Serial data transmission betwe data processing apparatus and an external storage apparatus

Claim 2

An external storage apparatus comprising: a serial signal I/O block for communicating data to a data processing apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal input block for acquiring, from said data processing apparatus, a control signal for controlling transmitting timing of data which is transmitted by said serial signal I/O block; and a synchronizing signal input block for acquiring, from said data processing apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by said serial signal I/O block, wherein said serial signal I/O block transmits data in a period of time in which said control signal input block is supplied with the control signal and transmits a status signal indicating a state of the operation of said external storage apparatus in a period of time in which said control signal input block is not supplied with the control signal.

Claim 3

A data processing system comprising: data processing means incorporating a host side serial signal I/O block for communicating data by using serial signals, a control signal output block for transmitting a control signal for controlling transmitting timing of data which is transmitted by said host side serial signal I/O block and data processing means for supplying a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by said host side serial signal I/O block; and external storage means incorporating an external serial signal I/O block for communicating data to said host side serial signal I/O block of said data processing means, a control signal input block for acquiring the control signal and a synchronizing signal input block for acquiring the synchronizing signal, wherein said host side serial signal I/O block and said external serial signal I/O block communicate data in a period of time in which the control signal is supplied and said external serial signal I/O block supplies, to said host side serial signal I/O block, a status signal indicating a state of the operation of said external storage means in a period of time in which the control signal is not supplied to said control signal input block.

Claim 4

A data transmitting method for communicating data between a data processing apparatus and an external storage apparatus for the data processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: generating a control signal for controlling data transmission timing; transmitting data in response to the control signal generated by said data processing apparatus; and transmitting a status signal indicating a state of the operation of said external storage apparatus in a period of time in which data transmission which is performed in response to the control signal is not performed.

Claim 5

A data processing apparatus comprising: a serial signal I/O block for communicating data to an external storage apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal output block for supplying, to said external storage apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is transmitted by said serial signal I/O block is switched and supplying the control signal to said external storage apparatus; and a synchronizing signal output block for supplying, to said external storage apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by said serial signal I/O block, wherein said serial signal I/O block, in response to the control signal, switches the contents of data which is transmitted.

Claim 6

A data processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said serial signal I/O block communicates data of control commands and main data to said external storage apparatus and acquires a status signal indicating a state of the operation of said external storage apparatus.

Claim 7

A data processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said serial signal I/O block determines the sequential order of transmitting data of control commands or main data which is transmitted after data of the control commands has been transmitted or the sequential order of the status signals which are transmitted after data of the control commands has been transmitted in such a manner that said serial signal I/O block determines the sequential order in accordance with transmitted data of the control commands, and then switches the contents of data which is transmitted or acquired in response to the control signal transmitted by said control signal output block.

Claim 8

A data processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said serial signal I/O block supplies data of a control command to said external storage apparatus, acquires, from said external storage apparatus, a busy signal indicating a fact that a process which is performed in accordance with data of the control command is being performed and transmits main data after the busy signal has been suspended.

Claim 9

A data processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said serial signal I/O block acquires an interrupt signal indicating an interruption from said external storage apparatus, and then transmits data of a control command or main data corresponding to a process which is performed in response to the interrupt signal.

Claim 10

An external storage apparatus comprising: a serial signal I/O block for communicating data to a data processing apparatus by using serial signals; a control signal input block for acquiring, from said data processing apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is transmitted by said serial signal I/O block is switched; and a synchronizing signal input block for acquiring, from said data processing apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by said serial signal I/O block, wherein said serial signal I/O block, in response to the control signal, switches the contents of data which is transmitted.

Claim 11

An external storage apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said serial signal I/O block communicates data of a control command and main data to said data processing apparatus and transmits a status signal indicating a state of the operation of said external storage apparatus.

Claim 12

An external storage apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said serial signal I/O block determines the sequential order of transmitting data of control commands or main data which is transmitted after data of the control commands has been transmitted or the sequential order of the status signals which are transmitted after data of the control commands has been transmitted in such a manner that said serial signal I/O block determines the sequential order in accordance with transmitted data of the control commands, and then switches the contents of data which is transmitted or supplied in response to the control signal acquired by said control signal output block.

