JP2002032323A - Communication combining device, its control method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication combining device capable of easily developing an application in carrying out a function that can be realized, by combining a plurality of devices to be connected and securing needed communication speed and bandwidth and to provide its control method and a storage medium. SOLUTION: When a hub 1 receives data transferred as a start command of a copying function, the hub 1 issues a command for requesting a scanner 2 to perform scanning with data transmission processing program to a low-order device (step S115). The hub 1 next issues a command for requesting a printer 3 to prepare printing with the data transmission processing program to a low- order device (step S116). Then, the hub 1 waits for the reception of image data generated by the scanner 2 to be received (step S117), and when the hub 1 receives the image data, the hub 1 converts the received image data into data that can be interpreted by the printer 3 and subsequently transmits the data to the printer 3 (step S118).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication aggregation device for connecting a plurality of peripheral devices and an information processing device capable of controlling the operation of the peripheral devices, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A USB interface is known as an interface for connecting a computer and peripheral devices. The USB interface is a serial bus that connects a plurality of peripheral devices, and a USB interface as a communication aggregation device.
By using the SB hub, it is possible to connect and use up to 127 peripheral devices.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a connection example using a USB interface. As shown in FIG.
A plurality of peripheral devices are connected to a computer 4 that controls the entire bus via a hub 1 that is a communication aggregation device. It is also possible to connect the computer 4 and each peripheral device with a plurality of hubs.
Cable 56, hub 8, USB cable 57, hub 9,
The device 10 can be connected via the USB cable 58.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a connection mode between a computer and a scanner and a printer using a USB interface. In FIG. 13, the computer 4 is connected to the hub 1 via an interface cable 53, the scanner 2 is connected to the hub 1 via an interface cable 50, and the printer 3 is connected to the hub 1 via an interface cable 51. .

[0005] When the computer 4 is started, an operating system running on the computer 4 searches for a device connected to the USB interface.
This search is a process of searching each device connected to the hub 1 via the interface cable 53 and the hub 1 to determine whether a device exists. Here, the scanner 2 and the printer 3 connected to the hub 1
Is searched.

Next, the computer 4 acquires the type of the searched device. A device-specific ID is assigned to each device in advance, and the ID selects communication and control software for the device, called a device driver, required by the device.

Thereafter, communication between each device and the computer 4 is performed via the device driver. For example, for the scanner 2, a control device driver for the scanner 2 is selected. When the scanner 2 is used in the computer 4, a scan start position, an image size to be scanned, a resolution to be scanned, and the like are designated by an image scanning application running on the computer 4, and the designated parameters are used for the scanner 2. The data is transmitted from the device driver to the hub 1 via the interface cable 53. The hub 1 transmits the designated parameters to the scanner 2 via the interface cable 50. Upon receiving this parameter, the scanner 2 scans the image according to the parameter. A document set on a document table provided in the scanner 2 is read by a CCD sensor or the like, converted into electronic data that can be processed by the computer 4, and transmitted to the computer 4 via the interface cable 50, the hub 1, and the interface cable 53. . The computer 4 receives the image data sent from the scanner 2 via a device driver for the scanner 2, and executes a process using an image scanning application.

For the printer 3, a device driver for controlling the functions of the printer 3 is selected.
When the printer 3 is used in the computer 4, image data and print function setting information are generated by an application running on the computer 4 and a device driver for the printer 3. The generated image data and print function setting information are transmitted from the device driver for the printer 3 to the hub 1 via the interface cable 53. The hub 1 transmits the image data and the print function setting information to the printer 3 via the interface cable 51. When the printer 3 receives the image data and the print function setting information, the printer 3 performs, based on the printer function corresponding to the print function setting information,
The received image data is formed on paper and output.

[0009]

The USB as described above
If a general-purpose interface such as an interface is used, various devices can be connected to a computer and used. However, since only independent functions can be used for each device, there are the following disadvantages.

