JP2003143457A - Information apparatus system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information apparatus system capable of easily associating a digital still camera with an operation of an information apparatus even when a plurality of apparatuses having a similar communication standard in a periphery thereof. SOLUTION: An information apparatus system contains a digital still camera 101 having a short-range radio communication means, and an information apparatus 102 which can carry out a short-range radio communication within a predetermined distance with the digital still camera 101. In this information apparatus system, the digital still camera 101 comprises an imaging circuit 11 for imaging intrinsic information on an information apparatus 102, an image recognizing circuit 12 for converting the intrinsic information imaged by the imaging circuit 11 into a predetermined format, a storage circuit 13 for storing the intrinsic information converted by the image recognizing circuit 13, and a certifying circuit 17 for determining right or wrong of communication with the information apparatus 102 based on the intrinsic information stored in the storage circuit 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information equipment system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-14227 discloses an information device such as a digital still camera having a wireless communication means and a password recorded in each information storage unit in a portable wireless communication terminal such as a mobile phone. It is disclosed that the communication is secured by comparing the information with the owner-specific information and verifying the information.

[0003]

According to the conventional method, when ensuring the first communication between the information devices having the wireless communication means, the wireless communication means such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) is first used. The communication is performed by searching for a device having the same owner-specific information in each information storage unit, and collating the devices. However, due to the widespread use of wireless communication terminals, when many wireless communication terminals exist in the vicinity, it takes a very long time to perform an authentication operation for each of them.

In addition, it can be said that it is difficult for the user to input a unique IP address used for communication in order to register a device to be communicated with on the side of the camera having few manual operation members.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to easily perform even when there are a plurality of devices of the same communication standard in the vicinity. An object of the present invention is to provide an information equipment system capable of overcoming the conventional problems by associating the operations of the digital still camera and the information equipment.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a first invention is a digital still camera having a short range wireless communication means, and a short range wireless within a predetermined distance from the digital still camera. In an information device system including an information device that performs communication, the digital still camera converts the unique information imaged by the image capturing unit and the image capturing unit that captures unique information about the information device into a predetermined format. Based on the unique information stored in the storage means and the storage means for storing the unique information converted by the image recognition means,
An authentication means for determining whether or not communication with the information device is possible.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the information equipment system according to the first invention, the information equipment includes an information storage means for storing information specific to the equipment itself or the equipment owner,
Display means for displaying the unique information, and at the time of registration of a device as a partner for short-range wireless communication, the unique information is read from the storage means and displayed on the display means. The unique information is registered by being imaged by the image capturing means of the digital still camera.

A third aspect of the present invention is the information device system according to the second aspect, wherein the unique information is displayed on the display means for a predetermined time when the information device is powered on.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the information device system according to the second aspect, wherein the unique information is a wireless communication signal from the digital still camera when the information device is powered on. According to the reception, it is displayed on the display means for a predetermined time.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the present invention, device-specific information such as an IP address and a bar code / password is displayed on the display unit of an information device such as a wireless communication terminal desired to perform wireless communication, and the camera side Then, this unique information is captured. The image acquired by this imaging operation is recognized, the unique information is taken in, and the operation of the camera and the information device are associated with each other. This association eliminates the need to provide a special operation member for authentication on the camera side to increase the size of the device, and since wireless communication is not performed when registering a wireless communication terminal, there are many devices in the vicinity. Even in the case, it is possible to easily register the wireless communication terminal without the need for authentication.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of an information equipment system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the information equipment system of the present embodiment, the digital still camera 10
1, PDA terminals 102A and 102A 'and mobile phone 10
2B or other information device 102 is wirelessly communicated (for example,
Bluetooth (registered trademark) using 2.45 GHz band, IrDA using infrared ray, non-contact IC / PHS / mobile phone communication network using long wavelength band, etc.) are used for data communication. To do.

