Information processing system and method, image processing system and method, information processing apparatus and computer readable memory

Claim 2

An information processing system having devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said system comprising: supply means for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; and reception means for receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; wherein if the data received by said reception means includes an abnormal portion, said reception means corrects the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 3

The system according to claim 1, wherein if said supply means transmits coded data by the isochronous transfer, said supply means transmits a decoding program corresponding to a coding method of the coded data prior to transmission of the coded data.

Claim 4

The system according to claim 2, further comprising decoding means for decoding the coded data received by said reception means, based on the decoding program received by said reception means.

Claim 5

The system according to claim 2, wherein the decoding program is transmitted by asynchronous transfer.

Claim 6

The system according to claim 4, wherein the asynchronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 7

The system according to claim 1, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 8

The system according to claim 1, wherein the isochronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 9

The system according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting the data received by said reception means to a printer.

Claim 10

The system according to claim 8, wherein the printer is an ink-jet printer.

Claim 11

An information processing method for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of: repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and if the data received at said reception step includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 12

An information processing method for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of: repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and if the data received at said reception step includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 13

An information processing system having devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said system comprising: supply means for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; reception means for receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and output means for outputting the data received by said reception means to a printer, wherein said reception means receives the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer by said supply means, in a unit corresponding to a capability of the printer.

Claim 14

An information processing system having devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said system comprising: supply means for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; reception means for receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and output means for outputting the data received by said reception means to a printer, wherein said reception means receives the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer by said supply means, in a unit corresponding to a capability of the printer.

Claim 15

The system according to claim 11, wherein the printer is an ink-jet printer.

Claim 16

The system according to claim 11, wherein if said supply means transmits coded data by the isochronous transfer, said supply means transmits a decoding program corresponding to a coding method of the coded data prior to transmission of the coded data.

Claim 17

The system according to claim 13, further comprising decoding means for decoding the coded data received by said reception means, based on the decoding program received by said reception means.

Claim 18

The system according to claim 13, wherein the decoding program is transmitted by asynchronous transfer.

Claim 19

The system according to claim 15, wherein the asynchronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 20

The system according to claim 11, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 21

The system according to claim 11, wherein the isochronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 22

An information processing method for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of: repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; receiving the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and outputting the data received at said reception step to the printer.

Claim 23

An information processing method for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of: repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; receiving the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and outputting the data received at said reception step to the printer.

Claim 24

An image processing system having devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said system comprising: supply means for repeatedly transmitting image data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; reception means for receiving the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and formation means for forming a visual image on a printing medium based on the image data received by said reception means, wherein if the image data received by said reception means includes an abnormal portion, said reception means corrects the abnormal portion by using the image data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 25

An image processing system having devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said system comprising: supply means for repeatedly transmitting image data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; reception means for receiving the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and formation means for forming a visual image on a printing medium based on the image data received by said reception means, wherein if the image data received by said reception means includes an abnormal portion, said reception means corrects the abnormal portion by using the image data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 26

The system according to claim 20, wherein each time said reception means has received a predetermined amount of the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer in predetermined packet units, corresponding to a size of a reception buffer, said reception means supplies the predetermined amount of image data to said formation means.

Claim 27

The system according to claim 20, wherein each time said reception means has received a predetermined amount of the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer in predetermined packet units, corresponding to a unit of image formation of said formation means, said reception means supplies the predetermined amount of image data to said formation means.

Claim 28

The system according to claim 20, wherein if said supply means transmits coded image data by the isochronous transfer, said supply means transmits a decoding program corresponding to a coding method of the coded image data prior to transmission of the coded image data.

Claim 29

The system according to claim 23, further comprising decoding means for decoding the coded image data received by said reception means, based on the decoding program received by said reception means.

Claim 30

The system according to claim 23, wherein the decoding program is transmitted by asynchronous transfer.

Claim 31

The system according to claim 25, wherein the asynchronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 32

The system according to claim 20, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1934 standards.

