Host/function device

Abstract

To mutually connect a host / function device that can be a function device to a host device such as a personal computer, a function device such as a digital camera and even a host device such as a printer. The digital camera 1, the printer and the personal computer 3 are connected by USB cables 5 and 6. An operation mode of the printer 2 can be switched to a camera connection mode for connecting to the digital camera 1, a PC connection mode for connecting to the personal computer 3 and a through mode for connecting the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 3.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a host / function device, for example, a host device such as a personal computer and a function device such as a digital camera are connected with a USB cable, and these connected devices work as a host device and a function device. Background technique [0002] In the past, when personal computers were connected with peripherals such as printers and digital cameras, the images acquired by the digital cameras were transmitted to the personal computer, and then printed out by the printer. From the perspective of convenient connection, the connection between the personal computer and the peripherals used (Universal Serial Bus) method. This USB method is shown in Figure 6. It is a digital camera 1 and a printer 2, which are connected to the personal computer 3 through the USB connecting lines 5 and 6 respectively. A printout system (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-238105). In the system described in this...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In addition, many connectors of connecting wires are arranged on the back of personal computers and printers, so it is very troublesome to plug and unplug the connecting wires.

Especially for the USB cable, the connector on the host side and the connector on the functional device side have different shapes, and the plugging and unplugging of the cable requires additional work to confirm the shape of the connector, making the work even more troublesome.

[0005] In this case, although it can be considered to prepare a new connection line to connect the digital camera and the printer or the digital camera and the personal computer, it will make the user bear the cost of the connection line, so it is still not ideal.

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