1. An apparatus for controlling an operating mode of an Ethernet media access controller (MAC) embedded in a programmable device, comprising:
a configuration circuit configured to receive a configuration signal from configuration memory of the programmable device and a host signal from a host bus of the programmable device, and further configured to output a control length check disable signal the value of which depends on the value of at least one of the configuration signal and the host signal, wherein the configuration circuit comprises:
a register configured to provide the control length check disable signal;
a first multiplexer configured to select one of the host signal or the control length check disable signal as a first output signal in response to an enable signal of the Ethernet MAC; and
a second multiplexer configured to select one of the configuration signal or the first output signal as an input to the register in response to a reset signal of the Ethernet MAC; and
a parameter check circuit configured to receive a control signal derived from at least one of the control length check disable signal and the configuration signal, and further configured to selectively disable checking a length of each control frame in frames received by the Ethernet MAC based on a value of the control signal.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the enable signal is a first value if the host signal includes valid data and a second value if the host signal does not include valid data; and
the first multiplexer selects the host signal if the enable signal is the first value and selects the control length check disable signal if the enable signal is the second value.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the reset signal is either asserted or not asserted; and
the second multiplexer selects the configuration signal if the reset signal is asserted and selects the first output signal if the reset signal is not asserted.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the reset signal is a logical combination of a asynchronous reset signal coupled to the Ethernet MAC from the programmable device and a software reset signal derived from the host bus of the programmable device.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:
the host check signal is a first value if the Ethernet MAC is coupled to a host controller on the host bus and a second value if the Ethernet MAC is not coupled to a host controller on the host bus; and
the multiplexer selects the control length check disable signal if the host check signal is the first value and selects the configuration signal if the host check signal is the second value.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a multiplexer configured to select one of the configuration signal or the control length check disable signal as the control signal received by the parameter check circuit in response to a host check signal of the Ethernet MAC.
7. A method of controlling an operating mode of an Ethernet media access controller (MAC) embedded in a programmable device, comprising:
receiving a configuration signal from configuration memory of the programmable device and a host signal from a host bus of the programmable device;
generating a control length check disable signal the value of which depends on the value of at least one of the configuration signal and the host signal, wherein the generating a control length check disable signal comprises:
storing a value for the control length check disable signal in a register;
selecting one of the host signal or the control length check disable signal as a first output signal in response to an enable signal of the Ethernet MAC; and
selecting one of the configuration signal or the first output signal as an input to the register in response to a reset signal of the Ethernet MAC;
deriving a control signal from at least one of the control length check disable signal and the configuration signal; and
selectively disabling checking a length of each control frame in frames received by the Ethernet MAC based on a value of the control signal.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein:
the enable signal is a first value if the host signal includes valid data and a second value if the host signal does not include valid data; and
the host signal is selected if the enable signal is the first value and the control length check disable signal is selected if the enable signal is the second value.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein:
the reset signal is either asserted or not asserted; and
the configuration signal is selected if the reset signal is asserted and the first output signal is selected if the reset signal is not asserted.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the reset signal is a logical combination of a asynchronous reset signal coupled to the Ethernet MAC from the programmable device and a software reset signal derived from the host bus of the programmable device.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the deriving comprises:
selecting one of the configuration signal or the control length check disable signal as the control signal in response to a host check signal of the Ethernet MAC.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein:
the host check signal is a first value if the Ethernet MAC is coupled to a host controller on the host bus and a second value if the Ethernet MAC is not coupled to a host controller on the host bus; and
the control length check disable signal is selected if the host check signal is the first value and the configuration signal is selected if the host check signal is the second value.
13. A programmable device, comprising:
an Ethernet media access controller (MAC) having a receive client interface for providing frames as output;
a receive client circuit, coupled to the receive client interface, for processing the frames;
a configuration memory having a storage location storing a value of a configuration signal coupled to the Ethernet media access controller;
a host controller coupled to a host bus that provides a host signal to the Ethernet media access controller;
a configuration circuit configured to receive the configuration signal and the host signal, and further configured to output a control length check disable signal the value of which depends on the value of at least one of the configuration signal or the host signal, wherein the configuration circuit comprises:
a register configured to provide the control length check disable signal;
a first multiplexer configured to select one of the host signal or the control length check disable signal as a first output signal in response to an enable signal of the Ethernet MAC; and
a second multiplexer configured to select one of the configuration signal or the first output signal as an input to the register in response to a reset signal of the Ethernet MAC; and
a parameter check circuit configured to receive a control signal derived from at least one of the control length check disable signal or the configuration signal and to provide a frame length error signal to the receive client circuit, and
further configured to selectively disable checking a length of each control frame in the frames received by the Ethernet MAC based on a value of the control signal.
