JP2004062557A - Data source device and communication interface device for the data source device - Google Patents

Abstract

In a system in which one electronic device and a plurality of peripheral devices are connected to each other via a communication interface in which a master-slave relationship is set, the data transfer speed between the devices can be reduced without increasing the cost. I will try to build something that won't be late.
A personal computer (17) has a communication interface board (29) including a plurality of USB device controllers (19A, 19B, 19C). The communication interface board 29 is connected to printers 11A, 11B, and 11C each having a USB host controller configured to initiatively perform communication control as a communication host. The plurality of USB device controllers 19A, 19B, and 19C individually control communication with the plurality of printers 11A, 11B, and 11C, respectively, and transmit data to the plurality of printers 11A, 11B, and 11C in parallel.
[Selection] Fig. 2

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting data from one electronic device to a plurality of peripheral devices via a communication interface in which a master-slave relationship is set between devices, such as a communication interface conforming to the USB standard.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a communication interface in which a master-slave relationship is set between devices, for example, there is a communication interface (hereinafter, simply referred to as “USB”) according to the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard. Each electronic device (for example, a personal computer and its peripheral devices such as a printer, a digital camera, a mobile phone, and a PDA) that can transmit and receive data via USB is a USB host that mainly performs communication control. And a USB device controller for controlling communication as a USB device that performs communication in accordance with communication control from the USB host.
[0003]
As a data communication system via USB, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a print system including one personal computer 5 and a plurality of (for example, three) printers 1A, 1B, and 1C. The personal computer 5 has a USB host controller 7 for functioning as a USB host for controlling peripheral devices. Each of the printers 1A, 1B, and 1C has a USB device controller 3 for functioning as a peripheral device for the personal computer 5. have. In this conventional printing system, a plurality of printers 1A, 1B, and 1C are generally connected in parallel to one personal computer 5 via, for example, a HUB 4, as shown in the figure.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As a result, in the conventional print system, the USB host controller 7 that controls communication with the plurality of printers 1A, 1B, and 1C concentrates on one. Therefore, the burden on the USB host controller 7 is large, and the data transfer speed between the personal computer 5 and each of the printers 1A, 1B, and 1C is reduced. Specifically, for example, in a print system conforming to the USB 1.1 standard, if the number of printers controlled by one USB host controller 7 is one, the data transfer speed between the personal computer 5 and the printer is controlled. Is 12 Mbps (bit / second). As shown in FIG. 1, when three printers 1A, 1B, and 1C are connected to one personal computer 5, the personal computer 5 and each of the printers 1A and 1B are connected. , 1C, the data transfer rate becomes as slow as 12/3 = 4 Mbps. For this reason, in the conventional printing system, even if the number of printers is increased, it cannot be said that the printing throughput is necessarily increased. This can become a more serious problem as the size of the image data transferred from the personal computer 5 increases.
[0005]
As described above, the problem that the data transfer speed between electronic devices is reduced is that one electronic device and a plurality of peripheral devices are connected to each other via a communication interface in which a master-slave relationship is set. May exist in other data communication systems. As a method for solving this problem, a method of increasing the number of communication host controllers mounted on the electronic device to reduce the load on one communication host controller can be considered, but generally, the communication host controller is expensive. For that reason, that method is costly.
[0006]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a system in which one electronic device and a plurality of peripheral devices are connected via a communication interface in which a master-slave relationship is set, without increasing the cost. It is to construct a device that does not slow down the data transfer speed.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A data source device according to the present invention is a data source device connected to a plurality of peripheral devices and capable of transmitting data to the plurality of peripheral devices in parallel (for example, substantially simultaneously), wherein the plurality of peripheral devices are connected to the plurality of peripheral devices. It has a plurality of communication controllers that individually control communication with devices. Each of the plurality of communication controllers is a communication device controller configured to independently control communication as a communication device when a corresponding peripheral device initiatively performs communication control as a communication host.
[0008]
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication controller is a storage-class communication device controller for causing the data source device to perform a communication operation with the peripheral device like data storage.
[0009]
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication controller is a USB device controller.