The digital still camera 101 captures unique information about the information device 102 by an internal image pickup circuit, analyzes the imaged image, and stores it in the internal data storage means. Then, the wireless communication with the device registered in the data storage means is accepted, and the communication request with the unregistered device is not accepted so that the communication is authenticated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital still camera 101 and the information device 102. The digital still camera 101 includes an image pickup circuit 11, an image recognition circuit 12, a storage circuit 13, a wireless communication circuit 14, and a display circuit 15. The information device 102 includes a display circuit 21, a storage circuit 22, and a wireless communication circuit 23.

In this wireless communication, for example, the information device 10
In the communication in which 2 is the master and the digital still camera 101 is the slave, the information device 102 uses the character string to specify the specific information (specific information) that the device itself or the device owner has independently. It is converted into a code and displayed on the display circuit 21.

The digital still camera 101 images the unique information displayed on the display circuit 21 using the image pickup circuit 11, and converts the imaged unique information into a format that can be handled inside the digital still camera by the image recognition circuit 12. And stores it in the memory circuit 13.

As described above, since the devices are associated with each other by the image pickup operation, it is possible to eliminate the work of searching for a device to be registered from a large number of devices within the range where wireless communication is possible.

After the information device 102 has been registered with the image pickup operation once, when the wireless communication circuit 23 inside the information device 102 sends a signal for controlling communication, the digital still camera 101 is connected to the internal wireless communication. Communication is performed using the circuit 14. At this time, by transmitting an error code for wireless communication to an unregistered device, it is possible to prevent the owner of the device from responding to wireless communication signals from devices other than the registered information device. Camera 10
The internal data is protected.

Next, a case where the digital still camera 101 serves as a master and the information equipment 102 serves as a slave in wireless communication will be described. The registration is performed in the memory circuit 13 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment until the registration by imaging. Then, the display circuit 15 displays a list of registered devices.
It is also conceivable that a method of displaying a control signal, selecting an arbitrary one from the displayed list, and sending a control signal using the wireless communication circuit 14.

Further, when the digital still camera 101 serves as a master, as shown in FIG. 3, the information device 102 (PD which exists within the communicable range when performing the authentication operation).
A signal for displaying unique information is sent to the display circuit 21 of the A terminals 102A and 102A 'and the mobile phone 102B, and the information device 102 (PDA terminal 102A' and mobile phone 102B in FIG. 3) that is powered on at that time. ), Information specific to the display circuit 21 is displayed. At that time, by performing image pickup and image recognition, association can be easily performed without increasing the number of buttons.

In order to perform the authentication registration of the wireless communication by the image pickup, it is necessary to display the information unique to the device or the device owner on the display circuit 21 of the information device 102. A specific method is shown in FIG. 4 (a). , (B) will be described. In the first method, as shown in FIG. 4A, the character string data is displayed on the display circuit 21 of the information device 102 and is recognized by the image recognition circuit 12 of the digital still camera 101. In the second method, as shown in FIG. 4B, the bar code data is converted into a code that can be recognized by the image recognition circuit 12 of the digital still camera 101, and then displayed on the display circuit 21, which is then displayed. In this method, the image is picked up by the image pickup circuit 11 and recognized by the image recognition circuit 12.

In the present invention, the information device 102 displays an image and the image pickup circuit 11 of the digital still camera 101.
Although the information device 102 to be wirelessly communicated is authenticated by performing the image pickup by, the information device 102 has a sound generating means such as a speaker and has a substantially similar configuration, and the registration of the digital still camera 101 or the like is performed. If the device on the desired side has a sound collecting means and a voice recognizing means such as a microphone, it is possible to perform voice recognition of the wireless communication device with substantially the same configuration as the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an information equipment system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital still camera 101 includes a control circuit 10, an image pickup circuit 11, an image recognition circuit 12, a storage circuit 13, a wireless communication circuit 14,
The display circuit 15, the manual operation circuit 16, and the authentication circuit 17 are provided.

The control circuit 10 is a circuit mainly composed of a CPU and an MPU, and controls the operation of the entire digital still camera 101.

