JP2007221686A - Radio communication enabled imaging apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a nickname of a present apparatus to a user, and to easily change the nickname of the present apparatus as needed when performing processing to register another imaging apparatus as a connection destination in an imaging apparatus capable of transmitting/receiving images through radio communication with the other imaging apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: When registering another imaging apparatus that becomes a connection destination, in an imaging apparatus of the present invention, the nickname of the present apparatus is displayed and the nickname of the present apparatus can be changed on a UI of the present apparatus. Furthermore, if the same nickname is registered for the imaging apparatus of the connection destination, the nickname of the present apparatus can be changed. Moreover, a plurality of nicknames are registered for the present apparatus, the same nickname is not registered for an imaging apparatus of a registration destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for setting parameters for wireless communication and electronic device identification values between electronic devices capable of wireless communication.

  Currently, for access between electronic devices connectable on a network, a unique address is set for each electronic device, and communication or the like is performed using the address. For example, in a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol using Ethernet, an address called an IP address is used. In this method, a unique address using a numerical value of 32 bits (IPv4) or 128 bits (IPv6) is set and communication is performed.

  However, the address is difficult for a person to understand because the electronic device is for identifying the electronic device to which it is connected. Therefore, in order to allow the user to easily identify the electronic device, an easy-to-understand device identification value such as a so-called nickname can be associated with the address and held in the nonvolatile internal memory.

As an example of this technology, when a certain electronic device accesses another electronic device with a nickname, there is one that converts a nickname held in the electronic device into an address (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-298617 A

  However, it is often left to the user's decision whether to set / change the nickname of the device. The nickname is necessary for communication. In particular, in a digital camera or the like, it is not necessary to set a nickname on the user side in advance because the digital camera performs a function of imaging. In such a case, it is often necessary to set and change the nickname only after connecting to another device.

  However, if the nickname remains the default value or the same nickname is already registered at the connection destination, it is necessary to change the nickname.

  At this time, if it becomes necessary to change the nickname during the connection process, the user has to stop the connection process once, set and change the nickname, and then perform the connection process again.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to display a nickname of a registration source when registering a connection destination, and to change the nickname manually or automatically as necessary.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention identifies an imaging unit that images a subject, a first communication unit that is connected to an external device by wireless communication, and that transmits and receives an image captured by the imaging unit, and a device. In addition to the identification value storing means for storing the identification value, the registration process starting means for starting the registration process of the external device connected by the first communication means, and the first communication means, connected to the external device by wireless communication And the second communication means for transmitting and receiving the identification value and the own device stored in the identification value storage means after the start of the registration process by the registration process start means and before the communication by the second communication means. It has the display means which displays the screen for making a user change the identification value of this.

  In the present invention, when the setting process of the wireless connection with another digital camera is performed, the nickname of the own device is displayed. With this configuration, the user can easily grasp his / her own nickname in the setting process. In addition, when a user with a connection destination digital camera is nearby, the user can also grasp the connection destination nickname.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, a screen for changing the nickname of the own device is displayed when setting processing for wireless connection with another digital camera is performed. With this configuration, the user can change his / her nickname even during the wireless connection setting process.

  Thus, the user can change the nickname to a convenient one for the connection destination.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment when a digital camera is applied as the wireless apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a digital camera. The digital camera 100 is configured to capture a subject image via an optical system (imaging lens) 10. The optical system 10 can be configured as a zoom lens (a lens that can change a shooting angle of view). Thereby, an optical zoom function (so-called optical zoom) is provided. The digital camera 100 can further be configured to have an electronic zoom function (so-called electronic zoom) by electronically cutting (trimming) an image captured by the image sensor 14. The digital camera 100 may be configured to have only one function of optical zoom and electronic zoom. The optical system 10 may be replaceable. In this case, by sending an electric signal from the main body side of the digital camera 100 to the optical system 10, the drive mechanism in the optical system 10 drives the zoom lens to provide a zoom function. Further, a drive mechanism that mechanically drives the zoom lens in the optical system 10 may be provided on the main body side of the digital camera 100.