[0010]
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data source device responds to a plurality of print-related files (for example, a DPOF file to be described later) in which information about printing is described and a print-related file request from each peripheral device. A print application for selectively transmitting at least one of the plurality of print-related files.
[0011]
The communication interface device according to the present invention is provided in a data source device, is connected to a plurality of peripheral devices, is a device that can transmit data from the data source device to the plurality of peripheral devices in parallel, And a plurality of communication controllers for individually controlling communication between the data source device and the plurality of peripheral devices. Each of the plurality of communication controllers is a communication device controller configured to independently control communication as a communication device when a corresponding peripheral device initiatively performs communication control as a communication host.
[0012]
A data processing system according to the present invention is a system including a data source device and a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the data source device. Each of the plurality of peripheral devices includes a communication host controller configured to control communication with the data source device and to perform communication control in a leading manner as a communication host. The data source device is configured to individually control communication with the plurality of peripheral devices when transmitting data to the plurality of peripheral devices in parallel, and to perform subordinate communication control as a communication device. A plurality of communication device controllers. Here, for example, the peripheral device is a printer, and the data source device is an electronic device (for example, a personal computer, a digital camera, or the like) that can transmit data to the printer.
[0013]
A method for controlling data communication according to the present invention is a method for controlling data communication between a data source device and a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the data source device, the method comprising: When transmitting the data, each of the plurality of peripheral devices, using a communication host controller provided in the peripheral device, and initiatively perform communication control as a communication host, the data source device, Using a plurality of communication device controllers provided in the data source device in parallel to individually control communication with the plurality of peripheral devices, and independently performing communication control as a communication device. .
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a print system to which a data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016]
This printing system is configured so that a plurality of (for example, three) printers 11A, 11B, and 11C can be connected to one personal computer 17.
[0017]
Each of the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C has a USB host controller 13 configured to initiatively perform communication control as a USB host. Note that each of the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C may be a printer that can perform communication according to the USB On The Go standard. That is, each of the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C further includes, in addition to the USB host controller, a USB device controller configured to perform communication control as a USB device in a dependent manner, and both the USB host controller and the USB device controller are provided. May be selectively used (that is, the device may selectively have both roles of a USB host and a USB device).
[0018]
The personal computer 17 includes a communication interface board 29, a built-in storage device (of course, an external storage device) 25, and a print application 23.
[0019]
The communication interface board 29 is, for example, a PCI board, and is detachable from a PCI expansion connector in the personal computer 17. The communication interface board 29 includes a plurality (for example, three) of USB device controllers 19A, 19B, and 19C. The communication interface board 29 also includes communication device ports (USB connectors) 15A, 15B, and 15C corresponding to the plurality of USB device controllers 19A, 19B, and 19C. Each communication device port 15A, 15B, 15C is a plug into which a plug at one end of a USB communication cable connected to each printer 11A, 11B, 11C is inserted, and the shape of each port 15A, 15B, 15C is The plug (corresponding to a so-called B plug) which is to be inserted into an electronic device as a USB device (the insertion opening is substantially square). When the communication interface board 29 is inserted into a PCI expansion connector in the personal computer 17 and a USB communication cable from each of the printers 11A, 11B, 11C is inserted into each of the communication device ports 15A, 15B, 15C, The computer 17 has a role as a USB device, and each of the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C has a role as a USB host. The USB device class includes, for example, a storage class, an HID class, an STI class, and a printer class, and the personal computer 17 has any one of these classes.
[0020]
In the storage device 25, a plurality of DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) files 29A, 29B, and 29C, and image files (A1, A2,...), (B1,. B2,...), (C1, C2,...) Are stored. Each of the DPOF files 29A, 29B, and 29C is at least one of an automatic print file, a UNICODE character string description file, an automatic transmission file, and an automatic reproduction file. In this embodiment, the automatic print file is assumed. Each DPOF file 29A, 29B, 29C includes one header part and one or more job description parts. The header section records the DPOF version, the model name of the digital camera, the date when the DPOF file was created, the user's name, address, telephone number, and the like. Each job description section includes a print product ID, a print type (for example, normal printing or index printing), the number of prints (how many copies to print), an image file format (for example, "JFIF" for JPEG), an image file Path information and other information (for example, trimming, rotation, etc.) are described. The path information of the image file is, for example, “IMG SRC =“. . / DCIM / 100 EPSON / EPSN0001. JPG ", which indicates a relative path, and one or more job description sections describe one or more in accordance with the number of images to be printed.