The image pickup circuit 11 is a circuit that mainly converts the field information, which is the main function of the digital still camera 101, into digital data and stores it in the storage circuit 13. Here, it is composed of an image pickup device such as CCD or CMOS, an optical lens for efficiently forming an image of a field on the image pickup device, a distance measuring circuit for measuring a distance to a subject, and the like. In the present invention, the image pickup circuit 11 is also used when registering the authentication of wireless communication based on the imaged image.

The image recognition circuit 12 is composed of an image processing engine or the like, and based on the field information imaged by the image pickup circuit 11 and stored in the memory circuit 13, what the photographed image means. Is analyzed by image processing, and the input from the image pickup circuit 11 is converted into data that can be handled by the control circuit 10.

The memory circuit 13 is a nonvolatile memory or D
A digital still camera 101 configured by RAM
Stores the field information acquired by the exposure operation, the user information set by the user to make the device easy to use, the information unique to the wireless communication terminal once registered by the imaging and authentication operations. Since the image recognition circuit 12 operates in the present invention, it is also used for temporarily storing data until the image recognition circuit 12 completes recognition.

The wireless communication circuit 14 is a Bluetooth.
Control I used in IRS, IrDA, wireless LAN, etc.
A circuit configured by C, which converts data to be transmitted into data of a format capable of communication and enables wireless communication between compatible devices, and is used for transmission / reception of control signals and data. In the embodiment of the present invention, the wireless communication functions as a master but may be used as a slave.

The display circuit 15 is an LCD panel or an organic EL.
Digital still camera 1 composed of sheets
It is used to display an image captured by the image capturing circuit 11 of 01 and stored in the storage circuit 13, setting information of the digital still camera 101, and a display for confirming the manual operation of the user. According to the present invention, when associating an information device by an imaging operation, it is used to enable selection of the information device when confirming that registration has been actually performed or when canceling registration.

The manual operation circuit 16 is composed of a cross input key, a dial, a SW, etc., inputs the operation desired by the user of the digital still camera 101 to the equipment, sends it to the control circuit 10, and sends it to the control circuit 10 as requested by the user. This is a circuit for operating the digital still camera 101.

When a wireless communication request arrives at the wireless communication circuit 14 from an external device, the authentication circuit 17 determines whether the information device 102 related to the request is already registered in the storage circuit 13 of the digital still camera 101. to decide. An authentication operation is performed such that an error is returned if a wireless communication request is made from an unregistered information device 102, and wireless communication is made if a wireless communication request is made from a registered information device.

Next, the information device 102 will be described.
The information device 102 includes a control circuit 20, a display circuit 21,
The memory circuit 22 and the wireless communication circuit 23 are provided.

The control circuit 20 is, for example, a CPU or MPU.
Etc., and controls the entire operation sequence of the information device 102.

The display circuit 21 is composed of, for example, an LCD panel, an organic EL sheet, etc.
Is used to display the status of the device, the contents of the built-in storage circuit 22, and the device-specific information in the unique information storage circuit 24 used for registering the communication device in the present invention.

The wireless communication circuit 23 is, for example, Bluet.
A circuit configured by a control IC such as oooth, IrDA, wireless LAN, etc., which converts data to be transmitted into data in a format capable of communication and enables wireless communication between compatible devices. Used for sending and receiving data.

The memory circuit 22 is, for example, a circuit composed of a non-volatile memory, a DRAM or the like, and is a circuit for storing the information input by the user, the data acquired by the wireless communication terminal and the like.

The unique information storage circuit 24 is composed of a storage medium such as a non-volatile memory that does not lose data due to a user's operation or the like and does not conflict with other devices. In synchronization with the power-on of the information device 102, the device-specific information recorded in the unique information storage circuit 24 is displayed on the display circuit 21 to perform the registration work.

The radio communication associating operation, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described below. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the information device 102 when the power is turned on in the embodiment of the present invention. When the power of the information device 102 is turned on, the process of importing the unique information in step # 1 starts. In step # 1, the control circuit 20 performs a process of reading the device-specific information, which is set at the time of manufacture or set by the device owner and recorded in the unique information storage circuit 24, and prepares for displaying the device-specific information. . Then proceed to step # 2.