  A light beam from a subject (light beam incident from within an optical angle of view) passing through the optical system (photographing lens) 10 is imaged by an image sensor (for example, a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor) 14 through an opening of a shutter 12 having a diaphragm function. An optical image of the subject is formed on the surface. The image sensor 14 converts this optical image into an electrical analog image signal and outputs it. The A / D converter 16 converts the analog image signal provided from the image sensor 14 into a digital image signal. The image sensor 14 and the A / D converter 16 are controlled by a clock signal and a control signal provided from the timing generation circuit 18. The timing generation circuit 18 is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  The image processing circuit 20 performs image processing such as pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the image data (digital image signal) provided from the A / D converter 16 or the image data provided from the memory control circuit 22. . The image processing circuit 20 also uses a TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) process, an AE (automatic exposure) process, and an EF (flash pre-flash) based on image data captured by the image sensor 14. Data for automatic light control). Then, the calculation result is provided to the system control circuit 50. The system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit (AF control unit) 42 based on the calculation result to realize an automatic exposure and autofocus function. Further, the image processing circuit 20 also executes TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the image data captured by the image sensor 14.

  The memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32.

  The image data output from the A / D converter 16 is sent via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, or via the memory control circuit 22 without going through the image processing circuit 20. It is written in the memory 30.

  The display image data written in the image display memory 24 is converted into an analog image signal for display by the D / A converter 26 and provided to the image display unit 28, whereby the captured image is displayed on the image display unit 28. Is displayed. An electronic viewfinder function is realized by continuously displaying captured images on the image display unit 28. The display of the image display unit 28 can be arbitrarily turned on / off by a command from the system control circuit 50. By using the display with the display turned off, the power consumption of the digital camera 100 can be greatly reduced.

  The memory 30 is used to store still images and moving images that have been shot (taken as images to be recorded on a recording medium). The capacity of the memory 30 and the access speed (write speed, read speed) can be arbitrarily determined, but in order to enable continuous shooting and panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, it is in accordance with them. It is necessary to give capacity and access speed. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50.

  The compression / decompression circuit 32 is a circuit that compresses / decompresses image data by, for example, adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like. The image data stored in the memory 30 may be read to perform compression processing or decompression processing, and the processed image data may be written to the memory 30.

  The exposure control unit 40 controls the shutter 12 having an aperture function based on information provided from the system control circuit 50. The exposure control unit 40 can also have a flash light control function in cooperation with a flash (light emitting device) 48. The flash 48 has a flash light control function and an AF auxiliary light projecting function.

  The distance measurement control unit 42 controls the focusing lens of the optical system 10 based on information provided from the system control circuit 50. The zoom control unit 44 controls zooming of the optical system 10. The barrier control unit 46 controls the operation of the barrier 102 that protects the optical system 10.

  The display unit (for example, LCD, LED) 54 and the sound source (for example, speaker) 55 are each composed of one or a plurality of elements, and operate by characters, images, sounds, etc. according to the execution of the program in the system control circuit 50. It is configured to output status and messages. The display unit 54 is disposed at an appropriate position of the image processing apparatus 100. A part of display elements constituting the display unit 54 can be arranged in the optical viewfinder 104.

  Among the information displayed on the display unit 54, the information displayed on the LCD or the like includes, for example, single shot / continuous shooting imaging display, self-timer display, compression rate display, recording pixel number display, recording number display, and remaining imaging. There is a display of the number of possible images and a shutter speed display. In addition, aperture value display, exposure compensation display, flash display, red-eye reduction display, macro imaging display, buzzer setting display, clock battery level display, battery level display, error display, multi-digit number information display and so on. Furthermore, there are a display state of the storage media 200 and 210, a communication I / F operation display, a date / time display, and the like.

  Of the information displayed on the display unit 54, information displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes, for example, in-focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, and exposure correction display. , Etc.

