JP2001298653A - Electronic equipment operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the remote operation of an electronic equipment. SOLUTION: An electronic equipment operating device 10 is connected to the electronic equipment 2 having an operating member and operates the equipment 2. An electronic equipment information acquiring part 14 acquires the electronic equipment information including the shape information on the equipment 2 and the position information on the operating member of the equipment 2. An electronic equipment image generation part 16 generates an image of the equipment 2 having its operating member from the shape information and position information on the operating member of the equipment 2. An operation reception processing part 20 receives an operation to the operation member on the displayed image of the equipment 2. An operation information generation part 22 generates the operation information showing the received operation to start the function of the equipment 2 in response to the operation of the operating member. The device 10 is available in a sense approximate to a state where the main body of the equipment 2 is held by hand for its operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device operating device, and more particularly to an electronic device operating device that can be used as if the user were operating the electronic device by holding the electronic device body in his hand.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a remote control device for remotely controlling a camera has been known. In such a remote control device, a subject image captured by the camera is displayed on a monitor, and the user operates the connected keyboard or the like while taking a picture of the monitor to photograph the subject. The keyboard is provided with a function corresponding to the operation member on the camera side. For example, a key on a keyboard corresponds to a camera shutter.

[0003]

Therefore, in order to remotely control the camera, the user has to learn how to operate the remote control device, such as learning keys corresponding to operation members of the camera. In normal photographing without using a remote control device, a user photographs a subject by holding a camera in his hand. However, since the camera body cannot be seen with the remote control device, there is a problem that the usability is different. It would be convenient for the user if the remote operation could be performed with the same feeling as the actual shooting operation.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device operating device capable of solving the above-mentioned problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device operating device for operating an electronic device by connecting to an electronic device having an operating member. An electronic device information acquisition unit that acquires electronic device information including position information of the operation member on the electronic device; and an electronic device in which the operation member is arranged based on the shape information of the electronic device and the position information of the operation member. An electronic device image generation unit that generates an image of the electronic device, an operation reception processing unit that receives an operation on an operation member on the image when the image of the electronic device is displayed, and operation information indicating the operation when the operation is received And an operation information generation unit that causes the electronic device to function according to the operation of the operation member by generating the operation device.

The electronic device according to the present embodiment is a digital camera. The electronic device may also be an MP3 player, a photo printer, etc.

The electronic device information obtained by the electronic device information obtaining section may include function information indicating a function of the electronic device corresponding to the operation of the operation member. When the electronic device is a digital camera, the function is a function of an operation member such as “shutter”, “zoom in”, and “zoom out”. The operation information generation unit may generate the operation information based on the function information of the operation member.

[0008] The electronic device operating apparatus may further include a viewpoint conversion processing unit for converting a viewpoint with respect to the image of the electronic device. The viewpoint conversion refers to holding the camera in hand and looking forward and backward of the camera.

The electronic device operating device may further include operation predicting means for predicting that the operating member will be operated next based on the function information. The operation prediction unit may predict that the operation member will be operated next according to the state of the electronic device, and guide the user to perform the next operation. For example, the operation prediction means may predict that when the camera comes to a standstill, the shutter button will be pressed next.

[0010] The electronic device information obtaining section obtains a state around the electronic device, and the operation predicting means predicts that the operating member will be operated next in accordance with the state around the electronic device. May be guided. For example, the operation predicting unit may predict that the strobe button will be pressed next when the light amount is insufficient.

The electronic device image generating section may generate an image for guiding the operation of the operating member arranged on the electronic device according to the prediction of the operation predicting means.

[0012] The electronic device operating device may further include an additional function providing means for giving an additional function to the operating member on the image when the image of the electronic device is displayed. The operation information generating unit receives an operation for an additional function of the member, and generates an additional function operation information indicating the operation when the operation for the additional function is received, thereby responding to the additional function of the operation member. The electronic device may be caused to function. For example, the additional function providing means
The operation member on the image may be provided with a function of moving the camera body.

The electronic device operating device may further include an operation mode changing means for changing the operation mode of the operation member on the image from the operation mode of the operation member of the electronic device main body. For example, the operation mode changing unit may rotate the mode dial in an actual operation, but may click the mark to operate the operation member on the image.

