Data transfer method and data transfer system

Details Data transfer method and data transfer system Data transfer method and data transfer system

2000-07-26

2004-06-01

Yao, Kwang Bin (Department: 2667)

Multiplex communications

Pathfinding or routing

Switching a message which includes an address header

Reexamination Certificate

active

06744777

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a data transfer method and data transfer system used when data which does not necessitate real time processing such as still image data, document data and the like is transferred between a plurality of apparatuses.
BACKGROUND ART
Apparatuses which deal with a still image such as a digital still camera or a printer have been more widely and more increasingly marketed in recent years. These apparatuses are conventionally used in an environment in which a personal computer is present. However, needs for easy handling of such apparatuses in an environment in which a personal computer is not present, is increasing recently.
Conventionally, as a data transfer method when data which does not necessitate real time processing and which is represented by the aforementioned still-image data and document data is transmitted/received between a plurality of apparatuses, a data transfer method in which a control node commands a transmission node and a reception node respectively to control starting/completion of data transfer is proposed in AV/C Compatible Asynchronous Serial Bus Connections, Draft 1.11, Sep. 1, 1998, and “AV/C Management of Asynchronous Serial Bus Connections, Sep. 21, 1998, in 1394 Trade Association. These method use IEEE Std 1394-1995, Standard for a High Performance Serial Bus, which will be referred to as “IEEE 1394-1995” hereinafter, as a bus system, and proposes an asynchronous data transfer method in a form of extending the conventional data transfer control method for transferring/receiving data which necessitates real time processing. According to this data transfer method, when asynchronous data is transferred from a first node to a second node on a bus system in which a node identifier is allocated to each node, a control node sends a command for transfer to the first node and the second node respectively, to thereby improve the command/data processing efficiency.
FIG. 15
is a block diagram which shows a structure of a still image data transfer system using a conventional data transfer method. In
FIG. 15
,
101
is a data transmission node (a first node) as a device for transmitting an image such as a digital still camera,
102
is a data reception node (a second node) as a device for receiving an image such as a printer, and
103
is a control node such as a personal computer or a set top box, and these devices are connected to the same bus system
100
(IEEE 1394-1995).
FIG. 16
is a system block diagram which describes the operation of transferring data from the data transmission node
101
to the data reception node
102
under the control of the control node
103
in the conventional data transfer method.
Here, an arrow mark
104
represents a data reception command which the control node
103
issues to the data reception node
102
, and an arrow mark
106
represents a data transmission command which the control node
103
issues to the data transmission node
101
. An arrow mark
105
is a data reception command response by which the data reception node
102
reports the execution result of the data reception command
104
to the control node
103
, and an arrow mark
107
is a data transmission command response by which the data transmission node
101
reports the execution result of the data transmission command
105
to the control node
103
.
The data transmission node
101
and the data reception node
102
receive the data transmission command
106
and the data reception command
104
issued from the control. node
103
, respectively, and by each notifying the execution result to the control node
103
, establish the connection and start the transmission of data. Herein,
108
represents data which is transferred from the data transmission node
101
to the data reception node
102
.
FIG. 17
is a block diagram which describes the operation of completing the transfer of data from the data transmission node
101
to the data reception node
102
under the control of the control node
103
in the conventional data transfer method.
Here, an arrow mark
109
represents a data reception completion command which the control node
103
issues to the data reception node
102
, and an arrow mark
111
represents a data transmission completion command which the control node
103
issues to the data transmission node
101
. An arrow mark
110
is a data reception completion command response by which the data reception node
102
reports the execution result of the data reception command
104
to the control node
103
, and an arrow mark
112
is a data transmission completion command response by which the data transmission node
101
reports the execution result of the data transmission command
106
to the control node
103
. Here, an arrow mark
108
represents data which is transferred from the data transmission node
101
to the data reception node
102
.
The data transmission node
101
and the data reception node
102
receive the data transmission completion command
111
and the data reception completion command
109
issued from the control node
103
, respectively, and by each notifying the execution result to the control node
103
, complete the transfer of data and are disconnected.
However, in the conventional data transfer method above described, the connection between the data transmission node
101
and the data reception node
102
is not disconnected unless the control node
103
gives such a completion command. Therefore, even when the control node
103
has already determined the sheet number of still image to be transmitted, the control node
103
must follow steps of periodically giving commands for asking the situation to the data transmission node
101
or the data reception node
102
, and of receiving command responses to the commands, in order to recognize the completion of data transfer which is currently being carried out and command the disconnection thereof. Due to this, an extra command needs to be issued in order to detect completion of the transfer and a command for directing disconnection from the control node
103
is also required, resulting in a poor processing efficiency.
As described above, when a system in which still image data is transferred using the conventional data transfer method is considered, there exists a problem that timing at which data transfer is to be terminated and disconnected is not easily known.
Further, there exists another problem that, as disconnection process is always carried out under the control of the control node, a number of commands has to be issued, resulting in a poor processing efficiency.
The present invention intends to solve these problems and a first object of the present invention is to provide a data transfer system and method thereof in which the automatic disconnection after data transfer directed by the data transmission node or the data reception node is achieved compatible with the conventional disconnection method directed by the control node, whereby the number of commands to be issued is curbed at the minimum, and thus the processing efficiency can be improved.
In addition, a second object of the present invention is to provide a data transfer system and method thereof in which control process can be simplified in a data transfer which is carried out continuously because the completion of the data transfer is easily detected by the control node.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present invention is characterized in that, in a bus system in which a node identifier is allocated to each node, when a data file is transmitted from a transmission node to a reception node, a control node issues, to the transmission node, a command including an identifier of the reception node and a field value representing a number of data files to be transmitted to execute the data transfer, and in the case where the number of the data files is 1 or more, after the transmission of the data files of the number specified in the field is completed, the transmission node directs the reception node to comp

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