  The nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory such as an EEPROM. Image data and object data from an external device may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 56. Also, a setting parameter area for connecting to the network is provided in the nonvolatile memory 56 separately.

  The first shutter switch (SW1) 62 is turned ON while the shutter button 310 is being operated (half-pressed), and the system starts AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, etc. The control circuit 50 is instructed. The second shutter switch SW2 (64) is turned on when the operation of the shutter button 310 is completed (fully pressed). SW2 (64) reads an image signal from the image sensor 14, converts it to digital image data by the A / D converter 16, processes it by the image processing unit 20, and writes it to the memory 30 via the memory control unit 22. The system control unit 50 is instructed to start processing. SW2 (64) also starts a series of processing (imaging processing) including processing of reading out the image data from the memory 30, compressing the image data by the compression / decompression unit 32, and writing the compressed image data into the storage medium 200 or 210. Is instructed to the system control unit 50.

  The zoom operation unit 65 is an operation unit that is operated by a photographer to change a shooting angle of view (zoom magnification or shooting magnification). For example, a slide type operation member or a lever type operation member and its operation are operated. It can be constituted by a switch or a sensor for detecting.

  The operation unit 70 includes buttons or switches 251 to 262 shown in FIG. 2, and turns on / off the power, sets or changes shooting conditions, checks shooting conditions, and checks the state of the digital camera 100. It is used when checking captured images.

  The power supply control unit 80 includes, for example, a power supply detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches blocks to be energized, and the like. Then, the presence / absence of a power source, the type of power source, and the remaining battery level are detected, the DC-DC converter is controlled according to the detection result and a command from the system control circuit 50, and a necessary voltage is supplied to each block in a necessary period. . The main body of the digital camera 100 and the power source 86 have connectors 82 and 84, respectively, and are connected thereto. The power source 86 is, for example, a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, or an AC adapter.

  The recording media 200 and 210 are connected to connectors 92 and 96 of the main body of the digital camera 100 by connectors 206 and 216, respectively. The recording media 200 and 210 include, for example, recording units 202 and 212 such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk, and interfaces 204 and 214, and a bus in the digital camera 100 via the interfaces 90 and 94 on the main body side of the digital camera 100. Connected to. The recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit 98 detects whether or not the recording mediums 200 and 210 are connected to the connectors 92 and 96.

  In this example, the interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium are described as having two systems, but these may be one system or three systems or more. When a plurality of interfaces and connectors are provided, they may have different specifications. As the interface and the connector, for example, those compliant with a standard such as a PCMCIA card or a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card can be adopted.

  As the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96, those compliant with a standard such as a PCMCIA card or a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card can be adopted. In this case, various communication cards such as a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, an IEEE 1394 card, a P1284 card, a SCSI card, a communication card such as PHS, and the like can be connected. The image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from other computers and peripheral devices such as a printer.

  The optical viewfinder 104 enables photographing without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. In the optical viewfinder 104, a display element constituting a part of the display unit 54, for example, a display element for performing focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, and exposure correction display. Can be arranged.

  The digital camera 100 includes a communication circuit 110 and provides various communication functions such as USB, IEEE 1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, RS232C, and wireless communication. The communication circuit 110 can be connected to a connector 112 for connecting the digital camera 100 to another device, or an antenna when providing a wireless communication function.

  In the present embodiment, the communication circuit 110 will be described as including both a wireless LAN (IEEE802.11x) interface and a USB interface. In addition, an interface for performing wireless communication with weak radio waves is also provided. This wireless communication may be any wireless LAN, infrared communication, or wireless, and the connection setting value is already recorded in the wireless setting area of the nonvolatile memory 56 in advance.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of the digital camera 100. In FIG. 2, unnecessary components are omitted for explanation.