14. The programmable device of claim 13, wherein:
the enable signal is a first value if the host signal includes valid data and a second value if the host signal does not include valid data; and
the first multiplexer selects the host signal if the enable signal is the first value and selects the control length check disable signal if the enable signal is the second value.
15. The programmable device of claim 13, wherein:
the reset signal is either asserted or not asserted; and
the second multiplexer selects the configuration signal if the reset signal is asserted and selects the first output signal if the reset signal is not asserted.
16. The programmable device of claim 13, further comprising:
a multiplexer configured to select one of the configuration signal or the control length check disable signal as the control signal received by the parameter check circuit in response to a host check signal of the Ethernet MAC.
17. The programmable device of claim 16, wherein:
the host check signal is a first value if the Ethernet MAC is coupled to the host controller on the host bus and a second value if the Ethernet MAC is not coupled to the host controller on the host bus; and
the multiplexer selects the control length check disable signal if the host check signal is the first value and selects the configuration signal if the host check signal is the second value.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An image generation system which generates or edits an image using a plurality of image generation devices, comprising:
a division unit dividing a target image into a plurality of divided images;
a providing unit providing a reference image corresponding to the target image to be displayed on the plurality of image generation devices;
a distribution unit distributing a plurality of divided images obtained by said division unit to corresponding image generation devices, and distributing the reference image to the image generation devices;
a display unit displaying the divided image and the reference image in the image generation device; and
an integration unit integrating divided images generated or edited by the plurality of image generation devices.
2. An image distribution device for use in an image generation system which generates or edits an image using a plurality of image generation devices, comprising:
a division unit dividing a target image into a plurality of divided images;
a providing unit providing a reference image corresponding to the target image to be displayed on the plurality of image generation devices;
a distribution unit distributing a plurality of divided images obtained by said division unit to corresponding image generation devices, and distributing the reference image to the image generation devices; and
an integration unit integrating divided images generated or edited by the plurality of image generation devices.
3. An image generation device in a plurality of image generation devices for use in an image generation system which generates or edits an image using the plurality of image generation devices, comprising:
a display unit receiving from an image distribution device a divided image obtained by dividing a target image and a reference image corresponding to the target image and displaying the divided image and the reference image; and
a transmission unit generating an image corresponding to the divided image at an instruction of a user, and transmitting the image to the image distribution device.
4. A method of generating an image by generating or editing an image using a plurality of image generation devices, comprising:
dividing a target image into a plurality of divided images;
providing a reference image corresponding to the target image to be displayed on the plurality of image generation devices;
distributing a plurality of divided images to corresponding image generation devices, and distributing the reference image to the image generation devices;
displaying the divided image and the reference image in the image generation device; and
integrating divided images generated or edited by the plurality of image generation devices.
5. A propagation signal transmitting a program, which is executed by a computer, for providing a method of generating an image by generating or editing an image using a plurality of image generation devices, said method comprising:
dividing a target image into a plurality of divided images;
providing a reference image corresponding to the target image to be displayed on the plurality of image generation devices;
distributing a plurality of divided images to corresponding image generation devices, and distributing the reference image to the image generation devices; and
integrating divided images generated or edited by the plurality of image generation devices.
6. A storage medium storing a program for providing a method of generating an image by generating or editing an image using a plurality of image generation devices, said method comprising:
dividing a target image into a plurality of divided images;
providing a reference image corresponding to the target image to be displayed on the plurality of image generation devices;
distributing a plurality of divided images to corresponding image generation devices, and distributing the reference image to the image generation devices; and
integrating divided images generated or edited by the plurality of image generation devices.
7. An image generation system which generates or edits an image using a plurality of image generation devices, comprising:
a division unit having at least a function of dividing a target image into a plurality of areas and a function of dividing the target image into layers when the target image is formed by a plurality of layers;
a distribution unit distributing images divided by said division unit to corresponding image generation devices;
a generation unit generating or editing a divided image corresponding to the received divided image in each image generation device;
an integration unit integrating divided images generated or edited by the plurality of image generation devices.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein
said distribution unit distributes only a divided image requiring generation of a corresponding divided image to the image generation device.
9. The system according to claim 7, wherein
said distribution unit distributes together with the divided image to a corresponding image generation device a first identifier identifying the target image, and at least one of a second identifier identifying an area divided by said division unit and a third identifier identifying each layer.
10. The system according to claim 9, wherein:
each image generation device assigns the first identifier and at least one of the second and third identifiers to a generated or edited divided image; and
said integration unit integrates divided images based on identifiers assigned to divided images generated or edited by the plurality of image generation devices.
11. The system according to claim 7, wherein:
said distribution unit distributes time series information defining moving picture to be generated together with the divided image to a corresponding image generation device; and
said image generation device generates a plurality of divided images corresponding to the received divided images according to the time series information.
12. The system according to claim 11, wherein
said integration unit integrates the plurality of divided images generated by the plurality of image generation devices into a plurality of images.
