Multiplex communications – Network configuration determination – In a bus system
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-21
2004-08-10
Chin, Wellington (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Network configuration determination
In a bus system
C084S645000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06775246
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a communication control apparatus preferably for use in a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). More particularly, the present invention relates to a communication control apparatus that stores, for each of node apparatuses connected to the network, information representative of synchronization signal transmission and reception capabilities and synchronization signal transmission/reception setting status, and sets master and slaves of the synchronization signal appropriately and simply with reference to pieces of the stored information.
Systems for connecting plural music performance apparatuses (such as a synthesizer, a rhythm machine, a sequencer, and a computer) for synchronous performance are known in which MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) compliant apparatuses are interconnected by a MIDI cable to transmit a MIDI clock consisting of an 8-bit message of hexadecimal “FB” from one MIDI apparatus on the data transmission side to another MIDI apparatus on the data reception side, thereby performing music while taking synchronization based on this synchronization signal.
However the above-mentioned prior-art MIDI performance systems have a data transfer rate as low as 31.25 Kpbs, being incapable of constructing a system in which music is performed while transmitting sample data by use of a sampler having a sampling clock of 44.1 KHz.
A music performance system capable of providing high-speed data transfer may be constructed by use of a high-speed interface (having data transfer rates up to 10 through 50 Mbps) such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE 1394. Currently, however, no sufficient researches have been carried out into the setting of master/slave for the synchronization information transmission/reception in such high-speed networks. As with the conventional MIDI scheme, it could be possible to adopt a scheme in which the synchronization information is always transmitted from an upstream of data to a downstream. However, such a rigid scheme causes the flow of the synchronization information to be restricted by the flow of music data, thereby making it impossible to provide proper settings of the master and slaves. It is also difficult with such a rigid scheme for users to execute master/slave setting by referring to instruction manuals and like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel communication control apparatus, which permits the proper and simple setting of transmission/reception nodes (master/slaves) of synchronization information in a high-speed network.
In carrying out the invention and according to one aspect thereof, there is provided a first communication control apparatus for setting a plurality of node apparatuses involved in a network to either of a transmitter and a receiver of synchronization information circulated through the network to synchronize the node apparatuses with each other. In the communication control apparatus, a storage device memorizes capability information representing either of an active capability to transmit the synchronization information and a passive capability to receive the synchronization information, owned by each of the node apparatuses. An indicating device indicates the active capabilities and the passive capabilities owned by the node apparatuses involved in the network according to the memorized capability information. A specifying device is operated in association with the indicated active capabilities and the passive capabilities of the node apparatuses for outputting status information effective to specify each node apparatus to a transmitter or a receiver of the synchronization information. A plurality of memory blocks are provided in correspondence to the plurality of the node apparatuses to memorize status information of the corresponding node apparatuses. A registering device registers each of the outputted status information into each memory block to set the corresponding node apparatus to a transmitter of the synchronization information when the status information specifies the transmitter, and to set the corresponding node apparatus to a receiver of the synchronization information when the status information specifies the receiver.
According to the first communication apparatus, the indicating device indicates the capability of transmission or reception on the basis of the synchronization capability information stored in the storage device for each of the plurality of node apparatuses. The user refers to the indication made by the indicating device and specifies the transmission or the reception of synchronization information for each node apparatus through the specifying device. Synchronization status information indicative of the transmission of synchronization information is written to the memory block corresponding to the node apparatus for which the transmission of synchronization information has been specified. Synchronization status information indicative of the reception of synchronization information is written to the memory block corresponding to the node apparatus for which the reception of synchronization information has been specified. Consequently, the user can simply and surely specify the transmission/reception of synchronization information for each node according to the indication made by the indicating device, thereby providing the transmission/reception setting as specified by the user.
In carrying out the invention and according to another aspect thereof, there is provided a second communication control apparatus for setting a plurality of node apparatuses including a first node apparatus and a second node apparatus involved in a network to either of a transmitter and a receiver of synchronization information circulated through the network to synchronize the node apparatuses with each other. In the communication control apparatus, a storage device memorizes common master information effective to specify the first node apparatus to a transmitter of synchronization information commonly used throughout the network. A determining device operates based on the memorized common master information for outputting status information effective to determine the second node apparatus to a receiver of the synchronization information transmitted from the first node apparatus. A memory block is provided in correspondence to the second node apparatus to memorize status information of the second node apparatus. A registering device registers the outputted status information into the memory block to set the second node apparatus to a receiver of the synchronization information.
According to the second communication control apparatus, the storage device stores the common master information for specifying the first node apparatus as a transmitter of synchronization information common to the network. The determining device determines, for the second node apparatus, the reception of synchronization information from the first node apparatus on the basis of the common master information stored in the storage device. Synchronization status information indicative of the reception of synchronization signal is written to the memory block according to the determination made by the determining device. Consequently, the reception of synchronization information can be automatically determined on the basis of the common master information, allowing the setting of reception in accordance with the automatic determination.
In carrying out the invention and according to still another aspect thereof, there is provided a third communication control apparatus for setting a plurality of node apparatuses involved in a network to either of a transmitter and a receiver of synchronization information circulated through the network to synchronize the node apparatuses with each other. In the communication control apparatus, a storage device memorizes capability information representing either of an active capability to transmit the synchronization information and a passive capability to receive
Abe Tatsutoshi
Kuribayashi Hirotaka
Nakamura Yoshinari
Tamazawa Yasushi
Chin Wellington
Morrison & Foerster / LLP
Shew John
Yamaha Corporation
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