JP2011205378A - Communication apparatus, method of controlling the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system for performing time-division transmission and reception of data between communication partners, wherein communication is started by a state in which transmission of data is designated in both devices, and transmission and reception of data can be performed mutually even when one of them cuts the communication after transmitting data.SOLUTION: A communication apparatus for performing time-division transmission and reception of data by communication using an inductive electric field with communication partner has a reservoir for reserving transmission of data by the communication apparatus when data is received using the inductive electric field from the communication partners before the communication apparatus transmits data, a connector for making reconnection to the communication partner if transmission of data is reserved by the reservoir when reception of data from the communication partners is completed and communication with the communication partner is cut, and a transmitter for transmitting data using the inductive electric field to the communication partner after reconnection by the connector.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing data transmission and reception in a time division manner with a communication partner.

  In recent years, mobile phones equipped with a near field data communication function using infrared rays called IrDA (Infrared Data Association) have appeared, and various services using IrDA have begun to be developed. By using IrDA, data such as image data and addresses can be transmitted and received between two mobile phones (Patent Document 1). In IrDA, data transmission and reception are performed in a time-sharing manner.

  An example of a data communication method in such a cellular phone equipped with IrDA will be described. First, the user A on the data transmission side operates the mobile phone a to select data to be transmitted, and starts a transmission application. Data is transmitted from the mobile phone A to the mobile phone B when the user B on the receiving side operates the mobile phone b to start the receiving application.

  Recently, non-contact communication (proximity wireless communication) such as NFC (Near Field Communication) and TransferJet (trademark) has appeared. In these non-contact communications, the communication distance is very short, and the wireless link is connected when the communicating devices are brought within a few centimeters, and the wireless link is disconnected when they are moved away from each other. In TransferJet, it is assumed that devices perform data communication on a one-to-one basis (Non-Patent Document 1). Non-Patent Document 1 discloses that data can be shared when users bring their devices close to each other.

JP 2007-221355 A

http: // www. transferjet. org / tj / transferjet_whitepaper. pdf

  However, when data transmission and reception are performed in a time-sharing manner as in IrDA described above, it is necessary to determine whether the user is the transmission side or the reception side, and to start the transmission application or the reception application on both sides. Therefore, for example, when both the mobile phones a and b have data to be transmitted, the user A and the user B must exchange the roles of transmission and reception and perform the operation described above again. Further, when the transmission application is activated on both mobile phones, data communication cannot be performed.

  In addition, as a method for sharing data with TransferJet, a method is considered in which data communication is performed by bringing the user close to the counterpart device after performing an operation such as selection of transmission data. This is because, in non-contact communication, the radio link is disconnected if the distance between the devices is out of the communication range even a little, so that it is difficult to perform operations such as selection of transmission data while maintaining the connection of the radio link. However, Non-Patent Document 1 does not disclose how to control data transmission / reception when both devices are close to each other while transmission data is being selected.

  In a communication system that performs data transmission and reception with a communication partner in a time-sharing manner, when both parties request data transmission, the communication partner disconnects the communication after transmitting the data. Another object of the present invention is to enable data transmission / reception.

  The communication device according to the present invention is a communication device that performs data transmission and reception in a time-sharing manner by communication using an induced electric field with a communication partner, and the communication partner before the communication device transmits data. When data is received using an induction electric field from the holding device for holding the transmission of data by the communication device, and when the data reception from the communication partner is completed and the communication with the communication partner is disconnected , When data transmission is suspended by the holding means, connection means for reconnecting with the communication partner, and transmission means for transmitting data to the communication partner using an induced electric field after reconnection by the connection means And have.

  According to the present invention, in a communication system that performs transmission and reception of data with a communication partner in a time-sharing manner, when both parties request data transmission, the communication partner disconnects the communication after transmitting the data. Even then, data can be transmitted and received with each other.