  The power button 251 is a button for starting and stopping the digital camera 100 or turning on / off the main power of the digital camera 100. The menu button 252 is a menu for setting various imaging conditions and for displaying the state of the digital camera 100 (the menu includes a plurality of items that can be selected and / or whose values can be changed. This is a button for displaying “Uru”. For example, when the menu button 252 is pressed, the system control circuit 50 causes the image display unit 28 to display a menu. The menu may be synthesized and displayed on the image being captured, or may be displayed alone (for example, displayed on a predetermined background color). When the menu button 252 is pressed again while the menu is displayed, the system control circuit 50 ends the display of the menu on the image display unit 28.

  The decision button 253 is pressed when a mode or item is decided or selected. When the determination button 253 is pressed, the system control circuit 50 sets the mode or item selected at that time. The display button 254 is used to select display / non-display of shooting information for a captured image and to switch whether the image display unit 28 functions as an electronic viewfinder.

  A left button 255, a right button 256, an up button 257, and a down button 258 (direction selection key) are options (for example, items and images) selected from a plurality of options such as a cursor or a highlight portion. Used to change It can also be used to increase or decrease a numerical value (for example, a numerical value indicating a correction value, date, etc.) in order to change the position of an index that identifies the selected option. Here, the left button 255, the right button 256, the up button 257, and the down button 258 select only one item from a plurality of items, and the user interface so that two or more items can be selected. Is preferably configured. For example, when the left button 255, the right button 256, the upper button 257, and the lower button 258 are operated while the determination button 253 is pressed, the system control circuit 50 displays two or more items specified by the operation. It may be configured to recognize that it has been selected.

  As described above, the shutter button 260 is, for example, half-pressed, and the system starts AF (auto focus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF (flash pre-flash) processing, and the like. The control circuit 50 is instructed. In addition, the system control circuit 50 can be instructed to shoot in the fully pressed state.

  The recording / playback switch 261 is used to switch the recording mode to the playback mode and the playback mode to the recording mode.

  The jump key 262 functions in the same manner as the direction selection key, and changes or selects an option (for example, an item or an image) selected from a plurality of options such as a cursor or a highlight portion. Used to change the position of the indicator that identifies the choice being made. The cursor movement by the jump key may be set earlier or larger than that by the direction selection key.

  Instead of the operation system as described above, a dial switch may be employed, or another operation system may be employed.

  The digital camera 100 in the embodiment has been described above. Next, a setting method for connecting the digital camera 100 in the embodiment to the wireless LAN will be described.

  The reason why the digital camera 100 is provided with a wireless LAN communication function is to transfer a captured image or the like to another digital camera on the network.

  However, communication is not possible simply by having hardware for connecting to a wireless LAN, and various settings are required for communication. Normally, in order to connect to an IEEE 802.11 series wireless LAN, the following settings are required. These are the ESS-ID (Extended Service Set Identifier), which is the network identifier of the wireless LAN, the Wep key, which is an encryption key for preventing leakage, and the channel to be used. In addition, various settings such as whether the communication mode is the infrastructure mode or the ad hoc mode are required. Since the encryption technique is publicly known, description thereof is omitted here.

  For these various settings, another device is searched using a communication method different from image transfer (hereinafter, this communication state is referred to as “search mode”). When digital cameras to be connected are set to search mode and connected to the wireless network, the setting parameters are exchanged and the devices are registered as connection destinations (this process is hereinafter referred to as “pairing”). In pairing, the digital camera 100 stores the ESS-ID, the Wep Key, the MAC address of the connection destination, and the like in the nonvolatile memory 56 as setting parameters for wireless connection.

  The digital camera 100 can store a nickname for identifying the camera in the nonvolatile memory 56. The non-volatile memory 56 can store a nickname of its own device (hereinafter, “own device nickname”). It is also possible to store a nickname of a camera connected by wireless LAN communication (hereinafter referred to as “another device nickname”) in association with the MAC address received at the same time. It is possible to have a plurality of nicknames.

  First, the setting and changing process of the own apparatus nickname in this embodiment will be described.

  When the menu button 252 is pressed by the user and the operation buttons 255 and 256 are operated, a wireless setting menu is displayed.