Claim 33

The system according to claim 20, wherein the isochronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 34

An image processing method for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of: repeatedly transmitting image data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; receiving the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; if the image data received at said reception step includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the image data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and forming a visual image on a printing medium based on the image data received at said reception step.

Claim 35

An image processing method for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of: repeatedly transmitting image data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; receiving the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; if the image data received at said reception step includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the image data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and forming a visual image on a printing medium based on the image data received at said reception step.

Claim 36

An information processing apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said apparatus comprising: reception means for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and correction means for, if the data received by said reception means includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 37

An information processing apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said apparatus comprising: reception means for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and correction means for, if the data received by said reception means includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 38

The apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising output means for outputting the data received by said reception means to a printer.

Claim 39

The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the printer is an ink-jet printer.

Claim 40

The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 41

The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the isochronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 42

An information processing method for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of: receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and if the data received at said reception step includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 43

An information processing method for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising the steps of: receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and if the data received at said reception step includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 44

An information processing apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said apparatus comprising: reception means for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and output means for outputting the data received by said reception means to a printer, wherein said reception means receives the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of the printer.

Claim 45

An information processing apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said apparatus comprising: reception means for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and output means for outputting the data received by said reception means to a printer, wherein said reception means receives the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of the printer.

Claim 46

The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the printer is an ink-jet printer.

Claim 47

The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein if said reception means receives coded data, said reception means receives a decoding program corresponding to a coding method of the coded data prior to reception of the coded data.

Claim 48

The apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising decoding means for decoding the coded data received by said reception means, based on the decoding program received by said reception means.

Claim 49

The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the decoding program is transferred by asynchronous transfer.

Claim 50

The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the asynchronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 51

The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the serial bus is a bus adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 52

The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the isochronous transfer is adapted to or based on the IEEE 1394 standards.

Claim 53

An information processing method for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising: receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and outputting the data received at said reception step to the printer.

Claim 54

An information processing method for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said method comprising: receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and outputting the data received at said reception step to the printer.

Claim 55

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising: transmission process procedure codes for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; reception process procedure codes for receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and correction process procedure codes for, if the data received at said reception process includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 56

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising: transmission process procedure codes for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; reception process procedure codes for receiving the data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and correction process procedure codes for, if the data received at said reception process includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 57

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising: transmission process procedure codes for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; reception process procedure codes for receiving the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and output process procedure codes for outputting the data received at said reception process to the printer.

Claim 58

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising: transmission process procedure codes for repeatedly transmitting data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; reception process procedure codes for receiving the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and output process procedure codes for outputting the data received at said reception process to the printer.

Claim 59

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing image processing for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising: transmission process procedure codes for repeatedly transmitting image data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; reception process procedure codes for receiving the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; correction process procedure codes for, if the image data received at said reception process includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the image data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and formation process procedure codes for forming a visual image on a recording medium based on the image data received at said reception process.

Claim 60

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing image processing for devices connected by a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising: transmission process procedure codes for repeatedly transmitting image data stored in a storage medium by the isochronous transfer; reception process procedure codes for receiving the image data transmitted by the isochronous transfer; correction process procedure codes for, if the image data received at said reception process includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the image data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and formation process procedure codes for forming a visual image on a recording medium based on the image data received at said reception process.

Claim 61

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising: reception process procedure codes for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and correction process procedure codes for, if the data received at said reception process includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 62

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising: reception process procedure codes for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer; and correction process procedure codes for, if the data received at said reception process includes an abnormal portion, correcting the abnormal portion by using the data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer.

Claim 63

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising: reception process procedure codes for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and output process procedure codes for outputting the data received at said reception process to a printer.

Claim 64

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing information processing for an apparatus connected to at least one device through a serial bus which is capable of isochronous transfer, said product comprising: reception process procedure codes for receiving data repeatedly transmitted by the isochronous transfer, in a unit corresponding to a capability of a printer as a receiver of the data; and output process procedure codes for outputting the data received at said reception process to a printer.

