US20010013944A1 - Image processing apparatus and system - Google Patents
Image processing apparatus and system Download PDFInfo
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- US20010013944A1 US20010013944A1 US09/050,468 US5046898A US2001013944A1 US 20010013944 A1 US20010013944 A1 US 20010013944A1 US 5046898 A US5046898 A US 5046898A US 2001013944 A1 US2001013944 A1 US 2001013944A1
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/40—Bus networks
- H04L12/40052—High-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus
- H04L12/40058—Isochronous transmission
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
- G06F3/1211—Improving printing performance
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- G—PHYSICS
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- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
- G06F3/1236—Connection management
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
- G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
- G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
- G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
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- H04L12/40—Bus networks
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- H04L12/40117—Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices
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- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/40—Bus networks
- H04L12/40052—High-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus
- H04L12/40123—Interconnection of computers and peripherals
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- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
- H04N1/32561—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
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- H04N2201/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
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- H04N2201/33307—Mode signalling or mode changing; Handshaking therefor of a particular mode
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Definitions
- the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and system and, more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and system, which can transfer an image to be formed to an image forming apparatus via a digital interface.
- USB universal serial bus
- 1394 serial bus 1394 serial bus
- serial buses have been developed to transfer a large volume of data such as audio data, video data, and the like in real time among a home digital VTR, electronic camera, and PC (personal computer).
- the 1394 serial bus has an asynchronous transfer mode (asynchronous transfer) and synchronous transfer mode (isochronous transfer). More specifically, asynchronous transfer is a one-to-one transfer mode for transmitting data from a source node to a destination node during an idle time of isochronous transfer (to be described below, and is used for transferring data with a small information volume, e.g., text data, commands, still image data, and the like.
- asynchronous transfer is a one-to-one transfer mode for transmitting data from a source node to a destination node during an idle time of isochronous transfer (to be described below, and is used for transferring data with a small information volume, e.g., text data, commands, still image data, and the like.
- isochronous transfer is a characteristic mode of the 1394 serial bus, and is especially suitable for transferring data that requires real-time transfer such as video data, audio data, and the like.
- asynchronous transfer is a one-to-one transfer mode, but isochronous transfer can transfer data from one node to all other nodes by a broadcast function. These two modes can use a bus time-divisionally, and the 1394 serial bus is characterized by having these two modes.
- asynchronous transfer alone may not fully use the functions of a printer since recent printers have multiple functions and higher resolutions. More specifically, when the printer for printing out an image is designated and high-resolution color images are successively printed out in the asynchronous transfer mode, the transfer time may become larger than the time required for printouts.
- asynchronous transfer designates a specific node connected to the 1394 serial bus. For this reason, even when a plurality of printers are connected to the 1394 serial bus, if a plurality of identical color images are to be printed out, the transfer time is likely to be much larger than the time required for printouts.
- printouts are always executed in the isochronous transfer mode, the print data requires a considerably large band occupation time of the 1394 serial bus, and disturbs transfer of real-time data among apparatuses such as a video camera that requires temporary continuous data transfer.
- an image processing apparatus connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via an interface, comprises image output means for transmitting an image to be formed via the interface, input means for inputting an image forming condition, and mode designation means for designating an image communication mode in the interface in accordance with the image forming condition input by the input means.
- an image processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus via an interface, which has at least a synchronous mode for transferring a predetermined volume of data at predetermined periods, and an asynchronous mode for transferring data in an idle time of data transmission in the synchronous mode, comprises image output means for transmitting an image to be formed via the interface, input means for inputting an image forming condition, and mode designation means for selecting one of the synchronous and asynchronous modes of the interface in accordance with the image forming condition input by the input means.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system according to the present invention, e.g., a system to which a plurality of nodes including a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a serial bus;
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a personal computer (PC) 1 and controller 2 in FIG. 1 in detail;
- PC personal computer
- FIG. 3 comprised of FIGS. 3A and 3B is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the personal computer and controller in the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
- FIG. 4 is a chart showing progress of asynchronous transfer in the serial bus shown in FIG. 1 along with passage of time;
- FIG. 5 shows an example of the packet format in asynchronous transfer in the serial bus shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 6 comprised of FIGS. 6A and 6B is a flow chart showing the operation of the personal computer, a video camera, and printers in the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
- FIG. 7 shows a display example on a monitor shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 8 is a chart showing progress of isochronous transfer in the serial bus shown in FIG. 1 along with passage of time;
- FIG. 9 shows an example of the packet format in isochronous transfer in the serial bus shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 10 is a chart showing progress of both isochronous transfer and asynchronous transfer in the serial bus shown in FIG. 1 along with passage of time;
- FIG. 11 shows the display state of a screen used for setting the print conditions and the like on the monitor.
- FIG. 12 is a table showing the relationship between the print conditions and transfer modes.
- FIG. 1 shows a system according to the present invention, e.g., a system to which a plurality of nodes including a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a serial bus.
- the system shown in FIG. 1 comprises a personal computer (PC) 1 , an image processing apparatus (controller) 2 corresponding to an embodiment of the present invention, a video camera 3 which can output a digital color still image signal, and color printers 4 , 5 , 6 , and 7 , which respectively form nodes of a 1394 serial bus.
- These nodes respectively have 1394 serial bus interfaces (1394-I/Fs) 1 a, 2 a, 3 a, 4 a, 5 a, 6 a, and 7 a.
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the PC 1 and controller 2 in FIG. 1 in detail.
- the PC 1 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 11 , and a hard disk drive (HDD) 12 serving as a storage device.
- the PC 1 also comprises a monitor 13 , and a manual operation unit 14 including a keyboard and mouse. Using the monitor 13 and manual operation unit 14 , various commands can be input, as will be described later.