When the electronic device is operated by the electronic device operation device, the electronic device may not function depending on the operation of the operation member of the electronic device body.

The electronic device operating device may further include an electronic device information recording unit that records the electronic device information in association with identification information for identifying the electronic device. When the identification information of the electronic device is received, the electronic device information may be acquired from the electronic device information recording unit.

The electronic device may be a camera, and the electronic device operating device may generate a subject image acquired by the camera together with an image of the electronic device on which the operation members are arranged.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera operable by an electronic device operating device, wherein electronic device information including shape information of the electronic device and position information of an operation member on the electronic device is electronically transmitted. A camera provided to a device operating device, wherein the camera functions in accordance with an operation of the electronic device operating device with respect to an image of the electronic device on which an operating member displayed by the electronic device operating device is arranged.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium storing a computer-executable program for operating an electronic device by connecting to an electronic device having an operation member. Electronic device information acquisition processing for acquiring electronic device information including the shape information of the electronic device and the position information of the operation member on the electronic device; An electronic device image generation process for generating an image of the electronic device, an operation reception process for receiving an operation on an operation member on the image when the image of the electronic device is displayed, and an operation for receiving the operation when the operation is received. And causing the computer to execute operation information generation processing for causing the electronic device to function according to the operation of the operation member by generating the operation information shown. To provide a recording medium readable by chromatography data.

The above summary of the present invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these features can also be invented.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the present invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention and have the features described in the embodiments. Not all combinations are essential to the solution of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the relationship between the camera 2, the subject 6, and the camera operating device 10. The electronic device according to the present embodiment is the digital camera 2. The camera 2 can be operated by the camera operation device 10.

The camera 2 is mounted on a camera drive unit 4. The camera drive unit 4 has a motor, and can move the camera 2 in the vertical and horizontal directions and can adjust the height of the camera 2. The camera 2 is connected to the camera operation device 10 via a USB cable, and is operated by the camera operation device 10. The camera 2 and the camera operation device 10 are wireless,
Cable other than USB, local communication network such as LAN,
Alternatively, they may be connected by a communication network such as the Internet.
The camera operation device 10 can perform an operation on the camera driving unit 4, whereby the camera 2 itself can be moved. Therefore, the operation of the camera 2 includes that the camera 2 itself is moved.

The camera operation device 10 includes an operation control unit 12,
It includes a display 40 and an input device 50. The operation control unit 12 is a computer device and operates the camera 2 by connecting to the camera 2. Although the input device 50 of the camera operation device 10 in the present embodiment is a mouse, the input device 50
May be any input device such as a pointing device, a keyboard, and a voice input device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera operation device 10.

The camera 2 provides electronic device information to the camera operation device 10. The camera operation device 10 displays an image of the camera 2 on which the operation member is arranged based on the electronic device information, and performs an operation on the image. Camera 2
It functions by operation of the camera operation device 10.

The operation control unit 12 of the camera operation device 10
Electronic device information acquisition unit 14 and electronic device image generation unit 16
, Image viewpoint conversion processing unit 18, operation reception processing unit 20
And an operation information generating unit 22, an operation predicting unit 24, an additional function providing unit 26, and an operation mode changing unit 28.

The electronic device information acquisition section 14 is provided with the operation control section 1.
The electronic device information is acquired from the camera 2 connected to the camera 2.
The electronic device information includes the three-dimensional shape information of the camera 2 and the camera 2
The position information of the operation member on the camera 2 and the function information indicating the function of the camera 2 corresponding to the operation of the operation member are included. The function information is, for example, a function of an operation member such as “shutter”, “zoom in”, and “zoom out”.