At step # 2, the control circuit 20
Start the built-in timer that overflows at a predetermined time. The role of the timer is not to keep the display circuit 21 displaying the unique information after the power is turned on.
Timing is performed to stop the display when a predetermined time set in advance has elapsed. Steps after starting the timer #
Go to 3.

In step # 3, the display circuit 21 displays the unique information for performing the wireless communication associating process. While the unique information is displayed, the digital still camera 101 captures the unique information to associate the unique information. Then, the display is continued and the process proceeds to step # 4.

At step # 4, it is confirmed whether the timer started at step # 2 has overflowed due to the lapse of a predetermined time. If the specified time has not elapsed here, it will continue to be displayed.
Then, the procedure proceeds to step 3, and the display routine is resumed. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the procedure proceeds to step # 5.

Step # 5 is a routine for erasing the peculiar information displayed on the display circuit 21 since a predetermined time has passed since the power supply of the information device 102 was displayed. When the display circuit 21 has been cleared, the process proceeds to step # 6, where the PDA
Or as a mobile phone.

The above-described processing of FIG. 6 is the simplest flow chart, and it is conceivable that the information peculiar to the device is not displayed every time the power is turned on, but may not be displayed depending on the setting of the device. Further, in step # 3 until the timer overflows, the device-specific information is continuously displayed on the display unit 21, but when the device owner operates the manual operation member provided in the information device 102, the loop of FIG. It is possible to finish the display operation in a short time by leaving the processing.

FIG. 7 is an operation flow chart when the power of the digital still camera 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention is turned on. When the power of the digital still camera 101 is turned on, the process proceeds to step # 7. In step # 7, the operation mode of the digital still camera 101 is checked. When the wireless communication mode is set, the process proceeds to step # 8, and when the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, or the display mode is selected, the process proceeds to step # 9 to perform the operation corresponding to each mode.

In step # 8, in order to end the wireless communication mode within a predetermined time, the control circuit 10 starts a built-in timer and measures the time after the power is turned on or the mode is changed. If the wireless communication mode is kept on standby, the current consumption increases and the energy of the battery is exhausted. Therefore, the predetermined time is measured. After starting the timer, proceed to step # 10.

Step # 10 is a routine for checking whether or not a wireless communication signal has been received from the outside. If the wireless communication signal from the outside is received and the slave operates as a wireless communication, the process proceeds to step # 12. , Performs communication as a slave of wireless communication. If no wireless signal is received, the process directly proceeds to step # 11.

In step # 11, the input from the manually operated member is checked. Even if there is a process such as a mode change, this flow chart is exited by the process of generating an interrupt here, but in the present invention, the digital still camera 101 is used.
It is determined whether or not the operation of the 2RSW interlocked with the image capturing operation is detected. If it is detected, the process proceeds to step # 14 to perform the associating operation. This associating operation will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 2R
If neither SW nor other switch is detected, step # 1
Go to 3.

At step # 13, it is confirmed whether the timer started at step # 8 has overflowed due to the lapse of a predetermined time. If the predetermined time has not yet been reached, the process returns to step # 10 to wait for a wireless communication signal in step # 11 and wait for SW detection in step # 12. If the timer overflows, the process proceeds to step # 15, the low power consumption mode of the control circuit 10 is entered, and the sleep mode for preventing wasteful consumption of the battery is entered.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the associating operation of the digital still camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, when the associating routine is called in step # 14, the digital still camera 101 measures the field information using the photometric sensor and the distance measuring sensor in step # 16, and is composed of a CCD sensor and a CMOS sensor. The image pickup circuit 11 is driven to perform an image pickup operation. At this time, the user needs to perform the image capturing operation by directing the optical system performing the image capturing operation toward the display circuit 21 of the information device 102 that wants to perform wireless communication. Then, when the imaging operation is completed, the process proceeds to step # 17.