In order to realize a function combining a plurality of connected devices, it is necessary to develop a complicated application for operating each device organically. A new device for controlling all devices needs to process communication when executing a function combining a plurality of connected devices. Therefore, the amount of data flowing on the interface increases, and the communication speed with other devices may decrease. Further, there is a possibility that a data transfer bandwidth required for data communication cannot be secured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and can easily develop an application for executing a function that can be realized by combining a plurality of connected devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication aggregation device capable of securing a communication speed and a bandwidth, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned object, a communication aggregation device according to the present invention provides a communication device for interconnecting a plurality of peripheral devices and an information processing device capable of controlling the plurality of peripheral devices. An aggregation device, wherein the first data processing unit relays data transmission between the peripheral device and the information processing device, and a predetermined process required by using at least two of the plurality of peripheral devices is performed. A second data processing unit that performs at least a part of the control on behalf of the information processing device; and the first data processing unit responds to an instruction from the information processing device.
Control means for controlling whether to perform the processing by the data processing means or to perform the processing by the second data processing means;
It is characterized by having.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a communication aggregation device, comprising: a communication aggregation device for interconnecting a plurality of peripheral devices and an information processing device capable of controlling the plurality of peripheral devices; A method for controlling a device, comprising: a first method for relaying data transmission between the peripheral device and the information processing device;
A data processing step of performing, on behalf of the information processing apparatus, at least a part of control required for predetermined processing performed using at least two of the plurality of peripheral devices, In response to instructions from the processing unit,
A control step of controlling whether to perform the processing in the first data processing step or to perform the processing in the second data processing step.

[0014]

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system using a communication aggregation device according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a scanner which is a first peripheral device that scans a document set on a document table and generates image data, and 3 forms an image on a sheet based on the received image data, and discharges the image. A printer 4 as a second peripheral device to issue various commands to the scanner 2 and the printer 3 and a computer 4 as an information processing device as an upper device for transmitting and receiving image data. And computer 4
A hub as a communication aggregating device for aggregating communication interfaces between the scanners and relaying communication; 50, an interface cable for connecting the scanner 2 to the hub 1; 51, an interface cable for connecting the printer 3 to the hub 1; Is an interface cable for connecting the computer 4 and the hub 1. As shown, the computer 4 is connected via a hub 1 to a scanner 2 and a printer 3 as peripheral devices, which are lower-level devices.

As shown in FIG. 14, the hub 1 connects a CPU 31 for controlling the entire hub, a ROM 32 for storing a data control program 32a, a RAM 33 functioning as a main storage device, and an interface cable 52 for connection. A device interface 34 and a lower device interface 35 for connecting interface cables 50 and 51 are provided.

Various specifications can be used for the interface used for each device. Here, a USB interface is used.
The USB interface is a serial bus that connects a plurality of peripheral devices, and can be used by connecting up to 127 peripheral devices.

The information processing system according to the present embodiment can realize an image copying function by a combination of the scanner 2 and the printer 3 in addition to the image scanning function of the scanner 2 and the image printing function of the printer 3. The operation according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

When each device connected to the hub 1 starts, the computer 4 as the upper device acquires the ID of the lower device via the hub 1. This ID is unique to each connected device, and this device ID is used when selecting each device driver that controls this device. Here, since the scanner 2 and the printer 3 are connected via the hub 1, the computer 4 determines the device ID of the scanner 2 and the printer 3
Will be obtained.

The computer 4 that has acquired the device ID
Starts control software called a device driver for controlling the connection device corresponding to the ID. Here, the computer 4 that has acquired the device ID of the scanner 2 and the device ID of the printer 3 starts the device driver for the scanner 2 and the device driver for the printer 3. Further, the computer 4 detects that the scanner 2 and the printer 3 are connected, and
Start the image copying device driver.

Next, the operation when each of the scanner 2 and the printer 3 is used as a normal scanner and printer will be described.

