JPH104516A - Information processing system and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide an information processing system and an information processing method which are excellent in data transmission efficiency and have high processing capability. In a system capable of transmitting a video signal between a video input unit and a video processing unit, control data generated intermittently using a vertical blanking period within a vertical synchronization period of the video signal. (Command data, etc.)
Is transmitted with the highest priority, and when only part of the synchronization data (white balance adjustment data, etc.) generated for each synchronization period can be transmitted within the blanking period, the synchronization data is included in the blanking period. The synchronous data that could not be transmitted is transmitted using an empty blanking period in which intermittently generated control data and the like are not transmitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing method for transmitting and receiving data between a separated video input unit and a separated video processing unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a conventional information processing system, a configuration of a video input device shown in FIG. 8 will be described as an example. A single focus camera unit 100 is a video input unit. Reference numeral 200 denotes an image processing unit which is a video processing unit. 4
00 is a host unit. The single focus camera unit 100 and the image processing unit 200 are connected by a cable 109. The image processing unit 200 is connected to the host unit 400 by a bus interface 208. The image processing unit 200 and the single focus camera unit 100 are controlled from the host unit 400 via the bus interface 208.

Here, the configuration of the single focus camera unit 100 will be described. 106, a system control unit,
It consists of a one-chip microcomputer having functions of U, ROM, RAM, control port, communication port and the like. The system control unit 106 controls each device of the single focus camera unit 100, performs bidirectional communication with the image processing unit 200, interprets a command that is control data from the host unit 400, and receives a request from the host unit 400. Perform the operation.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a lens unit having an imaging lens, a focus lens, and a focus ring for manually moving the focus lens. 102 is the lens unit 10
This is an iris unit that adjusts the amount of incident light passing through the iris 1, and includes an iris and an iris ring for manually moving the iris. Reference numeral 103 denotes an image sensor such as a CCD that photoelectrically converts an image passing through the lens unit 101 and the iris 102 and converts the image into an electric signal. Reference numeral 105 denotes an image sensor driving circuit such as a TG that controls an accumulation operation, a read operation, and a reset operation according to the number of pixels of the image sensor 103. System control unit 10 via control signal 110
By controlling from step 6, the shutter speed can be changed. Reference numeral 108 denotes a synchronizing signal generation circuit such as an SSG, which generates a video synchronizing signal 112 such as a horizontal synchronizing signal (HD), a vertical synchronizing signal (VD), and a video clock from the clock of the image sensor driving circuit (TG) 105. 104 is
An S / H AGC circuit that performs sampling and holding in order to reduce noise due to accumulation of electricity in the image sensor 103 and adjusts the gain of the video signal 114.
14 is output. Under the control of the system control unit 106 via the control signal 111, the gain of the video signal 114 is adjusted. 115 multiplexes the video signal 114 and control data from the system control unit 106 and
00 and a data demultiplexing unit that separates data from the image processing unit 200 and notifies the system control unit 106 of the data. Reference numeral 113 denotes a data line and a data control line for performing bidirectional data communication between the single focus camera unit 100 and the image processing unit 200, and is provided between the serial communication port of the system control unit 106 and the data demultiplexing unit 115. It is connected. A connector 107 is detachable from the cable 109.

Next, the video processing section 200 will be described. Reference numeral 250 denotes a system control unit, which includes a CPU, a ROM,
It is composed of a one-chip microcomputer having functions such as a RAM, a control port, and a communication port. The system control unit 250 performs control of each device of the image processing unit 200, auto white balance control, communication with the single focus camera unit 100, communication with the host unit 400 via the bus interface 208, and It interprets a command as control data from the host unit 400 and performs an operation requested by the host unit 400.

Reference numeral 231 demultiplexes a video data multiplexed signal 232 in which a video signal and a data signal are multiplexed into a video signal 217 and a control data signal 222,
A data demultiplexing unit for converting data from 50 into a signal within a vertical synchronization period and transmitting the signal to the single focus camera unit 100.

Reference numeral 201 denotes an AD conversion circuit for converting a video signal 217 transmitted from the single focus camera unit 100 via the cable 109 into a digital signal 218. 202
Is a signal processing circuit that performs a process of converting the digitally converted video signal 218 into a standardized digital video signal 219. The signal processing circuit 202 causes the system control unit 250 to generate an interrupt signal for notifying white balance data for white balance control in the cycle of the vertical synchronization signal. The system control unit 250 that has recognized the interrupt reads out such information (white balance data and the like) via the serial data line 223 and writes the information into the RAM area of the system control unit 250.

