Communication system, and master apparatus and slave apparatus used in the same, and communication method

A master apparatus for controlling data transfer performed in a slave apparatus connected via a data transmission line, comprising:

• a controller for generating a serial conversion order control signal for controlling serial conversion order for readable data when said readable data in said slave apparatus connected via said data transmission line is read;
• a serial converter for performing serial conversion on data containing said serial conversion order control signal, and then transmitting the converted data to said slave apparatus;
• and
• a parallel converter for receiving the data generated by the serial conversion of said readable data performed by said slave apparatus in accordance with said serial conversion order control signal, and then performing parallel conversion on the received data.

A slave apparatus in which data transfer is controlled by a master apparatus connected via a data transmission line, comprising:

• a parallel converter for receiving serial conversion data transmitted from said master apparatus and then performing parallel conversion on the received data;
• a setting unit for setting up serial conversion order for readable data in accordance with a serial conversion order control signal which is contained in said parallel conversion data and which controls serial conversion order for said readable data in said slave apparatus;
• and
• a serial converter for performing serial conversion on said readable data in accordance with said set-up serial conversion order and then transmitting the converted data to said master apparatus.

A communication system comprising:

• a first apparatus for controlling data transfer;
• a plurality of second apparatuses for exchanging data with said first apparatus;
• and
• a data transmission line connected between said first apparatus and said second apparatuses, wherein
• said first apparatus comprises:
• a controller for generating a serial conversion selection control signal for controlling selection of data to be processed by serial conversion among readable data when said readable data in said second apparatus is read;
• a first serial converter for performing serial conversion on data containing said serial conversion selection control signal, and then transmitting the converted data to said second apparatus;
• a first parallel converter for receiving the data generated by the serial conversion of a part of said readable data performed by said second apparatus in accordance with said serial conversion selection control signal, and then performing parallel conversion on the received data;
• and
• a memory for temporarily holding said parallel conversion data, and wherein
• said second apparatus comprises:
• a second parallel converter for receiving the serial conversion data transmitted from said first apparatus and then performing parallel conversion on the received data;
• a selector for selecting data to be processed by serial conversion among said readable data in accordance with said serial conversion selection control signal;
• and
• a second serial converter for performing serial conversion on said selected data and then transmitting the converted data to said first apparatus.

A master apparatus for controlling data transfer performed in a slave apparatus connected via a data transmission line, comprising:

• a controller for generating a serial conversion selection control signal for controlling selection of data to be processed by serial conversion among readable data when said readable data in said slave apparatus connected via said data transmission line is read;
• a serial converter for performing serial conversion on data containing said serial conversion selection control signal, and then transmitting the converted data to said slave apparatus;
• a parallel converter for receiving the data generated by the serial conversion of a part of said readable data performed by said slave apparatus in accordance with said serial conversion selection control signal, and then performing parallel conversion on the received data;
• and
• a memory for temporarily holding said parallel conversion data.

A slave apparatus in which data transfer is controlled by a master apparatus connected via a data transmission line, comprising:

• a parallel converter for receiving serial conversion data transmitted from said master apparatus and then performing parallel conversion on the received data;
• a selector for selecting data to be processed by serial conversion among readable data in accordance with a serial conversion selection control signal which is contained in said parallel conversion data and which controls selection of data to be processed by serial conversion among said readable data in said slave apparatus;
• and
• a serial converter for performing serial conversion on said selected data and then transmitting the converted data to said master apparatus.

A communication method used in a configuration provided with:

• a first apparatus for controlling data transfer;
• a plurality of second apparatuses for exchanging data with said first apparatus;
• and a data transmission line connected between said first apparatus and said second apparatuses, comprising the steps of:
• generating, in said first apparatus, a serial conversion order control signal for controlling serial conversion order for readable data when said first apparatus reads said readable data in said second apparatus;
• transferring data containing said serial conversion order control signal from said first apparatus through said transmission line to said second apparatus;
• setting up serial conversion order for readable data in accordance with said serial conversion order control signal and then performing, in said second apparatus, serial conversion on said readable data in accordance with said set-up order;
• transferring said serial conversion data from said second apparatus through said transmission line to said first apparatus;
• and
• performing parallel conversion on said serial conversion data in said first apparatus.

A communication method used in a configuration provided with:

• a first apparatus for controlling data transfer;
• a plurality of second apparatuses for exchanging data with said first apparatus;
• and a data transmission line connected between said first apparatus and said second apparatuses, comprising the steps of:
• generating, in said first apparatus, a serial conversion selection control signal for controlling selection of data to be processed by serial conversion among readable data when said first apparatus reads said readable data in said second apparatus;
• transferring data containing said serial conversion selection control signal from said first apparatus through said transmission line to said second apparatus;
• selecting data to be processed by serial conversion among said readable data in accordance with said serial conversion selection control signal, and then performing serial conversion on said selected data in said second apparatus;
• transferring said serial conversion data from said second apparatus through said transmission line to said first apparatus;
• performing parallel conversion on said serial conversion data in said first apparatus;
• and
• temporarily storing said parallel conversion data into a memory in said first apparatus.