JPH11355357A - File transfer method, file receiving device, file transmitting device, and file relay device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: The present invention realizes a reliable, simple, and efficient file transfer method particularly suitable for the IEEE 1394 standard. In addition, the present invention provides a file relay device that enables a data file to be transferred between an information device conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard and a TCP / IP-based FTP server or the like connected to the Internet. A file transfer and its flow control are performed by a method of performing an address mapping of a file (402) and a memory (401) for a transmission / reception buffer to a space address (404) that can be specified by an asynchronous read / write packet of the IEEE 1394 standard. The Internet is a buffer that performs sorting in the TCP protocol hierarchy,
The relay of the file transfer is realized by using as a relay buffer mapped to the address.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file transfer method for transferring a digital file between information devices via a communication path, a file receiving apparatus and a file transmitting apparatus for realizing the method, and the file transfer method. And TCP (Tr
The present invention relates to a file relay apparatus for relaying connection between file transfer methods on a network using an ansport control protocol.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the digitization of audiovisual equipment and the development of information processing equipment, networks for transmitting various data and files between these equipment have been widely used. One of them is the standardization body, i.e., The Institute of Electrical and El
IE established by ectronics Engineers, Inc.)
IEEE 1394-1995 standard (hereinafter, IEEE 1394 standard)
Is a standard for communication paths and communication protocols for realizing data transmission. Real-time data such as video and audio and non-real-time data such as control commands and control information are transmitted on a single communication path. It is characterized by being able to.

On the other hand, as a communication protocol standard on the Internet, ITF (I
TCP IP (TCP / IP, tran) established by ETF, Internet Engineering Task Force
smission control protocol / internet protocol) system is mainstream. IP in the TCP / IP system
(internet protocol) and PP (point-to-point)
o Point protocol) realizes packet transfer between devices on the network and uses TCP (transmissioncontrol
protocol) to retransmit an error during transfer and control the order of data, and send long data to the other device in the correct order without any loss.

[0004] As a protocol for transferring a data file handled by a computer or the like based on the TCP / IP system, there is an FTP (file transport protocol) standardized by IETF. The operation of FTP and TCP will be briefly described below. A data file handled by a computer or the like can be generally regarded as a continuous stream of named digital data. In FTP, a file is transferred using two connections, a control connection and a data connection. Hereinafter, a device that requests transmission / reception of a file is referred to as a client device (or simply a client),
Required equipment is server equipment (or simply server)
The device that transmits a file is called a transmitting device, and the device that receives a file is called a receiving device. In FTP, first, a control connection is established from a client to a server. The client uses the control connection to specify the name and the file to be transferred. When a file on the server is specified, a Get operation is performed in which the server is on the transmitting side and the client is on the receiving side, and when a file on the client is specified, Put on which the client is on the transmitting side and the server is on the receiving side. ) Operation. At this point, whether the client device performs transmission or reception is determined. After the file is specified, the transmission / reception device establishes a data connection and transmits / receives the file itself through this connection.

[0005] In the data connection, data transfer is performed by TCP. One of the features of TCP is a sliding window technique. That is, each time the data receiving side returns a packet, it simultaneously returns the maximum data length that can be accepted at that time as a value called a window. The transmitting side can send data in an arbitrary order at an arbitrary timing within a range not exceeding the window. This method has provided a data transfer method that does not cause an overflow of a file transmitted in a memory buffer on the receiving side and reduces interruption of data transmission even when an erroneous packet is retransmitted. A data unit transferred by one packet in TCP is also called a segment, but the segment referred to in the present invention is different from this unless otherwise specified.

[0006]

By the way, conventionally, the IEEE
No specific proposal has been made for a method of transferring a data file in a format handled by a computer or the like using the E1394 standard. For example, IEEE 1394
An AV Disc command (AV / C) proposed for the purpose of defining the function of a device that stores data files, proposed by the 1394 Trade Association (Trade Assosiasson), which is an industry group examining the above protocol Disc Command) system,
Only the method of transmitting and receiving files such as video and audio is defined, and program files and the like are out of the scope. Actually, in the disc command system, video and audio files are
us) Transfers in a method called transfer mode.
The Isochronus transfer mode is not suitable for transferring a program file or the like because there is no means for correcting an error or performing retransmission when an error occurs. In other words, for information files and program files other than video and audio in which data deterioration and errors are not allowed, no transfer method has been proposed, and the transfer need not be in real time, and data files having a property that does not allow errors. IEEE1
A transfer method suitable for the 394 protocol has been waiting for further research.

On the other hand, simply adopting the existing protocol, the FTP protocol, on the IEEE 1394 transmission path requires a major change in the FTP method itself because the IEEE 1394 standard and the TCP / IP protocol system are significantly different. Further, it is difficult because the transfer efficiency is reduced. For example, while information such as the above-mentioned TCP window information needs to be newly installed in an IEEE 1394 packet, an address field unique to an IEEE 1394 Asynchronus packet is not used and waste is increased. That's why.

Further, as another system, IEEE1394
An IPover1394 system has been proposed in which a TCP / IP protocol is implemented in an upper layer of a lower protocol layer of the Internet protocol, and conventional Internet software such as FTP is executed on the upper layer. However, according to this system, each device is IEEE139.
Since the TCP / IP protocol must be implemented in addition to the four functions, there have been various problems such as an increase in cost and a decrease in performance.

Further, since the IEEE 1394 standard itself does not have a function for connecting to a large number of devices and public networks, even if a reliable method of transferring a program file on the IEEE 1394 has been developed, even if it is developed, The method can be used only in a small range in a home or office, and there is a problem that the distribution range and application range of the file are naturally limited compared to the Internet.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned problems. In other words, a reliable data file transfer method based on IEEE 1394 is realized. In that case, TCP / IP protocol is not required, and IEEE
Efficient file transfer method is realized on E1394,
Also, an apparatus such as a transmission / reception device for realizing the above is provided.

[0011] In addition, without changing the TCP / IP equipment and the technical system of the Internet, IEEE 139
A file relay method and a file relay device that allow a data file to be transferred between an information device based on H.4 and a plurality of information devices based on TCP / IP connected to the Internet.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a file is transferred between a transmitting device and a receiving device via a communication path.
At the time of reading, the transmitting device assigns an address to the file, reads it out to the memory, the receiving device receives the address (assigned address) range, specifies a predetermined address range within the assigned address range, and specifies the address ( The transmitting device issues a command to read data at the specified address, and the transmitting device transfers data within the specified address range to the receiving device.