- the PC 1 further comprises an optical disk drive 15 which can load and access an optical disk 16 that stores printer drive software (to be described later), a color processing unit 17 including a color processing board set in advance in the PC 1 , a codec 18 including a codec board set in advance in the PC 1 , and the above-mentioned 1394-I/F 1 a. These units are connected to each other via an internal bus B 1 of the PC 1 .
- the color processing unit 17 has a function of converting a color image signal input from an input apparatus into color image data independent from that input apparatus, and converting a color image signal independent from the input apparatus into a color image signal matching the characteristics of an output apparatus.
- the codec 18 has a function of compressing and encoding a non-compressed color image signal by a standard high-compression coding scheme such as JPEG, a function of decoding a color image signal compressed in the video camera, and the like.
- the controller 2 comprises a page memory 21 which can store at least non-compressed data of a color image having a maximum size, and comprises, e.g., an SDRAM or the like.
- the controller 2 also comprises a CPU 22 , and a color processing unit 23 which can perform the same processing as that of the color processing unit 17 for only limited input apparatuses and printers.
- the controller 2 further comprises codecs A 24 , B 25 , and C 26 .
- the codec A 24 can decode color image data which is high-compression-encoded by the video camera 3 , and can also implement the same high-compression coding (e.g., compression according to a DVC format) as in the video camera 3 .
- the codec B 25 can implement compression, e.g., lossless compression that can be decoded by the printers 4 to 7 .
- the codec C 26 can decode color image data encoded by a high-compression coding scheme such as JPEG as a standard scheme in the PC 1 , and can encode data by that high-compression coding scheme.
- FIGS. 3A and 3B are flow charts for explaining the operation of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e., the system connected via the 1394 serial bus.
- the left flow chart shows the operation of the PC 1
- the right flow chart shows the operation of the controller 2 .
- the operation of this embodiment will be explained below with reference to the flow charts in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
- the PC 1 when the printer drive software is read from the optical disk drive 15 , and is opened (step S 102 ), the PC 1 sends a start-up command to the controller 2 using the above-mentioned asynchronous transfer.
- FIG. 4 shows progress in asynchronous transfer along with passage of time.
- a subaction gap at the left end indicates a bus idle state.
- the PC 1 determines that the bus can be used, and executes arbitration for managing bus access.
- the arbitration is a process for arbitrating access to the bus among nodes prior to data transport since one and only node can transmit at a certain time in the 1394 serial bus. More specifically, when arbitration starts, more than one nodes issue bus access requests to the root node, and the root node permits only a given node to access the bus, by arbitration.
- the PC 1 When the PC 1 is permitted to access the bus as a result of the arbitration, it executes data transfer including the start-up command as data in the packet format. Upon completion of data transfer, the controller 2 responds by sending back a reception acknowledgement send-back code (ack) for the transferred data (start-up command) after a short gap called an ack gap or sends a response packet to complete the transfer.
- the code ack consists of 4-bit information and 4-bit check sum and includes information indicating that data transfer is successful, busy, or pending. The code ack is sent back to the source node.
- send-back and response processes do not directly pertain to the present invention, these processes are not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
- FIG. 5 shows an example of the packet format in asynchronous transfer.
- Each packet has a header field in addition to a data field and error correction data CRC, and the header field contains an objective node ID, source node ID, transfer data length, various codes, and the like to transfer the packet, as shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, in this case, the objective node ID indicates the controller 2 , and the source node ID indicates the PC 1 . Therefore, in step S 102 , the start-up command is transferred while being contained in a command transfer portion in the data field shown in FIG. 5. Since transfer in step S 102 does not include any image data, the data field is short, and does not include any compressed image data in FIG. 5.
- Asynchronous transfer is a one-to-one communication from the own node to the destination node.
- the packet transferred from the source node is transferred to all the nodes in the network, but each node ignores a packet with an address other than its own address, and only one destination node (controller 2 in this case) can read the packet.
- the dotted line arrows in FIGS. 3A and 3B indicate transfer of data, commands, and the like in the asynchronous transfer mode
- the broken line arrows indicate transfer of data, commands, and the like in the isochronous transfer mode.
- the one-dashed chain line arrows indicate transfer in either the asynchronous or isochronous transfer mode.
- step S 201 Upon reception of the start-up command (step S 201 ), the controller 2 starts up the apparatus by, e.g., turning on the power supply of the main body (step S 202 ), and waits for the next command (step S 203 ).
- the PC 1 similarly issues a start-up command of the video camera 3 by asynchronous transfer after the start-up command of the controller (step S 101 ).
- FIGS. 6A and 6B are flow charts for explaining the operation of the system of this embodiment.
- the left flow chart shows the operation of the PC 1
- the upper right flow chart shows the operation of the video camera 3
- the lower right flow chart shows the operation of one of the printers 4 to 7 .
- the PC 1 After the start-up command of the video camera, the PC 1 opens an image retrieve program included in the printer drive software, and displays a screen shown in FIG. 7 on the screen of the monitor 13 (step S 104 ). At the same time, the PC 1 transfers a retrieve command to the video camera in the asynchronous transfer mode. Upon receiving the retrieve command, the video camera 3 retrieves a portion where a still image is recorded from a magnetic tape stored therein, and reproduces a still image (step S 302 ). The video camera 3 transfers the reproduced still image to the PC 1 also in the asynchronous transfer mode.
- color image data recorded on the magnetic tape has undergone predetermined high-compression coding, and the video camera 3 transfers the compressed image data together with attribution data such as the photographing date, the number of pixels, and the like in the data format shown in FIG. 5 to the PC 1 via the 1394-I/F 3 a.
- the transfer data format at that time is as shown in FIG. 5.
- An image display unit 32 in FIG. 7 displays a color image obtained by decoding the compressed image signal transferred from the video camera by the codec 18 .
- the attribution data transferred together with the compressed image data are displayed within a frame 33 .