  The wireless setting menu is shown in FIG. From this screen, the user can make settings related to wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes a connection / disconnection menu, which is a menu for connecting to another already registered device by wireless communication and instructing image transfer.

  Reference numeral 302 denotes a connection destination registration menu, which is a menu for instructing registration as a new connection destination by acquiring parameters of other devices to be connected. When this menu is selected by a user operation, a series of connection destination registration processing, that is, pairing processing is started. It is possible to issue a connection instruction from the connection / disconnection menu 301 to a device registered as a connection destination in the connection destination registration menu 302.

  Reference numeral 303 denotes a deregistration menu, which is a menu for instructing deletion of the connection destination registered with the connection destination registration menu 302.

  A nickname registration menu 304 is a menu for giving an instruction to set / change the own nickname. When the nickname registration menu 304 is selected by the user, a nickname registration screen is displayed. FIG. 4 shows a nickname registration screen. Reference numeral 401 denotes a nickname display portion that displays the current nickname. The user uses the direction selection keys 255 to 258 to instruct the input of a desired nickname. When the enter button 253 is pressed after inputting the nickname, the own nickname input to the nickname display unit 401 is stored in the nonvolatile memory 56.

  Next, a method for setting a nickname in the connection destination registration menu 302 will be described.

  When the connection destination registration menu 302 is selected by the user, a connection destination selection screen is displayed on the image display unit 28. The connection destination selection screen is shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, a camera and a wireless communication device (identified as “WA-1” in the figure) to be attached to the printer are prepared as connection destinations. The two connection destinations are displayed on the connection destination selection screen shown in FIG. When “camera” 501 is selected by the user, processing for registering another camera as a connection destination, that is, pairing with the camera is started. When “WA-1” 502 is selected by the user, processing for registering a wireless communication device to be attached to the printer as a connection destination is started.

  When “camera” 501 is selected in the connection destination registration menu 302, a nickname pre-setting screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

  Reference numeral 601 denotes a nickname display unit, which can set / change its own nickname by the same operation as the nickname registration screen of FIG. The nickname display unit 601 reads and displays the own nickname currently stored in the nonvolatile memory 56. For example, if the user's own nickname is registered in the nickname registration menu 304, the registered own device nickname is displayed. If the own nickname is not registered, “AAAAAA” which is the default value of the nickname is displayed. The user can instruct nickname input as necessary.

  When the user presses the enter button 253, the input nickname is confirmed, stored in the nonvolatile memory 56, and pairing is started.

  When pairing is started, the screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, and the digital camera 100 performs pairing processing. At this time, the digital camera 100 transmits its own nickname to the connection destination camera and acquires the nickname of the connection destination camera. At this time, when a plurality of own nicknames are registered, any one of the plurality is transmitted.

  If pairing is successful, the device's nickname is registered in the connection destination, and the pairing process ends. When the pairing process is completed, the screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. Reference numeral 801 denotes an own device nickname.

  However, the transmitted nickname may already be registered as a nickname of another device at the connection destination. In such a case, if the device nickname is registered as it is, a plurality of devices having the same nickname are registered as connection destinations at the connection destination.

  Therefore, the transmitted own nickname is registered after being changed to another nickname at the connection destination. Then, the connection destination notifies that the nickname has been changed. When notified of the change, the screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

  With the screen shown in FIG. 9, the user can know what nickname the user has registered at the connection destination. When “change” 901 is selected by the user, the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed again, and the user's own nickname can be changed again.

  Note that when attempting to pair again with a camera already registered in the connection destination, the screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed.

  Next, the flow of the nickname transmission / reception process in the pairing process of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 shows the flow of this processing. Note that if a process unrelated to the pairing process or an interrupt process is performed during this flow, the system control circuit 50 ends the process.

  First, the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the connection destination registration menu 302 is selected in the wireless setting menu by a user operation (S1101).