The device driver for the scanner 2 is a software for controlling processing for optically reading an original image by the scanner 2 to generate electronic data and transmitting the electronic data to the computer 4 via the interface cable 50, the hub 1, and the interface cable 52. It is. When the image scan execution instruction is issued by this driver,
A scan execution command is transmitted to the scanner 2 via the interface cable 50, the hub 1, and the interface cable 52, and the scanner 2 that receives the command reads the document set on the document table by a CCD sensor or the like, and the device driver for the scanner 2 Generate electronic data that can be processed. The generated electronic data is transmitted to the computer 4 via the interface cable 52, the hub 1, and the interface cable 50. The device driver for the scanner 2 operating on the computer 4 receives and processes the electronic data, and Will be saved.

The device driver for the printer 3 transmits the image data generated by the application running on the computer 4 to the printer 3 via the interface cable 52, the hub 1, and the interface cable 51.
Output to Upon receiving the image data, the printer 3 feeds the paper from a paper cassette (not shown) built in the printer 3 and forms an image on the paper based on the image data.
Discharge.

Next, the image copying function will be described.

This image copying function uses the scanner 2 and the printer 3 and outputs the image data to the printer 3 based on the image data generated by the scanner 2 without using the computer 4.
To form an image on paper.

Since the scanner 2 and the printer 3 are used exclusively for executing the image copying function, other functions, that is, the image scanning function or the image printing function cannot be executed at the same time. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an operation mode indicating which function is to be executed by the computer 4 is specified in advance. The designation of the operation mode is set to “normal mode” when performing normal scanning and printing, and is set to “copy mode” when performing the image copying function. When the copying mode is set, the image copying device driver issues a command for specifying the copying mode via the interface cable 52.
Upon receiving this command, the hub 1 stops mediation of communication between the scanner 2 and the printer 3 and the computer 4 so that the computer 2 cannot directly control the scanner 2 and the printer 3. At this time, the fact that the computer 4 cannot directly control the scanner 2 and the printer 3 is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the hub 1. In addition, a similar display may be displayed on the screen of the computer 4.

The data control program 32a of the hub 1 is
A data reception processing program from a higher-level device (computer 4), a data transmission processing program to a higher-level device (computer 4), and a lower-level device (scanner 2)
And a data reception processing program from the printer 3), a data transmission processing program to lower devices (the scanner 2 and the printer 3), and an image copying processing program.

The operation of each program will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows a host device (computer 4).
9 is a flowchart showing a data reception processing program from the server.

First, in step S100, the process waits until data is received from a higher-level device. When data is received, the process proceeds to step S101. In step S101, it is determined whether or not the received data is data for specifying the operation mode (normal mode / copy mode) of the hub 1. If the received data is data for specifying the operation mode, the process proceeds to step S102. The mode shifts to the designated mode and returns to step S100. After that, it operates in the mode set in step S102. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S101 that the received data is not data specifying the operation mode, the process proceeds to step S103.

In step S103, it is determined whether or not the current setting mode is the copy mode. If the current mode is the copy mode, the flow advances to step S105 to pass the data to the image copy processing program. The image copy processing program will be described later. At this time, in order to directly control the printer 3, the hub 1 downloads an image copying device driver in the computer 4 and activates the image copying device driver in the hub 1. Or,
The hub 1 may have a built-in device driver for image copying in advance and start it. In step S103, if the mode is not the copy mode, that is, if the mode is the normal mode, the process proceeds to step 104, where the data is passed to the data transmission program to the lower device shown in FIG. Then, the process returns to step S100. The data transmission program to the lower device in FIG. 5 will be described later.

FIG. 3 shows a host device (computer 4).
5 is a flowchart showing a data transmission processing program to the server.

In step S106, the process stands by until transmission data is passed from another program, and when the transmission data is passed, the process proceeds to step S107. Step S107
Then, the passed data is transmitted to the host device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a data reception processing program from lower-level devices (scanner 2 and printer 3).