It is a system configuration diagram. It is a hardware block diagram of a digital camera. It is a sequence chart. It is a functional block diagram of a digital camera. 3 is a flowchart implemented in a digital camera.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of this embodiment. Reference numeral 101 denotes a digital camera as a communication apparatus. The digital camera 101 has an antenna 217, which will be described later, and performs wireless communication. Although the antenna 217 is built in the digital camera 101 in this embodiment, it may be externally attached by a cable or the like. In this embodiment, TransferJet using an induction electric field is used as wireless communication. Here, the wireless communication of this embodiment is performed by half-duplex communication. That is, data transmission and reception are not performed at the same time, but are performed in a time division manner. In the wireless communication of the present embodiment, it is assumed that a wireless link is established (connected) when data transmission / reception is completed, and data communication is possible.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a digital camera as a communication partner apparatus of the digital camera 101. The digital camera 102 also has an antenna 111. When the user brings the antenna 217 of the digital camera 101 close to the antenna 111 of the digital camera 102, an induced electric field is generated between the digital cameras 101 and 102, and the digital cameras 101 and 102 communicate wirelessly using the induced electric field. be able to.

  FIG. 2A is a hardware configuration diagram of the digital camera 101. The digital camera 102 also has a similar hardware configuration. Note that FIG. 2B will be described later.

  A CPU 201 controls the digital camera 101. A storage unit 202 includes a RAM and a ROM. A user interface unit 203 (hereinafter referred to as a user I / F) displays an image, an operation menu, a data transmission status, a data transmission suspension status, and various other information. Further, the user I / F 203 accepts various operations from the user. Reference numeral 204 denotes a communication unit, which includes an antenna 217 for communication using an induction electric field. Reference numeral 205 denotes an image capturing unit for capturing still images and moving images (including audio information). Still images and moving images captured by the imaging unit 205 are stored in the storage unit 202.

  FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of the present embodiment. The functional block is realized by the CPU 201 reading a program stored in the storage unit 202. Note that the functional block may be realized using hardware such as ASIC. Further, a plurality of functional blocks may be combined into one functional block, or one functional block may be divided into a plurality of functional blocks and realized.

  Reference numeral 401 denotes a determination unit that determines that the user has instructed data transmission via the user I / F 203. Reference numeral 402 denotes an application control unit that controls a transmission application (hereinafter referred to as a transmission application) 411 and a reception application (hereinafter referred to as a reception application) 412. Here, the transmission application 411 is application software that processes data selected by the user and converts the data into data that can be transmitted by wireless communication. The reception application 412 is application software that processes data received from a communication partner so that the user can perform data operations (browsing, data copying, data movement, etc.) via the user I / F 203.

  A communication control unit 403 performs establishment and disconnection of a radio link and data transmission control. Reference numeral 404 denotes a determination unit that determines whether data has been received from a communication partner within a predetermined time. Reference numeral 405 denotes a confirmation unit that confirms whether the digital camera 101 has suspended transmission of data. A notification unit 406 notifies the user of the communication status via the user I / F 203.

  FIG. 3 shows a sequence chart in the present embodiment. First, the user instructs selection (designation) and transmission (data PUSH) of transmission data via the user I / F 203 of the digital camera 101. Here, the PUSH transmission is a data transmission method for instructing a communication partner to accept data and transmitting the data. Receiving the instruction, the user I / F 203 notifies the application control unit 402 of the instruction from the user (S301). Here, the transmission data is, for example, still image data or moving image data captured by the imaging unit 205. In response to the transmission instruction, the application control unit 402 activates the transmission application 411 (S302). When the transmission application 411 is activated, the transmission application 411 transmits a PUSH request to the application control unit 402 (S303). Here, the PUSH request is a message (notification) indicating that transmission data is to be transmitted. Note that the user I / F 203 may transmit a PUSH request to the application control unit 402 in response to a user transmission instruction in the user I / F 203.

  Thereafter, when the user brings the antenna 217 of the digital camera 101 close to the antenna 111 of the digital camera 102, an induced electric field is generated between the digital cameras 101 and 102 and communication is possible.

  In response to the PUSH request from the transmission application 411, the application control unit 402 transmits a connection request to the communication control unit 403 (S304). The connection request includes information indicating that the transmission application 411 has been activated. Here, it is assumed that also in the digital camera 102, the user instructs data transmission, and a connection request is transmitted from the application control unit of the digital camera 102 to the communication control unit.