When writing, the receiving device assigns an address (assigned address) range to the file,
The transmitting device receives the assigned address range, assigns the assigned address range to the memory, designates a predetermined address range within the assigned address range, and issues a command to write data at the address (designated address). The data is transferred so as to be written in a memory.

With these methods, a reliable data file transfer method based on IEEE 1394 is realized, and the TCP / IP protocol is not required at that time.
In addition, an efficient file transfer method can be realized on IEEE1394. Further, the device connected to the Internet is a device that uses a buffer that performs sorting in the TCP protocol layer as a relay buffer mapped by an address according to the above method.

[0015] Thus, without changing the TCP / IP equipment or the technical system of the Internet, the IEEE 139 can be used.
4 and a number of TCP / IP-based information devices connected to the Internet to transfer data files.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The first invention of the present invention is a method for transferring a file from a transmitting device to a receiving device.
In the first step, a file is specified. The receiving device specifies the file on the transmitting device via the communication path,
(In this case, Ge which sends data from server to client
t operation. ) Or the transmitting device voluntarily specifies the file on the transmitting device and notifies the receiving device. (At this time, a Put operation for transmitting data from the client to the server is performed.) In the second step, the transmitting device prepares for transmission.
The transmitting device assigns an arbitrary address range of the transmitting device to the specified file, and the transmitting device reads the specified file into a memory built in the transmitting device. In the third step, the transmitting device notifies the receiving device of the assigned address range, thereby preparing information necessary for the receiving device at the time of file transfer. In the fourth step, actual file transfer is performed. The receiving device issues a read command specifying a certain address range within the allocated address range to the transmitting device, and the transmitting device transmits the file in the address range specified by the read command to the receiving device. By repeating this fourth step, all of the designated files are transferred.

In this manner, addresses are dynamically assigned to files, and thereafter, file transfer is performed each time by a read command specifying an address. According to this method, even if there is a retransmission due to an error, the interruption of data transmission is not small, and the data order can be correctly aligned by the address associated with each instruction.
Since it is also possible to use an address originally provided in a 94-standard packet and an address designation field in the packet, it is possible to realize easy, reliable, and efficient transfer.

A second invention of the present invention is a transfer using a write instruction, while the first invention is a transfer using a read instruction. In order to perform transfer by a write command, in the read command type, an address area and a memory prepared on the transmitting device side are prepared on the receiving device side.
Since the present invention is more efficient when a large number of memories can be prepared on the receiving device side, it is efficient to select the transfer method of the first and second inventions according to the state of the memory.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to the first and second aspects.
In addition to the above-mentioned invention, a hold control for a read / write command via a communication path is provided. This means that if only a part of the file can be handled in the working memory built in the transmitting / receiving device, if a read command is given for a part that has not been read, it will respond with a hold or respond to an area where memory is not prepared. When a write command is given, a response is given to suspend, and if the working memory capacity available for the file is small or if the file is
When transferring a file while transferring between a next memory and a high-speed semiconductor memory, or transferring a file to another communication path such as T
This is effective when performing file transfer while transferring to the work memory via the CP network. Here, the secondary memory is, for example, a recording medium such as a hard disk as described in an embodiment to be described later.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the side responding to the read command manages the record and transfers the file to the memory when the read is completed. When the read command is released, the file is transferred. Have the data written again. This is to avoid the need to prepare a large-capacity memory on the receiving side for storing a data itself while holding the data itself while the read command records only the hold state, while the write command requires only a small storage capacity. That's why.

The fourth invention of the present invention is similar to the sliding window of the TCP as a countermeasure against the increase in traffic on the communication path due to the retransmission of data itself when a suspension occurs in the third invention. Add control. That is, the receiving device adds a third step of notifying the transmitting device of the address range allocated to the memory. As a result, a write command to which no memory is allocated is not issued, and even if the increase in the number of command packets for performing notification in the third step is subtracted, the transfer performance is improved due to a reduction in useless write command data. Can be expected.

In the fifth aspect of the present invention, memory control is performed in segment units. For this reason, the transmitting / receiving device selects one or more arbitrary ranges from within its own arbitrary address range, sets each as an address segment, assigns the address segment to a part of the specified file, and transmits the address segment. A data transfer command is issued by adding a second step of allocating a part of the memory built in the device and a third step of notifying the other party transceiver that is performing the file transfer of the allocated address segment. The fourth step adopts a method of issuing only within the notified address segment. The present method has an advantage that the frequency of segment notification is lower than the frequency of window notification and waste is reduced as compared with the control similar to the sliding window method of the fourth invention. Further, in the first to fourth inventions, when transferring a file of unknown length, it is difficult to secure an address range having a sufficient length in advance. If the number exceeds the limit, exception handling may be required, and when multiple file transfers are being performed, there may be problems such as overlapping address ranges used by each other. Thus, there is an advantage that even files of unknown length can be transferred without restriction, and transfer can be performed using address resources shorter than the file length, so that address resources can be saved. In particular, the latter advantage is particularly suitable at the time of transfer using an address map. For example, unlike the control similar to the sliding window method, the latter advantage is also effective when data is transferred by a read command.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the address range specified by the read command exceeds the end of the file, the transmitting device sends an end of file (EOF) notification to the receiving device. , And the receiving device is E
The reading of the address after the address range in which the OF was notified is not performed, and the determination whether or not a part of the file to be transferred remains is performed only in the range before the address range in which the EOF is notified. A transfer method according to the first, third, and fifth aspects of the invention. Generally, when the file length cannot be known in advance, for example, FTP or HT
Although the file is not always notified because it is based on the TP specification, or the file itself does not have a fixed length until the transfer due to the transfer while converting the file contents, etc. It is possible to determine whether or not the end is exceeded by only one useless read command. In the case where the read permission in the segment unit is given as in claim 6, a method of using this to prohibit reading after the end of the file can be considered. This is particularly effective when the segment size is large, such as when padding is unnecessary when the lengths do not match.

