Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Input/output access regulation
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-11
2001-05-01
Luu, Le Hien (Department: 2152)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Input/output access regulation
C710S037000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226697
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data transfer system that transmits data in a plurality of formats via a plurality of channels and, more particularly, to electronic apparatuses constituting nodes of the data transfer system and a channel assignment method for use in the data transfer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional data transfer system is constituted by electronic apparatuses interconnected by different kinds of cables corresponding to different data formats or protocols. Such a system is referred to as a physically constituted system. Another conventional data transfer system is constituted by electronic apparatuses interconnected by a common cable for transmitting data in a plurality of data formats. Such a system is referred to as a logically constituted system. For example, the latter system can be built up based on a standard known as IEEE1394.
The physically constituted system requires special cables designed for different data formats used in the data communication. The system involves drawbacks such as taking time for physical connection of different cables, creating considerable administration cost, giving clumsiness in external appearance, and causing connection error or confusion.
The logically constituted system can interconnect the participant electronic apparatuses with a single type of the common cable, involving no problem that may otherwise be caused by the presence of many cables of different types. This system also facilitates broadcast or multicast processing in which same data is transmitted to a plurality of destinations.
In the physically constituted system, the different types of cables must be provided for all different data formats used in the data communication as described above, so that the data flow among the participant electronic apparatuses can be visually recognized with respect to each protocol adopted between a pair of source node and a destination node.
On the other hand, in the logically constituted system, the data flow among the participant electronic apparatuses is controlled by software or computer program, making it substantially impossible to visually grasp the data flow or routing. That is, simply interconnecting the participant electronic apparatuses or components with the common cable of a single type cannot in general ensure the desired routing. Thus, although the logically constituted system has many advantages, the difficulty in the visual checking of the routing and connection states may hinder desired operation of the system such as musical tone generation and image reproduction. The conventional system may fail to operate properly when the system is set up by interconnecting components or nodes. The difficulty in the visual checking of the routing also makes it difficult to troubleshoot communication failure, hindering ease-of-use of the data transfer system or network system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a logically constituted data transfer system capable of transmitting data in a plurality of data formats via plurality of channels with enhanced operability and ease-of-use of the system.
According to the invention, the data transfer system is constructed for transferring data by routing from primary nodes to secondary nodes through a plurality of channels. In the system, one primary node is comprised of a setup device, a backup device, a routing device and a transmitting device. The setup device automatically tries to secure an exclusive access to a default channel which is initially allotted to said one primary node when the same sets up the routing. The backup device alternatively secures an access to a substitute channel when the setup device fails to secure the exclusive access to the default channel due to conflict with another primary node which is allotted the same default channel. The routing device circulates a message directed to a secondary node to notify thereto the substitute channel secured by said one primary node in place of the default channel, and consequently establishes the routing between said one primary node and the secondary node. The transmitting device routinely transfers data to the secondary node through the substitute channel after the secondary node recognizes that said one primary node secures the substitute channel for communication with the secondary node.
Preferably, the primary nodes are designed to transmit data according to various protocols. Said one primary node and said another primary node incidentally adopt the same protocol and are therefore initially allotted the same default channel corresponding to the same protocol, thereby causing conflict with one another. Further, the primary nodes are designed to transmit audio data according to various protocols including Musical Instrument Digital Interface protocol and Pulse Code Modulation protocol to enable the secondary nodes to synthesize musical tones.
Preferably, the routing device detects when said another primary node succeeds in securing the exclusive access to the default channel, then transmits the message to said another primary node through the default channel, and requests said another primary node to pass the message to the secondary node through the default channel, whereby the secondary node recognizes that said one primary node secures the substitute channel according to the message circulated through the default channel.
Preferably, the secondary node comprises a reset device that resets initial setting of the default channel allotted thereto to the substitute channel according to the circulated message and that is consequently allowed to exclusively admit the data transmitted from said one primary node through the substitute channel.
Preferably, the system further comprises a trimming device that selectively trims by manual operation the routing when the same is automatically established between a single of the primary nodes and a multiple of the secondary nodes so as to customize the routing.
Preferably, the system further comprises a manual device that manually establishes the routing among the secondary nodes in order to avoid an endless looping of the data which would occur if the routing is automatically established among the secondary nodes.
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Luu Le Hien
Morrison & Foerster
Yamaha Corporation
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