  When the communication control unit 403 performs carrier sense and confirms that another communication device (here, the digital camera 102) is not communicating, the communication control unit 403 transmits a connection request to the digital camera 102. Further, the communication control unit of the digital camera 102 also performs carrier sense and transmits a connection request to the digital camera 101 when it is confirmed that another communication apparatus (here, the digital camera 101) is not communicating. Here, it is assumed that the communication control unit of the digital camera 102 has transmitted a connection request first (S305).

  Since the digital camera 102 has transmitted a connection request, the communication control unit 403 of the digital camera 101 determines that another communication apparatus is communicating, and itself transmits a connection request from the digital camera 102 without transmitting a connection request. Receive (S305). The communication control unit 403 further transmits a connection response to the digital camera 102 (S306) and also transmits a connection response to the application control unit 402 (S307). In response to the connection response, the application control unit 402 transmits a PUSH response to the transmission application 411 (S308).

  Thereafter, the digital camera 102 transmits data to the digital camera 101 (data PUSH, S309). However, since the receiving application 412 is not activated in the digital camera 101, the received data cannot be processed. Therefore, the application control unit 402 temporarily stores the received data and the reception order of the data in the storage unit 202. In this way, even when the reception application 412 is not activated, the communication device can prevent loss (loss) of received data.

  Although the digital camera 101 is scheduled to perform data transmission, since the data is transmitted from the digital camera 102 before the digital camera 101 starts transmitting transmission data, the application control unit 402 suspends transmission of transmission data. . Then, the application control unit 402 stops the transmission application 411 (S310) and activates the reception application 412 (S311). Further, the application control unit 402 stores the transmission instruction and the address of the digital camera 102 as the transmission destination in the transmission memory 213, and suspends data transmission. Note that the notification unit 406 may notify the user I / F 203 of information related to the transmission suspension so that the user I / F 203 informs the user that the transmission of data has been suspended. Furthermore, you may make it alert | report to a user that the user I / F203 gave priority to reception. Thereby, the user can grasp the status of data communication, and convenience is improved.

  After activation, the reception application 412 acquires reception data from the storage unit 202 in the order of arrival. Further, the reception application 412 continues to receive data from the digital camera 102 (S312). When the transmission of data (data PUSH) is completed, the digital camera 102 transmits a PUSH completion notification to the digital camera 101 (S313). The application control unit 402 that has received the PUSH completion notification stops the received application 412 (S314). When the data transmission is completed, the communication control unit of the digital camera 102 transmits a disconnection request to the digital camera 101 (S315). Upon receiving the disconnection request, the communication control unit 403 of the digital camera 101 transmits a disconnection response to the digital camera 102 (S316). Further, the communication control unit 403 transmits a disconnection notification to the application control unit 402 (S317).

  The application control unit 402 that has received the disconnection notification determines whether transmission of transmission data has been suspended. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that transmission of transmission data has been suspended, the communication control 403 transmits a connection request to the digital camera 102 in accordance with an instruction from the application control unit 402 (S318). Here, the user I / F 203 does not notify the user that transmission of transmission data has been completed, and the user keeps the digital camera 101 and the digital camera 102 close to each other. Therefore, an induced electric field remains generated between the digital cameras 101 and 102, and both are in a communicable state.

  Furthermore, the application control unit 402 receives the connection response transmitted from the digital camera 102 in response to the connection request via the communication control unit 403 (S319). Upon receiving the connection response, the application control unit 402 activates the transmission application 411 in order to transmit the data stored in the transmission memory 213 (S320). The transmission application 411 transmits data to the digital camera 102 after activation (data PUSH, S321). In this way, after receiving data from the digital camera 102, the digital camera 101 can transmit data to the digital camera 102.

  When the transmission of data is completed, the transmission application 411 transmits a PUSH completion notification (S322). Further, the application control unit 402 transmits a disconnection request to the digital camera 102 (S323), and receives a disconnection response from the digital camera 102 that has received the disconnection request (S324). In this way, communication between the digital camera 101 and the digital camera 102 is disconnected. Thereafter, the application control unit 402 notifies the user I / F 203 that the data transmission has been completed (S325).