At step # 17, the field information obtained by the image pickup operation at step # 14 is stored. The control circuit 10 of the digital still camera 101 is the imaging circuit 1
The output of 1 is temporarily stored in the storage circuit 13 for the subsequent analysis processing. Then, in step # 18, data analysis processing is performed.

In step # 18, the control circuit 10 of the digital still camera 101 drives the image recognition circuit 12 to display on the display circuit 21 of the information device 102 stored in the storage circuit 13 as shown in FIG. Analyze character information and barcode information. By this analysis, it is determined whether or not the code can be converted into a code that the digital still camera 101 can recognize, and the process proceeds to step # 19.

In step # 19, it is checked whether or not the output of the image recognition circuit 12 of the digital still camera 101 has been converted into data that can be handled by the control circuit 10 of the digital still camera 101. If the device-specific information displayed on the display circuit 21 of the information device 102 is data that can be recognized and handled by the control circuit 10 by this conversion, the process proceeds to step # 20. If nothing is displayed on the display circuit 21 of the information device 102, or if a code that is displayed but is not related to association is displayed, or if an image that is not related at all is imaged, the process proceeds to step # 21. .

In step # 21, the image stored in the storage circuit 13 that could not be recognized by the image recognition circuit 12 and the error message are displayed in the digital still camera 1.
01 is displayed on the display circuit 15. And step # 2
Go to 2.

In step # 22, the user of the digital still camera 101 and the information device 102 is asked whether or not the device registration work is to be performed again in response to the unrecognized information. The user of the digital still camera 101 and the information device 102 determines whether or not to perform device registration work via the manual operation circuit 16.
Enter 1.

If it is desired to temporarily stop the device registration work, the field information temporarily stored in the storage circuit 13 is deleted to reduce the storage capacity, and the process proceeds to step # 28 to execute the association routine. finish. On the other hand, when it is desired to perform the device registration work again, the process proceeds to # 16.

Although not shown in the flow chart, it is assumed that the user of the digital still camera 101 wants to perform a normal photographing operation of the object scene during the device registration work, and the photographing operation is performed in step # 16. It is also possible. In this case, when the control circuit 10 displays an error, step # 2
The display circuit 15 displays an inquiry as to whether or not the image captured in 1 is officially stored in the storage circuit 13. In response to this, the user confirms whether or not to record by the manual operation circuit 16.

In step # 20, a process of storing the output data determined to be analyzable in step # 19 in the storage unit 13 is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step # 23.

In step # 23, the wireless communication circuit 14 is driven to perform wireless communication with respect to the data of the information device 102 stored in step # 20. When the transmission of the wireless communication signal is completed, the process proceeds to step # 24.

In step # 24, it is confirmed whether or not there is a response to the wireless communication performed from the digital still camera 101 to the information device 102 in step # 23. Here, processing such as displaying information unique to another device on the display unit of the information device 102 in a pseudo manner is performed. If the information device having the unique information analyzed by the image recognition circuit 12 does not exist in the vicinity, recognition will result in erroneous recognition.
A standby operation is performed for a predetermined time until there is a response from the information device 102. When there is no response, the process proceeds to step # 25, and when there is a response, the process proceeds to step # 27.

At step # 25, a display is made on the display circuit 15 of the digital still camera 101 in order to notify that no response has come although it was waiting for the response to the wireless communication at step # 24. The user of the equipment selects whether or not to perform the confirmation by the wireless communication operation again by the input from the manual operation circuit 16. If the associating operation is temporarily terminated, the output data of the image recognition circuit 12 stored in step # 20 is erased, and the operation proceeds to step # 28 to end the associating operation. If the user wants to retry again, the process returns to step # 23 to drive the wireless communication circuit 14, and waits for a response in step # 24.

In step # 27, since it is confirmed that the information device 102 obtained by the image recognition circuit 12 exists nearby, the information device 102 is formally associated with the storage circuit 13. Then, the process proceeds to step # 28 to formally register as a device capable of wireless communication.