[0021]
The print application 23 receives a request for a DPOF file from each of the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C, and sends the DPOF files 29A, 29B, and 29C in the storage device 25 to the requesting printer in response to the request. In this case, for example, the print application 23 selects the DPOF file to be transmitted according to which communication device port 15A, 15B, 15C has received the request for the DPOF file. For example, when receiving a request for a DPOF file from the printer 11A via the communication device port 15A, the print application 23 acquires the DPOF file 29A and transmits the DPOF file 29A to the printer 11A.
[0022]
Further, when notified of the path of the image file from each of the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C, the print application 23 acquires the image file at the notified path from the storage device 25 in response to the request, The acquired image file is sent to the requesting printer.
[0023]
The above is the description of the print system according to this embodiment.
[0024]
Hereinafter, a flow of data communication performed between the personal computer 17 and each printer, for example, the printer 11A, will be described with reference to FIG.
[0025]
FIG. 3 shows a flow of data communication performed between the personal computer 17 and the printer 11A. Hereinafter, steps are abbreviated as “S”.
[0026]
In this embodiment, as described above, the printer 11A has a role as a USB host, and the personal computer 17 has a role as a USB device.
[0027]
The printer 11A (and the other printers 11B and 11C) periodically transmits an inquiry signal (Interrupt IN signal) to the personal computer 17 (S1). When receiving the Interrupt IN signal from the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C, the personal computer 17 returns a signal (NAK signal) to that effect to the printer 11A unless otherwise specified (S2).
[0028]
The printer 11A (and the other printers 11B and 11C) transmits the Interrupt IN signal to the personal computer 17 until receiving a signal other than the NAK signal (S3). After the personal computer 17 receives the Interrupt IN signal and responds thereto, if the print application 23 receives a print condition input from the user and receives a print execution command (S4), the print application 23 executes The print request signal is transmitted to the printer that has transmitted the Interrupt IN signal, for example, the printer 11A (S5).
[0029]
The printer 11A transmits a DPOF information request signal to the personal computer 17 in response to the print request signal (S6). In response to the DPOF information request signal from the printer 11A, the print application 23 notifies the printer 11A of the print conditions (eg, conditions such as paper size, print quality, page layout, etc.) input by the user or set in the initial settings. (S7).
[0030]
At this time, the print application 23 also notifies the printer 11A of the position information of the DPOF file (S7). Here, the position information of the DPOF file notified to the printer 11A is, for example, the position information of the DPOF file arbitrarily selected by the print application 23 or the DCF (Design rule for Camera File system) standard in advance. This is predetermined location information.
[0031]
Upon receiving the notification of the printing conditions and the position information of the DPOF file 29A from the print application 23, the printer 11A acquires the DPOF file from the storage device 25 based on the notified position information of the DPOF file (S8). Then, the printer 11A interprets the acquired DPOF file (S9). Thereafter, the printer 11A acquires one or more image files from the storage device 25 based on one or more image file paths (image file paths) described in the DPOF file (S10). After obtaining the image file, the printer 11A prints the image in the obtained image file according to the printing conditions notified in S7 and the job description section in the DPOF file 29A (S11).
[0032]
According to this printing system, a communication interface board 29 having a plurality of USB device controllers 19A, 19B, and 19C is attached to the personal computer 17, and a printer 11A having a USB host controller 13 is attached to the communication interface board 29. , 11B and 11C are connected. In this case, the personal computer 17 uses the plurality of USB device controllers 19A, 19B, and 19C individually to transfer the data in the storage device 25 to the plurality of printers 11A, 11B, and 11C in parallel (simultaneously). Can be sent. In other words, the number of communication partners (i.e., USB device controllers) burdened by one USB host controller 13 can be one. Therefore, the data transfer speed between the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C and the personal computer 17 does not need to be reduced. Specifically, for example, in the case of communication conforming to the USB 1.1 standard, the personal computer 17 transmits a data transfer speed of 12 Mbps (bit / second) to any of the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C for the above-described reason. Data can be transmitted at the maximum data transfer rate in communication conforming to the standard (in the case of the prior art, the data transfer rate from the personal computer 17 to each of the printers 11A, 11B, and 11C is as low as 4 Mbps, as described above). turn into).