  As described above, after receiving data from the digital camera 102, data (for example, still image data or moving image data captured by the imaging unit 205) can be transmitted from the digital camera 101 to the digital camera 102.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart realized by the CPU 201 reading the program stored in the storage unit 202. Here, it is assumed that the digital cameras 101 and 102 are separated from each other, and no induced electric field is generated between the digital cameras 101 and 102. Further, it is assumed that the user has selected data (transmission data) to be transmitted via the user I / F 203.

  The determination unit 401 determines that the user has instructed data transmission via the user I / F 203 (S501). When data transmission is instructed by the user, the application control unit 402 activates the transmission application 411 (S502).

  Thereafter, when the user brings the antenna 217 of the digital camera 101 close to the antenna 111 of the digital camera 102, an induced electric field is generated between the digital cameras 101 and 102 and communication is possible.

  Here, when an induced electric field is generated, the communication control unit 403 receives a connection request from the digital camera 102 via the antenna 217. In response to the connection request, the communication control unit 403 transmits a connection response to the digital camera 102. In this way, a wireless link is established (connected) between the digital cameras 101 and 102 (S503).

  When the wireless link is established, the determination unit 404 determines whether the digital camera 101 has received data from the digital camera 102 within a predetermined time (S504). When data is received, the received data is stored in the storage unit 202. If data has been received, the process proceeds to step S505. If data has not been received, the process proceeds to S515. Here, it is assumed that the digital camera 101 receives data from the digital camera 102 within a predetermined time, and proceeds to step S505.

  When data is received from the digital camera 102, the application control unit 402 ends the transmission application 411 (S505). Further, the application control unit 402 causes the storage unit 202 to store the suspension of data transmission (S506). Then, the application control unit 402 activates the reception application 412 (S507). The reception application 412 first acquires reception data stored in the storage unit 202. Subsequently, the reception application 412 receives data from the digital camera 102 (S508). When the data reception is completed, the application control unit 402 receives the push completion notification from the digital camera 102 (S509), and ends the reception application 412 (S510).

  Thereafter, the communication control unit 403 receives a disconnection request from the digital camera 102 and responds to it (transmits a disconnection response), whereby the wireless link between the digital cameras 101 and 102 is disconnected. The confirmation unit 405 refers to the storage unit 202 and confirms whether transmission of data has been suspended. If the data transmission is suspended, the process proceeds to step S513. If the data transmission is not suspended, the process shown in FIG. 5 is terminated. Here, since transmission of data is suspended, the process proceeds to step S513.

  At this stage, the antenna 217 of the digital camera 101 and the antenna 111 of the digital camera 102 are maintained close to each other, and an induction electric field is generated between the digital cameras 101 and 102 so that communication is possible. Yes.

  Accordingly, the communication control unit 403 transmits a connection request, and the digital camera 102 responds (transmits a connection response) to the connection request, so that a wireless link is established (reconnected) between the digital cameras 101 and 102 (S513). ). When the wireless link is established, the application control unit 402 activates the transmission application 411 (S514). The transmission application 411 transmits the transmission data to the digital camera 102 (S515). When the transmission of the transmission data is completed, the transmission application 411 transmits a PUSH completion notification to the digital camera 102 (S516). Further, the application control unit 402 ends the transmission application 411 (S517).

  Thereafter, the communication control unit 403 transmits a disconnection request to the digital camera 102, and the digital camera 102 responds to this (transmits a disconnection response), whereby the wireless link between the digital cameras 101 and 102 is disconnected (S518). Further, the notification unit 406 notifies the user that the data transmission is completed via the user I / F 203 (S519).

  As described above, in both communication apparatuses that perform data transmission and reception in a time-sharing manner, both communication apparatuses can transmit data even when the user instructs data transmission.

  In the above description, the case where the user performs data communication by selecting the transmission data and instructing the transmission and then bringing it close to the partner apparatus has been described. However, there may be a case where the transmission instruction is not performed. For example, when a wireless link is established in a state where the transmission target data is selected or only the transmission target data is displayed on the display, the selected or displayed data is transmitted to the partner device. It is. In such a case, the data being selected or displayed when the wireless link is established is the data designated as the transmission target, and it may be recognized that the transmission instruction has been given by the user.

  In the above description, it is described that only the transmission application is activated when transmission data is selected and transmitted by the user. However, the reception application may be activated in addition to the transmission application. Then, when data is received from the communication partner, the data is received using the receiving application, and when the data is not received, the receiving application is terminated. Thereby, it is possible to easily control activation and termination of the transmission application and the reception application.