In the future, the authentication circuit 17 of the digital still camera 101 will receive the wireless communication signal from the device which has performed this registration so that the wireless communication can be performed. A wireless signal from an unregistered device transmits an error signal and responds, so that only compatible devices can communicate.

In this embodiment, the digital still camera 1
The embodiment has been described in which 01 can be a wireless communication host device or a slave device. However, in the case of a target device that can only respond to an external signal without becoming a host device, step # 23 The wireless communication operation cannot be performed. In that case, the security is slightly weaker than that of the above embodiment, but step # 2
It is also conceivable that the analyzed data stored as 0 is stored as it is in the storage circuit as a corresponding device and only that device performs wireless communication.

In the embodiments described thus far, the information device 102 displays the device-specific information on the display unit 21 each time the power is turned on, or the display circuit 2 is turned on when the power is turned on by setting.
1 displays the device-specific information, but if the digital still camera 101 can send a device-specific information display command, the information device 1 is processed by the following method.
No. 02 is displayed on the display circuit 21.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the wireless communication interrupt operation of the information equipment in the embodiment of the present invention.

When the information device 102 is powered on and a wireless communication signal is received from the outside and an interrupt operation occurs, the process proceeds to step # 29. In step # 29, it is checked whether the signal is a wireless communication signal from a device already associated with the storage circuit 22 of the information device 102.
If the communication signal is from a device already registered as a wireless communication device, the process proceeds to step # 30 to perform a normal wireless communication operation. If the communication signal is from a device that has not been registered yet, the process proceeds to step # 31.

In step # 31, the wireless IP of the device requesting wireless communication is temporarily stored in the storage circuit 22. Then, the process proceeds to step # 32.

In step # 32, it is confirmed whether the signal is a wireless signal from an external device, and if the command is to display device-specific information, the process proceeds to step # 33. If there is another data transmission command or the like, there is a security problem in transmitting data to an unregistered device, so the process proceeds to step # 34 and communication error processing is performed. The communication error processing sends a communication error signal to the wireless IP of the device that has been sent, and the wireless communication NG on the display circuit 21.
Is a process for displaying. As a result, it is confirmed that the wireless communication has failed, and the information device 102 exits the wireless communication interrupt process and shifts to the normal operation.

In step # 33, the control circuit 2 stores the information specific to the wireless IP or the device owner, which is stored in the unique information storage circuit 24 of the information device 102 and is set when the device is manufactured.
0 reads out. When this information is normally captured, the process proceeds to step # 35.

At step # 35, a process of starting a timer for setting a predetermined time for displaying the information peculiar to the display circuit 21 is performed. After starting the timer, the process proceeds to step # 36.

In step # 36, the control circuit 20 displays the device-specific information read in step # 33 on the display circuit 21.
Is displayed. Then, the process proceeds to step # 37, and a process of continuously displaying the device-specific information on the display circuit 21 is performed until the timer started in step # 35 overflows. When the timer overflows, the process proceeds to step # 38.

At step # 38, processing for clearing the device-specific information displayed on the display circuit 21 is performed. Before this clearing operation, the digital still camera 101, which wants to be associated, executes the imaging operation of step # 16 to step # 20. Then, the process proceeds to # 39.

At step # 39, a timer for setting a predetermined time until the wireless communication signal is received is started. Then, the process proceeds to step # 40. In step # 40, it is confirmed whether or not a wireless communication signal from the digital still camera 101 desired to be associated has arrived. If no wireless communication signal is received, the process proceeds to step # 41, and steps # 40 and # 41 are executed until the timer started in step # 39 overflows.
Between the loops, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, step # 3
When the timer 9 overflows, the process proceeds to step # 44 to end the interrupt processing. If the wireless communication signal is received before the timer overflows, step # 4
Go to 2.

In step # 42, a process for confirming whether or not the wireless IP of the information device which has sent the unique information display command stored in step # 31 and the wireless IP of the device which has sent the wireless communication signal this time match. To do. As a result, if it is confirmed that the wireless IPs match, the process proceeds to step # 43 to register the device. If they do not match, the registration fails, so the process proceeds to step # 44 and the wireless interrupt process ends.

