Data processing apparatus and data input/output apparatus and data input/output method

A data processing apparatus comprising:

• a first data processing unit having a first CPU;
• a second data processing unit having a second CPU;
• and
• a communication interface enabling data exchange between said first and second data processing units, said communication interface having:
• a first storage unit for holding data during its transfer from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit, and
• a second storage unit for holding data during its transfer from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit;
• wherein:
• said first storage unit includes a first buffer for transferring bulk data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit, and a second buffer for transferring command data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit;
• and
• said second star age unit includes a third buffer for transferring bulk data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit, and a fourth buffer for transferring command data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit;
• and
• wherein said communication interface includes:
• a first data-transfer-management unit for sending a first bulk-data-available signal to said second CPU when data is written to said first buffer, and sending a first bulk-read-active signal to said first CPU when data is read from said first buffer;
• a second data-transfer-management unit for sending a first command-data-available signal to said second CPU when data is written to said second buffer, and sending a first command-read-active signal to said first CPU when data is read from the second buffer;
• a third data-transfer-management unit for sending a second bulk-data-available signal to said first CPU when data is written to said third buffer, and sending a second bulk-read-active signal to said second CPU when data is read from said third buffer;
• and
• a fourth data-transfer-management unit for sending a second command-data-available signal to said first CPU when data is written to said fourth buffer, and sending a second command-read-active signal to said second CPU when data is read from said fourth buffer.

A data input/output apparatus comprising:

• a first data input/output unit to input and/or output data;
• a second data input/output unit to input and/or output data;
• a first data processing unit having a first CPU for controlling said first data input/output unit;
• a second data processing unit having a second CPU for controlling said second data input/output unit;
• and
• a communication interface for data exchange between said first and second data processing units, said communication interface including:
• a first storage unit for holding data during its transfer from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit, and
• a second storage unit for holding data during its transfer from the second data processing unit to the first data processing unit;
• wherein:
• said first storage unit includes a first buffer for transferring bulk data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit, and a second buffer for transferring command data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit;
• and
• said second storage unit includes a third buffer for transferring bulk data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit, and a fourth buffer for transferring command data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit.

A data input/output apparatus comprising:

• a first data input/output unit to input and/or output data;
• a second data input/output unit to input and/or output data;
• a first data processing unit having a first CPU for controlling said first data input/output unit;
• a second data processing unit having a second CPU for controlling said second data input/output unit;
• and
• a communication interface for data exchange between said first and second data processing units, said communication interface including:
• a first storage unit for holding data during its transfer from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit, and
• a second storage unit for holding data during its transfer from the second data processing unit to the first data processing unit;
• wherein:
• said first storage unit includes a first buffer for transferring bulk data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit, and a second buffer for transferring command data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit;
• and
• said second storage unit includes a third buffer for transferring bulk data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit, and a fourth buffer for transferring command data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit;
• and
• wherein said communication interface further includes:
• a first data-transfer-management unit for sending a first bulk-data-available signal to said second CPU when data is written to said first buffer, and sending a first bulk-read-active signal to said first CPU when data is read from said first buffer;
• a second data-transfer-management unit for sending a first command-data-available signal to said second CPU when data is written to said second buffer, and sending a first command-read-active signal to said first CPU when data is read from said second buffer;
• a third data-transfer-management unit for sending a second bulk-data-available signal to said first CPU when data is written to said third buffer, and sending a second bulk-read-active signal to said second CPU when data is read from the third buffer;
• and
• a fourth data-active-management unit for sending a second command-data-available signal to said first CPU when data is written to said to said fourth buffer, and sending a second command-read-active signal to said second CPU when data is read from said fourth buffer.

A data input/output method for exchanging data between a first data processing unit having a first CPU and a second data processing unit having a second CPU, said method comprising:

• a first step for transferring data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit using a first storage unit;
• and
• a second step for transferring data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit using a second storage unit different from said first storage unit;
• wherein:
• said first storage unit includes a first buffer and a second buffer, and wherein said second storage unit includes a third buffer and a fourth buffer, and wherein:
• said first step transfers bulk data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit using said first buffer, and transfers command data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit using said second buffer;
• and
• said second step transfers bulk data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit using said third buffer, and transfers command data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit using said fourth buffer.

A data input/output method for exchanging data between a first data processing unit having a first CPU and a second data processing unit having a second CPU, said method comprising:

• a first step for transferring data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit using a first storage unit;
• and
• a second step for transferring data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit using a second storage unit different from said first storage unit;
• wherein:
• said first storage unit includes a first buffer and a second buffer, and wherein said second storage unit includes a third buffer and a fourth buffer, and wherein:
• said first step transfers bulk data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit using said first buffer, and transfers command data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit using said second buffer;
• and
• said second step transfers bulk data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit using said third buffer, and transfers command data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit using said fourth buffer;
• and
• said method further comprising:
• a step for sending a first bulk-data-available signal to said second CPU when data is written to said first buffer, and for sending a first bulk-read-active signal to said first CPU when data is read from said first buffer;
• a step for sending a first command-data-available signal to said second CPU when data is written to said second buffer, and for sending a first command-read-active signal to said first CPU when data is read from said second buffer;
• a step for sending a second bulk-data-available signal to said first CPU when data is written to said third buffer, and for sending a second bulk-read-active signal to said second CPU when data is read from said third buffer;
• and
• a step for sending a second command-data-available signal to said first CPU when data is written to said fourth buffer, and for sending a second command-read-active signal to said second CPU- when data is read from said fourth buffer.

A data input/output apparatus comprising:

• a first data input/output unit to input and/or output data;
• a second data input/output unit to input and/or output data;
• a first data processing unit having a first CPU for controlling said first data input/output unit;
• a second data processing unit having a second CPU for controlling said second data input/output unit;
• and
• a communication interface for data exchange between said first and second data processing units, said communication interface including:
• a first storage unit for holding data during its transfer from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit, and
• a second storage unit for holding data during its transfer from the second data processing unit to the first data processing unit;
• wherein said first data input/output unit is effective for printing to paper, and said second data input/output unit is effective for reading image data from paper;
• and
• wherein said data input/output apparatus is a POS printer, said first data input/output unit is a printer for printing a check, and said second data input/output unit is a scanner for reading the image of the printed check.