Reference numeral 204 denotes a standardized digital signal image 2
This is an encoder circuit for converting a composite signal 19 into a multiplexed composite signal 221, and outputs a composite signal 221 to the video output connector 210. An image memory 206 stores digital video signals 216 and 213 from the signal processing circuit 202 and the SRC 207. 205
Is a memory controller circuit that controls reading and writing of the image memory 206. Reference numeral 207 denotes the digital video signal 213 of the image processing circuit unit 200 and the host unit 40
A scan rate converter circuit (SRC) that converts and absorbs a difference in aspect ratio of the digital video signal 214 of 0. Reference numeral 203 denotes a switching circuit for selecting whether the output 25 to the encoder 204 is the digital video signal 219 of the signal processing circuit 202 or the digital video signal 216 of the image memory 206. The switching circuit 203 is controlled by the system control unit 250 through the control line 224. You. Reference numeral 208 denotes a bus interface circuit which is connected to a bus of a computer which is the host unit 400. The bus interface circuit 208 performs data communication of the digital video signal 214 and the control data 226 between the host unit 400 and the image processing unit 200. 400 provides an interface for controlling the memory controller 205 and the SRC 207.

Reference numeral 215 denotes a video synchronization signal of the image processing unit 200 corresponding to the video synchronization signal 112 of the single focus camera unit 100. The signal processing circuit 202 and the memory controller 2
05, providing a video synchronization signal to the encoder 204;

Reference numeral 222 denotes a serial data line and a serial data control line for performing bidirectional data communication between the single focus camera unit 100 and the image processing unit 200. The serial data line 222 is connected to the serial data port of the system control unit 250. I have.

Reference numeral 226 denotes a host unit 400 and an image processing unit 2
These are parallel data lines and control lines for performing bidirectional data communication with the system control unit 00, and are connected to the control port of the system control unit 250.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing transmission of data 10 between the single focus camera unit 100 and the image processing unit 200 during a vertical blanking period (vertical blanking period). Vertical synchronization period V _t consists vertical blanking interval V _b and the video effective period V _a. The data 10 is multiplexed with the video signal in the vertical blanking period _Vb .

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Single focus camera section 100
When data communication is performed between the image processing unit 200 and the image processing unit 200, the data that can be transmitted within one vertical blanking period _Vb has a limited length.

In the case of Figure 8, when transmitting a single control data command data and ACK data from the image processing unit 200 in the vertical synchronization period V _t to the single-focus camera unit 100, typically up to 16 bytes (command It is necessary to transmit 19 bytes of (data) +3 bytes (ACK data).
This satisfies the maximum number of transmittable bytes of 32 bytes or less in one vertical blanking period _Vb , so that all data can be transmitted.

However, a zoom head that transmits a large amount of information (see a zoom camera unit 150 in FIG. 1 described later)
In the case of, in order to transmit all the vertical synchronization data generated for each synchronization period in addition to the control data of the command data and the ACK data, a maximum of 16 bytes (command data) +3 bytes (ACK data) of 26 bytes ( (Vertical synchronization data) of 45 bytes. This exceeds 32 bytes which is the total number of data that can be transmitted in one vertical blanking period _Vb .

As described above, when performing auto-focusing and auto-exposure in the zoom camera unit, the vertical blanking period V _b
Each time the data necessary for these controls is transmitted from the image processing unit 200 to the zoom head, the data transmission amount increases.
In such a device having a high density of information to be transmitted, there is a problem that data transmission does not end within one vertical blanking period _Vb .

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system having a high data transmission efficiency and a high processing capability in an information processing system such as a video input device in which a video input unit and a video processing unit are separated, and an information processing method therefor Is to provide.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information processing system for performing information processing by bidirectionally transmitting an information signal between a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus. First means for multiplexing and transmitting control data generated intermittently and synchronization data generated for each synchronization period during a blanking period within the synchronization period of the information signal; and Of the data transmitted in the ranking period, the control data is preferentially transmitted, and data that can be transmitted only partially beyond the maximum transmission length of the blanking period is not included in the blanking period. A second means for transmitting the control data and the synchronization data among the data transmitted during the blanking period. By providing each spare the second information processing apparatus, and constituting the information processing system.