Claim 65

A data communication method for transmitting print data from a host to a printing apparatus by isochronous transmission, comprising the steps of: causing said host to transmit the print data, which has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus, in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and if an error occurs in a data block in isochronous packet transmission thereof after the data block is transmitted, storing error information relating to the error in said printing apparatus, and sending back the error information from said printing apparatus to said host by isochronous transmission when transmission of the next data block starts.

Claim 66

A data communication method for transmitting print data from a host to a printing apparatus by isochronous transmission, comprising the steps of: causing said host to transmit the print data, which has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus, in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and if an error occurs in a data block in isochronous packet transmission thereof after the data block is transmitted, storing error information relating to the error in said printing apparatus, and sending back the error information from said printing apparatus to said host by isochronous transmission when transmission of the next data block starts.

Claim 67

The method according to claim 50, wherein said printing apparatus prints as blank data the print data of a data block in which the error occurred, and performs printing again using the print data of the data block in which the error occurred taken from a data block re-transmitted by said host on the basis of the error information sent back to said host, thereby causing printing to recover from said error.

Claim 68

The method according to claim 50, wherein said printing apparatus performs printing by multiple passes, and said host, on the basis of the error information, superimposes print data of a data block lost due to error on the corresponding data block of print data to be printed by the next pass of the printing apparatus, and transmits the resulting data to said printing apparatus.

Claim 69

A data communication apparatus for transmitting print data to a printing apparatus in order that the print data will be printed, comprising: data converting means for creating print data that has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus; transmitting means for transmitting the print data in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and re-transmitting means which, if occurrence of an error in a data block in isochronous packet transmission thereof is transmitted from said printing apparatus after the data block is transmitted by said transmitting means, is for re-transmitting the data block to said printing apparatus.

Claim 70

A data communication apparatus for transmitting print data to a printing apparatus in order that the print data will be printed, comprising: data converting means for creating print data that has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus; transmitting means for transmitting the print data in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and re-transmitting means which, if occurrence of an error in a data block in isochronous packet transmission thereof is transmitted from said printing apparatus after the data block is transmitted by said transmitting means, is for re-transmitting the data block to said printing apparatus.

Claim 71

The apparatus according to claim 53, further comprising data transmission control means for superimposing print data of the data block in which the error occurred, which data corresponds to multiple-pass printing in said printing apparatus, on the corresponding data block of print data to be printed by the next pass of the printing apparatus, and transmitting the resulting data to said printing apparatus.

Claim 72

A printing apparatus for receiving and printing print data sent from a host by isochronous transmission, comprising: sensing means for sensing occurrence of an error in isochronous packet transmission of the print data when the print data is received; storing means for storing error information relating to the error sensed by said sensing means; printing means for printing the print data leaving blank the location of an error sensed by said sensing means; re-transmission requesting means for issuing a data re-transmission request to said host in response to occurrence of the error; discriminating means for discriminating, in print data re-transmitted from said host in response to the re-transmission request from said re-transmission requesting means, and on the basis of the error information stored in said storing means, a portion of the print data that corresponds to the location of the error; and printing control means for printing the error of the location using the portion of the print data discriminated by said discriminating means.

Claim 73

A printing apparatus for receiving and printing print data sent from a host by isochronous transmission, comprising: sensing means for sensing occurrence of an error in isochronous packet transmission of the print data when the print data is received; storing means for storing error information relating to the error sensed by said sensing means; printing means for printing the print data leaving blank the location of an error sensed by said sensing means; re-transmission requesting means for issuing a data re-transmission request to said host in response to occurrence of the error; discriminating means for discriminating, in print data re-transmitted from said host in response to the re-transmission request from said re-transmission requesting means, and on the basis of the error information stored in said storing means, a portion of the print data that corresponds to the location of the error; and printing control means for printing the error of the location using the portion of the print data discriminated by said discriminating means.