- the user of the PC 1 checks if the color image displayed on a display unit 32 is to be printed. If a print is required, the user clicks a print button 37 with the mouse, and designates that image as the one to be printed (step S 106 ). If the image need not be printed, the user clicks a next image button 34 or previous image button 35 with the mouse in step S 106 .
- the PC 1 transfers a re-retrieve command to the video camera 3 in the asynchronous transfer mode.
- the video camera 3 retrieves and reproduces a still image recorded immediately before or after the still image currently displayed on the display unit 32 , and transfers the retrieved still image data to the PC 1 again as a compressed image signal in the asynchronous transfer mode.
- the PC 1 sends data indicating the designated image and an output command of that image to the video camera 3 (step S 107 ).
- the user does not designate any images to be printed, he or she can end processing by clicking a completion button 36 in FIG. 7.
- a description thereof is omitted from the flow charts in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 6 A, 6 B.
- the video camera 3 decodes the compressed image data recorded on the magnetic tape, and transfers the non-compressed image signal to the controller 2 (step S 304 ). At this time, since a non-compressed color image signal always requires a very large information volume, this transfer is done by isochronous transfer.
- FIG. 8 shows progress in isochronous transfer along with passage of time.
- the isochronous transfer is executed at predetermined time intervals on the bus. This time interval is called an isochronous cycle.
- the isochronous cycle time is 125 ⁇ s.
- a cycle start packet indicates the start time of each cycle, and has a role of performing time adjustment of the individual nodes.
- a node called a cycle master transmits the cycle start packet.
- the cycle master transmits the cycle start packet indicating the start of the current cycle a predetermined idle period (subaction gap) after the completion of transfer in the previous cycle.
- the transmission time interval of cycle start packets is normally 125 ⁇ s.
- a plurality of different packets with different channel IDs can be separately transferred within one cycle.
- a plurality of nodes can attain real-time transfer at the same time, and the receiving node fetches only data with a desired channel ID.
- the channel ID does not represent any destination address but merely assigns a logical number to data.
- a certain packet is transferred from one source node to all other nodes in so-called broadcast communications.
- An isochronous gap (iso gap) shown in FIG. 8 represents an idle period required for recognizing the idle state of the bus before the isochronous transfer. After an elapse of the predetermined idle period, the node which wants to start isochronous transfer determines that the bus is idle, and can perform arbitration before the transfer.
- FIG. 9 shows an example of the packet format of isochronous transfer.
- Each of various types of packets assigned to the individual channels has a header field in addition to a data field and error correction data CRC.
- the header field contains the transfer data length, channel No., various codes, error correction header CRC, and the like, as shown in FIG. 9.
- non-compressed image data is written in a portion indicated by “image data” in the data field.
- FIG. 10 shows progress of both isochronous transfer and asynchronous transfer within one cycle along with passage of time.
- the PC 1 that has issues the image output command to the video camera 3 in step S 107 then outputs an image getting command to the controller 2 (step S 108 ).
- the image getting command is transferred in the asynchronous transfer mode, and includes data that defines the channel from which data is to be got.
- the controller 2 converts non-compressed image data transferred from the video camera in the isochronous transfer mode, e.g., R (red), G (green), and B (green) image data, into Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), four-color component data by the color processing unit 23 , and stores them in the page memory 21 .
- the controller 2 transfers a getting completion report as report data to the PC 1 in the asynchronous transfer mode (step S 205 ).
- the PC 1 Upon reception of the getting completion command (step S 109 ), the PC 1 displays a screen shown in FIG. 11 on the screen of the monitor 13 so as to set the print conditions and the like.
- a display screen 41 of the monitor 13 displays a window 42 for setting the number of prints, a window 43 for setting the print size, a window 44 for setting the resolution, and a window 45 for selecting a color/monochrome print mode.
- the user sets the number of prints, print size, resolution, color/monochrome print mode, and the like by operating the keyboard or mouse of the manual operation unit 14 .
- a panel 47 is used for designating the print mode in this embodiment, and the type of connected printer is displayed within a window 48 .
- the print conditions set on this screen 41 are transferred to the controller 2 in the asynchronous transfer mode in step S 110 .
- the controller 2 checks the transferred print conditions, and determines the transfer method of the non-compressed color image signal stored in the page memory 21 to the printers 4 , 5 , 6 , and 7 .
- FIG. 12 shows the relationship between the print conditions and transfer modes.
- the asynchronous transfer mode is selected independently of the number of prints, resolution, size, and the like, and black (K) data for one page of color image data stored in the page memory is transferred to the printers 4 to 7 as non-compressed image data. More specifically, in case of monochrome data or when even color data has low resolution, e.g., a print at 200 dpi is to be instructed, the asynchronous transfer mode is used. In such case, since image data for one page can be transferred in the asynchronous transfer mode sufficiently within the page print time of the printer (the printer displayed within the window 48 in FIG. 11) without being compressed, the non-compressed data is transferred. In the system shown in FIG.
- the color image to be transferred has middle resolution (e.g., 400 dpi)
- middle resolution e.g. 400 dpi
- color image data for one page cannot often be transferred within the page print time of the printer in correspondence with the required number of prints.
- non-compressed color image data having middle resolution can be surely transferred twice within the page print time of each printer in the asynchronous transfer mode if it has a print size of B4 or larger (B4 or A3), and can be transferred a maximum of five times if it has a print size of A4 or smaller (A4 or B5).
- high-resolution color image data which is encoded by lossless compression coding can be surely transferred once within the page print time of each printer in the asynchronous transfer mode if it has a print size of B4 or larger (B4 or A3), and can be transferred a maximum of three times if it has a print size of A4 or smaller (A4 or B5). More specifically, isochronous transfer is used when two images or more are to be simultaneously printed upon printing out data having a size of B4 or larger, or when four or more images are to be simultaneously printed upon printing data having a size of A4 or smaller.