Further, the seventh invention of the present invention relates to the IEEE 1
This is a method for continuing file transfer when a bus reset in the 394 communication standard occurs. When a bus reset occurs, information regarding the transaction and retry status of a read command or a write command in IEEE 1394 is lost, so that it is no longer possible to maintain the reliability of these commands during execution. Therefore, in the fifth invention, the transmitting and receiving device temporarily releases the allocation of all the currently secured address segments by utilizing the fact that the transmission / reception device performs the segment unit allocation notification and the handshake by the completion notification in the fifth invention, By assuming that the transfer of the file contents up to the address segment whose release was completed before the bus reset occurred is definitely completed, the address segment is allocated again immediately after that, and the file transfer is restarted. Realize reliable file transfer continuation.

The eighth invention of the present invention relates to a relay device for relaying the file transfer method using the address mapping and the file transfer method using TCP described above. The present invention is particularly applied to the case where the transfer by the address mapping is of the read type and the file transfer direction is the download from the TCP network. The relay device is for relaying via the first and second communication paths, and from an Internet transmission device connected to the first communication path,
The file is relayed to the receiving device connected to the second communication path, and the second communication path has the same configuration as the transmitting device in the transfer method of the first, third, fifth, and sixth inventions. In the communication path, TCP communication is performed with the Internet transmission device. In the first step, the reception device specifies the file on the Internet transmission device via the communication channel by mediating the reception device and the Internet transmission device. , (At the time of Get operation) or the Internet transmitting device voluntarily designates a file on the Internet transmitting device and notifies the receiving device thereof (at the time of Put operation). In the second step, of the memory built in the relay device, Allocate the address or address segment of the specified file to the area to which the address range or address segment is allocated Sequentially reading the TCP packet part being the Internet transmission apparatus, third
In the following steps, the first, third,
The transfer method according to any one of the fifth and sixth aspects is characterized in that the same operation as that performed by the transmitting device is performed. As a result,
A file is downloaded from an Internet transmission device operating by TCP to a reception device that performs the transfer method according to the fifth or sixth invention. One feature of the present invention is that instead of relaying files at the fifth layer or higher according to the OSI definition, TCP
Is that file relay is performed directly in the fourth layer (transport layer) in which operates. For example, as another simple relay method, TCP completes error control and order control,
It is conceivable that a file in which data is arranged in the correct order is received by the relay device operating at the fifth layer, and is retransmitted again by the IEEE 1394-based transfer method. However, in such a case, it is known that the transfer speed is reduced in a transmission path having many errors due to an increase in a waiting time for rearranging data once in a correct order. Further, when data is to be transferred at high speed by TCP, there is a means for increasing the size of the buffer and increasing the window size. However, when a file is relayed in the fifth layer, there is a problem that the effect of this means is small. TCP of the present invention
Since the transferable data can be transferred on the IEEE1394 without waiting for the re-ordering of the packets, the transfer efficiency can be improved without such a problem. Also TCP
Does not need to be changed for both transmission paths, such as operating with conventional sliding window control and operating with address mapping for IEEE 1394, so that buffer memory for reception can be shared between TCP and IEEE 1394. There are advantages. The buffer memory is mapped to the file only by a simple address, and relay control can be performed only by checking whether data arrives at the address. Therefore, there is no need to perform complicated parameter conversion between TCP and IEEE 1394. Is also very light.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, a read-type method is used especially for transfer by address mapping.
The transfer in the upload file direction from the TCP network, which cannot be realized by the configuration of the eighth invention, is realized. Unlike the eighth invention, the relay device basically performs the same operation as that performed by the receiving device in the transfer method of the first, third, fifth, and sixth inventions on the transmitting device, and performs the same operation as the receiving device. The configuration is such that a relay memory is added for relaying the transfer by the address mapping and the transfer by the TCP as in the eighth invention. With this configuration, in the fourth step, a command to read the file from the address range or the range to which the address segment is allocated among the memories built in the transmitting device is issued to the relay memory, and the result of the read command is output. The data is written to the same address range of the relay memory, and when a part of the file in the relay memory is read, the packet is sequentially transferred to the Internet receiving device by a TCP packet, thereby performing the relay.

The tenth invention of the present invention realizes transfer in the direction of an upload file from a TCP network which cannot be realized by the structure of the eighth invention by using a write-type method especially for transfer by address mapping. The second communication path has the same configuration as that of the receiving device in the transfer method of the second, third, fourth, and fifth inventions. In the fourth step, the address range or address of the memory built in the transmitting device is used. Issue a command to write the specified file to the area to which the segment is assigned, and when a part of the file in the relay memory is read, transfer it to the Internet receiving device using a TCP packet sequentially to realize file relay. I do. The write-type method for the transfer by the address mapping originally has a memory on which the address is mapped on the receiving side, and this is used as a buffer for relaying to the TCP.

The eleventh invention of the present invention relates to the eighth and ninth inventions.
The invention operates in the same manner as the eighth invention when relaying a file from the Internet transmission / reception device to the transmission / reception device, and performs the ninth operation when relaying a file from the transmission / reception device to the Internet transmission / reception device. This is a file relay device that operates in the same manner as the invention and has a feature of relaying a file in both directions of upload and download.