Claim 13

An external storage apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said serial signal I/O block acquires data of a control command from said data processing apparatus in response to the control signal, supplies a busy signal indicating a fact that said external storage apparatus is performing a process in accordance with data of the control command, and transmits main data after said external storage apparatus has suspended the busy signal.

Claim 14

An external storage apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said serial signal I/O block supplies an interrupt signal indicating an interruption to said data processing apparatus, and transmits data of a control command or main data corresponding to the process which is performed in response to the interrupt signal.

Claim 15

A data processing system comprising: data processing means incorporating a host side serial signal I/O block for transmitting data by using serial signals, a control signal output block for generating a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is transmitted by said host side serial signal I/O block is switched and a synchronizing signal output block for transmitting a synchronizing signal of data which is transmitted by said host side serial signal I/O block so that said data processing means processes data; and external storage means incorporating an external serial signal I/O block for communicating data to said host side serial signal I/O block, a control signal input block for acquiring the control signal transmitted from said control signal output block, and a synchronizing signal input block for acquiring the synchronizing signal transmitted from said synchronizing signal output block, said external storage means being connected to said data processing means so as to store data which is processed by said data processing means, wherein said host side serial signal I/O block and said external serial signal I/O block switch the contents of data which is transmitted in response to the control signal.

Claim 16

A data processing system according to claim 15, wherein said host side serial signal I/O block and said external serial signal I/O block transmit data of a control command and main data, and said external serial signal I/O block supplies, to said host side serial signal I/O block, a status signal indicating a state of the operation of said external storage means.

Claim 17

A data processing system according to claim 16, wherein said host side serial signal I/O block and said external serial signal I/O block determine the sequential order of transmitting data of control commands or main data which is transmitted after data of the control commands has been transmitted or the sequential order of the status signals which are acquired after data of the control commands has been transmitted in such a manner that said serial signal I/O block determines the sequential order in accordance with transmitted data of the control commands, and then switch the contents of data which is transmitted or acquired in response to the control signal transmitted by said control signal output block.

Claim 18

A data processing system according to claim 17, wherein said host side serial signal I/O block supplies, to said external serial signal I/O block, data of a control command in response to the control signal, said external serial signal I/O block supplies, to said host side serial signal I/O block, a busy signal indicating a fact that a process which is performed in accordance with data of the control command is being performed, and said host side serial signal I/O block and said external serial signal I/O block transmit main data after the busy signal has been suspended.

Claim 19

A data processing system according to claim 17, wherein said external serial signal I/O block supplies an interrupt signal indicating an interruption to said data processing means, and said host side serial signal I/O block and said external serial signal I/O block transmit data of a control command or main data corresponding to a process which is performed in response to the interrupt signal.

Claim 20

A data transmitting method for communicating data between a data processing apparatus and an external storage apparatus for said data processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: causing said data processing apparatus and said external storage apparatus to communicate data by using serial signals; causing said data processing apparatus to generate a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is transmitted is switched and to transmit the control signal to said external storage apparatus; and causing said data processing apparatus and said external storage apparatus to switch the contents of data which is transmitted in response to the control signal.

Claim 21

A data processing apparatus comprising: a serial signal I/O block for performing, by using serial signals, at least transmitting, to an external storage apparatus, data of a control command for controlling the operation of the external storage apparatus, receiving a status signal indicating a state of the operation of the external storage apparatus from the external storage apparatus, transmitting, to the external storage apparatus, data which is written on the external storage apparatus and receiving data read from the external storage apparatus; a control signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated to said serial signal I/O block is switched; and a synchronizing signal output block for supplying, to the external storage apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated by said serial signal I/O block, wherein said control signal output block makes the signal level of the control signal which is supplied to the external storage apparatus to be a predetermined level in accordance with data which is communicated by said serial signal I/O block, when said serial signal I/O block is receiving the status signal, said serial signal I/O block makes a determination that the status signal is a ready signal indicating a fact that the external storage apparatus is in a state for waiting input of a signal in a case where the status signal is a signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles, and in other cases, said serial signal I/O block makes a determination that the status signal is a busy signal indicating a fact that the external storage apparatus is in a state in which the external storage apparatus does not receive an input of a signal.

Claim 22

A data processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said serial signal I/O block makes a determination that an error is made in a process which is being performed by the external storage apparatus when said serial signal I/O block has continuously received the busy signals for a period of time not shorter than a predetermined period of time.

