Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Specific signal processing circuitry
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-02
2001-09-11
Lee, Cheukfan (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Specific signal processing circuitry
C358S442000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288800
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image communication system capable of visually outputting image data of an image input apparatus and transmitting the image data to a communication line, and a method of controlling the same.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, an image photographed by an image input apparatus such as a digital camera is color-printed or sent to a remote partner.
FIG. 1
shows the construction of such a prior art image communication system. In
FIG. 1
, the image communication system comprises a public network
101
, a network control unit
102
such as a modem or a terminal adapter, a personal computer (PC)
103
, a PC printer
104
, a digital camera
105
, a communication adapter
106
, and a printer
107
dedicated to the digital camera.
FIG. 2
is a block diagram of the construction of the digital camera
105
. In
FIG. 2
, the digital camera
105
comprises a CPU
201
, a memory
202
, an image input unit
203
, an operation unit
204
, a PC interface
205
, a printer interface
206
, a communication adapter interface
207
, and a data bus
208
.
When an image photographed by the digital camera
105
is to be printed, image data stored in the memory
202
of the digital camera
105
can be received by the personal computer
103
via the PC interface
205
and then output to the PC printer
104
using application software of the personal computer
103
.
When image data is to be transmitted, the image data is temporarily received in the personal computer
103
, and compressed by application software of the personal computer. The compressed data is transmitted to the network control unit
102
, and then to a communication line via the network control unit
102
.
By this method, an image photographed by the digital camera can be printed or transmitted via the communication line.
In the absence of the personal computer, the digital camera is directly connected to the dedicated printer
106
or a dedicated modem via the printer interface
206
or the communication adapter interface
207
to print an image or transmit it to the communication line.
In some cases, the digital camera and the printer or the modem are connected to each other via a wireless channel or radio channel.
In this arrangement, the same wireless channel is used to transmit data to the printer and transmit data to the communication line via the modem.
However, when the digital camera is connected to the printer and the modem via a wire, the digital camera must comprise printer and modem interfaces. In addition, if the printer and the modem are not installed near the digital camera, connection between the digital camera and the printer or the modem must be switched.
When the digital camera is connected to the printer or the modem via a wireless channel, if a wireless communication channel having a high transmission rate is used, data can be efficiently transmitted to a printer to which a large amount of data must be sent. However, even when data can be compressed in, e.g., accessing a public network such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) or PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), a wireless communication channel having the same transmission rate as that in transmitting data to the printer is undesirably occupied.
If the digital camera is connected to the printer or the modem using a wireless communication channel having a low transmission rate in consideration of an access to the public network such as ISDN or PSTN, when a large amount of data is needed to be transmitted to the printer, the large amount of data can only be transmitted at a low rate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to enable an operation of visually outputting image data of an image input apparatus and transmitting it to a communication line by simple processing.
It is another object of the present invention to efficiently use a wireless channel in accordance with an image data use method when the image input apparatus is connected to a communication apparatus capable of visually outputting image data via a wireless channel.
It is still another object of the present invention to efficiently utilize a communication line by using the feature of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) capable of simultaneously transferring data demanded for high-speed communication and data demanded for real-time communication.
It is still another object of the present invention to use a high speed data transferable bulk transfer slot when, e.g., image data is to be printed, and use a real-time transferable isochronous transfer slot when, e.g., data is to be transmitted to a communication line.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5550646 (1996-08-01), Hassan et al.
patent: 5815205 (1998-09-01), Hashimoto et al.
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Lee Cheukfan
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