In step S108, the process waits until data is received from the lower device, and when data is received from the lower device, the process proceeds to step S109. In step S109, it is determined whether or not the current operation mode is the copy mode.
The process proceeds to step S10, where the data is converted into data that can be interpreted by the printer 3 and passed to the image copy processing program, and then returns to step S108. If it is determined in step S109 that the current operation mode is not the copy mode, that is, if the current mode is the normal mode, the process proceeds to step S111, where the received data is transmitted to the upper device as it is. The data is passed to the transmission processing program, and the process returns to step S108.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a program for processing data transmission to lower-level devices (scanner 2 and printer 3).

First, in step S112, the process waits until transmission data is passed from another program. When transmission data is passed, the process proceeds to step 113. Then, in step S113, the received data is transmitted to the lower device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an image copy processing program.

In step S114, step S of FIG.
The process waits until the data passed from 105 as a command to start the image copying function is received, and proceeds to step 115 when the data is received. In step S115, the data transmission processing program to the lower device shown in FIG.
A scan execution request command is issued to the scanner 2.
In the next step S116, similarly, a print preparation request command is issued to the printer 3 by the data transmission processing program to the lower device shown in FIG. In a succeeding step S117, reception of the image data generated by the scanner 2 is waited, and when the image data is received, the process proceeds to a step S118. Although not shown, the received image data is converted into print data that can be interpreted by the printer 3 by a device driver for an image copying function. Then, in a step S118, the print data is transmitted to the printer 3.

As described above, the communication aggregation device according to the present embodiment can provide an image copying function in which the scanner 2 and the printer 3 are combined without causing the computer 4 to pass data. Therefore, it is not necessary to develop a complicated application for operating each device organically.

In this embodiment, the image copying function in which a scanner and a printer are combined has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this combination, and a digital still video camera, a video camera, and an image output device may be used as image input devices. It is also possible to realize another function by using a video monitor or a plotter printer and a digital VCR as an image input / output device.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system using a communication aggregation device according to this embodiment. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 11 denotes a CD-ROM.
And a CD-ROM drive as a first peripheral device capable of reading a music CD, 12 a speaker as a second peripheral device for receiving digital audio data, performing digital-to-analog conversion to reproduce audio, and 13 as audio. An operation unit 4 for instructing control of a reproduction function is a computer as an information processing apparatus which is a higher-level device for issuing various commands to the CD-ROM drive 11 and the speaker 12 and transmitting and receiving music data. A hub as a communication aggregating device for aggregating a communication interface between the ROM drive 11, the speaker 12 and the computer 4 and relaying the communication; 59 is a CD-ROM drive 11
Interface cable for connecting the hub and hub 1, 60
Is an interface cable connecting the speaker 12 and the hub 1, and 52 is an interface cable connecting the computer 4 and the hub 1.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of the operation panel of the operation unit 13. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 14 denotes a stop button for instructing stop of audio reproduction, and reference numeral 15 denotes a play button for instructing start of audio reproduction.

The information processing system having the above-described configuration operates the CD-ROM drive 1
1 and the speaker 12, and the CD-ROM drive 1 can be operated without using the computer 4 by operating the operation unit 13 provided in the hub 1.
It is possible to play back a music CD set to 1 and output a playback sound from the speaker 12. In this specification,
This function is called a sound reproduction function.

When each device is activated, the computer 4 acquires a device ID in the same manner as in the first embodiment, activates the driver for controlling the CD-ROM drive 11 and the driver for controlling the speaker 12, and activates the CD-ROM drive. RO
Detecting that the M drive 11 and the speaker 12 are connected, activates the audio playback function control driver.
Note that the audio reproduction function control driver is also installed in the hub 1 and is activated when the audio reproduction function control driver of the computer 4 is activated.

When the user inserts the music CD to be reproduced into the CD-ROM drive 11 and presses the play button 15, the reproduction of the music CD starts, and the reproduced sound is output from the speaker 12. To stop the reproduction of the music CD, the user presses the stop button 14 of the operation unit 13.