  In the above description, the case where the apparatus that transmitted the connection request transmits data first has been described. However, the apparatus that transmits the connection response may transmit data first.

  In the above description, when the digital camera 102 has finished transmitting data to the digital camera 101, the wireless link is disconnected. However, even when the digital camera 102 finishes transmitting data to the digital camera 101, it may be considered that the wireless link is not disconnected. In that case, the digital camera 101 omits disconnection and reconnection (S511, S513), activates the transmission application 411, and transmits transmission data. Note that the digital camera 101 may determine whether the wireless link is disconnected or not after receiving data from the digital camera 102 and perform processing according to the determination result. That is, when it is determined that the wireless link is disconnected, the digital camera 101 operates as described above, and when it is determined that the wireless link is not disconnected, the digital camera 101 is disconnected and reconnected (S511, S513). It works by omitting.

  In the above description, the function is realized by cooperation of hardware and software. However, the function may be realized only by hardware. In this case, the hardware block diagram shown in FIG.

  A transmission circuit 211 reads data from the storage unit 202 and generates transmission data (corresponding to the transmission application 411). A receiving circuit 212 processes received data (corresponding to the receiving application 412). A transmission buffer memory (hereinafter referred to as a transmission memory) 213 temporarily stores transmission data. Reference numeral 214 denotes a reception buffer memory (hereinafter referred to as reception memory) that temporarily stores reception data, reception order of reception data, and the like. A transmission / reception control unit 215 controls the transmission circuit 211 and the reception circuit 212 (corresponding to the application control unit 402). Reference numeral 216 denotes a communication control unit that performs establishment and disconnection of a wireless link and data transmission control via the antenna 217 (corresponding to the communication control unit 403). A determination unit 218 determines which of the transmission circuit 211 and the reception circuit 212 is used. Even with such a configuration, the functions of the present embodiment can be realized.

  In addition, a recording medium that records a computer program of software that implements the functions of this embodiment is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. Also good.

101 Digital Camera 102 Digital Camera 111 Antenna 201 CPU
202 Storage unit 203 User I / F
204 Communication Department

Claims (8)

A communication device that performs transmission and reception of data in a time division manner through communication using an induced electric field with a communication partner,
If the communication device receives data using an induced electric field from the communication partner before transmitting the data, a holding unit for holding transmission of data by the communication device;
When reception of data from the communication partner is completed and the communication with the communication partner is disconnected, if the data transmission is suspended by the suspension unit, a connection unit that reconnects with the communication partner;
After reconnection by the connection means, transmission means for transmitting data to the communication counterpart using an induced electric field;
A communication apparatus comprising: Further comprising selection means for allowing a user to select whether to transmit data to or receive data from the communication partner before connecting to the communication partner;
The holding unit is a case where data transmission by the communication device is performed when data transmission is selected by the selection unit and when the communication device receives data from the communication partner before starting the data transmission. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission is suspended.   3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying a user that transmission of data is suspended when the suspension means suspends data transmission by the communication apparatus. . A determination means for determining that the communication with the communication partner has been disconnected;
4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit reconnects to the communication partner when the determination unit determines that the communication is disconnected. 5. When receiving data from the communication partner, starting means for starting a reception application for processing the data received from the communication partner;
Storage means for storing data received when the reception application is not activated by the activation means,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception application acquires data stored from the storage unit when the reception application is started by the start unit.   6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stopping unit that stops a transmission application for transmitting data to the communication partner when data is received from the communication partner. . A method for controlling a communication device that performs time-division transmission and reception of data by communication using an induced electric field with a communication partner,
When the communication device receives data using an induced electric field from the communication partner before transmitting the data, a holding step of holding the transmission of data by the communication device;
When reception of data from the communication partner is completed and the communication with the communication partner is disconnected, if the transmission of data is suspended in the suspension step, a connection step of reconnecting with the communication partner;
After reconnection in the connection step, a transmission step of transmitting data to the communication partner using an induced electric field;
A control method characterized by comprising:   A program for executing the control method according to claim 7, wherein the program is executed by a computer to control the communication apparatus.

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