Claim 23

A data processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said serial signal I/O block writes data on the external storage apparatus in such a manner that said serial signal I/O block transmits data of a control command for instructing to write data on the external storage apparatus, followed by transmitting, to the external storage apparatus, data which is written on the external storage apparatus and followed by receiving a status signal from the external storage apparatus.

Claim 24

A data processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said serial signal I/O block writes data on the external storage apparatus in such a manner that said serial signal I/O block again transmits, to the external storage apparatus, data of a control command for instructing writing of data when said serial signal I/O block has continuously received busy signals for a period of time not shorter than a predetermined period of time when said serial signal I/O block is receiving the status signal.

Claim 25

A data processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said serial signal I/O block reads data from the external storage apparatus in such a manner that said serial signal I/O block initially transmits, to the external storage apparatus, data of a control command for instructing reading of data, followed by receiving a status signal from the external storage apparatus and followed by starting receiving of data read from the external storage apparatus when the status signal has been made to be the ready signal.

Claim 26

A data processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said serial signal I/O block reads data from the external storage apparatus in such a manner that said serial signal I/O block again transmits, to the external storage apparatus, data of a control command for instructing reading of data when said serial signal I/O block has continuously received busy signals for a period of time not shorter than a predetermined period of time when said serial signal I/O block is receiving the status signal.

Claim 27

A data processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the ready signal is a signal having the signal level which is changed at a frequency not higher than the frequency of the synchronizing signal.

Claim 28

A data processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a resistor having a grounded end is joined to said serial signal I/O block, and the signal level in said serial signal I/O block is a predetermined level which is determined in accordance with the resistance value of said resistor when signal communication is not being performed between said serial signal I/O block and said external storage apparatus.

Claim 29

An external storage apparatus, the operation of which is controlled in accordance with data of a control command supplied from a data processing apparatus, on which data is written and from which data is read by said data processing apparatus, said external storage apparatus comprising: a serial signal I/O block for at least receiving data of a control command from the data processing apparatus, transmitting, to the data processing apparatus, a status signal indicating a state of the operation, receiving, from the data processing apparatus, data which is written thereon and transmitting, to the data processing apparatus, data which is read therefrom by using serial signals; a control signal input block for receiving, from the data processing apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated to said serial signal I/O block is switched; and a synchronizing signal input block for receiving, from the data processing apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated to said serial signal I/O block, wherein said serial signal I/O block switches the contents of data which is communicated in response to the control signal, and transmits, as a status signal, a ready signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles when the state of said serial signal I/O block has been changed from a state in which said serial signal I/O block does not receive input of a signal from the data processing apparatus to a state in which said serial signal I/O block waits for input of a signal, and said serial signal I/O block transmits a busy signal having a constant signal level as a status signal or pauses output of a signal when said external storage apparatus is performing a process in accordance with data of a control command and said external storage apparatus is in a state in which said external storage apparatus does not receive input of a signal from the data processing apparatus, and pauses output of a signal when an error has been made during receipt of data of a control command.

Claim 30

An external storage apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said serial signal I/O block is arranged to pause the output of a signal and brought to a state in which said serial signal I/O block waits for the input of data of a new control command when an error has been made during receipt of data of a control command.

Claim 31

An external storage apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the ready signal is a signal having the signal level which is changed at a frequency not higher than the frequency of the synchronizing signal.

Claim 32

A data processing system for communicating data between a data processing apparatus and an external storage apparatus, said data processing system comprising: a data processing apparatus incorporating a host side serial signal I/O block for at least transmitting data of a control command for controlling the operation of said external storage apparatus, receiving a status signal indicating a state of the operation of said external storage apparatus, transmitting data which is written on said external storage apparatus and receiving data which is read from said external storage apparatus by using serial signals, a control signal output block for supplying, to said external storage apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated by said host side serial signal I/O block is switched, and a synchronizing signal output block for supplying, to said external storage apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated by said host side serial signal I/O block; and an external storage apparatus incorporating an external serial signal I/O block for at least receiving data of the control command, transmitting the status signal, receiving data which is written thereon and transmitting data which is read therefrom to and from said data processing apparatus by using serial signals, a control signal input block for receiving, from said data processing apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated by said external serial signal I/O block is switched, and a synchronizing signal input block for receiving, from said data processing apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated by said external serial signal I/O block, wherein said control signal output block makes the signal level of the control signal to be a predetermined level in accordance with data which is communicated between said host side serial signal I/O block and said external serial signal I/O block, when the state of said external serial signal I/O block has been changed from a state in which said external serial signal I/O block does not receive input of a signal from said data processing apparatus to a state in which said external serial signal I/O block waits for input of a signal, said external serial signal I/O block transmits, as a status signal, a ready signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles, and said external serial signal I/O block transmits a busy signal having a constant signal level as a status signal or pauses output of a signal when said external storage apparatus is performing a process in accordance with data of a control command and said external storage apparatus is in a state in which said external storage apparatus does not receive input of a signal from said data processing apparatus, and pauses output of a signal when an error has been made during receipt of data of a control command.