As described above, the CD-ROM drive 11 and the speaker 12
Can be used, but during the execution of the sound reproduction function, that is, from when the reproduction button 15 of the operation unit 13 is pressed to start reproduction of the sound until the stop button 14 of the operation unit 13 is pressed, the CD- ROM drive 11 and speaker 1
In order to occupy and use the CD-ROM 2, the CD-ROM drive 11 and the speaker 1
2 cannot be used. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the play button 15 is pressed on the operation unit 13, the information is notified to the computer 4, and the device driver for the sound reproduction function is connected to the CD-ROM drive 11 and the speaker 12 and the computer 4. Stops mediation of communication, C
The D-ROM drive 11 and the speaker 12 cannot be directly controlled from the computer 4. When the stop button 14 is pressed on the operation unit 13, the information is notified to the computer 4, and the device driver for the sound reproduction function is in a mediation stop state of the communication between the computer 4 and the CD-ROM drive 11 and the speaker 12. Release the CD
Allowing the computer 4 to directly control the ROM drive 11 and the speaker 12;

The data control program of the hub 1 includes a data reception processing program from the upper device (computer 4), a data transmission processing program to the upper device (computer 4), and a lower device (CD-ROM drive 11 and speaker 12). ), A data transmission program to lower-level devices (scanner 2 and printer 3), an input data processing program from operation unit 13, and an image copy processing program.

Hereinafter, the operation of each program will be described with reference to flowcharts. However, the data transmission processing program to the higher-level device (computer 4) and the data transmission processing program to the lower-level device (scanner 2 and printer 3) are the same as those shown in FIG.
5 is the same as the program shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a host device (computer 4).
9 is a flowchart showing a data reception processing program from the server.

First, in step S120, the hub 1 waits for data reception from the host device (computer 4), and when data is received, the flow proceeds to step S121.
In step S121, it is determined whether or not the received data is a command to start the sound reproduction function. If the instruction is a start instruction of the audio reproduction function, the process proceeds to step S122, where the CD
-Issue a playback command to the ROM drive 11 and return to step S120. If it is determined in step S121 that the command is other than the command to start the sound reproduction function, step S12 is performed.
Proceeding to 3, it is determined whether or not a reproduction stop command of the audio reproduction function has been received. If the reproduction stop command has been received, the process proceeds to step S124, and the CD-ROM drive 1
1 is issued, and the process returns to step S120. If the received data is not the reproduction stop command in step S123, the process proceeds to step S125, and it is determined whether or not the CD-ROM drive 11 is executing the sound reproduction function. Here, if it is being executed, step S12
Then, the process proceeds to step S7, in which the computer 4 is notified that the CD-ROM drive 11 is inaccessible by the data transmission processing program to the upper device shown in FIG. If it is determined in step S125 that the sound reproduction function is not being executed, step S125
In step 126, the data is transmitted by the data transmission processing program to the lower device shown in FIG. 5 to transmit the received data to the lower device as it is, and the process returns to step S120.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing program for receiving data from lower devices (CD-ROM drive 11 and speaker 12).

First, in step S128, the hub 1 waits for data reception from the lower-level device. When data is received, the flow proceeds to step S129. In the step S129, it is determined whether or not the CD-ROM drive 11 is executing the sound reproducing function. Here, if it is being executed, the process proceeds to step S130, the data is transmitted to the speaker 12 by the data transmission processing program to the lower device shown in FIG. 5, and the process returns to step S128. If it is determined in step S129 that the audio reproduction function is not being executed, the process proceeds to step S131, where the data is transmitted by the above-described data transmission processing program to the upper device shown in FIG. hand,
It returns to step S128.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a program for processing input data from the operation unit 13.

