Tree Structure High-Speed Serial Bus Image Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing systems, such as digital multifunction products, face limitations in data transfer speed due to the use of parallel PCI buses, which restrict high-speed data transfer and require significant bandwidth, leading to reduced productivity and increased system costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a tree structure with high-speed serial buses for point-to-point data transfer between units, including a controlling unit, image processing units, and a storage unit, as per the PCI Express standard, to enhance data transfer efficiency and reduce bandwidth requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If parallel PCI bus is used for data transfer between units, then system compatibility and ease of implementation are improved, but data transfer speed and bandwidth are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the parallel PCI bus mechanism with a high-speed serial bus mechanism. Specifically, it uses a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus or a fiber channel (FC) bus to connect the host bus bridge to storage devices, replacing the traditional parallel interface. This substitution enables significantly higher data transfer speeds while maintaining system compatibility through standard interface protocols.
2Ease of manufacture
If parallel PCI bus is used for data transfer, then system cost is reduced, but bandwidth requirement increases leading to reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the data transfer interface by transitioning from parallel to serial communication. This parameter change includes altering the signal transmission method, clock frequency, and data encoding schemes. The high-speed serial bus operates at significantly higher frequencies with more efficient data encoding, thereby increasing bandwidth and productivity without proportionally increasing system cost.
3Quantity of substance
If distributed storage units are implemented to increase bandwidth, then data transfer capacity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into distinct functional units: a host bus bridge for interface control, individual storage devices for data storage, and a backplane for signal routing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and connected through standardized high-speed serial interfaces, achieving high bandwidth capacity without requiring complex distributed storage architectures.
Data Source
AI summary
A system controlling device having a tree structure includes a data controlling unit that functions as a root device. The data controlling unit is connected to a first image processing unit and a second image processing unit by separate high-speed serial buses. The first image processing unit performs image processing on image data scanned by a scanner, while the second image processing unit performs image processing on image data to be output to a printer. A storage unit is independently connected to the data controlling unit and stores therein image data processed by the first image processing unit and the second image processing unit.