Claim 74

The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the print data transmitted from said host corresponds to drive data for driving a printhead a single time.

Claim 75

A printing system for transmitting print data from a host to a printing apparatus by isochronous transmission, wherein said host transmits the print data, which has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus, in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and said printing apparatus includes: sensing means for sensing occurrence of an error in isochronous packet transmission of the print data when the print data is received; storing means for storing error information relating to the error sensed by said sensing means; printing means for printing the print data leaving blank the location of an error sensed by said sensing means; re-transmission requesting means for issuing a data re-transmission request to said host in response to occurrence of the error; discriminating means for discriminating, in print data re-transmitted from said host in response to the re-transmission request from said re-transmission requesting means, and on the basis of the error information stored in said storing means, a portion of the print data that corresponds to the location of the error; and printing control means for printing the error of the location using the portion of the print data discriminated by said discriminating means.

Claim 76

A printing system for transmitting print data from a host to a printing apparatus by isochronous transmission, wherein said host transmits the print data, which has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus, in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and said printing apparatus includes: sensing means for sensing occurrence of an error in isochronous packet transmission of the print data when the print data is received; storing means for storing error information relating to the error sensed by said sensing means; printing means for printing the print data leaving blank the location of an error sensed by said sensing means; re-transmission requesting means for issuing a data re-transmission request to said host in response to occurrence of the error; discriminating means for discriminating, in print data re-transmitted from said host in response to the re-transmission request from said re-transmission requesting means, and on the basis of the error information stored in said storing means, a portion of the print data that corresponds to the location of the error; and printing control means for printing the error of the location using the portion of the print data discriminated by said discriminating means.

Claim 77

The system according to claim 57, wherein said printing apparatus prints as blank data the print data of a data block in which the error occurred, and performs printing again using the print data of the data block in which the error occurred taken from a data block re-transmitted by said host on the basis of the error information sent back to said host, thereby causing printing to recover from said error.

Claim 78

A printing system for transmitting print data from a host to a printing apparatus by isochronous transmission, wherein said printing apparatus includes: sensing means for sensing occurrence of an error in isochronous packet transmission of the print data when the print data is received; printing means for executing printing by multiple passes based upon the print data, and printing the print data leaving blank the location of an error sensed by said sensing means; re-transmission requesting means for issuing a data re-transmission request to said host in response to occurrence of the error; and discriminating means for discriminating, in print data re-transmitted from said host in response to the re-transmission request from said re-transmission requesting means, and on the basis of the error information stored in said storing means, a portion of the print data that corresponds to the location of the error; and said hold includes: transmitting means for transmitting the print data, which has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus, in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and data transmitting means for creating and transmitting print data in response to the re-transmission request issued by said re-transmission requesting means, wherein the print data is obtained by superimposing a data block, in which the error has occurred, on print data to be printed by the next pass of said printing apparatus.

Claim 79

A printing system for transmitting print data from a host to a printing apparatus by isochronous transmission, wherein said printing apparatus includes: sensing means for sensing occurrence of an error in isochronous packet transmission of the print data when the print data is received; printing means for executing printing by multiple passes based upon the print data, and printing the print data leaving blank the location of an error sensed by said sensing means; re-transmission requesting means for issuing a data re-transmission request to said host in response to occurrence of the error; and discriminating means for discriminating, in print data re-transmitted from said host in response to the re-transmission request from said re-transmission requesting means, and on the basis of the error information stored in said storing means, a portion of the print data that corresponds to the location of the error; and said hold includes: transmitting means for transmitting the print data, which has been converted to a print data structure that is in accordance with said printing apparatus, in data block units by isochronous transmission in conformity with the functions of said printing apparatus; and data transmitting means for creating and transmitting print data in response to the re-transmission request issued by said re-transmission requesting means, wherein the print data is obtained by superimposing a data block, in which the error has occurred, on print data to be printed by the next pass of said printing apparatus.