The twelfth invention of the present invention relates to the eighth and first embodiments.
The present invention has both of the configurations of the invention of the present invention, and operates in the same way as the eighth invention when relaying a file from the Internet transmission / reception device to the transmission / reception device. This is a file relay device which operates in the same manner as the invention of the above, and has a feature of file relay in both directions of upload and download. In this method, read and write transfers for download and upload are used separately. The write-type method originally has a memory that is address-mapped on the receiving side, so this is diverted to a buffer for relaying to TCP, and the read-type method originally has a memory that is address-mapped on the transmitting side, so this is called TCP. Diverted to the relay buffer. With this method, a transfer buffer is always placed on the relay device, which helps to improve transfer efficiency.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first step, the intermediary between the transmitting / receiving device and the Internet transmitting / receiving device establishes an FTP control connection on the first communication path by IEEE1394 on the second communication path. The file transfer is performed by converting the packet into a defined asynchronous packet, and the file transfer between the Internet transmitting / receiving device and the file relay device by the TCP packet is performed by the FTP data connection.
A file relay device according to a twelfth aspect. Until the file is specified, a simple asynchronous read and write procedure is performed, and the file transfer itself is performed by address mapping that can maintain the order and reliability in the continuous file transfer. In this method, the IE equipment on the Internet can be
It becomes possible to access from equipment of EE1394 standard.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the file relay device has a function of determining the contents of a URL (Universal Resource Locator), and the first step is that the file transfer device mediates between the receiving device and the Internet transmitting device. The file relay device according to the eighth aspect, wherein the receiving device designates a file on the Internet transmitting device using a URL via a communication path. This allows an IEEE 1394 standard device to specify a URL instead of a simple file name at the time of file transfer, and the ability of the IEEE 1394 standard device to access the Internet and search for a file described by the URL. Even if they do not have it, they can access the file via the file relay device.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the communication path conforms to the IEEE 1394 standard, and the
Using the device-specific address space defined by IEEE 1394, a read command is performed by an asynchronous read request packet defined by IEEE 1394, and a write command is performed by an asynchronous write request packet defined by IEEE 1394. The file transfer according to the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, wherein an address range of the read command and the write command is specified by a destination offset field and a data length field of the asynchronous packet. A method and a file relay device according to the eighth to fourteenth aspects. Asynchronous read request packet and asynchronous write request packet have a retransmission function when there is an error, so use this function to ensure the reliability of transfer contents, and The correct file order is maintained by the transfer method using address mapping even before and after the transfer order. Since the address originally provided in the IEEE 1394 standard and the address designating field in the asynchronous packet are used, it is possible to realize easy, reliable and efficient transfer.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a file transmitting device constituting a receiving device or a transmitting device acting as a transmitting device or a transmitting device itself in each operation step of the first to seventh inventions, It is a file receiving device. A seventeenth invention is directed to a case where the operation of the receiving device, the transmitting device, or the repeater in each operation step in the first to fifteenth inventions is performed by a computer device incorporated in each of the devices. Then, software that describes each program step having an operation to operate the computer device is recorded in the storage medium.

The file on the device described above may be a physically stored data file, but may be data of another form as long as it can be logically handled as a data file. . For example, even if data is generated as a result of input or calculation, if it is a sequence of ordered data and a generation source can be specified by name, it can be a transfer target of the present invention. Needless to say.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a file transfer method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, when reading a file (R
It is assumed that the operation is performed as an “ad type”, and both the Put operation and the Get operation are supported, and hold control for reading is performed.

In FIG. 1, a server device 201 and a client device 202 are connected to an IEEE 1394 signal path 209.
And transmits and receives files via a signal path 209. In the configuration of the present embodiment, both the Put operation and the Get operation are supported. During the Put operation, the server device 201 becomes the receiving device, the client device 202 becomes the transmitting device, and the semiconductor memory 204 transfers the file according to the address map. , And the storage device 211 is a source for transmitting the file. At the time of the Get operation, the server device 201 serves as a transmitting device, the client device 202 serves as a receiving device, and the semiconductor memory 203 acts as a buffer memory for performing file transfer based on an address map.
10 is the source for sending out the file.

Server device 201 and client device 2
02 have a function of sequentially executing each step for performing file transfer, and communication with each other at that time is performed according to the IEEE13.
This is executed by the 94 I / F devices 207 and 208. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, description will be first made along the Get operation. FIG.
Shows a time-series operation flow of the transmitting device and the receiving device via the communication path. 1 corresponds to the storage device 210 in FIG. 1, the memory and the transmission control device correspond to the semiconductor memory 203 and the control device 205, and the receiving device corresponds to the client device 202. FIG. 3 shows a memory mapping of the memory 401 and the file 402 mapped to the address space in the transmitting device. 1 corresponds to the semiconductor memory 203 in FIG. 1, and the file 402 is initially stored on the storage device 210. Hereinafter, description will be given according to the flow of FIG.

As the first step (301), when the client device 202 specifies a file name to be transferred, the server device 201 performs the second step (302) on the file and the memory as shown in FIG. Address ranges 405 and 406 are assigned to the address space 404, the file 402 is read from the storage device 210, and
The work of arranging in the memory 401 is started. Since this work takes time, the file is, for example, DATA in FIG.
The data arrives at the memory after being divided as shown in (1) to (3).

As a third step, the server 201 notifies the client device 202 of the assigned address. When notified of the address, the client device 202 determines an address to be read based on the address as a fourth step, and issues a read command. In general, the size of reading differs between reading from the storage device 210 and reading from the communication path 209. However, for the sake of simplicity, the description will be made assuming that both are the same. In this case, DATA (1) corresponding to Read (1) which is the first read command has already been stored in the memory 401 (semiconductor memory 2).
03), the server device 201 reads
DATA (1) is sent to the client device 202 as a response to Read (1). Next, the client device 202
When the read command Read (2) is issued from the
Since TA (2) has not reached the memory 401, it is suspended (Pend
ing (2)) is returned. In contrast, the client device does not wait for the arrival of DATA (2) at 304,
Issue the next read instruction Read (3). Thus, the file is divided and transferred. As a fifth step, the server device 201 continues reading data from the storage device 210 to the semiconductor memory 203.
When TA (2) arrives, it immediately sends DATA to client device 202 in order to respond to the pending command.
Perform the transfer of (2). This method uses the client device 20
There is an advantage in that the delay is smaller than in the case where transfer is performed after waiting for retransmission of the read command Read (2) from No. 2 and the memory can be used effectively. Finally, if the request (Read (4)) is beyond the end of the file, the server device 201 returns an end of file (EOF) code. Client device 2
No. 02 determines that the transfer is completed when all the data before EOF has been received (306 and 307 in FIG. 2), sends a completion notification, and the server device 201 sends the space address 40
4 is released (308), and the file transfer ends.

FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the file 402, the memory 401, and the address space 404 at a certain point during such an operation, that is, the file 402 has already been read from the storage device 210 into the memory 401. No reservation occurs in the area 407 that has been set, and reservation occurs in the area 408 that has not been read yet. Put operation and Ge
In the t operation, since the transfer direction is reversed and the server device 201 specifies the file, the same operation is performed except that the command for specifying the file is not required in the first step, and the detailed description is omitted. .

