Image output system having multiple devices communication-connected in master-slave relation
A printer periodically sends a request inquiry command “Interrupt In” to a digital camera at a high rate. The digital camera returns a printer status request, a print request, a print cancel request, etc., to the printer as a reply to “Interrupt In.” The camera operates as a usual storage class USB device for the printer except that the camera performs the described operation. Therefore, the printer makes a search for a directory in the camera and reads an image file, a print page layout file, etc., required for print on its own initiative.
1. A print system comprising:
an image source unit; and
a print unit connected to the image source unit through a USB interface,
wherein the image source unit includes:
an operation unit operated by a user;
a request command generation element generating a print request command to request to perform a print operation under a print condition setting in response to a print instruction operation of the user from the operation unit;
a data storage storing resource files which include an image file required when the print unit performs the printer operation under the print condition setting; and
a USB device controller transmitting the print request command to the print unit, and enabling the print unit to independently access a desired resource file in the data storage as controlled in a slave manner by the print unit, wherein the print unit includes:
a USB host controller receiving the print request command from the image source unit, and independently reading, from the data storage, the desired resource file required for performing the print operation under the print condition setting by controlling the USB device controller, the USB host controller periodically transmitting “Interrupt In” commands to the USB device controller; and
a print element performing the print operation under the print condition setting in response to the print request command,
wherein,
if the print request command is generated when the USB device controller of the image source unit receives the “Interrupt In” command from the USB host controller of the print unit, the USB device controller of the image source unit returns the print request command to the USB host controller of the print unit in response to the “Interrupt In” command,
when the print unit receives the print request command, the print unit transmits, to the image source unit, a resource file request command to read the desired resource file required for performing the print operation requested by the print request command from the data storage of the image source unit, and the print unit independently reads the desired resource file from the data storage of the image source unit and performs the print operation by using the read resource file,
after the print unit receives the print request command,
the print unit transmits the “Interrupt In” command to the image source unit and the image source unit transmits a status request command in response to the “Interrupt In” command,
when the print unit receives the status request command from the image source unit, the print unit transmits, to the image source unit, a status of the print unit and a message that the print unit receives the print request command, while the print unit performs the print operation,
the print unit transmits the “Interrupt In” command to the image source unit and the image source unit transmits a status request command in response to the “Interrupt In” command,
when the print unit receives the status request command from the image source unit, the print unit transmits, to the image source unit, the status of the print unit and a message indicating a state related to the print operation, after the print unit completes the print operation,
the print unit transmits the “Interrupt In” command to the image source unit and the image source unit transmits a status request command in response to the “Interrupt In” command,
when the print unit receives the status request command from the image source unit, the print unit transmits, to the image source unit, the status of the print unit and a message indicating the print operation is completed.