JP6488796B2 - Information processing system and information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing apparatus.

Conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, peripheral devices A, B, and C, which are other information processing devices, are connected in series by a communication line 70 to an information processing device 100 such as an image forming device. It is known to configure an information processing system such as an image processing system.
For example, in Patent Document 1, in an image forming system in which a plurality of post-processing devices are connected in series to an image forming device, a first communication line that connects the image forming device and each post-processing device in series, and image formation It is disclosed that a second communication line for transmitting data from the apparatus to each post-processing apparatus without passing through another post-processing apparatus is provided, and the communication path is switched by a switch.

  However, in such a conventional image processing system, since only the transmission processing from the image forming apparatus to the post-processing apparatus can be accelerated, there is a problem that it takes time to download data.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and in an information processing system in which a plurality of sub information processing devices are connected in series to a main information processing device, when downloading data or the like, The purpose is to reduce time loss.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing system according to the present invention includes a plurality of sub information processing devices connected to a main information processing device, and the plurality of sub information processing devices from the main information processing device. A first communication line connected in series, a second communication line provided in parallel to the first communication line, provided in each of the plurality of sub information processing devices, and the main information Switching means for switching between the first communication line and the second communication line corresponding to a communication state with the processing device , wherein the first communication line and the second communication line are The processing apparatus comprises two lines, a transmission line and a reception line, and the switching means is means for simultaneously switching the two lines .

  The information processing system according to the present invention can reduce time loss when data is downloaded in an information processing system in which a plurality of sub information processing devices are connected in series to a main information processing device.

It is a system configuration figure showing the state of normal control communication by the 1st communication line in one embodiment of the information processing system by this invention. Similarly, in the information processing system, it is a system configuration diagram showing a state where the information processing device 10 and the peripheral device 3 communicate directly. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of the peripheral device 1 in FIG. It is a block diagram which similarly shows the switching state similar to FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a download process from the information processing apparatus 10 to the peripheral device 2 or 3 by the information processing system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is a block diagram which shows the switching state corresponding to FIG. 4 of the other example of the peripheral device used for the information processing system by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the switching state corresponding to FIG. 4 of the further another example of the peripheral device used for the information processing system by this invention. It is a system configuration figure showing an example of the conventional information processing system.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a state of normal control communication through a first communication line in an embodiment of an information processing system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows that the information processing device 10 and peripheral device 3 communicate directly. It is a system configuration | structure figure which shows the state to do.

  In the information processing system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, peripheral devices 1 to 3 that are a plurality of sub information processing devices are connected to an information processing device 10 that is a main information processing device. The peripheral devices 1 to 3 are devices that execute specific processing according to instructions from the information processing device 10, respectively, and are also referred to as peripheral devices. The number of peripheral devices is not limited to three, and any number of peripheral devices may be used as long as it is two or more. In this example, it is assumed that the maximum baud rates indicating the communication speeds of the peripheral devices 1 to 3 are 9600, 38400, and 38400, respectively.

Peripheral devices 1 to 3 are connected in series by the first communication line 7 from the information processing device 10.
Peripheral devices 1 to 3 which are a plurality of sub information processing devices only show portions related to the present invention, and the configuration is the same. However, a configuration for performing a function specific to each peripheral device is omitted. That is, each of the peripheral devices 1 to 3 has a CPU 11. The CPU 11 is a control unit using a microcomputer that includes a central processing unit, a ROM storing the program, a RAM for storing data, and the like. Each CPU 11 of the peripheral devices 1 to 3 is connected in series to the information processing device 10 by the first communication line 7.

Each of the peripheral devices 1 to 3 further includes a second communication line 12 provided in parallel to the first communication line 7 and changeover switches 13 to 16 as switching means. The change-over switches 13 to 16 switch the first communication line 7 and the second communication line 12 in response to the communication state between the information processing apparatus 10 and any one of the peripheral apparatuses 1 to 3. Is composed of two lines, a transmission line 7a and a reception line 7b, as viewed from the information processing apparatus 10, and the second communication line 12 is similarly composed of two lines, a transmission line 12a and a reception line 12b.

  A selector switch 13 is provided between the transmission lines 7a and 12a of the first communication line 7 and the second communication line 12 on the input side of the CPU 11, and a selector switch 14 is provided between the reception lines 7b and 12b. ing. Further, a changeover switch 15 is provided between the transmission lines 7a and 12a of the first communication line 7 and the second communication line 12 on the output side of the CPU 11, and a changeover switch 16 is provided between the reception lines 7b and 12b. ing.