Claim 33

A data processing system according to claim 32, wherein when said host side serial signal I/O block is receiving a status signal, said host side serial signal I/O block makes a determination that the status signal is a ready signal indicating a fact that said external storage apparatus is in a state in which said external storage apparatus is waiting for input of a signal in a case where the status signal is a signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles, and makes a determination that the status signal is a busy signal indicating a fact that said external storage apparatus is in a state in which said external storage apparatus does not receive input of a signal in other cases.

Claim 34

A data processing system according to claim 32, wherein said host side serial signal I/O block makes a determination that an error has been made in a process performed by said external storage apparatus when said host side serial signal I/O block has continuously received the busy signals for a period of time not shorter than a predetermined period of time.

Claim 35

A data transmitting method for communicating data between a data processing apparatus and an external storage apparatus, said data processing apparatus incorporating a host side serial signal I/O block for at least transmitting data of a control command for controlling the operation of said external storage apparatus, receiving a status signal indicating a state of the operation of said external storage apparatus, transmitting data which is written on said external storage apparatus and receiving data which is read from said external storage apparatus by using serial signals, a control signal output block for supplying, to said external storage apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated by said host side serial signal I/O block is switched, and a synchronizing signal output block for supplying, to said external storage apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated by said host side serial signal I/O block; and said external storage apparatus incorporating an external serial signal I/O block for at least receiving data of the control command, transmitting the status signal, receiving data which is written thereon and transmitting data which is read therefrom to and from said data processing apparatus by using serial signals, a control signal input block for receiving, from said data processing apparatus, a control signal for controlling timing at which data which is communicated by said external serial signal I/O block is switched, and a synchronizing signal input block for receiving, from said data processing apparatus, a synchronizing signal of data which is communicated by said external serial signal I/O block, said data transmitting method comprising the steps of: making the signal level of the control signal which is transmitted from said control signal output block to be a predetermined level in accordance with data which is communicated between said host side serial signal I/O block and said external serial signal I/O block; transmitting, as a status signal, a ready signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles from said external serial signal I/O block when the state of said external serial signal I/O block has been changed from a state in which said external serial signal I/O block does not receive input of a signal from said data processing apparatus to a state in which said external serial signal I/O block waits for input of a signal; transmitting a busy signal having a predetermined signal level from said external serial signal I/O block as the status signal or pausing the output of a signal from said external serial signal I/O block when said external storage apparatus is performing a process in accordance with data of a control command and said external storage apparatus is in a state in which said external storage apparatus does not receive input of a signal from said data processing apparatus; and pausing output of a signal from said external serial signal I/O block when an error has been made during a process of said external serial signal I/O block for receiving data of a control command.

Claim 36

A data transmitting method according to claim 35, wherein when said host side serial signal I/O block is receiving a status signal, said host side serial signal I/O block makes a determination that the status signal is a ready signal indicating a fact that said external storage apparatus is in a state in which said external storage apparatus is waiting for input of a signal in a case where the status signal is a signal having the signal level which is repeatedly changed at predetermined cycles, and makes a determination that the status signal is a busy signal indicating a fact that said external storage apparatus is in a state in which said external storage apparatus does not receive input of a signal in other cases.

Claim 37

A data transmitting method according to claim 35, wherein a determination is made that an error has been made in a process performed by said external storage apparatus when said host side serial signal I/O block has continuously received the busy signals for a period of time not shorter than a predetermined period of time.