  If it is determined that it has been selected, the system control circuit 50 starts connection destination registration processing and displays a connection destination selection screen on the image display unit 28 (S1102). If it is determined that it has not been selected, the process of S1102 is repeated.

  The system control circuit 50 determines whether or not “camera” is selected on the connection destination selection screen (S1103). If it is determined that it has been selected, the system control circuit 50 reads out its own nickname from the nonvolatile memory 56 (S1104), and displays a nickname preset screen on the image display unit 28 (S1105). If it is determined that it has not been selected, the processing of S1103 is repeated.

  The system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the enter button 253 is pressed on the nickname preset screen (S1106). If it is determined that the button has been pressed, the process advances to step S1107. If it is determined that the button has not been pressed, the process of S1106 is repeated.

  In step S1107, the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the own device nickname has been changed during the display of the nickname preset screen. If it is determined that it has been changed, the changed own nickname is stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 (S1108). If it is determined that it has not been changed, the process proceeds to step S1109.

  In step S1109, the system control circuit 50 exchanges setting parameters. Specifically, the digital camera 100 is switched to the search mode to search for a connection destination camera. When the connection destination camera is found, the setting parameter including the MAC address stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 and the own device nickname are transmitted to the connection destination device. Then, the setting parameter and nickname in the connected device are received and stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 (S1109). When the transmitted own device nickname is changed at the connection destination device, the changed nickname is transmitted from the connection destination (described later). In this case, the system control circuit 50 also receives the changed nickname.

  After the transmission, the system control circuit 50 determines whether a notification that the same device has already been registered has been received from the connection destination (S1110).

  If it is determined that the notification has not been received, the system control circuit 50 determines whether a notification indicating that the same nickname has already been registered has been received from the connection destination (S1111). If it is determined that the notification has not been received, the system control circuit 50 displays a screen (FIG. 8) for notifying that the device nickname and registration have been successful on the image display unit 28 (S1113), and ends the processing. .

  As a method for determining that the notification that the same nickname has already been registered has not been received from the connection destination, there is a method for determining that the notification has not been received if the notification has not been received for a certain period of time. As another method, the connection destination may be notified of successful registration, and when the successful notification is received, the process may proceed to step S1113. The processing on the side of receiving the nickname will be described in detail later.

  If it is determined in step S1110 that a notification that the same device has already been registered has been received from the connection destination, the system control circuit 50 displays a screen (FIG. 10) indicating that fact on the image display unit 28. (S1119), the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S1111 that the notification that the same nickname has already been registered has been received, the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S1114.

  The system control circuit 50 determines whether or not there is a nickname that has not been transmitted to the connection destination among the nicknames stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 (S1114).

  If it is determined that there is a nickname that has not been transmitted to the connection destination, the system control circuit 50 reads another nickname from the nonvolatile memory 56 and transmits it to the connection destination (S1116). Then, the process returns to step S1111 to wait for notification from the connection destination again.

  If it is determined that there is no own nickname that has not been transmitted to the connection destination, the system control circuit 50 displays a screen (FIG. 9) notifying that the transmitted nickname has been changed at the connection destination (S1115). .

  If it is determined on the screen displayed in step S1115 that “OK” has been selected by the user operation (S1117), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S1113. If it is determined that “change” has been selected, the process returns to step S1105, and a screen for changing the nickname is displayed on the image display unit 28 again.

  Next, processing of the received other device nickname in the parameter nickname transmission / reception in step S1109 will be described.

  FIG. 12 shows a processing flow of the received other device nickname.

  This process starts when the system control circuit 50 confirms reception of a setting parameter / other device nickname including a MAC address from the connection destination (S1201).

  In step S1202, the system control circuit 50 searches for registered devices stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 based on the MAC address and nickname received in step S1201.

  If it is determined by search that devices having the same MAC address and nickname are registered, it is determined that the same device has already been registered, and the process proceeds to step S1210.

  In step S1210, the system control circuit 50 transmits a notification that the devices are the same to the connection destination device, and ends the process.