In the embodiment described above, the buffer memory capacity and the address space are larger than the file length, and the memory allocation and the address allocation to the buffer can be completed immediately, such as arranging the file on the buffer area from the beginning. In the configuration, it goes without saying that no suspension occurs and the file transfer can be performed. Similarly, in the above-described embodiment, a write command (Write) is used instead of a read command (Read).
The case where (time) is adopted will be described briefly.

The operation in this case differs from the above description in several points. That is, at the time of the Put operation, the semiconductor memory 203 acts as a write buffer memory for performing file transfer based on the address map.
At the time of the t operation, the semiconductor memory 204 functions as a write buffer memory for performing file transfer according to the address map. In addition, when the data is not ready to be received at the time of a write command and the hold is performed, a hold release signal is transmitted to the transmitting device at the time of releasing the hold, and the transmitting device receives this and writes the data again. I do.

The transmission / reception control devices 205 and 206
For example, it can be constituted by a CPU and a program for controlling the CPU. This program is described so as to perform the above-described operation, and may be stored in the apparatus or may be stored in a storage medium such as a disk, a tape, or a memory, and can be distributed and installed using the storage medium. I can do it.

Further, in this embodiment, the communication path 209 conforms to the IEEE 1394-1995 standard, the address uses an address space unique to the device defined in the standard, and the read command is an asynchronous read request.・ Packet (Asynchronus Read Request Packet)
The write instruction is performed by an asynchronous write request packet (Asynchronus Write Requests).
t Packet), and the address range in the read command and the write command is the destination offset (destination_offse) of the asynchronous packet.
t) shall be specified by the field and the data length (data_length) field, but the standard is still being considered for improvement and even if it is a similar but improved version of the standard, It goes without saying that it is adaptable.

In the case of a write command (Write type), control similar to the TCP sliding window technique is used in order to prevent the occurrence of suspension and the retransmission of data to increase traffic on the communication path. You may. For example, in FIG. 3, if there are enough files in the memory 401, the file is transferred from the memory 401 to the secondary memory in the same receiving device, the address range allocated to the memory 401 is released, and the memory to which an address has not been allocated yet. To 401, a part of the address range assigned to the file that has not been transferred yet is assigned. As a result, a write command to which no memory is allocated is not issued, and an improvement in transfer performance can be expected due to a reduction in useless commands.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a file is written, operates in a write type, a put operation, a get operation,
Both operations are supported, and address allocation management is performed in a segment manner. Also, the device configuration and connection in the present embodiment are exactly the same as those in FIG.

The server device 201 and the client device 202 shown in FIG. 1 are connected to each other via an IEEE 1394 signal path 209, and transmit and receive files via the signal path 209. In the configuration of the present embodiment, both the Put operation and the Get operation are supported. During the Put operation, the server device 201 becomes the receiving device, the client device 202 becomes the transmitting device, and the semiconductor memory 203 transfers the file according to the address map. , And the storage device 210 is a file download destination. On the other hand, during the Get operation, the server device 201 functions as a transmitting device, the client device 202 functions as a receiving device, and the semiconductor memory 204 functions as a buffer memory for performing file transfer based on an address map.
Is the file download destination. Server device 201
And control device 20 built in client device 202
5 and 206 have the function of sequentially executing predetermined steps, respectively.
This is executed by the IEEE 1394 I / F devices 207 and 208.

Next, the operation flow of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, description will be first made along the Get operation. FIG. 4 shows a time-series operation flow of a transmitting device and a receiving device via a communication path. 1 corresponds to the storage device 211 in FIG. 1, the memory and the transmission control device correspond to the semiconductor memory 204 and the client transmission / reception control device 206, and the receiving device corresponds to the client device 202. FIG. 5 shows a memory mapping of the memory 601 and the file 602 mapped to the address space in the receiving device. The memory 601 in the figure corresponds to the semiconductor memory 204 in FIG. 1, and the file 602 is stored on the storage device 211 after the Get operation.

Hereinafter, description will be made in accordance with the flowchart of FIG.
As a first step (501), the client device 2
02 designates a file name to be transferred. As a second step (502), the client device 202 performs the first segment (segment1) 605 and the second segment (segment2) on the file and the memory as shown in FIG.
Allocate two address segments 606 and prepare to receive file 602. File 602 is
The communication path 209 is divided as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the upper part is transferred as write data (DATA).

As a third step, the client device 202 checks the assigned segment (Segment 1: Addres
s, Segment 2: Address) to the server device 201. When notified of the segment, the server device 201 sequentially determines the write address based on the notified address segment from the data prepared as the fourth step, and issues a write command (Write). Generally, the writing size differs between writing to the storage device 211 and writing to the communication path 209. However, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that both are the same. In that case, the DATA attached to the first write command, Write
If the writing of (1) succeeds, the client device 202
Replies Ack. From the above assumption, the write size to the storage device 211 is possible at the time when WriteDATA (1) succeeds, so that the client device 202 immediately writes DATA (1) to the storage device 211 as a fifth step, Empty 204. In this way, the file is divided and transferred.

In addition, when there is an error in the write transmission, in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standard, retransmission is performed. Therefore, the transfer is performed in any order as generally seen from the Nack reply of 503 in FIG. . Even in this case, since the server device 201 does not use an address that has not been assigned yet, the reception buffer does not overflow and the flow is controlled.

Also, as in the present embodiment, Write
There is a feature that no suspension occurs when segment control is performed by type transfer. As a fifth step, as a result of writing to the storage device 211, the client device 202 completes the transfer of all of the first segment 605 allocated to the memory 204 (5 in FIG. 4).
At 05), the memory area allocated to the first segment is released, and the generated free memory is allocated to the third segment (segment 3) for performing a new transfer. Here, the address area of the third segment may overlap the first segment 605 that has already been used, and the address resources can be efficiently reused.

As described above, wasteful data transfer can be realized with a small number of handshakes by the segment method.
Finally, at the end of the file, the server device 201
After transmitting the F code, the client device 202 determines that the transfer has been completed when all the data before the EOF has been received, releases all the segments in use as in 507, and ends the file transfer (506). , 507).

FIG. 5 shows the relationship among the file 602, the memory 601 and the address space 604 at a certain point during the operation as described above. In the area 603 where writing has already been completed in the memory from the server device 201,
DATA (1) can be transferred. Note that the Put operation and the Get operation perform almost the same operation except that the transfer direction is reversed and a command for designating a file is not required in the first step, and thus detailed description is omitted.