The change-over switches 13 to 16 serving as switching means can simultaneously switch two lines of the first communication line 7 and the second communication line 12 together.
In this embodiment, the information processing device 10 and the peripheral devices 1 to 3 are further connected in parallel by the dedicated signal line 8. The CPUs 11 of the peripheral devices 1 to 3 are each connected to the dedicated signal line 8.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of the peripheral device 1 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the same switching state of the peripheral device 1 as in FIG.
The peripheral device 1 is a sub information processing device having a CPU 11 that is a control unit capable of communicating with the main information processing device 10. Then, the first input / output unit 17 that can be connected to the information processing device 10 or other peripheral device connected to the information processing device 10, and the second that can be connected to a peripheral device different from the other peripheral device The input / output unit 18 is provided.

Then, the first input / output unit 17 and the second input / output unit 18 are connected via the CPU 11 which is the control unit, the first communication line 7, the first input / output unit 17 and the second input / output unit 18. A second communication line 12 that can be connected to the input / output unit 18 without using the CPU 11 is provided.
The first communication line 7 includes two lines, a transmission line 7a and a reception line 7b, as viewed from the information processing apparatus 10, and the second communication line 12 similarly includes two lines, a transmission line 12a and a reception line 12b. Consists of lines.

Furthermore, as described above, the switches 13 to 16 that are switching means for switching between the first communication line 7 and the second communication line 12 are provided corresponding to the communication state with the information processing apparatus 10. Each arrangement of the changeover switches 13 to 16 is as described above.
The configurations of the other peripheral devices 2 and 3 are the same as the configuration of the peripheral device 1.

In the information processing system described above, in the normal control communication state shown in FIG. 1, the change-over switches 13 to 16 which are the respective switching means in the peripheral devices 1 to 3 switch the communication line to the first communication line 7. ing. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 10 can directly communicate with the peripheral device 1, but communicates with the peripheral device 2 through the peripheral device 1 and communicates with the peripheral device 3 through the peripheral devices 1 and 2.
The state of this normal control communication is the same as the communication state by the conventional information processing system shown in FIG.

In this case, considering the case where the information processing device 10 communicates with the peripheral device 3, since the peripheral device 1 and the peripheral device 2 are connected in series between the information processing device 10 and the peripheral device 3, transmission is performed. Data and received data pass through the CPU 11 of the peripheral devices 1 and 2. At that time, a time loss due to the communication time and processing time in each of the peripheral devices 1 and 2 occurs.
Further, when data is downloaded from the information processing apparatus 10 to the peripheral device 3, the maximum high-speed baud rate of the peripheral device 1 is 9600 while the maximum high-speed baud rate of the peripheral device 3 that is the download target machine is 38400. For this reason, the peripheral device 3 cannot be downloaded at the highest baud rate.

Thus, in this normal control communication, the baud rate at the time of downloading depends on the baud rate of other peripheral devices connected upstream from the peripheral device to be downloaded.
Therefore, when the highest speed baud rate of the other peripheral device is lower than the highest speed baud rate of the peripheral device to be downloaded, downloading is possible only at the lower baud rate.

Therefore, when the information processing apparatus 10 communicates with the peripheral device 3, as shown in FIG. 2, the change-over switches 13 to 16 of the peripheral device 1 and the peripheral device 2 respectively set the transmission line and the reception line inside the peripheral device. , Both switch from the first communication line 7 to the second communication line 12.
In this communication state, the information processing device 10 and the peripheral device 3 are connected by the first communication line 7 outside the peripheral devices 1 and 2 and the second communication line 12 in the peripheral devices 1 and 2. 1 can communicate directly. Therefore, time loss due to communication time and processing time in the peripheral devices 1 and 2 does not occur.

  Therefore, when data is downloaded from the information processing apparatus 10 to the peripheral device 3, the download is performed at the highest baud rate 38400 of the peripheral device 3 that is the download target machine without depending on the highest baud rate of the other peripheral devices 1 and 2. It can be carried out.

When the information processing device 10 communicates with the peripheral device 2, the change-over switches 13 to 16 of the peripheral device 1 connect the transmission line and the reception line inside the peripheral device 1 from the first communication line 7. What is necessary is just to switch to the 2nd communication line 12. Also in this case, the information processing device 10 and the peripheral device 2 are connected by the first communication line 7 outside the peripheral device 1 and the second communication line 12 in the peripheral device 1, and directly communicate one-to-one. It can be carried out.
Therefore, when data is downloaded from the information processing apparatus 10 to the peripheral device 2, the data can be downloaded at the highest speed baud rate 38400 of the peripheral device 2 that is the download target machine.