  If it is determined in step S1202 that devices having the same MAC address and nickname are not registered, the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S1203.

  In step S1203, the system control circuit 50 determines whether a device having the same nickname as the other device nickname received in step S1201 has already been registered. At this time, the non-volatile memory 56 is searched based on the received other device nickname, but the search result in step S1202 may be used.

  If it is determined that devices having the same nickname are not registered, that is, not stored in the nonvolatile memory 56, the system control circuit 50 transmits a registration notification to the connection destination (S1209), and ends the process. . In the connection destination device that has received this notification, the nickname is determined and stored (step S1112 in FIG. 11).

  If it is determined in step S1203 that devices having the same nickname are registered, the system control circuit 50 changes the other device nickname received in step S1201 (S1204). The other device nickname changing rule may be any method, and it may be changed to a nickname that does not overlap with the currently registered other device nickname. For example, after generating a random character string, you may check for duplication, sort the nicknames in ascending order, and generate a character string that has a sort order after the last character string in the sort. May be.

  In step S1205, the system control circuit 50 transmits a notification that the received nickname has been registered to the connected device.

  After notifying that it has been registered, the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not another nickname transmitted from the connected device is received (S1206).

  If it is determined that another nickname has been received, the system control circuit 50 registers the received other nickname as a connection destination nickname (S1208), and the process returns to step S1203.

  If it is determined that no other nickname has been received, the system control circuit 50 registers the nickname changed in step S1204 as the nickname of the connection destination (S1207), and ends the process.

  In this embodiment, the nickname received by the receiving device is changed. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  For example, the following configuration can be considered. In step S1205 of FIG. 12, only a notification that the nickname is already registered in the receiving device is transmitted. Upon receiving the notification, the transmitting device changes its own nickname and transmits the changed own nickname to the receiving device again. Then, the receiving device determines again whether or not the changed nickname has been registered. With such a configuration, it becomes possible to match the own device nickname and the other device nickname during pairing.

  In the present embodiment, the processing of the device that transmitted the nickname (FIG. 11) and the processing of the received device (FIG. 12) have been described separately. However, since the setting parameters and the nickname are exchanged between devices at the time of actual pairing, both transmission and reception are performed within one device. Therefore, the transmission process and the reception process are performed continuously as a series of processes or are performed in parallel.

  When pairing is completed through the above processing, it is possible to transfer an image between digital cameras. When the connection / disconnection menu is selected by a user operation from the wireless setting menu of FIG. 3, a paired connection destination list screen is displayed (not shown). At this time, the nickname read from the nonvolatile memory 56 is displayed as the name of the connection destination.

  When a connection destination is selected by a user operation, the digital camera 100 starts a connection with the selected connection destination.

  When the connection is established, the digital camera 100 can transmit and receive images to and from the connection destination.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the self-device nickname is displayed during the pairing process. With this configuration, the user can easily confirm his / her own nickname before starting pairing with another camera. In addition, when other users who have devices to be paired are nearby, the nicknames of the devices can be confirmed.

  In this embodiment, the nickname can be set / changed during the pairing process. With this configuration, even when the user wants to set / change a nickname during the pairing process, it is not necessary to interrupt the pairing process and return to the nickname registration menu, so that a complicated operation is unnecessary.

  Also, in this embodiment, if the same nickname as the received nickname has already been registered, the nickname is automatically changed and the fact is notified to the connected device. The configuration can be changed. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent nickname duplication and register a nickname with a higher degree of user freedom.

  Further, in this embodiment, a plurality of nicknames can be registered, and among the plurality of nicknames, a nickname that does not overlap is registered at the connection destination. With this configuration, it is possible to share the same nickname between paired devices while preventing duplication of nicknames.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a digital camera according to the first embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of a digital camera according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the wireless setting menu screen in Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the nickname registration screen in Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the connection destination selection screen in Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the nickname preset screen in Example 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a registration screen in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the registration success screen in Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the change notification screen in Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the screen which notifies that the same device is already registered in Example 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow on the transmission side in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of the receiving side in Example 1. FIG.