(Embodiment 3) Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. This embodiment operates in the Read type, supports both the Put operation and the Get operation,
It is assumed that hold control for reading and segment management of addresses are performed. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a device configuration and a connection state according to the third embodiment. The Internet server device 102 and the relay device 101 in FIG. 6 are connected by an Internet communication path 104, the relay device 101 and the client device 103 are connected to each other by an IEEE 1394 signal path 105, and the relay device 10 is connected via each signal path.
1 transmits and receives a file between the Internet server device 102 and the client device 103 by converting the transmission protocol. In the configuration of the present embodiment, Pu
It supports both the t operation and the Get operation.
During operation, file transfer is performed from the Internet server device 102 to the client device 103, and the storage device 11
5 is a source for transmitting a file. During a Put operation, a file is transferred from the client device 103 to the Internet server device 102, and the storage device 116 is a source for transmitting the file.

In the transmission protocol on IEEE 1394, file transfer is performed by a memory map type protocol as described in the first and second embodiments.
Focusing on this relationship, during the Put operation, the client device 103 functions as a transmitting device, the semiconductor memory 113 functions as a buffer memory for performing file transfer according to an address map, and during the Get operation, the relay device 101 functions as a transmitting device and a client device. 103 serves as a receiving device, and the semiconductor memory 113 functions as a buffer memory for performing file transfer based on an address map.

Relay device 101 and client device 10
The relay device 110 and the control device 111 incorporated in the communication device 3 each have a function of sequentially executing predetermined steps.
This is executed by the F devices 108 and 109. The Internet server device 102 is, for example, an existing FTP server, and has a built-in semiconductor memory 114 for transmitting and receiving files by performing flow control by TCP. Communication between the devices on the Internet communication path 104 is The processing is executed by the network I / F devices 106 and 107, respectively.

Next, the actual operation flow of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a case of a Get operation for downloading from the Internet.
FIG. 7 shows a time-series operation flow of the Internet transmitting device (that is, the Internet server device 102), the relay device 101, and the receiving device (that is, the client device 103) via the communication path. The first step (70
As 1), when the client device 103 specifies a file name to be transferred by URL, the relay device 101
702 converts the command into a command suitable for the Internet server device 102 and relays the command, and the Internet server device 102 starts file transfer at 703. The relay device 101 performs, as a second step,
At 702, segment 1 and seg are stored in the file and the memory 112.
Two address segments of ment2 are allocated, and at the same time, a file transmitted from the Internet server device 102 is received in the memory of the segment. Here, the transmission from the Internet server device 102 is performed by the existing TCP, and at this time, the flow control can be performed by controlling the window size so as not to exceed the segment. Since transfer by TCP takes time, the file arrives at the semiconductor memory 112 after being divided from DATA (1) to DATA (5).

As a third step, the relay device 101 notifies the client device 103 of the two assigned address segments. When notified of the address segment, the client device 103 determines, as a fourth step, an address to be read based on the address segment, and issues a read command (Read). In general, the size of reading differs between reading of a TCP packet and reading of the communication path 105. However, for simplicity, the description will be made on the assumption that both are the same. In this case, since the DATA (1) corresponding to the first read command, Read (1), has already been read into the memory 112, the relay device 101 sends a response to Read (1) to the client device 103. And sends DATA (1). Next, when a Read (2) command is issued from the client device 103, the DA
Since TA (2) has not arrived, pending (Pending (2)) is returned. On the other hand, the client device 103
Without waiting for the arrival of DATA (2) at the next Read (3)
Issue an instruction. In this way, the file is divided and transferred. As a fifth step, the relay device 101 continues to receive data from the Internet server device 102. At this time, when DATA (2) arrives, the relay device 101 responds to the pending command, and The transfer is performed to the device 103. Finally, the relay device 101 receives the EOF from the Internet server device 102.
After the reception, if the request from the client device 102 is beyond the end of the file, an EOF code is returned. The client device 102 determines that the transfer is completed with all the data before the EOF being received, and the file transfer is performed at 709. To end. The relay device 101 is a client device 103
The transfer is completed at 710 after waiting for the completion signal from.

The operation described above is based on the IEEE 1394 standard.
As far as the communication path 105 is concerned, the operation is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment with the addition of the segment management of the second embodiment. That is, the client device 103 does not need to have a special action corresponding to the Internet or TCP, and can be used without modifying the transmitting device and the receiving device described in the first or second embodiment. Conversely, Internet communication path 10
4 is the same as the existing FTP operation, and therefore, the Internet server device 102
There is no need to have a special action corresponding to the standard 94, and the conventional server device can be used without modification.

Also, the Internet server device 102
The present invention is not limited to the TP server device, and may have only a file transmission / reception function using TCP and a file transfer instruction function. For example, http (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)
ocol) It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a server.

[0062]

According to the present invention, a reliable data transfer method particularly suitable for the IEEE 1394 standard is realized, and a simple and efficient file transfer method that does not require a TCP protocol is realized. , A file transmitting device and a file receiving device can be obtained.
In addition, without changing the TCP / IP equipment or the Internet technical system, information devices based on IEEE 1394 and TCP / IP connected to the Internet can be used.
It is possible to realize a file relay device that enables a data file to be transferred to and from a large number of IP-based information devices, such as an FTP server.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a device configuration for realizing a file transfer method according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a communication flow chart showing an operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining address mapping according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a communication flow chart showing an operation in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining address mapping according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a device configuration for realizing the file transfer method according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a communication flow chart showing an operation in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Relay device 102 Internet server device 103, 202 Client device 104 Internet communication channel 105, 209 IEEE 1394 communication channel 106, 107, 207, 208 Network I / F
Device 108, 109 IEEE 1394 I / F device 111, 205, 206 Transmission / reception control device 112, 113, 114, 203, 204 Semiconductor memory 115, 116 Storage device 201 Server equipment