13. The system according to claim 7, wherein:
said distribution unit distributes image movement information defining movement of an image element drawn in a distributed image together with the divided image to a corresponding image generation device; and
said image generation device generates a plurality of divided images corresponding to divided images received according to the image movement information.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein
said image movement information contains as a condition of defining movement of the image element at least one of information defining required time, information defining a time interval of each frame of moving picture, information defining enlargement or reduction of the image element, and information defining rotation of the image element.
15. The system according to claim 7, wherein:
said image generation device outputs a divided image being generated; and
said integration unit integrates divided images being generated from respective image generation devices; and
said distribution unit transmits an image integrated by said integration unit to each image generation device.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein
said image generation device outputs a divided image being generated at an instruction from a source of the divided image or at each predetermined time interval.
17. The system according to claim 7, wherein:
said image generation device outputs a divided image in a difference data format; and
said integration unit regenerates a divided image by adding a newly received divided image to a previously received divided image, and integrates regenerated divided images.
18. The system according to claim 7, further comprising
an alarm unit raising an alarm when a position of an image element contained in a target divided image are not consistent with a position of the same image element contained in an adjacent divided images.
19. The system according to claim 7, wherein
said division unit divides a target image based on an arrangement of an image element in the target image or a characteristic of the target image.
20. The system according to claim 7, wherein
said division unit divides the target image such that a sum of lengths of division lines for dividing the target image is smallest.
21. The system according to claim 7, wherein
said division unit divides the target image depending on a number of image generation devices.
22. An image distribution device for use in an image generation system which generates or edits an image using a plurality of image generation devices, comprising:
a division unit having at least one of a function of dividing a target image into a plurality of areas and a function of dividing the target image into layers when the target image is formed by a plurality of layers;
a distribution unit distributing images divided by said division unit to corresponding image generation devices;
an integration unit integrating divided images generated by the plurality of image generation devices.
23. An image generation device in a plurality of image generation devices for use in an image generation system which generates or edits an image using the plurality of image generation devices, comprising:
a generation unit receiving a divided image obtained by dividing a target image from an image distribution device, and generating a corresponding divided image; and
a transmission unit transmitting a divided image being generated at an instruction from said distribution unit or at each predetermined time interval.
24. The device according to claim 23, further comprising
a display unit displaying an image obtained by integrating divided images being generated by the image distribution device.
25. A propagation signal transmitting a program, which is executed by a computer, for providing a method of generating an image by generating or editing an image using a plurality of image generation devices, said method comprising:
providing at least a function for dividing a target image into a plurality of areas and a function for dividing the target image into layers when the target image is formed by a plurality of layers;
distributing the divided images divided by said function to corresponding image generation device; and
integrating divided images generated by the plurality of image generation device.
26. A propagation signal transmitting a program, which is executed by a computer, for providing a method of generating an image by generating or editing an image using a plurality of image generation devices, said method comprising:
receiving a divided image obtained by dividing a target image from an image distribution device, and generating a corresponding divided image; and
transmitting a divided image being generated at an instruction from said image distribution device or at each predetermined time interval.
27. A storage medium storing a program for providing a method of generating an image by generating or editing an image using a plurality of image generation devices, said method comprising:
providing at least a function for dividing a target image into a plurality of areas and a function for dividing the target image into layers when the target image is formed by a plurality of layers;
distributing the divided images divided by said function to corresponding image generation device; and
integrating divided images generated by the plurality of image generation device.
28. A storage medium storing a program for providing a method of generating an image by generating or editing an image using a plurality of image generation devices, said method comprising:
receiving a divided image obtained by dividing a target image from an image distribution device, and generating a corresponding divided image; and
transmitting a divided image being generated at an instruction from said image distribution device or at each predetermined time interval.
29. A computer program product for generating an image by generating or editing an image using a plurality of image generation devices, said computer program product comprising:
a program code for dividing a target image into a plurality of divided images;
a program code for providing a reference image corresponding to the target image to be displayed on the plurality of image generation devices;
a program code for distributing a plurality of divided images to corresponding image generation devices, and distributing the reference image to the image generation devices; and
a program code for integrating divided images generated or edited by the plurality of image generation devices.
30. A computer program product for generating an image by generating or editing an image using a plurality of image generation devices, said computer program product comprising:
a program code for providing at least a function for dividing a target image into a plurality of areas and a function for dividing the target image into layers when the target image is formed by a plurality of layers;
a program code for distributing the divided images divided by said function to corresponding image generation device; and
a program code for integrating divided images generated by the plurality of image generation device.
31. A computer program product for generating an image by generating or editing an image using a plurality of image generation devices, said computer program product comprising:
a program code for receiving a divided image obtained by dividing a target image from an image distribution device, and generating a corresponding divided image; and
a program code for transmitting a divided image being generated at an instruction from said image distribution device or at each predetermined time interval.