Abstract: A data transmission system where an image providing device and a printer are directly connected by a 1394 serial bus, a command is sent from the image providing device to the printer, then a response to the command is returned from the printer to the image providing device. Image data is sent from the image providing device to the printer based on information included in the response. The printer converts the image data outputted from the image providing device into print data. Thus, printing can be performed without a host computer by directly connecting the image providing device and the printer by the 1394 serial bus or the like.

Abstract: In response to a request from a host device using an initial protocol, capability information including information indicative of a plurality of communication protocols is returned to the host device, and a communication protocol, designated by the host device based on the capability information, is set, and print data is received from the host device by the set communication protocol. In a system using an interface connected to various types of devices, e.g., an IEEE 1394 serial bus, a communication protocol, which is used when a host device transfers print data to a printer, is not limited to that unique to the manufacturer of the device.

Abstract: A device of this invention solely executes a power saving operation without influencing a repeater operation on a serial bus interface to which a plurality of devices are cascade-connected. A device such as a digital camera, printer, or the like, which is cascade-connected using an IEEE1394 serial bus interface, uses an IC prepared by forming both physical and link layers on a single chip. This IC has a port connected to a bus. When a power supply on the bus side is OFF, this port can insulate the bus in DC term. This device transits to a power saving mode such as a sleep mode, suspend mode, shutdown mode, or the like after an elapse of a predetermined wait time. In the shutdown mode, the system power supply of the device is turned off, but the IC can operate by electric power supplied from a cable. With this operation, a signal can be relayed between devices, and a packet for the link layer can be received.

Abstract: An apparatus receives printing structured document data relating to data broadcasting, that has been described in a markup language. The received printing structured document data is parsed, and layout information for printing is extracted. The descriptions relating to printing that are included in the printing structured document data are changed into descriptions which can be parsed by a browser application capable of displaying contents described in a markup language, using the layout information. Thus, when printing data broadcast data in digital broadcasting, a suitable preview display can be made of printing data which has been generated from printing structured document data described in a markup language, using browser functions of a digital TV, before performing printing output of printing data.

Abstract: A data transmission system where an image providing device and a printer are directly connected by a 1394 serial bus, a command is sent from the image providing device to the printer, then a response to the command is returned from the printer to the image providing device. Image data is sent from the image providing device to the printer based on information included in the response. The printer converts the image data outputted from the image providing device into print data. Thus, printing can be performed without a host computer by directly connecting the image providing device and the printer by the 1394 serial bus or the like.

Abstract: In a system corresponding to direct printing, even though respective devices have a series of processing functions, high processing performance of the entire system cannot be expected. Accordingly, printing time is longer than that in a system having a personal computer. In a system having a digital camera, a printer and a set top box as a digital broadcast tuner interconnected via a 1394 serial bus, an image processing program necessary for direct printing is downloaded from e.g. the printer to the set top box which lacks an image processing function. Then, time required for data processing on a sample image is calculated at each of processing steps of the image processing, and a device to execute data conversion is determined based on the processing time. By this arrangement, direct printing can be efficiently performed.

Abstract: In a system where a digital still camera 1101 is connected to a printer 1102 on a 1394 serial bus, when the digital still camera 1101 as a data transfer originator node transfers image data to the printer 1102 as a data transfer destination node, the printer 1102 sends information on the data processing capability of the printer 1102 to the digital still camera 1101 prior to data transfer. The digital still camera 1101 determines the block size of image data to be transferred in accordance with the data processing capability of the printer 1102, and sends image data of the block size to the printer 1102. The information indicates the capacity of a memory of the printer for storing print data, or the printing capability of a printer engine, i.e., printing resolution, printing speed and the like. Thus, data transfer is always efficiently performed regardless of the data processing capability of the printer 1102.

Abstract: In response to a request from a host device using an initial protocol, capability information including information indicative of a plurality of communication protocols is returned to the host device, and a communication protocol, designated by the host device based on the capability information, is set, and print data is received from the host device by the set communication protocol. In a system using an interface connected to various types of devices, e.g., an IEEE 1394 serial bus, a communication protocol, which is used when a host device transfers print data to a printer, is not limited to that unique to the manufacturer of the device.

Abstract: In response to a request from a host device using an initial protocol, capability information including information indicative of a plurality of communication protocols is returned to the host device, and a communication protocol, designated by the host device based on the capability information, is set, and print data is received from the host device by the set communication protocol. In a system using an interface connected to various types of devices, e.g., an IEEE 1394 serial bus, a communication protocol, which is used when a host device transfers print data to a printer, is not limited to that unique to the manufacturer of the device.