- the printers can simultaneously print using the transferred color image data.
- color image data for the second page can be transferred in the isochronous transfer mode before a plurality of images for the first page are printed out.
- a plurality of color image data for a plurality of pages can be printed using ready printers in turn.
- a mode for printing using ready printers in turn in such manner is called a highest-speed print mode in this embodiment.
- a mode for printing using only printers corresponding to the number of color images to be printed for each page for the purpose of user's convenience is called a high-speed sort mode.
- One of these modes is designated by, e.g., the mouse in the window 48 in the screen 41 , and isochronous transfer is done by writing data indicating the designated printer in the data field in FIG. 9 in accordance with the designated mode.
- a printer designated mode is designated in the window 48 , asynchronous transfer is unconditionally done.
- each printer receives the print command and image data (step S 401 ), prints (step S 402 ), and transfers a print completion report upon completion of printout for one page in the asynchronous transfer mode (step S 403 ).
- the controller 2 checks if all the print jobs are completed (step S 209 ). If the print jobs are not completed, the controller 2 issues the next print command, and transfers the next image data if necessary (steps S 208 and S 207 ).
- the controller 2 After the controller 2 has received a print completion report for that command, it confirms that all the print jobs are completed (step S 209 ), and transfers an all print completion report to the PC 1 in the asynchronous transfer mode (step S 210 ). Upon reception of the all print completion report (step S 111 ), the PC 1 can close the printer drive software (step S 112 ).
- the criterion for selectively using the isochronous and asynchronous transfer modes should be appropriately set in correspondence with the printers used, and is not limited to a specific example shown in FIG. 12.
- the 1394 serial bus is used.
- the present invention can also be applied to interfaces having equivalent functions.
- the function of the interface can be effectively used, and the functions of the image forming apparatus can be fully used.
Abstract
In order to provide an image processing apparatus and system, which can effectively use the functions of an interface and can fully use an image forming apparatus, an image processing apparatus of this invention, which is connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via an interface, includes an image output means for transmitting the image to be formed via the interface, an input means for inputting the image forming conditions, and a mode designation means for designating the image communication mode of the interface in accordance with the image forming conditions input by the input means.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and system and, more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and system, which can transfer an image to be formed to an image forming apparatus via a digital interface.
- 2. Related Background Art
- In recent years, higher-speed digital interfaces have been developed, and for example, a universal serial bus (USB) and faster IEEE1394-1995 (High Performance serial bus) (to be referred to as a 1394 serial bus hereinafter) are known.
- Such serial buses have been developed to transfer a large volume of data such as audio data, video data, and the like in real time among a home digital VTR, electronic camera, and PC (personal computer).
- On the other hand, as color scanners, color copying machines, color printers, and the like have gained higher performance, these apparatuses are often connected to the PC. Hence, if these apparatuses are connected to the PC via the 1394 serial bus, a color image can be printed out, e.g., a color image captured using a video camera can be printed out via the 1394 serial bus.
- The 1394 serial bus has an asynchronous transfer mode (asynchronous transfer) and synchronous transfer mode (isochronous transfer). More specifically, asynchronous transfer is a one-to-one transfer mode for transmitting data from a source node to a destination node during an idle time of isochronous transfer (to be described below, and is used for transferring data with a small information volume, e.g., text data, commands, still image data, and the like.
- On the other hand, isochronous transfer is a characteristic mode of the 1394 serial bus, and is especially suitable for transferring data that requires real-time transfer such as video data, audio data, and the like. Also, asynchronous transfer is a one-to-one transfer mode, but isochronous transfer can transfer data from one node to all other nodes by a broadcast function. These two modes can use a bus time-divisionally, and the 1394 serial bus is characterized by having these two modes.
- However, asynchronous transfer alone may not fully use the functions of a printer since recent printers have multiple functions and higher resolutions. More specifically, when the printer for printing out an image is designated and high-resolution color images are successively printed out in the asynchronous transfer mode, the transfer time may become larger than the time required for printouts.
- Also, asynchronous transfer designates a specific node connected to the 1394 serial bus. For this reason, even when a plurality of printers are connected to the 1394 serial bus, if a plurality of identical color images are to be printed out, the transfer time is likely to be much larger than the time required for printouts.
- If printouts are always executed in the isochronous transfer mode, the print data requires a considerably large band occupation time of the 1394 serial bus, and disturbs transfer of real-time data among apparatuses such as a video camera that requires temporary continuous data transfer.
- It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems.
- It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and system, which can effectively use the functions of an interface, and can fully use the functions of an image forming apparatus.
- In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via an interface, comprises image output means for transmitting an image to be formed via the interface, input means for inputting an image forming condition, and mode designation means for designating an image communication mode in the interface in accordance with the image forming condition input by the input means.
- With this arrangement, the performance of the plurality of image forming apparatuses can be effectively used without lowering the performance of the interface itself.
- According to another aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus via an interface, which has at least a synchronous mode for transferring a predetermined volume of data at predetermined periods, and an asynchronous mode for transferring data in an idle time of data transmission in the synchronous mode, comprises image output means for transmitting an image to be formed via the interface, input means for inputting an image forming condition, and mode designation means for selecting one of the synchronous and asynchronous modes of the interface in accordance with the image forming condition input by the input means.
- According to the image processing apparatus with the above arrangement, since the synchronous and asynchronous modes can be appropriately selectively used, the performance of the image forming apparatus and, hence, the functions of the interface can be effectively used.
- Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system according to the present invention, e.g., a system to which a plurality of nodes including a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a serial bus;
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a personal computer (PC)1 and
controller 2 in FIG. 1 in detail; - FIG. 3 comprised of FIGS. 3A and 3B is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the personal computer and controller in the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
- FIG. 4 is a chart showing progress of asynchronous transfer in the serial bus shown in FIG. 1 along with passage of time;
- FIG. 5 shows an example of the packet format in asynchronous transfer in the serial bus shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 6 comprised of FIGS. 6A and 6B is a flow chart showing the operation of the personal computer, a video camera, and printers in the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
- FIG. 7 shows a display example on a monitor shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 8 is a chart showing progress of isochronous transfer in the serial bus shown in FIG. 1 along with passage of time;
- FIG. 9 shows an example of the packet format in isochronous transfer in the serial bus shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 10 is a chart showing progress of both isochronous transfer and asynchronous transfer in the serial bus shown in FIG. 1 along with passage of time;
- FIG. 11 shows the display state of a screen used for setting the print conditions and the like on the monitor; and
- FIG. 12 is a table showing the relationship between the print conditions and transfer modes.
- The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- FIG. 1 shows a system according to the present invention, e.g., a system to which a plurality of nodes including a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a serial bus.
- The system shown in FIG. 1 comprises a personal computer (PC)1, an image processing apparatus (controller) 2 corresponding to an embodiment of the present invention, a
video camera 3 which can output a digital color still image signal, andcolor printers - As is well known, in the 1394 serial bus, when bus reset is produced by a connection event of a new node or a power-ON event while a plurality of nodes are connected, a root node is determined, and serial bus access requests are issued to that root node, which must perform bus arbitration. It is assumed, in this specification, that bus reset has already been produced in the state shown in FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity. Also, one of the
nodes 1 to 7 shown in FIG. 1 has a root node function. - FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the
PC 1 andcontroller 2 in FIG. 1 in detail. In FIG. 2, thePC 1 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 11, and a hard disk drive (HDD) 12 serving as a storage device. The PC 1 also comprises amonitor 13, and amanual operation unit 14 including a keyboard and mouse. Using themonitor 13 andmanual operation unit 14, various commands can be input, as will be described later. - The PC1 further comprises an
optical disk drive 15 which can load and access anoptical disk 16 that stores printer drive software (to be described later), acolor processing unit 17 including a color processing board set in advance in thePC 1, acodec 18 including a codec board set in advance in thePC 1, and the above-mentioned 1394-I/F 1 a. These units are connected to each other via an internal bus B1 of the PC 1. Thecolor processing unit 17 has a function of converting a color image signal input from an input apparatus into color image data independent from that input apparatus, and converting a color image signal independent from the input apparatus into a color image signal matching the characteristics of an output apparatus. Thecodec 18 has a function of compressing and encoding a non-compressed color image signal by a standard high-compression coding scheme such as JPEG, a function of decoding a color image signal compressed in the video camera, and the like. - The
controller 2 comprises apage memory 21 which can store at least non-compressed data of a color image having a maximum size, and comprises, e.g., an SDRAM or the like. Thecontroller 2 also comprises aCPU 22, and acolor processing unit 23 which can perform the same processing as that of thecolor processing unit 17 for only limited input apparatuses and printers. - The
controller 2 further comprisescodecs A 24,B 25, andC 26. Thecodec A 24 can decode color image data which is high-compression-encoded by thevideo camera 3, and can also implement the same high-compression coding (e.g., compression according to a DVC format) as in thevideo camera 3. Thecodec B 25 can implement compression, e.g., lossless compression that can be decoded by theprinters 4 to 7. The codec C 26 can decode color image data encoded by a high-compression coding scheme such as JPEG as a standard scheme in the PC 1, and can encode data by that high-compression coding scheme. - FIGS. 3A and 3B are flow charts for explaining the operation of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e., the system connected via the 1394 serial bus. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the left flow chart shows the operation of the
PC 1, and the right flow chart shows the operation of thecontroller 2. The operation of this embodiment will be explained below with reference to the flow charts in FIGS. 3A and 3B. - In the
PC 1, when the printer drive software is read from theoptical disk drive 15, and is opened (step S102), thePC 1 sends a start-up command to thecontroller 2 using the above-mentioned asynchronous transfer. - FIG. 4 shows progress in asynchronous transfer along with passage of time. In FIG. 4, a subaction gap at the left end indicates a bus idle state. When this idle time has reached a given value, the
PC 1 determines that the bus can be used, and executes arbitration for managing bus access. - Note that the arbitration is a process for arbitrating access to the bus among nodes prior to data transport since one and only node can transmit at a certain time in the 1394 serial bus. More specifically, when arbitration starts, more than one nodes issue bus access requests to the root node, and the root node permits only a given node to access the bus, by arbitration.
- When the
PC 1 is permitted to access the bus as a result of the arbitration, it executes data transfer including the start-up command as data in the packet format. Upon completion of data transfer, thecontroller 2 responds by sending back a reception acknowledgement send-back code (ack) for the transferred data (start-up command) after a short gap called an ack gap or sends a response packet to complete the transfer. The code ack consists of 4-bit information and 4-bit check sum and includes information indicating that data transfer is successful, busy, or pending. The code ack is sent back to the source node. However, since such send-back and response processes do not directly pertain to the present invention, these processes are not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. - FIG. 5 shows an example of the packet format in asynchronous transfer. Each packet has a header field in addition to a data field and error correction data CRC, and the header field contains an objective node ID, source node ID, transfer data length, various codes, and the like to transfer the packet, as shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, in this case, the objective node ID indicates the
controller 2, and the source node ID indicates thePC 1. Therefore, in step S102, the start-up command is transferred while being contained in a command transfer portion in the data field shown in FIG. 5. Since transfer in step S102 does not include any image data, the data field is short, and does not include any compressed image data in FIG. 5. - Asynchronous transfer is a one-to-one communication from the own node to the destination node. The packet transferred from the source node is transferred to all the nodes in the network, but each node ignores a packet with an address other than its own address, and only one destination node (
controller 2 in this case) can read the packet. - Referring back to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the dotted line arrows in FIGS. 3A and 3B indicate transfer of data, commands, and the like in the asynchronous transfer mode, and the broken line arrows indicate transfer of data, commands, and the like in the isochronous transfer mode. Note that the one-dashed chain line arrows indicate transfer in either the asynchronous or isochronous transfer mode.