First, in step S132, the process waits until any button of the operation unit 13 is pressed, and when any button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S133. In step S133, the pressed button is the play button 1
It is determined whether the number is 5 or not. If the pressed button is not the play button 15, that is, if the stop button 14 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S134. Step S
In step 134, it is determined whether or not the CD-ROM drive 11 is executing the sound reproducing function. If the sound reproducing function is being executed, the process proceeds to step S136. It returns to S132.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S134 that the sound reproduction function is not being executed, the process returns to step S132 without doing anything.

If it is determined in step S133 that the pressed button is the play button 15, the flow advances to step S135 to determine whether or not the CD-ROM drive 11 is executing the sound reproducing function. Here, if it is not being executed, the process proceeds to step S137, a playback command is issued to the CD-ROM drive 11, and the process returns to step S132. Also,
If the CD-ROM drive 11 is not executing the sound reproducing function, the process returns to step S132 without doing anything.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
The digital audio data read from the CD-ROM drive 11 is transmitted directly to the speaker 12 by the hub 1 without passing through the computer 4, so that the processing capability of the computer 4 does not have to be consumed for transferring the audio data.

In this embodiment, the audio reproduction function using the CD-ROM drive as the audio data input device and the speaker as the audio data output device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to use a USB microphone as the data input device and a mini-disc recorder as the audio data output device.

[0058]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium has been described previously (FIGS. 2 to 6 and / or
Alternatively, a program code corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is stored.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A communication aggregation device capable of easily developing an application for executing a function achievable by combining a plurality of connected devices, securing a required communication speed and bandwidth, a control method thereof, and storage A medium can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a data reception processing program from a higher-level device (computer 4).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a data transmission processing program to a higher-level device (computer 4).

FIG. 4 shows lower-level devices (scanner 2 and printer 3)
9 is a flowchart showing a data reception processing program from the server.

FIG. 5 shows lower devices (scanner 2 and printer 3)
5 is a flowchart showing a data transmission processing program to the server.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an image copy processing program.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation panel of the operation unit 13.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a data reception processing program from a higher-level device (computer 4).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing program for receiving data from lower devices (CD-ROM drive 11 and speaker 12).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an input data processing program from the operation unit 13;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a connection example of a USB interface.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a connection mode between a scanner and a printer and a computer using a USB interface.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a hub 1.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A communication aggregation device interconnecting a plurality of peripheral devices and an information processing device capable of controlling the plurality of peripheral devices, wherein data transmission is performed between the peripheral device and the information processing device. A first data processing unit that relays data, and a second data processing that performs at least a part of control necessary for predetermined processing performed using at least two of the plurality of peripheral devices on behalf of the information processing device. Means, and control means for controlling whether processing by the first data processing means or processing by the second data processing means is performed in response to an instruction from the information processing apparatus. A communication aggregation device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The plurality of peripheral devices used for the predetermined processing include an input device and an output device, and the second data processing means outputs data input from the input device to the output device. The communication aggregation device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device performs control of the input device and / or the output device required when outputting from the communication device. 3. The communication aggregation device according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit for instructing execution and stop of the processing by the second data processing unit. 4. A method for controlling a communication aggregation device for interconnecting a plurality of peripheral devices and an information processing device capable of controlling the plurality of peripheral devices, the method comprising: A first data processing step of relaying the data transmission of at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices, and a second process of performing at least a part of control required for a predetermined process performed using at least two of the plurality of peripheral devices in place of the information processing device. A data processing step, and a control step of controlling whether to perform the processing in the first data processing step or the processing in the second data processing step in response to an instruction from the information processing apparatus, A method for controlling a communication aggregation device, comprising: 5. A storage medium storing a control program code for a communication aggregation device for interconnecting a plurality of peripheral devices and an information processing device capable of controlling the plurality of peripheral devices, the storage medium comprising: A program code of a first data processing step for relaying data transmission between the information processing device, and at least a part of control necessary for predetermined processing performed using at least two of the plurality of peripheral devices, A program code for a second data processing step to be performed on behalf of the information processing apparatus; and a process by the first data processing step in response to an instruction from the information processing apparatus; And a program code for a control step for controlling whether or not to perform the process by the step.