In the above information processing system, the second
May be connected to a device on the host side, the control data may be generated intermittently in response to control from the device on the host side, and transmission control of the data may be performed by the control data. .

Further, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for performing information processing by bidirectionally transmitting an information signal to and from an external device, wherein the information signal is transmitted intermittently during a blanking period within a synchronization period of the information signal. Multiplexing and transmitting control data generated in a synchronous manner and synchronization data generated in each of the synchronization periods.
Means, for data transmitted in the blanking period within the synchronization period, preferentially transmitting the control data, and for data that can be transmitted only partially beyond the maximum transmission length of the blanking period. A second means for transmitting data without including the data in the blanking period; and a third means for identifying the control data and the synchronization data among data transmitted in the blanking period. Thus, the information processing apparatus was configured.

In the above information processing apparatus, a host-side device is connected to the present device, the control data is generated intermittently in accordance with control from the host-side device, and the data transmission control is performed by the control data. Or, the external device is connected to the device on the host side, the control data is generated intermittently in accordance with the control from the device on the host side, the transmission control of the data by the control data It may be performed.

The present invention also relates to a video input device having a video input unit and a video processing unit separated from the video input unit, and a host for controlling the video input unit and the video processing unit. Means for multiplexing and transmitting data during a vertical blanking period of a video signal; means for identifying vertical synchronization data generated every vertical synchronization period and host control data transmitted from the host unit; The control data has priority over the vertical synchronization data, and means for preventing transmission of vertical synchronization data that cannot be transmitted within vertical blanking constitutes a video input device.

The present invention also relates to an information processing method for performing information processing by bidirectionally transmitting an information signal between a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus. During the blanking period in the synchronization period, the control data generated intermittently is given priority over the synchronization data generated for each synchronization period, and the control data and the synchronization data are multiplexed and transmitted. The information processing can be performed by transmitting data that can be transmitted only partially within the blanking period without including the data in the blanking period.

The above system or apparatus may have the following requirements. That is, an image input device such as a zoom camera or a single focus camera can be used as the first information processing device, and an image processing device can be used as the second information processing device. Also, after recognizing whether or not transmission is possible by the control data transmitted with priority, the data other than the control data is transmitted sequentially, or data (synchronous data or the like) that can be transmitted only partially is transmitted. Transmission is performed using an empty blanking period.

Further, a vertical or horizontal synchronization period of an image signal can be used as the synchronization period of the information signal, and a vertical or horizontal blanking period can be used as the blanking period. Further, command data and ACK data can be used as the control data. In addition, as the synchronization data, exposure adjustment data, white balance adjustment data, focus adjustment data, and the like can be used.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a video input device as an example of the present invention. Here, the configuration of the zoom camera unit 150 will be described as an example. The differences from the single focus camera unit 100 of the conventional example (see FIGS. 8 and 9) are a zoom lens 121, an iris 122, and an image sensor 123, and the other parts are the same as those of the single focus camera unit 100. Description is omitted.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a lens unit including an imaging lens, a focus lens, a zoom motor for moving the focus ring, a zoom lens, and a zoom motor for moving the zoom ring. Under the control of the system control unit 106 via the control line 124, electric zoom and autofocus can be performed. 122 is the lens unit 10
An iris unit that adjusts the amount of incident light passing through the iris 1 and includes an iris motor for moving the iris and the iris ring. The opening and closing of the iris is controlled by controlling the system control unit 106 via the control line 125. The system control unit 106 can perform automatic exposure by controlling the iris, shutter speed, and AGC gain to keep the brightness data of the subject transmitted from the video processing unit 200 constant. 123
Denotes an image sensor such as a CCD that photoelectrically converts an image that has passed through the lens unit 121 and the iris unit 122 and converts the image into an electric signal.

The difference between the image processing unit 200 and the conventional example will be described. In order to realize auto-focus and auto-exposure, data necessary for these controls is transmitted to the signal processing circuit 202.
And transmit it to the zoom camera unit 150.