The electronic device image generation section 16 generates an image of the camera 2 on which the operation members are arranged, based on the shape information of the camera 2 and the position information of the operation members. The image of the camera 2 generated by the electronic device image generation unit 16 is displayed on the display 40. The electronic device information acquisition unit 14
The image of the subject 6 captured by the camera 2 is acquired, and the electronic device image generation unit 16 generates an image of the subject 6 together with the image of the camera 2. Accordingly, the image of the subject 6 captured by the camera 2 is displayed on the display 40 together with the image of the camera 2.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a camera image of the camera 2 operated by the camera operating device 10 as viewed from the upper rear side on the display 40 in the present embodiment. The display 40 displays the camera 2, its operation members, and an image of the subject 6 captured by the camera 2. The camera 2 has a mode dial 62, a zoom button 64, and a shutter button 66 as operation members. These operation members are displayed at corresponding locations on the camera 2. Although the camera 2 has various other operation members, the description is omitted here for simplification. A pointer 80 is displayed on the display 40, and the user moves the pointer 80 using the input device 50 to perform an operation on each operation member of the camera 2 displayed on the display 40.

Since the camera 2 has the liquid crystal monitor 60 for displaying the object 6, the liquid crystal monitor is also displayed on the camera image on the display 40. In order to make the usability of the camera image on the display 40 the same as that of the camera 2, an image of the subject 6 may be displayed on the camera image LCD monitor 60.

On the other hand, the image of the subject 6 may be displayed on the display 40 separately from the camera image without displaying the image of the subject 6 on the liquid crystal monitor of the camera image on the display 40. In this way, even if the camera image is displayed small on the display 40, the image of the subject 6 can be easily confirmed.

Also, when operating a camera having no liquid crystal monitor, the subject 6 is separated from the image of the camera body.
May be displayed on the display 40. For example, in the case of a camera of a type in which the subject 6 is confirmed and photographed with the viewfinder of the camera, the image of the subject 6 and the viewfinder display seen from the viewfinder are enlarged and displayed on the image display 40 separately from the image of the camera body. Is also good.

Returning to FIG. 2, the image viewpoint conversion processing unit 18
The viewpoint of the camera 2 on the display 40 is changed, and images of the camera 2 viewed from a plurality of directions are displayed on the display 40. Here, the viewpoint with respect to the camera 2 refers to the viewpoint with respect to the image of the camera 2 displayed on the display 40. By changing the viewpoint, the camera 2 is not moved but the camera 2 is rotated only on the image. For example, the image viewpoint conversion processing unit 18
Can also be displayed on the display 40 as viewed from the front on the opposite side to the camera image shown in FIG. By changing the viewpoint, the user can handle the actual camera by hand and use the camera operation device 10 as if looking at the front, back, left and right of the camera.

The operation reception processing unit 20 includes a display 40
An operation from the input device 50 for the operation member of the camera image above is received. The operation information generation unit 22 generates operation information based on the operation received by the operation reception processing unit 20, and sends the operation information to the camera 2. The camera 2 functions according to the operation information.

In this way, the operation on the camera image displayed on the display 40 can be performed in the same manner as when the camera 2 is used, thereby improving the usability. In addition, since the camera image is displayed on the display 40, the camera 2 can be easily operated using the mouse as the input device 50.

When the camera 2 is operated by the camera operating device 10, the camera 2 is prevented from functioning by operating the operation member of the camera 2 body. By doing so, the camera 2 main body is not arbitrarily operated against the intention of the user of the camera operation device 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation control section 12 further has an operation prediction section 24. The operation prediction unit 24 predicts that the operation member will be operated next based on the function information. The operation prediction unit 24 performs prediction based on the following two conditions.

As a first condition, the operation predicting section 24 predicts that the operating member will be operated next according to the state of the camera 2, and guides the user to the next operation. For example, camera 2
Is stationary, it is determined that the user has captured the subject 6 in a desired size and at a desired position, and the shutter button 6 is pressed.
Guide 6

As a second condition, the operation predicting unit 24 predicts that the operating member will be operated next in accordance with the peripheral state of the camera 2 acquired by the electronic device information acquiring unit 14, and the next operation of the user. Guide the operation. The state of the periphery of the camera 2 is not the state of the body of the camera 2 but a state of a place where the camera 2 is installed, such as “the periphery of the camera 2 is dark”. When the periphery of the camera 2 is dark and the electronic device information acquisition unit 14 acquires a peripheral state of “light shortage” from the camera 2, the operation prediction unit 24 determines that a strobe is necessary and guides the user to a strobe button. . The electronic device image generation unit 16 generates an image that guides the operation of the operation member arranged on the camera image on the display 40 according to the prediction of the operation prediction unit 24.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart used by the operation prediction section 24 to guide the user to the next operation according to the state of the camera 2, which is the first condition. Here, as an example, a process in which the operation prediction unit 24 predicts that the shutter button 66 will be operated next from the state of the camera 2 and guides the shutter button 66 to the user will be described.