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04L 12/56 H04L 13/00 307Z 29/08 (72) Inventor Hajime Maekawa 1006 Kazuma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ike ▼ Saki ▲ Masao 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A method for transferring a file from a transmitting device to a receiving device, wherein in the first step, the receiving device specifies a file on the transmitting device via a communication path, or The transmitting device voluntarily designates a file on the transmitting device and notifies the receiving device, and in a second step, the transmitting device allocates an arbitrary address range of the transmitting device to the designated file. ,
The transmitting device reads the specified file into a memory built in the transmitting device, and in a third step, the transmitting device notifies the receiving device of the allocated address range, and a fourth step The receiving device issues a read command to the transmitting device specifying a certain address range within the allocated address range, and the transmitting device issues an address range specified by the read command to the receiving device. A file transfer method for transmitting all of the specified file by transmitting the file of the above, and repeating the fourth step. 2. A method for transferring a file from a transmitting device to a receiving device, wherein in the first step, the receiving device specifies a file on the transmitting device via a communication path, or The transmitting device voluntarily designates a file on the transmitting device and notifies the receiving device, and in a second step, the receiving device allocates an arbitrary address range of the receiving device to the specified file. ,
Assigning an address range assigned to the file to a memory built in the receiving device; in a third step, the receiving device notifies the transmitting device of the assigned address range; in a fourth step, The transmitting device issues a write command specifying a certain address range within the allocated address range to the receiving device, thereby writing the file in the specified range on a memory built in the receiving device. A file transfer method for transferring all of the specified files by repeating the fourth step. 3. A method for transferring a file from a transmitting device to a receiving device, wherein, in a first step, the receiving device specifies a file on the transmitting device via a communication path, or The transmitting device voluntarily designates a file on the transmitting device and notifies the receiving device, and in a second step, the transmitting device allocates an arbitrary address range of the transmitting device to the designated file. ,
The transmitting device reads a part of the specified file onto a memory built in the transmitting device, and in a third step, notifies the receiving device of an address range assigned to the file by the transmitting device. In a fourth step, the receiving device issues to the transmitting device a read command specifying a certain address range within the range of addresses assigned to the file, and the address range specified by the read command. If the file has already been read into the memory, the transmitting device transmits the file in the specified range to the receiving device, and the file in the address range specified by the read command is still in the memory. If not, the sending device replies to the receiving device with a hold, and in a fifth step If there is room in the memory, the transmitting device reads a part of the specified file that has not been transferred yet into the memory, and the file in the address range specified by the pending read command is stored in the memory. A file transmission method in which the transmitting device transmits the files in the range to the receiving device, and repeats the fourth and fifth steps to transfer all of the specified files. 4. A method for transferring a file from a transmitting device to a receiving device, wherein in the first step, the receiving device specifies a file on the transmitting device via a communication path, or The transmitting device voluntarily designates a file on the transmitting device and notifies the receiving device, and in a second step, the receiving device allocates an arbitrary address range of the receiving device to the specified file. ,
Allocating a part of the allocated address range to a memory built in the receiving device; in a third step, the receiving device notifies the transmitting device of the address range allocated to the file; In the step, the transmitting device issues a file write command to the receiving device by designating a certain address range within the range of addresses allocated to the file, and the address range specified by the write command already exists. If allocated to the memory, the receiving device writes the specified range of files to the memory, and if the address range specified by the read command has not yet been allocated to the memory, the The device replies to the receiving device with a hold, and in a fifth step, the receiving device If there are enough files, the data is transferred from the memory to the secondary memory built in the receiving device to release the address range allocated to the memory, and if there is the memory to which the address has not been allocated yet, When a part of the address range assigned to the file that has not been transferred yet is assigned to the memory, and the address range specified by the pending write command is assigned to the memory, The receiving device transmits a release release of the file to the transmitting device, and in a sixth step, when the transmitting device receives the release release from the receiving device, re-issues a write command of the file, By repeating the fourth to sixth steps, all of the specified files are transferred. Transfer method. 5. A method for transferring a file from a transmitting device to a receiving device, wherein in the first step, the receiving device specifies a file on the transmitting device via a communication path, or The transmitting device voluntarily designates a file on the transmitting device and notifies the receiving device, and in a second step, the receiving device allocates an arbitrary address range of the receiving device to the specified file. ,
Assigning a part of the assigned address range to a memory built in the receiving device; in a third step, the receiving device notifies the transmitting device of the address range assigned to the memory; In the step, the transmitting device issues a file write command to the receiving device by designating a certain address range within the address range allocated to the memory, so that the receiving device has a built-in memory. In the fifth step, when sufficient files are available in the memory, the receiving device transfers the specified range of files to the secondary memory built in the receiving device, and transfers the received files to the memory. The allocated address range is released, and if there is any memory to which the address has not been allocated yet, the memory is allocated to the file. Allocate portions that have not been transferred yet files of Tera address range to the memory, file transfer method to transfer all of the third through the specified file by repeating the fifth step. 6. A method for transferring a file from a transmitting device to a receiving device, wherein in the first step, the receiving device specifies a file on the transmitting device via a communication path, or The transmitting device voluntarily designates a file on the transmitting device and notifies the receiving device, and in a second step, the transmitting device has one or more arbitrary ranges from within its own address range. And selecting each as an address segment, allocating the address segment to a part of the specified file, and allocating the address segment to a part of a memory built in the transmitting device. In the third step, A transmitting device notifies the receiving device of the one or more address segments; and, in a fourth step, the receiving device notifies the transmitting device of the one or more address segments. In the segment range, a read command specifying a certain address range is issued, and if a file in the address range specified by the read command has already been read on the memory, the transmitting device transmits to the receiving device. Transmitting the file in the specified range, and if the file in the address range specified by the read command has not yet been read into the memory, the transmitting device replies to the receiving device to suspend, In step 5, if there is room in the memory, the transmitting device reads an untransferred part of the specified file into the memory, and reads the address specified by the pending read command. When a file in the range is read into the memory, the transmitting device notifies the receiving device of the file in the range. In the sixth step, when the receiving device receives the entire file range in an address segment, the receiving device notifies the transmitting device of the completion of use of the address segment, and the transmitting device transmits the address segment. When the completion of the use of the file is notified, the address segment is released from the allocation to the memory and the file, and if a part of the file that has not yet been transferred remains, the part of the file is released. A file transfer method for allocating an address segment, allocating the address segment to a part of a memory built in the transmitting device, and transferring all of the specified file by repeating the fourth to sixth steps. 