The signal processing circuit 202 is used to control the brightness of the object used for exposure control, the white balance data for white balance control, the focus / focus data for focus control, and the like in the cycle of the vertical synchronization signal. An interrupt signal for notifying the synchronization data is generated by the system control unit 250. The system control unit 250 that recognizes the interrupt reads the information via the serial data line 223 and
The data is written to the AM 254 and synchronous data such as brightness data of the subject for automatic exposure and focus focusing data for focus control is transmitted to the zoom camera unit 150 during the vertical blanking period.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system control unit 250. The system control unit 250 includes a one-chip microcomputer and software for controlling the microcomputer. 251 is an internal bus, and 252 is a CPU. Reference numeral 253 denotes a ROM for storing software, and reference numeral 254 denotes a RAM used as a work area of the software. Reference numeral 255 denotes a rewritable ROM (EEPROM), which stores data necessary for control. 256 is a timer unit, and 257 is an I / O control unit for controlling various devices. Reference numeral 258 denotes a serial communication port for performing command communication with the zoom camera unit 150 and the host unit 400, performing serial communication with each device of the image processing unit 200, and controlling the devices.

Next, the host unit 400 and the image processing unit 20
0, host control data 5 as control data communicated between the host unit 400 and the zoom camera unit 150 is shown in FIG.
A description will be given based on (A) and (B).

The request command 6 is a command for requesting an operation. The response command 7 is a response command to the request command 6, and is returned when the requested operation is completed. ACK8 is a frame for notifying the transmission side that the command has been normally received.

FIG. 3A shows a sequence when the host unit 400 requests the image processing unit 200 to operate. When the image processing unit 200 receives the request command 6 from the host unit 400, the image processing unit 200 executes the requested command, and transmits a response command 7 to the host unit 400 when the execution is completed.

FIG. 3B shows a sequence when the host unit 400 requests the zoom camera unit 150 to operate. If the command received from the host unit 400 is a command addressed to the zoom camera unit 150, the image processing unit 200 transparently transfers the command to the zoom camera unit 150. If the command from the zoom camera unit 150 is addressed to the host unit 400, the command is transparently transferred to the host unit 400.

Image processing unit 200 and zoom camera unit 150
Command data 6 and 7 transmitted by ACK data 8
Occurs when the host unit 400 controls the zoom camera unit 150. Therefore, command data 6, 7, AC
The host control data 5 such as the K data 8 does not occur every vertical synchronization, but here intermittently occurs according to control from the host unit 400.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a sequence of the vertical synchronization data 13 as the synchronization data.

The vertical synchronization data 13 is transmitted from the image processing section 200 to the zoom camera section 150 every vertical synchronization.
The vertical synchronization data 1 such as focus collation data and brightness data is transmitted from the image processing unit 200 to the zoom camera unit 150.
3 is transmitted every vertical synchronization.

Next, the frame formats of the command data 11, the control data of the ACK data 12, and the vertical synchronization data 13 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5A shows a frame format of the command data 11. L14 (length) is a frame length, and indicates how many bytes of data constitute a frame. The FID 15 is a frame identifier, and is used to identify a frame attribute. The CID 16 is a command identifier and identifies the type of the command. The parameter 17 is determined according to the command. The length of the command frame is variable, with a minimum length of 3 bytes and a maximum length of 16
Bytes.

FIG. 5B shows the frame format of the ACK data 12. L14 is fixed at 2 bytes.
The FID 15 is fixed at 80h. Parameter 16 is 00
h indicates that the frame was received normally, and 00
If it is other than h, it indicates that an error has occurred. The cause of the error is identified based on the value of the parameter 16. The frame length of the ACK data 12 is a fixed length of 3 bytes.

FIG. 5C shows the frame format of the vertical synchronization data 13. In the case of a zoom camera, the frame length from the image processing unit 200 to the zoom camera unit 150 is 26 bytes. The V data includes the above-described focus collation data and brightness data.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the frame identifier (F).
3 shows the format of an ID) 15 and a command identifier (CID) 16. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a bit configuration of the FID 15. bit7 indicates that the frame is command data 1
This is a bit for identifying whether the frame is a frame of 1 or an ACK data 12. Bit 6 is a bit effective at the time of communication between the zoom camera unit 150 and the video processing unit 200, and is a bit for identifying the vertical synchronization data 13 or the host control data 5. bits 2 and 3 are destination device designation bits,
This bit is used to specify the destination of the command. bit
0 and 1 are bits for specifying a command issuing source by issuing source designation bits.

FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the bit configuration of CID16. Bit 7 is a valid bit in the case of a response command, and is set to 0 when the function specified by the request command has been normally completed, and is set to 1 when not normally completed. This bit distinguishes between negative and positive acknowledgments. bit10-bit0 specifies the type of command with a command type bit.

The signal processing circuit 202 includes the system control unit 2
The brightness data of the subject and the vertical synchronization data 13 of the focus collation data written in the RAM area 50 are transmitted to the zoom camera unit 150 every vertical synchronization. The zoom camera unit 150 uses the brightness data of the subject to determine the shutter speed and S / H of the image sensor drive circuit (TG) 105.
Automatic gain is realized by controlling the gain of the AGC circuit 104 and the iris ring unit of the iris unit 122. In addition, the zoom camera unit 150 realizes autofocus by controlling the focus ring of the zoom lens unit 121 using the focus collation data.

In this case, data that can be transmitted from the image processing section 200 to the zoom camera section 150 in one vertical synchronization period is 32 bytes. The maximum length of the frame of the command data 11 is 16 bytes, and the data length of the frame of the ACK data 12 is 3 bytes. In one vertical synchronization period, up to one frame of each of the vertical synchronization data 13, the command data 11, and the ACK data 12 can be transmitted.

As described in the conventional example, in the case of the single focus camera unit 100, the frame of the command data 11, ACK
When transmitting a frame of data 12, it is necessary to transmit 19 bytes at a maximum of 16 bytes + 3 bytes. This is 32 bytes or less, which is the maximum number of bytes that can be transmitted in one vertical blanking period. However, the zoom camera unit 150
In the case of, if all of the frame of the command data 11, the frame of the ACK data 12, and the frame of the vertical synchronization data 13 are transmitted, the maximum is 16 bytes + 3 bytes + 26 bytes, which is 45 bytes. This would exceed the transmittable data number of 32 bytes in one vertical blanking period.

Therefore, when transmitting data to the zoom head unit 150, command data 11 and ACK data 12 are preferentially transmitted during one vertical blanking period, and transmitted if the vertical synchronization data 13 can be transmitted. I do. The command data 11 and the ACK data 12 are
Occurs intermittently by control from zero. Although the vertical synchronization data 13 is generated every vertical synchronization period, the command data 1
1 and the ACK data 12 will not have a significant effect on the automatic exposure and auto focus control of the zoom camera unit 150 even if they are lost during transmission.

Next, the system control unit 250 of the image processing unit 200 sends the frame of the command data 11 and ACK to the zoom camera unit 150 during one vertical blanking period _Vb.
The operation of transmitting the frame of the data 12 and the frame of the vertical synchronization data 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the image processing unit 200
It is determined whether the destination bit of the FID 15 of the frame header of the command data 11 received from 0 is a command to be sent to the zoom camera unit 150 (S1). If there is command data 11 to be transmitted, the command data 11 is set in a transmission buffer to be transmitted to the demultiplexing unit 231 (S2). Also, it checks whether there is ACK data 12 to be transmitted (S3). If the command data 11 is received from the zoom camera unit 150 in the immediately preceding vertical blanking period, it is necessary to transmit the ACK data 12. ACK
If the data 12 needs to be transmitted, the process proceeds to S4, and the ACK data 1
Set 2 Then, it is checked whether there is a 26-byte space for transmitting the vertical synchronization data 13 in the transmission buffer to be transmitted to the demultiplexing unit 231 (S5 to S5).
6). If the vertical synchronization data 13 can be transmitted, the vertical synchronization data 13 is set in the transmission buffer (S
7) If transmission is not possible, proceed to S8 without setting.
Then, the data set in the transmission buffer is transmitted to the demultiplexing unit 231.

In this embodiment, the vertical synchronization period is taken as an example of the synchronization period, and the transmission of data is controlled in the priority order of the host control data 5 and the vertical synchronization data 13 within the vertical blanking period. However, transmission control can be performed by similarly assigning priorities to the horizontal blanking period within the horizontal synchronization period.

