Multiplex communications – Communication techniques for information carried in plural... – Adaptive
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-03
2001-07-24
Kizou, Hassan (Department: 2662)
Multiplex communications
Communication techniques for information carried in plural...
Adaptive
C370S423000, C709S253000, C710S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266344
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication interface in which a data-transmission rate (hereinafter referred to as a “data rate”) is variable and a cable to be used is defined as in a communication interface based on the IEEE 1394 standard, and in particular, to a technique for performing data communication with multi-purpose cables such as optical-fiber cables, UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cables and STP (shielded twisted pair) cables.
2. Description of the Related Art
A system in which electronic apparatuses such as a digital-video tape recorder, a digital television receiver, and a personal computer are connected by the IEEE 1394 (hereinafter referred to as the “1394”) serial bus, and a digital-video signal, a digital-audio signal, a control signal and so forth are communicated among the electronic apparatuses is considered.
In the cable connecting the adjacent apparatuses in this system there are provided two pairs of twisted pair cables. One pair of cables is used to transmit data, while another pair of cables is used to transmit strobes. The data is coded by the DS (data strobe) coding method, and is transmitted.
In addition, a Tp bias signal is output to the one pair of twisted pair cables. When the Tp bias signal is detected by one apparatus connected by the 1394 cable, the apparatus having detected the bias signal become aware of its being connected to another apparatus, and resets the bus. When the bus has been reset, physical addresses are automatically assigned to the respective apparatuses. When a digital-video signal or the like is transmitted, transmission of the signal is started after performing acquisition of a necessary band and channel.
A signal for notifying another apparatus of one apparatus's data rate is transmitted to the other pair of twisted pair cables. The apparatuses directly connected by the twisted pair cables are capable of knowing each other's data rate.
As described above, conventionally, a cable defined by the 1394 (hereinafter referred to as a “1394 cable”) is needed to realize communication via the 1394 serial bus (hereinafter referred to as the “1394 communication”).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the problems, and an object thereof is to provide a data communication method, an electronic apparatus and an integrated circuit in which the multi-purpose usability of the 1394 interface can be expanded by using multi-purpose cables for use in a communication interface in which a data rate is variable and a cable to be used is defined as in the 1394 communication interface.
To this end, according to an aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object has been achieved through provision of a data communication method in which a plurality of electronic apparatuses provided with a communication interface based on the IEEE 1394 standard are connected by at least one type of cable among optical-fiber cables, unshielded-twisted pair (UTP) cables or shielded-twisted pair (STP) cables, and communication is performed among the electronic apparatuses.
The 1394 communication can perform communication at S100, S200, S400, S800, S1600 and S3200, and perform communication at a higher speed in the future. When the 1394 communication is performed with the optical-fiber cable, the UTP cable and the STP cable, bits being not used at a low data rate to transfer data in a data packet to be transmitted are arranged on a data stream so as to be adapted for high-speed communication.
Data-rate transfer realized with identical-phase signals in the conventional 1394 communication is realized by sending predetermined speed-control symbols when the optical-fiber cable, the UTP cable and the STP cable are used.
In the data communication method an effect equivalent to that of a bias signal, defined in the IEEE 1394 standard, to be supplied to the cables is realized by sending predetermined control symbols.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object has been achieved through provision of an electronic apparatus provided with a terminal to which a cable defined in the IEEE 1394 standard is connected, and a terminal to which at least one type of cable among an optical-fiber cable, a UTP cable and an STP cable is connected.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object has been achieved through provision of a data communication method in which, when an interface adapted for a data-communication system having a variable data rate is used to perform data communication among a plurality of electronic apparatuses, a cable defined in the data-communication system is used, wherein, when a communication channel for performing the data communication using a multi-purpose cable different from the cable defined in the data-communication system is used, the data communication is performed using an arrangement of bits corresponding to the maximum data rate, and when the multi-purpose cable is used to perform the data communication at a low data rate, a bit region being not used to transfer data in a data packet to be transmitted is arranged on a data stream so as to be adapted for the plurality of data rates.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object has been achieved through provision of an integrated circuit formed in a physical layer based on an interface adapted for a data-communication system whose data rate is variable, wherein the integrated circuit includes: a terminal to which a cable defined in the data-communication system is connected; and a terminal to which a multi-purpose cable different from the cable defined in the data-communication system is connected.
According to the present invention, the 1394 communication and so forth are realized by using an optical-fiber cable, a UTP cable and an STP cable. Thus, the multi-purpose usability of the 1394-communication interface and the like can be expanded.
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Fujimori Takahiro
Tanaka Tomoko
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Kizou Hassan
Pezzlo John
Savit Glenn F.
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