Abstract: A data transmission system where an image providing device and a printer are directly connected by a 1394 serial bus, a command is sent from the image providing device to the printer, then a response to the command is returned from the printer to the image providing device. Image data is sent from the image providing device to the printer based on information included in the response. The printer converts the image data outputted from the image providing device into print data. Thus, printing can be performed without a host computer by directly connecting the image providing device and the printer by the 1394 serial bus or the like.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information processing apparatus connected to a printer through an interface such as IEEE1394 capable of changing a transmission bandwidth. In order to perform a transmission at an optimum transmission speed when image data is transmitted by an isochronous transmission, the apparatus comprises means for recognizing a printer performance and bandwidth setting means for setting the transmission bandwidth in accordance with the recognized performance, wherein the transmission bandwidth is set so that it may be suitable for the printer performance, whereby the data can be transmitted.

Abstract: For providing a communication system capable of easily and efficiently confirming information present in another device and easily and efficiently selecting desired information from such information, a digital camera informs a printer of format information of an image file (including a photographed image, a thumbnail image formed by reducing the photographed image) held in an internal memory of the digital camera, so that the printer can directly fetch the thumbnail image only from the image file held in the internal memory of the digital camera, for example by the pull-type data transfer method.

Abstract: In a system where a digital still camera 1101 is connected to a printer 1102 on a 1394 serial bus, when the digital still camera 1101 as a data transfer originator node transfers image data to the printer 1102 as a data transfer destination node, the printer 1102 sends information on the data processing capability of the printer 1102 to the digital still camera 1101 prior to data transfer. The digital still camera 1101 determines the block size of image data to be transferred in accordance with the data processing capability of the printer 1102, and sends image data of the block size to the printer 1102. The information indicates the capacity of a memory of the printer for storing print data, or the printing capability of a printer engine, i.e., printing resolution, printing speed and the like. Thus, data transfer is always efficiently performed regardless of the data processing capability of the printer 1102.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises: a memory to store emulation information which is designated from a host computer that is connected to a printer via a general parallel interface; a judging circuit to judge a delimiter of print data; and a control unit to switch the emulation on the basis of the emulation information stored in the memory and the result of the judgment by the judging circuit. When each section of the apparatus is in the inoperative state, they are set into the power saving mode and are sequentially controlled. Thus, the power saving of the whole apparatus can be realized.

Abstract: A data transmission system where an image providing device and a printer are directly connected by a 1394 serial bus, a command is sent from the image providing device to the printer, then a response to the command is returned from the printer to the image providing device. Image data is sent from the image providing device to the printer based on information included in the response. The printer converts the image data outputted from the image providing device into print data. Thus, printing can be performed without a host computer by directly connecting the image providing device and the printer by the 1394 serial bus or the like.

Abstract: In a printer control method, image-data processing which has previously been performed in a printer (printer unit) is performed by a host computer (host unit), so that the cost of the printer is reduced. More specifically, the printer unit includes a holding unit for holding control commands from the host unit, and an execution unit for executing the control commands. The host unit includes an analysis unit for analyzing printer commands, control-command forming unit for forming control commands from the printer commands, and a transmission unit for transmitting the control commands to the printer unit. The printer unit is controlled by converting printer commands into control commands in accordance with printing instructions provided from host-unit application software and transmitting the obtained control commands to the printer unit.

Abstract: A device of this invention solely executes a power saving operation without influencing a repeater operation on a serial bus interface to which a plurality of devices are cascade-connected.

Abstract: In response to a request from a host device using an initial protocol, capability information including information indicative of a plurality of communication protocols is returned to the host device, and a communication protocol, designated by the host device based on the capability information, is set, and print data is received from the host device by the set communication protocol. In a system using an interface connected to various types of devices, e.g., an IEEE 1394 serial bus, a communication protocol, which is used when a host device transfers print data to a printer, is not limited to that unique to the manufacturer of the device.

Abstract: In response to a request from a host device using an initial protocol, capability information including information indicative of a plurality of communication protocols is returned to the host device, and a communication protocol, designated by the host device based on the capability information, is set, and print data is received from the host device by the set communication protocol. In a system using an interface connected to various types of devices, e.g., an IEEE 1394 serial bus, a communication protocol, which is used when a host device transfers print data to a printer, is not limited to that unique to the manufacturer of the device.

Abstract: In a system corresponding to direct printing, even though respective devices have a series of processing functions, high processing performance of the entire system cannot be expected. Accordingly, printing time is longer than that in a system having a personal computer. In a system having a digital camera, a printer and a set top box as a digital broadcast tuner interconnected via a 1394 serial bus, an image processing program necessary for direct printing is downloaded from e.g. the printer to the set top box which lacks an image processing function. Then, time required for data processing on a sample image is calculated at each of processing steps of the image processing, and a device to execute data conversion is determined based on the processing time. By this arrangement, direct printing can be efficiently performed.