At step # 43, a wireless device associating operation is performed. Step # 31 in the memory circuit 22 in the information device
And the wireless IP of the wireless device that matched in the processing of step # 42
To save. As a result, the information device 102 can safely perform wireless communication by determining whether the communication is from the device associated in step # 29.

The above is the registration processing of the wireless communication device in one embodiment of the present invention.

(Appendix) 1. In an information device system including a digital still camera having a short-distance wireless communication means and an information device capable of performing short-distance wireless communication with the digital still camera within a predetermined distance, the digital still camera includes the information In order to store image pickup means for picking up unique information about the device, image recognition means for converting the unique information imaged by the image pickup means into a predetermined format, and unique information converted by the image recognition means An information equipment system, comprising: a storage means for storing information and an authenticating means for determining whether or not communication with the information equipment is possible based on the unique information stored in the storage means.

2. The information device has an information storage unit that stores information specific to the device itself or the device owner and a display unit that displays the specific information, and registers a device that is a counterpart of short-range wireless communication. At this time, the unique information is read from the storage means, displayed on the display means, and the displayed unique information is imaged by the imaging means of the digital still camera to perform registration. Information equipment system described in.

3. The above-mentioned unique information is a unique address assigned when the device is manufactured. Information equipment system described in.

4. 1. The display means displays the unique information for a predetermined time when the information device is powered on. Information equipment system described in.

5. 1. The display means displays the unique information for a predetermined time in accordance with reception of a wireless communication signal from the digital still camera when the information device is powered on. Information equipment system described in.

6. The digital still camera is a device serving as a wireless communication slave, and is characterized by performing wireless communication operation only on a wireless communication signal of an information device whose unique information is registered in advance in a built-in data storage unit. Information equipment system described in.

7. The digital still camera is a master device in wireless communication having state display means for confirming the field information and the contents of the operation, and the information display device previously registered in the built-in data storage section is displayed by the state display means. 1. A communication signal is transmitted to the selected device. Information equipment system described in.

[0084]

According to the present invention, even when a plurality of devices of the same communication standard exist in the vicinity, it is possible to easily associate the operations of the digital still camera and the information device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of an information equipment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a digital still camera 101 and an information device 102.
3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment for performing an associating operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment for displaying device-specific information according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an information equipment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an operation when the information device according to the embodiment of the present invention is powered on.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart when the power of the digital still camera according to the embodiment of the present invention is turned on.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an associating operation of the digital still camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a wireless communication interrupt operation of the information device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Control circuit 11 Imaging circuit 12 Image recognition circuit 13 Memory circuit 14 Wireless communication circuit 15 Display circuit 16 Manual operation circuit 17 Authentication circuit 20 Control circuit 21 Display circuit 22 Memory circuit 23 Wireless communication circuit 24 Unique information storage circuit 101 digital still camera 102A, 102A 'PDA terminal 102B mobile phone

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information device system including a digital still camera having short-range wireless communication means, and an information device for performing short-range wireless communication with the digital still camera within a predetermined distance, wherein the digital still camera comprises: An image pickup means for picking up unique information about the information device, an image recognition means for converting the unique information picked up by the image pickup means into a predetermined format, and a unique information converted by the image recognition means are stored. An information equipment system, comprising: a storage means for performing the operation; and an authentication means that determines whether or not communication with the information equipment is possible based on the unique information stored in the storage means. 2. The information device has an information storage unit for storing information specific to the device itself or a device owner, and a display unit for displaying the specific information, and is a counterpart of short-range wireless communication. At the time of registering a device to be used, the peculiar information is read out from the storage means, displayed on the display means, and the displayed peculiar information is imaged by the image pickup means of the digital still camera to perform registration. The information equipment system according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. The information device system according to claim 2, wherein the unique information is displayed on the display means for a predetermined time when the information device is powered on. 4. The unique information is displayed on the display means for a predetermined time in accordance with reception of a wireless communication signal from the digital still camera when the information device is powered on. The information device system according to claim 2.