Method and apparatus for converting IEEE 1284 signals to or from IEEE 1394 signals

A method for controlling a 1284-to-1394 converter, said method comprising:

• providing a Link layer that communicates with a 1284 sort, a Physical layer that communicates with a 1394 bus, a host device that is in communication with said 1284 port, and at least one 1394 compliant device that is in communication with said 1394 bus;
• controlling said Physical layer by attempting to configure said at least one 1394 compliant device;
• controlling said Link layer by inspecting said 1284 port and determining whether or not data is being received at said 1284 port from said host device, and if so, determining whether or not the received data is to be transmitted to said at least one 1394 compliant device over the 1394 bus, and if so, converting said received data and transmitting it to said at least one 1394 compliant device;
• controlling said Physical layer by determining if said at least one 1394 compliant device comprises a printer before attempting to configure said at least one 1394 compliant device;
• and
• determining whether said received data is for a converter logical unit or for a printer logical unit.

A method for controlling a peer-to-peer 1394-to-1284 converter, said method comprising:

• providing a Link layer that communicates with a 1284 port, a Physical layer that communicates with a 1394 bus, a peripheral device that is in communication with said 1284 port, and at least one 1394 compliant device that is in communication with said 1394 bus;
• controlling said Link layer by asserting a select signal to said peripheral device by way of said 1284 port, then receiving a response signal from said peripheral device;
• and
• controlling said Physical layer by examining said at least one 1394 compliant device, receiving data by way of said 1394 bus and determining an active protocol of the received data, determining whether or not said received data comprises a predetermined type of data, and if so, converting and transmitting said predetermined type of data using said active protocol to said peripheral device by way of said 1284 port.

A converter apparatus, comprising:

• a 1294 interface circuit;
• a controller circuit;
• a Physical layer that acts as a 1394 interface circuit;
• and
• a Link layer that is in communication with said 1284 interface circuit and which is in communication with said Physical layer;
• wherein:
• (a) said controller circuit and Link layer are contained within a unitary electronic structure;
• (b) a host device is in communication with said 1284 interface circuit;
• (c) an external peripheral device is in communication with said Physical layer;
• and
• (d) said controller circuit is configured:
• (i) to determine by use of said 1284 interface circuit, whether or not data is being received from said host device, and if so, to determine if the received data comprises a command for configuring said external peripheral device, and if so, to configure said external peripheral device by use of said Physical layer;
• (ii) to determine, by use of said 1284 interface circuit, whether or not data is being received from said host device, and if so, to determine whether or not the received data is to be transmitted to said printer, and if so, to convert said received data and transmit it to said printer.

A converter apparatus, comprising:

• a 1284 interface circuit;
• a controller circuit;
• a Physical layer that acts as a 1394 interface circuit;
• and
• a Link layer that is in communication with said 1284 interface circuit and which is in communication with said Physical layer;
• wherein said controller circuit and Link layer are contained within a unitary electronic structure, and
• wherein a printer is in communication with said 1284 interface circuit, and a 1394 compliant device is in communication with said Physical layer, said converter apparatus thereby comprising a peer-to-peer 1394-to-1284 converter.