The information processing system and the state processing method according to the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or to an apparatus including a single device. It goes without saying that the information processing system and the information processing method according to the present invention can also be applied to a case where the information processing system and the information processing method are achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention is read out to the system or the apparatus, so that the system or the apparatus executes the information processing system and the state processing method of the present invention. The effect can be enjoyed.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, an intermittent operation is performed using a blanking period (vertical blanking period, etc.) in a synchronous period (vertical synchronization period, etc.) of an information signal (video signal, etc.). The transmission is performed in accordance with the priorities of control data (commands, ACK data, etc.) generated periodically and synchronization data (white balance adjustment data, etc.) generated every synchronization period, and data that can be transmitted only partially within the blanking period. Is transmitted without including the data in the blanking period, and the data that could not be transmitted is transmitted using an empty blanking period in which intermittently generated control data etc. are not transmitted. Since data is transmitted, even when the data length to be transmitted exceeds the maximum transmission length in one blanking period, data can be transmitted efficiently and information can be transmitted. It is possible to enhance the management capacity.

In this case, the control data is generated in response to control from an external host-side device.
Transmission control can be efficiently performed from a distant position. Accordingly, when the present invention is applied to, for example, an image input device in which a camera head is separated, it is possible to realize automatic exposure and autofocus with high processing capability and excellent performance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a system control unit in the video processing unit.

3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a transmission sequence of a command frame, wherein FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a transmission sequence between a host unit and a video processing unit, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a transmission sequence between a video processing unit and a camera unit; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission sequence.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission sequence of a vertical synchronization data frame.

5A is an explanatory diagram showing a format of a command frame, FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing a format of an ACK frame, and FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram showing a format of a vertical synchronization data frame.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a frame identifier;
(B) is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a command identifier.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of transmission to the camera unit by the system control unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration example of a conventional information processing.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission sequence of a conventional data transfer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Control Data 11 Command Data 12 ACK Data 13 Synchronous Data 112 Synchronous Data 114 Information Signal (Video Signal) 150 Image Input Device (Video Input Device, Zoom Camera) 200 Image Processing Device (Video Processing Device) 215 Synchronous Data 217 Information Signal ( Video signal)

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number in the agency FI Technical display location H04N 7/085 9/04

Claims (56)