Here, switching control of the changeover switches 13 to 16 which are switching means in the peripheral devices 1 to 3 will be described. The changeover control of the changeover switches 13 to 16 is performed by the CPU 11 which is a control unit in each of the peripheral devices 1 to 3 in this embodiment.
When the information processing device 10 directly communicates with the peripheral device 2 or 3 of the plurality of peripheral devices 1 to 3 as a communication target, the information processing device 10 is connected between the peripheral device 2 or 3 and the information processing device 10. A start notification is transmitted by the first communication line 7 to the connected peripheral devices 1 or 1 and 2.

When the CPU 11 of the peripheral device 1 or 1 and 2 receives the start notification, each of the CPUs 11 simultaneously switches the switches 13 to 16 in the peripheral device to switch the transmission line and the reception line in the peripheral device. Switch from one communication line 7 to the second communication line 12.
Thereby, as described above, the information processing apparatus 10 and the peripheral device 2 or 3 to be communicated can directly communicate one-to-one.

Further, when the information processing device 10 ends the direct communication with the peripheral device 2 or 3 to be communicated, the peripheral devices 1 or 1 connected between the peripheral device to be communicated and the information processing device 10 2, an end notification is transmitted through the dedicated signal line 8.
When the CPU 11 of the peripheral device 1 or 1 and 2 receives the end notification, each CPU 11 simultaneously switches the switch 13 to 16 in the peripheral device to switch the transmission line and the reception line in the peripheral device. Switch from the second communication line 12 to the first communication line 7.
Thus, the normal control communication state shown in FIG. 1 is restored.

  When communication between the information processing apparatus 10 and the peripheral device 2 or 3 to be communicated is communication for downloading data, the start notification is a download start notification, and the end notification is a download end notification. .

Here, the flow of download processing from the information processing apparatus 10 to the peripheral apparatus 2 or 3 by the information processing system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
This flowchart collectively shows processing by the CPU 11 which is the control unit of the information processing apparatus 10 and each control unit of the peripheral devices 1 to 3 for convenience.

When the power supply is activated, the information processing system starts the processing shown in FIG. 5, and performs normal control communication through the first communication line 7 in the state shown in FIG. 1 in step S1.
In step S2, the control unit of the information processing apparatus 10 determines whether or not there is a download request to the peripheral device 2. If there is a download request to the peripheral device 2, the process proceeds to step S4. Proceed to step S3. In step S3, it is determined whether or not there is a download request to the peripheral device 3. If there is a download request to the peripheral device 3, the process proceeds to step S10, and if not, the process returns to step S1. Therefore, the normal control communication in step S1 is continued until there is a download request to the peripheral device 2 or 3.

In step S <b> 2, when there is a download request to the peripheral device 2 and the process proceeds to step S <b> 4, the control unit of the information processing device 10 transmits a start notification to the peripheral device 1 through the first communication line 7. Accordingly, the CPU 11 of the peripheral device 1 receives the start notification in step S5, switches the changeover switches 13 to 16, and switches the communication line in the peripheral device 1 to the second communication line 12.
In step S6, the information processing device 10 and the peripheral device 2 directly communicate with each other, and download to the peripheral device 2 is started. Then, the download of the peripheral device 2 is continued in step S6 until the control unit of the information processing device 10 determines that the download of the peripheral device 2 is completed in step S7.

  When it is determined in step S7 that the download of the peripheral device 2 is completed, the control unit of the information processing device 10 transmits an end notification to the peripheral device 1 through the dedicated signal line 8 in step S8. Thereby, in step S9, the CPU 11 of the peripheral device 1 receives the end notification, switches the changeover switches 13 to 16, and switches the communication line in the peripheral device 1 to the first communication line 7. And it returns to step S1 and returns to normal control communication.

In step S 3, when there is a download request to the peripheral device 3 and the process proceeds to step S 10, the control unit of the information processing device 10 transmits a start notification to the peripheral devices 1 and 2 through the first communication line 7. As a result, the CPU 11 of the peripheral devices 1 and 2 receives the start notification in step S11, switches the changeover switches 13 to 16, and switches the communication line in the peripheral devices 1 and 2 to the second communication line 12.
In step S12, the information processing device 10 and the peripheral device 3 directly communicate with each other, and download to the peripheral device 3 is started. The download of the peripheral device 3 is continued in step S12 until the control unit of the information processing device 10 determines that the download of the peripheral device 3 is completed in step S13.