- Upon reception of the start-up command (step S201), the
controller 2 starts up the apparatus by, e.g., turning on the power supply of the main body (step S202), and waits for the next command (step S203). ThePC 1 similarly issues a start-up command of thevideo camera 3 by asynchronous transfer after the start-up command of the controller (step S101). - FIGS. 6A and 6B are flow charts for explaining the operation of the system of this embodiment. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the left flow chart shows the operation of the
PC 1, the upper right flow chart shows the operation of thevideo camera 3, and the lower right flow chart shows the operation of one of theprinters 4 to 7. - After the start-up command of the video camera, the
PC 1 opens an image retrieve program included in the printer drive software, and displays a screen shown in FIG. 7 on the screen of the monitor 13 (step S104). At the same time, thePC 1 transfers a retrieve command to the video camera in the asynchronous transfer mode. Upon receiving the retrieve command, thevideo camera 3 retrieves a portion where a still image is recorded from a magnetic tape stored therein, and reproduces a still image (step S302). Thevideo camera 3 transfers the reproduced still image to thePC 1 also in the asynchronous transfer mode. Note that color image data recorded on the magnetic tape has undergone predetermined high-compression coding, and thevideo camera 3 transfers the compressed image data together with attribution data such as the photographing date, the number of pixels, and the like in the data format shown in FIG. 5 to thePC 1 via the 1394-I/F 3 a. The transfer data format at that time is as shown in FIG. 5. - An
image display unit 32 in FIG. 7 displays a color image obtained by decoding the compressed image signal transferred from the video camera by thecodec 18. The attribution data transferred together with the compressed image data are displayed within aframe 33. The user of thePC 1 checks if the color image displayed on adisplay unit 32 is to be printed. If a print is required, the user clicks aprint button 37 with the mouse, and designates that image as the one to be printed (step S106). If the image need not be printed, the user clicks anext image button 34 orprevious image button 35 with the mouse in step S106. In response to clicking on thenext image button 34 orprevious image button 35, thePC 1 transfers a re-retrieve command to thevideo camera 3 in the asynchronous transfer mode. In step S302, thevideo camera 3 retrieves and reproduces a still image recorded immediately before or after the still image currently displayed on thedisplay unit 32, and transfers the retrieved still image data to thePC 1 again as a compressed image signal in the asynchronous transfer mode. - When the image to be printed is designated upon clicking the
print button 37, thePC 1 sends data indicating the designated image and an output command of that image to the video camera 3 (step S107). When the user does not designate any images to be printed, he or she can end processing by clicking acompletion button 36 in FIG. 7. However, since this processing is not directly related to the present invention, a description thereof is omitted from the flow charts in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 6A, 6B. In response to the image output command (step S303), thevideo camera 3 decodes the compressed image data recorded on the magnetic tape, and transfers the non-compressed image signal to the controller 2 (step S304). At this time, since a non-compressed color image signal always requires a very large information volume, this transfer is done by isochronous transfer. - FIG. 8 shows progress in isochronous transfer along with passage of time. The isochronous transfer is executed at predetermined time intervals on the bus. This time interval is called an isochronous cycle. The isochronous cycle time is 125 μs. A cycle start packet indicates the start time of each cycle, and has a role of performing time adjustment of the individual nodes. A node called a cycle master transmits the cycle start packet. The cycle master transmits the cycle start packet indicating the start of the current cycle a predetermined idle period (subaction gap) after the completion of transfer in the previous cycle. The transmission time interval of cycle start packets is normally 125 μs.
- As indicated by channels A, B, and C in FIG. 8, a plurality of different packets with different channel IDs can be separately transferred within one cycle. With this transfer, a plurality of nodes can attain real-time transfer at the same time, and the receiving node fetches only data with a desired channel ID. The channel ID does not represent any destination address but merely assigns a logical number to data. Hence, a certain packet is transferred from one source node to all other nodes in so-called broadcast communications.
- Prior to packet transfer in the isochronous transfer mode, arbitration is made as in the asynchronous transfer mode. However, since the isochronous transfer mode is not a one-to-one communication mode unlike in the asynchronous transfer mode, no ack (reception acknowledgement send-back code) is present in the isochronous transfer mode. An isochronous gap (iso gap) shown in FIG. 8 represents an idle period required for recognizing the idle state of the bus before the isochronous transfer. After an elapse of the predetermined idle period, the node which wants to start isochronous transfer determines that the bus is idle, and can perform arbitration before the transfer.
- FIG. 9 shows an example of the packet format of isochronous transfer. Each of various types of packets assigned to the individual channels has a header field in addition to a data field and error correction data CRC. The header field contains the transfer data length, channel No., various codes, error correction header CRC, and the like, as shown in FIG. 9. In case of this embodiment, non-compressed image data is written in a portion indicated by “image data” in the data field.
- FIG. 10 shows progress of both isochronous transfer and asynchronous transfer within one cycle along with passage of time.