[Claims] An information processing system for performing information processing by bidirectionally transmitting an information signal between a first information processing device and a second information processing device, wherein the information signal is transmitted within a synchronization period of the information signal. First means for multiplexing and transmitting control data generated intermittently and synchronization data generated for each synchronization period during a blanking period; and data transmitted during the blanking period within the synchronization period. A second means for transmitting the control data with priority and transmitting data without including the data in the blanking period for data that can be transmitted only partially beyond the maximum transmission length of the blanking period, A third means for identifying the control data and the synchronization data among the data transmitted during the blanking period is provided to each of the first and second information processing devices. An information processing system, comprising: 2. The information according to claim 1, wherein after recognizing whether or not transmission is possible by the control data transmitted with priority, the data other than the control data is sequentially transmitted. Processing system. 3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the data that can be transmitted only partially is transmitted using an empty blanking period. 4. The data which can be transmitted only partially is the synchronous data.
An information processing system according to any one of the above. 5. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization period of the information signal is a vertical synchronization period of an image signal. 6. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the blanking period is a vertical blanking period. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization period of the information signal is a horizontal synchronization period of the image signal.
5. The information processing system according to any one of claims 4 to 4. 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blanking period is a horizontal blanking period.
An information processing system according to any one of the above. 9. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control data includes command data. 10. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control data includes ACK data. 11. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization data includes exposure adjustment data. 12. The synchronization data according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization data includes white balance adjustment data.
An information processing system according to any one of the above. 13. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization data includes focus adjustment data. 14. The second information processing device is connected to a host-side device, the control data is generated intermittently in response to control from the host-side device, and the data is transmitted by the control data. 14. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed. 15. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first information processing device is an image input device. 16. The information processing system according to claim 15, wherein said image input device is a zoom camera. 17. The information processing system according to claim 15, wherein said image input device is a single focus camera. 18. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the second information processing device is an image processing device. 19. An information processing apparatus for performing information processing by bidirectionally transmitting an information signal to and from an external apparatus, wherein the control includes an intermittent control during a blanking period within a synchronization period of the information signal. First means for multiplexing and transmitting data and synchronous data generated for each of the synchronous periods; and preferentially transmitting the control data among data transmitted in the blanking period within the synchronous period, and Second means for transmitting data that can be transmitted only partially beyond the maximum transmission length of the blanking period without including the data in the blanking period; and for transmitting data transmitted during the blanking period. An information processing apparatus comprising: third means for identifying the control data and the synchronization data. 20. The information according to claim 19, wherein the data other than the control data is sequentially transmitted after recognizing whether or not transmission is possible by the control data transmitted with priority. Processing equipment. 21. The data which can be transmitted only partly,
21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein transmission is performed using an empty blanking period. 22. The data that can be transmitted only partially is:
22. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the information is the synchronous data. 23. The synchronizing period of the information signal is a vertical synchronizing period of an image signal.
23. The information processing device according to any one of claims to 22. 24. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the blanking period is a vertical blanking period.
3. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 3. 25. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the synchronization period of the information signal is a horizontal synchronization period of the image signal. 26. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the blanking period is a horizontal blanking period.
26. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Items 2 and 25. 27. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said control data includes command data. 28. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said control data includes ACK data. 29. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said synchronization data includes exposure adjustment data. 30. The synchronization data according to claim 19, wherein the synchronization data includes white balance adjustment data.
10. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 9. 31. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the synchronization data includes focus adjustment data. 32. A host-side device is connected to the device, the control data is generated intermittently in response to control from the host-side device, and transmission of the data is controlled by the control data. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
32. The information processing device according to any one of 9 to 31. 33. The information processing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the external device is an image input device. 34. The information processing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said image input device is a zoom camera. 35. The information processing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the image input device is a single focus camera. 36. The external device is connected to the device on the host side, the control data is generated intermittently in response to control from the device on the host side, and transmission of the data is controlled by the control data. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 31, wherein the information processing apparatus is configured as described above. 37. The information processing device according to claim 36, wherein the external device is an image processing device. 38. A video input device, comprising: a video input unit; and a video processing unit separated from the video input unit, wherein the host unit controls the video input unit and the video processing unit; Means for multiplexing and transmitting data during the vertical blanking period, means for identifying vertical synchronization data generated for each vertical synchronization period and host control data transmitted from the host unit, and Means for giving priority to the vertical synchronization data and preventing transmission of vertical synchronization data that cannot be transmitted within vertical blanking. 39. An information processing method for performing information processing by bidirectionally transmitting an information signal between a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus, the information processing method comprising: In the blanking period, the control data generated intermittently is given priority over the synchronization data generated for each synchronization period, and the control data and the synchronization data are multiplexed and transmitted. An information processing method for transmitting data that is only partially transmitted within the blanking period without transmitting the data in the blanking period. 40. The method according to claim 3, wherein after recognizing whether or not transmission is possible by the control data transmitted with priority, the data other than the control data is sequentially transmitted.
9. The information processing method according to item 9. 41. The data which can be transmitted only partly,
41. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein the transmission is performed using an empty blanking period. 42. The data that can be transmitted only partially is:
42. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein the data is the synchronous data. 43. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the synchronization period of the information signal is a vertical synchronization period of an image signal.
43. The information processing method according to any one of items 42 to 42. 44. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the blanking period is a vertical blanking period.
3. The information processing method according to any one of 3. 45. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein the synchronization period of the information signal is a horizontal synchronization period of the image signal. 46. The blanking period according to claim 39, wherein the blanking period is a horizontal blanking period.
An information processing method according to Item 2, 45. 47. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein said control data includes command data. 48. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein said control data includes ACK data. 49. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein the synchronization data includes exposure adjustment data. 50. The synchronization data according to claim 39, wherein the synchronization data includes white balance adjustment data.
10. The information processing method according to any one of items 9. 51. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein the synchronization data includes focus adjustment data. 52. The method according to claim 52, wherein the control data is generated intermittently in response to control from a host-side device connected to the second information processing device, and transmission of the data is controlled by the control data. Claims 39 to 51
The information processing method according to any one of the above. 53. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein the first information processing device is an image input device. 54. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein the image input device is a zoom camera. 55. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein the image input device is a single focus camera. 56. The information processing method according to claim 39, wherein said second information processing device is an image processing device.