When it is determined in step S13 that the download of the peripheral device 3 is completed, the control unit of the information processing device 10 transmits an end notification to the peripheral devices 1 and 2 through the dedicated signal line 8 in step S14. Thereby, in step S15, the CPU 11 of the peripheral devices 1 and 2 receives the end notification and switches the changeover switches 13 to 16 to switch the communication line in the peripheral devices 1 and 2 to the first communication line 7. And it returns to step S1 and returns to normal control communication.
Thereafter, the above-described steps S1 to S15 are repeated until the power is turned off.

In this way, when data is downloaded from the information processing device 10 to the peripheral device 2 or 3, the information processing device 10 and the peripheral device 2 or 3 to be downloaded can directly communicate one-to-one. Therefore, downloading can be performed without causing time loss due to communication time and processing time in the peripheral devices 1 or 1 and 2 connected to the upstream side of the peripheral device 2 or 3 to be downloaded.
Further, when data is downloaded from the information processing apparatus 10 to the peripheral device 2 or 3, the peripheral device 2 or 3 that is the download target machine does not depend on the maximum baud rate of the peripheral device connected to the upstream side. You can download at the highest baud rate.

In the embodiment described above, the control unit of the information processing device 10 transmits an end notification to the peripheral devices 1 and 2 through the dedicated signal line 8, so that the CPU 11 of the peripheral devices 1 and 2 switches the changeover switches 13 to 16. Then, the internal communication line is switched to the first communication line 7.
However, the dedicated signal line 8 is not essential. For example, in the following manner, the information processing device 10 transmits an end notification to each necessary peripheral device without using the dedicated signal line 8, and each CPU is operated by each CPU, and the internal communication line Can be switched to the first communication line.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a switching state corresponding to FIG. 4 of another example of the peripheral device used in the information processing system according to the present invention.
The peripheral device M, which is the secondary information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 6, is provided with a communication line for connecting the internal second communication line 12 and the CPU 11, and the dedicated signal line 8 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is provided. Absent.
An information processing system can be configured by connecting a plurality of peripheral devices M in series from the main information processing apparatus 10 described above via the first communication line 7.

  In that case, the CPU 11 of the peripheral device M connected between the information processing device 10 and the peripheral device to be communicated monitors the exchange of data on the second communication line 12 in the device itself. Then, when it is determined that the exchange of data has ended, the changeover switches 13 to 16 are operated to return the internal communication line to the first communication line in the same manner as when the end notification is received. Can do.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a switching state corresponding to FIG. 4 of still another example of the peripheral device used in the information processing system according to the present invention.
The peripheral device N, which is the sub information processing device shown in FIG. 7, omits the selector switches 13 and 14 on the first input / output unit 17 side. The transmission line 7a and the reception line 7b of the first communication line 7 are directly connected to the transmission line 12a and the reception line 12b of the second communication line 12, respectively. Further, like the peripheral device M in FIG. 7, the dedicated signal line 8 is not provided.

An information processing system can be configured by connecting a plurality of peripheral devices N in series from the main information processing device 10 described above via the first communication line 7.
In that case, in the peripheral device N connected between the information processing device 10 and the peripheral device to be communicated, the changeover switches 15 and 16 are switched to the second signal line 12 side as shown in FIG. However, the CPU 11 can receive data from the information processing apparatus 10 through the first signal line 7.

Therefore, “communication data at the completion of download” is set, and when it is received by the CPU 11 in the peripheral device N, the change-over switches 115 and 16 are operated to change the internal communication line to the first communication line. Can be restored.
However, there is a restriction that when the information processing apparatus 10 transmits “communication data at the completion of download”, it must be switched to the communication baud rate of the peripheral device M to be switched and then transmitted.

In the description of each embodiment described above, the main information processing apparatus 10 may be an image forming apparatus main body such as a digital copying machine or a digital multifunction peripheral. In this case, the peripheral devices 1 to 3 as the sub information processing devices are peripheral devices that execute specific processing according to an instruction from the image forming apparatus main body, such as a pre-processing device, a post-processing device, or a document processing device. is there.
The pre-processing device is a device that performs, for example, reforming processing or charge removal processing of a recording medium such as paper used for image formation, and automatically feeds the recording medium to the main body of the image forming apparatus. The post-processing apparatus is, for example, an apparatus that performs sorting, sorting, stapling, or the like of a recording medium on which an image is formed, an apparatus that performs coating, and the like. The document processing apparatus is, for example, an apparatus that automatically feeds a copy document to a reading position or reverses the front and back.