Claims (8)

Imaging means for imaging a subject;
A first communication unit that is connected to an external device by wireless communication and that transmits and receives an image captured by the imaging unit;
Identification value storage means for storing an identification value for identifying the device;
Registration processing start means for starting registration processing of an external device connected by the first communication means;
Separately from the first communication unit, a second communication unit is connected to an external device by wireless communication and transmits and receives the identification value;
Display for displaying a screen for allowing the user to change the identification value of the own device stored in the identification value storage unit after the registration processing is started by the registration processing start unit and before communication by the second communication unit An imaging apparatus capable of wireless communication having means. Transmitting means for transmitting a parameter for performing wireless communication of the own device by the second communication means and the identification value to a connection destination;
Receiving means for receiving the parameter and identification value of the connection destination from the connection destination by the second communication means;
The apparatus further comprises a changing means for changing the identification value of the own apparatus when the same identification value as the identification value of the own apparatus transmitted by the transmission means is already recorded in the connection destination. 1. An imaging apparatus capable of wireless communication according to 1. The identification value storage means stores identification values of a plurality of own devices,
One of the identification values of the plurality of own devices is transmitted to the connection destination, and it is determined whether or not the same identification value as the identification value of the own device transmitted by the transmission means is already recorded in the connection destination. Judgment means,
3. The wireless communication according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit transmits another identification value when the determination unit determines that the same identification value is already recorded in the connection destination. 4. Possible imaging device. The display means displays a series of setting menu screens for setting parameters by the setting means,
4. The wireless communicable imaging according to claim 1, wherein the series of setting menu screens includes a screen for allowing a user to change the identification value of the own device stored in the identification value storage unit. apparatus. Imaging means for imaging a subject;
A first communication unit that is connected to an external device by wireless communication and that transmits and receives an image captured by the imaging unit;
Identification value storage means for storing an identification value for identifying the device;
Registration processing start means for starting registration processing of an external device connected by the first communication means;
Separately from the first communication means, second communication means connected to and communicates with an external device by wireless communication;
Transmitting means for transmitting the parameter and identification value of the own device to a connection destination by the second communication means;
Receiving means for receiving the parameter and identification value of the connection destination from the connection destination by the second communication means;
Determining means for determining whether or not the same identification value as the identification value received by the receiving means is stored in the storage means;
When the determination unit determines that the same identification value is stored in the storage unit, the determination unit includes a first notification unit that notifies the connection destination of the same identification value. Imaging device. If the determination means determines that the same identification value is stored in the storage means, the determination means has a changing means for changing the identification value received by the reception means,
6. The imaging apparatus capable of wireless communication according to claim 5, wherein the first notifying unit notifies the connection destination of the identification value changed by the changing unit. An imaging process for imaging a subject;
A first communication step that is connected to an external device by wireless communication and that transmits and receives an image captured by the imaging step;
An identification value storing step for storing an identification value for identifying the device;
A registration process starting step of starting a registration process of an external device to be connected by the first communication step;
Separately from the first communication step, a second communication step that is connected to an external device by wireless communication and transmits and receives the identification value;
Display for displaying a screen for allowing the user to change the identification value of the own device stored in the identification value storage step after the registration processing is started by the registration processing start step and before communication by the second communication step A method for controlling an imaging apparatus including steps. In the imaging device,
An imaging process for imaging a subject;
A first communication step that is connected to an external device by wireless communication and that transmits and receives an image captured by the imaging step;
An identification value storing step for storing an identification value for identifying the device;
A registration process starting step of starting a registration process of an external device to be connected by the first communication step;
Separately from the first communication step, a second communication step that is connected to an external device by wireless communication and transmits and receives the identification value;
Display for displaying a screen for allowing the user to change the identification value of the own device stored in the identification value storage step after the registration processing is started by the registration processing start step and before communication by the second communication step A program that executes a process.

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