- The
PC 1 that has issues the image output command to thevideo camera 3 in step S107 then outputs an image getting command to the controller 2 (step S108). The image getting command is transferred in the asynchronous transfer mode, and includes data that defines the channel from which data is to be got. Upon reception of the image getting command (step S203), thecontroller 2 converts non-compressed image data transferred from the video camera in the isochronous transfer mode, e.g., R (red), G (green), and B (green) image data, into Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), four-color component data by thecolor processing unit 23, and stores them in thepage memory 21. Upon completion of getting, thecontroller 2 transfers a getting completion report as report data to thePC 1 in the asynchronous transfer mode (step S205). - Upon reception of the getting completion command (step S109), the
PC 1 displays a screen shown in FIG. 11 on the screen of themonitor 13 so as to set the print conditions and the like. In FIG. 11, adisplay screen 41 of themonitor 13 displays awindow 42 for setting the number of prints, awindow 43 for setting the print size, awindow 44 for setting the resolution, and awindow 45 for selecting a color/monochrome print mode. The user sets the number of prints, print size, resolution, color/monochrome print mode, and the like by operating the keyboard or mouse of themanual operation unit 14. Apanel 47 is used for designating the print mode in this embodiment, and the type of connected printer is displayed within awindow 48. - The print conditions set on this
screen 41 are transferred to thecontroller 2 in the asynchronous transfer mode in step S110. Thecontroller 2 checks the transferred print conditions, and determines the transfer method of the non-compressed color image signal stored in thepage memory 21 to theprinters - As can be seen from FIG. 12, when a monochrome image is transferred, the asynchronous transfer mode is selected independently of the number of prints, resolution, size, and the like, and black (K) data for one page of color image data stored in the page memory is transferred to the
printers 4 to 7 as non-compressed image data. More specifically, in case of monochrome data or when even color data has low resolution, e.g., a print at 200 dpi is to be instructed, the asynchronous transfer mode is used. In such case, since image data for one page can be transferred in the asynchronous transfer mode sufficiently within the page print time of the printer (the printer displayed within thewindow 48 in FIG. 11) without being compressed, the non-compressed data is transferred. In the system shown in FIG. 1, since the fourprinters - On the other hand, when the color image to be transferred has middle resolution (e.g., 400 dpi), if a plurality of identical images are to be simultaneously printed, color image data for one page cannot often be transferred within the page print time of the printer in correspondence with the required number of prints. Although such transfer also depends on the print size, it is confirmed in this embodiment that non-compressed color image data having middle resolution can be surely transferred twice within the page print time of each printer in the asynchronous transfer mode if it has a print size of B4 or larger (B4 or A3), and can be transferred a maximum of five times if it has a print size of A4 or smaller (A4 or B5). In the system shown in FIG. 1, however, since the number of printers connected to the 1394 serial bus is four, all data having an A4 size or smaller are transferred in the asynchronous transfer mode in practice upon printing. As for printouts of data having a B4 size or larger, when three or more images are simultaneously printed, isochronous transfer is used.
- Likewise, when the color image to be transferred has high resolution (e.g., 800 dpi), since the data volume of an image signal for one page is still larger, the number of times of asynchronous transfer of color image data for one page within the page print time of the printer is further reduced. Hence, in this embodiment, data undergoes lossless compression coding with a low compression ratio (e.g., about 1/2) using the
codec B 25 of thecontroller 2, and the compressed data is transferred to theprinters - When the isochronous transfer is used, all the printers can simultaneously print using the transferred color image data. In this case, upon printing a plurality of pages, color image data for the second page can be transferred in the isochronous transfer mode before a plurality of images for the first page are printed out. Hence, a plurality of color image data for a plurality of pages can be printed using ready printers in turn. A mode for printing using ready printers in turn in such manner is called a highest-speed print mode in this embodiment. Also, a mode for printing using only printers corresponding to the number of color images to be printed for each page for the purpose of user's convenience is called a high-speed sort mode.
- One of these modes is designated by, e.g., the mouse in the
window 48 in thescreen 41, and isochronous transfer is done by writing data indicating the designated printer in the data field in FIG. 9 in accordance with the designated mode. When a printer designated mode is designated in thewindow 48, asynchronous transfer is unconditionally done. - As described above, when the
controller 2 transfers image data according to the determined mode (step S206), each printer receives the print command and image data (step S401), prints (step S402), and transfers a print completion report upon completion of printout for one page in the asynchronous transfer mode (step S403). Upon reception of the print completion report, thecontroller 2 checks if all the print jobs are completed (step S209). If the print jobs are not completed, thecontroller 2 issues the next print command, and transfers the next image data if necessary (steps S208 and S207). After thecontroller 2 has received a print completion report for that command, it confirms that all the print jobs are completed (step S209), and transfers an all print completion report to thePC 1 in the asynchronous transfer mode (step S210). Upon reception of the all print completion report (step S111), thePC 1 can close the printer drive software (step S112). - According to the arrangement of the system of the above embodiment, since the isochronous and asynchronous transfer modes of the 1394 serial sub can be selectively used in consideration of the print conditions, highest-speed, high-quality printouts can be obtained by fully using the functions of the printers and 1394 serial bus.
- Note that the criterion for selectively using the isochronous and asynchronous transfer modes should be appropriately set in correspondence with the printers used, and is not limited to a specific example shown in FIG. 12. In the above embodiment, the 1394 serial bus is used. However, the present invention can also be applied to interfaces having equivalent functions.
- As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and system of the present invention, the function of the interface can be effectively used, and the functions of the image forming apparatus can be fully used.
- Many widely different embodiments of the present invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the specification, except as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (35)
1. An image processing apparatus connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via an interface, comprising:
image output means for transmitting an image to be formed via said interface;
input means for inputting an image forming condition; and
mode designation means for designating an image communication mode in said interface in accordance with the image forming condition input by said input means.
2. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means can input the number of images to be formed for an identical image, and said mode designation means designates the image communication mode of said interface in accordance with the number.
claim 1
3. An apparatus according to , wherein, said mode designation means designates a first mode of said interface in which said plurality of image forming apparatuses can simultaneously receive an image when the number is not less than a predetermined value, and designates a second mode in which only a designated one of said plurality of image forming apparatus can receive an image when the number is less than the predetermined value.
claim 2
4. An apparatus according to , wherein the first mode is a synchronous mode for transferring a predetermined volume of data at predetermined periods, and the second mode is an asynchronous mode for transferring data in an idle time of said interface.
claim 3
5. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means can input information indicating whether the image to be formed is a color image or monochrome image, and said mode designation means can designate the first mode of said interface only when the image to be formed is a color image.
claim 3
6. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means can input information indicating whether the image to be formed is a color image or monochrome image, and said mode designation means sets a small value as the predetermined value when the image to be formed is a color image and sets a large value as the predetermined value when the image to be formed is a monochrome image.
claim 3
7. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means can input a size of the image to be formed, and said mode designation means sets the predetermined value in accordance with the size.
claim 3
8. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means can input resolution of the image to be formed, and said mode designation means can designate the first mode of said interface in accordance with the resolution.
claim 3
9. An apparatus according to , further comprising means for encoding the image to be formed by high-efficiency coding, and wherein operation of said high-efficiency coding means is controlled in accordance with the resolution.
claim 8
10. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means can input resolution of the image to be formed, and said mode designation means sets the predetermined value in accordance with the resolution.
claim 3
11. An apparatus according to , further comprising means for encoding the image to be formed by high-efficiency coding, and wherein operation of said high-efficiency coding means is controlled in accordance with the resolution.
claim 10
12. An apparatus according to , wherein said mode designation means can control the number of apparatuses that actually perform image formation among said plurality of image forming apparatuses using the second mode upon designating the first mode of said interface.
claim 3
13. An apparatus according to , wherein when said mode designation means sets said interface in the first mode, said designation means can designate one of a highest-speed mode for forming images using all of said plurality of image forming means irrespective of the number of images to be formed, and a sort mode for making the number of images to be formed match the number of image forming apparatuses actually used in image formation among said plurality of image forming apparatuses.
claim 12
14. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means comprises means for receiving a command from a computer via said interface.
claim 1
15. An apparatus according to , further comprising a memory for storing the image to be formed for at least one frame.
claim 1
16. An apparatus according to , wherein said interface connects said image processing apparatus to said plurality of image forming apparatuses via a serial bus.
claim 1
17. An apparatus according to , wherein said interface comprises an IEEE 1394 serial bus.
claim 16
18. An image processing system comprising:
an image supply apparatus for supplying an image;
a plurality of image forming apparatuses;
a common interface for connecting said image supply apparatus and said plurality of image forming apparatuses;
input means for inputting an image forming condition; and
control means for controlling an image communication mode of said interface in accordance with the image forming condition input by said input means.
19. A system according to , wherein said image supply apparatus outputs, an image generated by another apparatus connected to said interface, via said interface.
claim 18
20. A system according to , wherein said other apparatus comprises an electronic camera.
claim 19
21. A system according to , wherein said electronic camera comprises said input means.
claim 20
22. A system according to , wherein said other apparatus comprises a personal computer.
claim 19
23. A system according to , wherein said personal computer comprises said input means.
claim 22
24. A system according to , wherein said image supply apparatus comprises a memory for storing an image to be formed for at least one frame.
claim 18
25. A system according to , wherein said interface connects said image supply apparatus to said plurality of image forming apparatuses via a serial bus.
claim 18
26. A system according to , wherein said interface comprises an IEEE 1394 serial bus.
claim 25
27. An image processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus via an interface, which has at least a synchronous mode for transferring a predetermined volume of data at predetermined periods, and an asynchronous mode for transferring data in an idle time of data transmission in the synchronous mode, comprising:
image output means for transmitting an image to be formed via said interface;
input means for inputting an image forming condition; and
mode designation means for selecting one of the synchronous and asynchronous modes of said interface in accordance with the image forming condition input by said input means.
28. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means can input the number of images to be formed for an identical image, and said mode designation means selects a communication mode in said interface in accordance with the number.
claim 27
29. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means can input whether the image to be formed is a color image or monochrome image, and said mode designation means selects a communication mode of said interface depending on whether the image to be formed is a color image or monochrome image.
claim 27
30. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means can input a size of the image to be formed, and said mode designation means selects a communication mode of said interface in accordance with the size.
claim 27
31. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means can input resolution of the image to be formed, and said mode designation means selects a communication mode of said interface in accordance with the resolution.
claim 27
32. An apparatus according to , wherein said input means comprises means for receiving a command from a computer via said interface.
claim 27
33. An apparatus according to , further comprising a memory for storing the image to be formed for at least one frame.
claim 27
34. An apparatus according to , wherein said interface connects said image processing apparatus to said plurality of image forming apparatuses via a serial bus.
claim 27
35. An apparatus according to , wherein said interface comprises an IEEE 1394 serial bus.
claim 34
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP8380797A JP3782542B2 (en) | 1997-04-02 | 1997-04-02 | Image processing apparatus and image processing system |
JP9-083807 | 1997-04-02 |
Publications (2)
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US20010013944A1 true US20010013944A1 (en) | 2001-08-16 |
US6384928B2 US6384928B2 (en) | 2002-05-07 |
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US09/050,468 Expired - Fee Related US6384928B2 (en) | 1997-04-02 | 1998-03-31 | Image processing apparatus and system |
Country Status (4)
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US (1) | US6384928B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP0869428B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3782542B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69832227T2 (en) |
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1997
- 1997-04-02 JP JP8380797A patent/JP3782542B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1998
- 1998-03-31 DE DE69832227T patent/DE69832227T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-03-31 US US09/050,468 patent/US6384928B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1998-03-31 EP EP98302522A patent/EP0869428B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0869428A3 (en) | 1999-10-06 |
DE69832227D1 (en) | 2005-12-15 |
DE69832227T2 (en) | 2006-05-18 |
EP0869428B1 (en) | 2005-11-09 |
US6384928B2 (en) | 2002-05-07 |
EP0869428A2 (en) | 1998-10-07 |
JP3782542B2 (en) | 2006-06-07 |
JPH10285322A (en) | 1998-10-23 |
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