  The main information processing apparatus 10 may be a personal computer, various dedicated data processing apparatuses, or the like. In that case, each of the plurality of sub information processing devices is a peripheral device that performs specific processing according to an instruction from the information processing device such as a personal computer.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention has been described, the information processing system and information processing apparatus by this invention are not restricted to them. As a matter of course, the configuration of each embodiment can be changed, added, omitted, or combined as appropriate as long as the configuration satisfies the matters stipulated in the claims.

1-3, M, N: Peripheral device (sub-information processing device) 7: First communication line
7a: Transmission line 7b: Reception line 8: Dedicated signal line
10: Information processing device (main information processing device) 11: CPU (control unit)
12: Second communication line 12a: Transmission line 12b: Reception lines 13-16: Changeover switch (switching means) 17: First input / output unit 18: Second input / output unit 70: Communication line 100: Information Processing equipment

JP 2006-30258 A

Claims (8)

A plurality of sub information processing devices connected to the main information processing device;
A first communication line connecting the plurality of sub information processing devices in series from the main information processing device;
The second communication line provided in each of the plurality of sub information processing devices and provided in parallel to the first communication line, and the communication status with the main information processing device and a switching means and the first communication line switching between the second communication line,
The first communication line and the second communication line are each composed of two lines, a transmission line and a reception line, for the information processing apparatus, and the switching means is means for simultaneously switching the two lines. an information processing system to be. A plurality of sub information processing devices connected to the main information processing device;
A first communication line connecting the plurality of sub information processing devices in series from the main information processing device;
The second communication line provided in each of the plurality of sub information processing devices and provided in parallel to the first communication line, and the communication status with the main information processing device Switching means for switching between the first communication line and the second communication line,
A dedicated signal line for connecting the main information processing apparatus and the plurality of sub information processing apparatuses in parallel;
The sub information processing apparatus and the main information processing apparatus are configured so that the main information processing apparatus can directly communicate with a sub information processing apparatus to be communicated among the plurality of sub information processing apparatuses. The switching means in each sub information processing apparatus connected between the first communication line and the second communication by the start notification transmitted from the main information processing apparatus through the first communication line. An information processing system characterized by switching to a line and switching from the second communication line to the first communication line by an end notification transmitted from the main information processing apparatus through the dedicated signal line . The main information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus main body;
3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sub information processing devices is a peripheral device that executes specific processing in accordance with an instruction from the image forming apparatus main body. The information processing system according to claim 1 ,
A dedicated signal line for connecting the main information processing apparatus and the plurality of sub information processing apparatuses in parallel;
The sub information processing apparatus and the main information processing apparatus are configured so that the main information processing apparatus can directly communicate with a sub information processing apparatus to be communicated among the plurality of sub information processing apparatuses. The switching means in each sub information processing apparatus connected between the first communication line and the second communication by the start notification transmitted from the main information processing apparatus through the first communication line. An information processing system characterized by switching to a line and switching from the second communication line to the first communication line by an end notification transmitted from the main information processing apparatus through the dedicated signal line. Communication between the main information processing device and the sub information processing device to be communicated is communication for downloading data, the start notification is a download start notification, and the end notification is a download end notification. The information processing system according to claim 2 , wherein the information processing system is an information processing system. A sub information processing apparatus having a control unit capable of communicating with the main information processing apparatus ,
A first input / output unit connectable to the main information processing apparatus or another sub information processing apparatus connected to the main information processing apparatus;
A second input / output unit connectable to a sub information processing device different from the other sub information processing device;
A first communication line connecting the first input / output unit and the second input / output unit via the control unit;
A second communication line connectable to the first input / output unit and the second input / output unit without the control unit;
In response to the communication state between the main information processing apparatus, and a switching means for switching said first communication line and said second communication line,
The first communication line and the second communication line each comprise two lines, a transmission line and a reception line, and the switching means is means for simultaneously switching the two lines. . The main information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus main body;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sub information processing apparatus is a peripheral apparatus that executes a specific process according to an instruction from the image forming apparatus main body. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the peripheral device is a pre-processing device, a post-processing device, or a document processing device.

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