[0033]
Further, in this embodiment, it is necessary to equip the personal computer 17 with a communication interface board 29 having a plurality of communication controllers 19A, 19B, 19C, but each of the plurality of communication controllers 19A, 19B, 19C has a USB host. Since the USB device controller is lower in cost than the controller, the print system of this embodiment can be constructed without increasing the cost.
[0034]
As described above, some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, but these are merely examples for describing the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to only these embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in other various forms. That is, although the communication interface has been described as a USB, one electronic device as a personal computer, and a plurality of peripheral devices as a printer, the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. The present invention can be applied to various data communications via a communication interface in which a master-slave relationship is set. For example, one electronic device is not limited to a personal computer, and may be another electronic device such as a digital camera or a PDA. A plurality of peripheral devices are not limited to a printer, but may be a television device or a PDA. It may be another electronic device.
[0035]
Further, for example, the communication interface board 29 is not limited to a circuit board that can be attached to an expansion connector of a desktop personal computer, and may be provided between one electronic device and a plurality of other electronic devices. Any thing that can be interposed may be used. That is, for example, it may be shaped so that it can be inserted into a card slot of a notebook personal computer.
[0036]
Further, for example, the path of the image file described in the DPOF file is not limited to a relative path, and may be an absolute path such as a URL.
[0037]
Further, for example, the print application 23 does not necessarily need to transmit the position information of the DPOF file. In this case, for example, the printer accesses the personal computer 17 based on the location information of the predetermined DPOF file, and the print application 23 responds to the access from the printer by sending a plurality of DPOF files existing in the storage device 25. Is transmitted to the printer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional print system.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a print system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of data communication performed in the print system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11A, 11B, 11C Printer 13 USB host controller 15A, 15B, 15C USB device port 17 Personal computer 23 Printing application 25 Storage device 29 Communication interface board

Claims (7)

In a data source device connected to a plurality of peripheral devices and capable of transmitting data in parallel to the plurality of peripheral devices,
Having a plurality of communication controllers for individually controlling communication with the plurality of peripheral devices,
Each of the plurality of communication controllers is a communication device controller configured to perform communication control subordinately as a communication device when a corresponding peripheral device performs communication control initiatively as a communication host,
Data source equipment. The communication controller is a storage-class communication device controller for causing the data source device to perform a communication operation like data storage with respect to the peripheral device.
The data source device according to claim 1. The data source device according to claim 1, wherein the communication controller is a USB device controller. A communication interface device provided in a data source device, connected to a plurality of peripheral devices, and capable of transmitting data from the data source device to the plurality of peripheral devices in parallel,
Having a plurality of communication controllers that individually control communication between the data source device and the plurality of peripheral devices,
Each of the plurality of communication controllers is a communication device controller configured to perform communication control subordinately as a communication device when a corresponding peripheral device performs communication control initiatively as a communication host,
Communication interface device. In a data processing system including a data source device and a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the data source device,
Each of the plurality of peripheral devices controls communication with the data source device, and includes a communication host controller configured to initiatively perform communication control as a communication host,
The data source device is configured to individually control communication with the plurality of peripheral devices when transmitting data to the plurality of peripheral devices in parallel, and to perform subordinate communication control as a communication device. Comprising a plurality of communication device controllers,
Data processing system. The peripheral device is a printer,
The data source device is an electronic device that can transmit data to the printer.
The data processing system according to claim 5. A data source device, a control method of data communication between a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the data source device,
When sending data from a data source device to multiple peripheral devices in parallel,
Each of the plurality of peripheral devices, using a communication host controller provided in the peripheral device, and initiatively performing communication control as a communication host,
The data source device controls communication with the plurality of peripheral devices individually by using a plurality of communication device controllers provided in the data source device in parallel, and independently controls communication as a communication device. Performing a communication control.

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