means, the image supply device is not determined to support the predetermined communication protocol, an application layer serving as an upper layer of the transport layer may cause the image supply device to communicate with the predetermined communication layer. And control means for determining whether to support a protocol. The method of claim 1, And the first judging means performs the judgment based on at least one of a manufacturer name and device information of the image supply apparatus transmitted through the universal interface. The method of claim 1, And the second judging means performs the judgment based on at least one of a manufacturer name and device information of the image supply device transmitted through the transport layer. In a recording system for performing recording by exchanging information between a plurality of devices, Determination means for determining whether a transition to a predetermined communication mode is possible in each of a plurality of hierarchies constituting an interface between the plurality of devices; And the control means for controlling the communication mode between the plurality of devices to the predetermined communication mode when the determining means determines that the transition to the predetermined communication mode is possible in any of the plurality of layers. Recording system. The method of claim 4, wherein One of the judgments in the plurality of hierarchies is a judgment using a cryptography. The method of claim 4, wherein One of the judgments in the plurality of hierarchies is based on at least one of a company name, a product name, and a manufacturing number name. Claim 7 was abandoned upon payment of a set-up fee. The method of claim 4, wherein And the determination means executes the determination in the plurality of layers sequentially for each layer, and skips the determination processing in the subsequent layer if it is determined that the transition is possible in a certain layer. The method of claim 4, wherein And at least one of the plurality of layers is an essential layer for an interface between the plurality of devices. Claim 9 was abandoned upon payment of a set-up fee. The method of claim 4, wherein And the plurality of layers include at least two of a physical layer, a transport layer, and an application layer. Claim 10 was abandoned upon payment of a setup registration fee. The method of claim 9, And the physical layer comprises a USB. Claim 11 was abandoned upon payment of a setup registration fee. The method of claim 9, And the transport layer comprises a PTP. Claim 12 was abandoned upon payment of a registration fee. The method of claim 4, wherein And the plurality of devices includes an image output device for recording an image. Claim 13 was abandoned upon payment of a registration fee. The method of claim 4, wherein And the plurality of devices includes an image supply device for supplying an image. A control method of a recording apparatus, which is connected to an image supply apparatus through a general-purpose interface, receives image data from the image supply apparatus and records the image data. A first determination step of causing a physical layer that depends on the hardware of the general-purpose interface to determine whether the image supply device supports a predetermined communication protocol; A second determination step of causing a transport layer for controlling communication as an upper layer of the physical layer to determine whether the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol; In either of the first and second determination steps, if it is determined that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, it is determined that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, and the first And in both of the second judging steps, if the image supply apparatus is not determined to support the predetermined communication protocol, an application layer serving as an upper layer of the transport layer causes the image supply apparatus to apply the predetermined communication protocol. And a control step of determining whether or not the apparatus supports the recording medium. The method of claim 14, And in the first judging step, determination is performed based on at least one of a manufacturer name and device information of the image supply device received through the universal interface. The method of claim 14, And wherein in the second determination step, the determination is performed based on at least one of a manufacturer name and device information of the image supply device transmitted through the transport layer. Claim 17 was abandoned upon payment of a registration fee. A recording apparatus connected to an image supply apparatus via a universal interface, for receiving image data from the image supply apparatus and recording the image data, First determination means for causing a physical layer that depends on the hardware of the general-purpose interface to determine whether the image supply device supports a predetermined communication protocol; Second determining means for causing a transport layer for controlling communication as an upper layer of the physical layer to determine whether the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol; If it is determined by any of the first and second determination means that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, it is determined that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, and the first If, by both the first and second judging means, it is not determined that the image supply apparatus does not support the predetermined communication protocol, an application layer functioning as an upper layer of the transport layer is set by the image supply apparatus. And control means for determining whether to support a communication protocol. Claim 18 was abandoned upon payment of a set-up fee. The method of claim 17, And the first judging means performs the judgment based on at least one of a manufacturer name and device information of the image supply apparatus transmitted through the universal interface. Claim 19 was abandoned upon payment of a registration fee. The method of claim 17, And the second judging means performs the judgment based on at least one of a manufacturer name and device information of the image supply device transmitted through the transport layer. A control method of a recording apparatus, which is connected to an image supply apparatus through a general-purpose interface, receives image data from the image supply apparatus and records the image data. A first determination step of causing a physical layer that depends on the hardware of the general-purpose interface to determine whether the image supply device supports a predetermined communication protocol; A second determination step of causing a transport layer for controlling communication as an upper layer of the physical layer to determine whether the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol; In either of the first and second determination steps, if it is determined that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, it is determined that the image supply apparatus supports the predetermined communication protocol, and the first And in both of the second judging steps, if it is not determined that the image supply apparatus does not support the predetermined communication protocol, an application layer serving as an upper layer of the transport layer is further configured. And a control step of determining whether or not to support the control. The method of claim 20, And in the first judging step, a determination is performed based on at least one of a manufacturer name and device information of the image supply device received through the universal interface. The method of claim 20, And wherein in the second determination step, the determination is performed based on at least one of a manufacturer name and device information of the image supply device transmitted through the transport layer. A communication method having a plurality of communication layers between an image supply device and an image recording device, An exchange step of exchanging information in a predetermined communication layer when communication is started between the image supply device and the image recording device or when the image supply device and the image recording device are connected; A determination step of determining whether communication by a predetermined communication protocol is possible in an upper communication layer of the predetermined communication layer based on the information exchanged in the exchanging step; And if it is determined in the determination step that communication is possible, a start step of starting communication by the predetermined communication protocol without determining whether communication by the predetermined communication protocol is possible in the upper communication layer. Communication method. The method of claim 23, wherein And the upper communication layer includes an application layer, and the determination as to whether the communication is possible is performed using a PTP protocol. A communication method having a plurality of communication layers between an image supply device and an image recording device, An exchange step of exchanging information in a predetermined communication layer when communication is started between the image supply device and the image recording device or when the image supply device and the image recording device are connected; A determination step of determining whether communication by a predetermined communication protocol is possible in an upper communication layer of the predetermined communication layer based on the information exchanged in the exchanging step; And a communication step of canceling the communication establishment process in the upper communication layer of the predetermined communication layer if it is determined that communication is impossible in the determining step. The method of claim 25, And the upper communication layer includes an application layer, and the determination as to whether the communication is possible is performed using a PTP protocol. The method of claim 25, And a display control step of displaying that communication by the predetermined communication protocol is impossible on at least one display unit of the image supply device and the image recording device when the establishing process is canceled in the communication step. Communication method.

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