7. A method for transferring a file from a transmitting device to a receiving device, wherein in the first step, the receiving device specifies a file on the transmitting device via a communication path, or The transmitting device voluntarily designates a file on the transmitting device and notifies the receiving device, and in a second step, the receiving device has one or more arbitrary ranges from within an arbitrary address range of itself. And selecting each as an address segment, allocating the address segment to a part of the specified file, and allocating the address segment to a part of a memory built in the receiving device. In the third step, A receiving device notifies the transmitting device of the one or more address segments, and in a fourth step, the transmitting device notifies the receiving device of the one or more address segments. In the segment range, a write command for a file specifying a certain address range is issued, and when the receiving device receives the write command, the receiving device writes the file in the range to the memory. In a fifth step, the receiving device If there are enough files in the memory, the file is transferred from the memory to the secondary memory built in the receiving device. In a sixth step, the receiving device completes the file transfer in any address segment, Releases the address segment from the allocation to the memory and the file, and the receiving device allocates the released address segment to a part of the file if a part of the file that has not been transferred remains. Assigning the address segment to a part of a memory built in the receiving device, File transfer method that notifies the segments to the transmission apparatus, and transfers all of the specified file by repeating the fourth through sixth steps. 8. When the address range specified by the read command exceeds the end of the file, the transmitting device sends an end-of-file notification to the receiving device,
The receiving device does not read the address after the address range in which the end-of-file is notified, and determines whether or not a part of the file to be transferred remains from the address range in which the end-of-file is notified. 7. The file transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed only in the preceding range. 9. When a bus reset occurs on a communication path,
The transmitting device or the receiving device once releases the assignment of all the address segments, performs the assignment of the address segments again immediately after the position where the file transfer is completed before the occurrence of the bus reset, and restarts the file transfer. 8. The file transfer method according to claim 6, wherein: 10. An apparatus for relaying a file from an Internet transmission device connected via a first communication channel to a reception device connected via a second communication channel, wherein the first communication channel uses TCP. In the first step, by intermediating the receiving device and the Internet transmitting device, the receiving device specifies a file on the Internet transmitting device via the first and second communication paths. Or, the Internet transmitting device spontaneously designates a file on the Internet transmitting device and notifies the receiving device of the file. In the second step, an address range or an address segment of a built-in memory is assigned. The part of the specified file to which the address or address segment is allocated Reading sequentially from the Internet transmission device by a TCP packet, and in a third step and thereafter, the second interface uses the file transfer method according to claim 1, 3, 6, or 8 to the reception device, A file relay device that relays and transfers the commanded file. 11. A device for relaying a file from a transmitting device connected via a second communication channel to an Internet receiving device connected via a first communication channel, comprising: a relay memory; In the first communication, TCP communication is performed. In the first step, the transmitting device transmits files on the Internet receiving device to the first and second communication paths by mediating the transmitting device and the Internet receiving device. Or the transmitting device spontaneously specifies a file on the transmitting device and notifies the Internet receiving device, and in a third step, the address range notified from the transmitting device is In the fourth step, the address range or the address range of the memory built in the transmitting device is assigned to the relay memory. Issue read command of the file from the scope that is assigned instrument, writes the result of the read command to the same address range of said relay memory,
When a part of the file on the relay memory is read out, the file is sequentially transferred to the Internet receiving device by a TCP packet. A file relay device that performs the same operation as a receiving device in the file transfer method according to any one of claims 1, 3, 6, and 8. 12. An apparatus for relaying a file from a transmitting device connected via a second communication channel to an Internet receiving device connected via a first communication channel, comprising: a relay memory; Internet communication device and TCP
In the first step, by intermediating the transmitting device and the Internet receiving device, the transmitting device specifies a file on the Internet receiving device via a communication path, or A device voluntarily designates a file on the transmitting device and notifies the Internet receiving device, and in a fourth step, an area to which an address range or an address segment is allocated in a memory built in the transmitting device Issue a write command for the designated file, and when a part of the file in the relay memory is read, sequentially transfer the file to the Internet receiving device by a TCP packet, steps other than the first and fourth steps Then, for the transmitting device,
A file relay device that performs the same operation as a receiving device in the file transfer method according to any one of claims 2, 4, 5, and 7. 13. An apparatus for relaying a file transfer between an Internet transmission / reception apparatus connected via a first communication path and a transmission / reception apparatus connected via a second communication path, wherein the transmission / reception is performed from the Internet transmission / reception apparatus. 12. The file relay device for performing the file transfer according to claim 10 when performing file relay to the device, and performing the file transfer according to claim 11 when performing the file relay from the transmitting / receiving device to the Internet transmitting / receiving device. 14. An apparatus for relaying a file transfer between an Internet transmission / reception device connected via a first communication path and a transmission / reception apparatus connected via a second communication path, the apparatus comprising: 13. The file relay device for performing the file transfer according to claim 10 when relaying the file to the device, and performing the file transfer according to claim 12 when relaying the file from the transmission / reception device to the Internet transmission / reception device. 15. In the first step, the mediation between the transmission / reception device and the Internet transmission / reception device converts an FTP control connection on the first interface into an asynchronous packet defined by IEEE 1394 on the second interface. Done by TC
15. The file relay device according to claim 10, wherein a file transfer between the Internet transmitting / receiving device and the file relay device by a P packet is performed by an FTP data connection. 16. A function for determining a URL, wherein in a first step, the receiving device mediates a URL on the Internet transmitting device via a communication path by mediating between the receiving device and the Internet transmitting device. 11. The file relay device according to claim 10, wherein the file relay device is used for designation. 17. A communication path conforms to the IEEE 1394 standard, an address uses a device-specific address space defined by the standard, and a read command is transmitted by an asynchronous read request packet defined by the standard. The write instruction is performed by an asynchronous write request packet defined in the same standard, and the address range of the read instruction and the write instruction is determined by the destination offset field and the data length of the asynchronous packet. 17. The file transfer method and file relay device according to claim 1, wherein the file transfer method is specified by a field. 18. A file receiving device or a file transmitting device using the file transfer method according to claim 1 and having at least one function of a receiving device and a transmitting device. 19. A software program which records at least a program for describing an operation for executing each operation step in a file transfer method, a file relay device, a file reception device or a file transmission device according to claim 1. Storage medium.