The mode dial 62 has a "playback mode" for viewing an already shot image in addition to the "shooting mode".
and so on. Therefore, when the user shoots a new subject 6 with the camera 2, the mode dial 62 must be set to “shooting mode”. Operation prediction unit 24
Determines whether the mode dial 62 of the camera 2 is set to “shooting mode” (S42). If the mode dial 62 is set to “shooting mode”, the user shoots the subject 6 Predict that will be. Then, it is next determined whether or not the camera 2 is stationary (S
44) If the camera 2 is stationary, it predicts that the user will press the shutter button 66 to photograph the subject 6, and guides the user to the shutter button 66 (S46). Camera 2 is stationary when camera 2
Is not moved or adjusted in height in the up, down, left, and right directions by the camera driving unit 4. Step 4
The determination of 4 may be made based on whether the camera is stationary for a predetermined period. That is, when the mode dial 62 is set to the “photographing mode” and the camera 2 is stationary for a predetermined time, the operation prediction unit 24 determines that the user
The user is guided to the shutter button 66 in order to determine that the user has captured the desired size at the desired position.

FIG. 5 is an image generated by the electronic device image generator 16 for guiding the shutter button 66. When the operation prediction unit 24 predicts that the user will press the shutter button 66, the electronic device image generation unit 16
Arranges the pointer 80 so that the pointer 80 points to the shutter button 66, and generates a guidance display of "shutter button".

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another part of a flowchart used by the operation prediction section 24 to guide the user to the next operation according to the state of the camera 2, which is the first condition. Here, a process for guiding an appropriate operation when the user performs an inappropriate operation will be described.

For example, when the mode dial 62 is not set to the "photographing mode", the user
Is operated from the input device 50 on the shutter button 66 of the camera image displayed on the screen. In this case, the subject 6 cannot be photographed. Therefore, the operation prediction unit 24
An operation necessary for photographing the subject 6 is predicted and guided to the user.

When the user operates the shutter button 66 when the mode dial 62 is not in the "shooting mode" (S60 and S61), the operation predicting section 24 first guides the mode dial 62 (S62). The electronic device image generation unit 16 arranges the pointer 80 so that the pointer 80 points to the mode dial 62, and generates a guidance message such as "Please select a shooting mode."

Further, when the user does not follow the guidance and continues to press the shutter button 66, the operation predicting unit 24 predicts that the user will shoot the subject 6 and automatically turns the mode dial 62. The mode may be switched to the “photographing mode”.

The user follows the guidance or the operation predicting unit 2
When the user performs an operation of changing the mode dial 62 to the “shooting mode”, the operation prediction unit 24 checks the shooting state (S66). The photographing state refers to a state of whether or not the user can immediately take a photograph, for example, by properly capturing the subject 6. The confirmation of the shooting state may be determined based on whether the camera 2 is stationary as described with reference to FIG. If the user does not operate the operation member of the display camera 42 and the camera 2 is stationary for a predetermined time, a message such as “Do you want to shoot?” Is displayed and the user is confirmed. When the user selects to shoot, the shutter button 66 is guided (S70). On the other hand, if the user does not select to take a picture, the zoom button 64 is guided (S68), and the user captures the subject 6 at a desired position at a desired size. After that, there is no operation on the operation member of the display camera 42 by the user,
When the camera 2 stops, a message such as “Do you want to shoot?” Is displayed again. When the user selects to shoot, the shutter button 66 is guided (S70).

FIG. 7 shows a display on the display 40 for guiding the mode dial 62 to the user. The image viewpoint conversion processing unit 18 displays on the display 40 a camera image viewed from the direction of the surface on which the mode dial 62 is arranged. In FIG. 7, the mode dial 62 is "SETUP"
, The operation prediction unit 24 guides the user to select the “imaging mode”.

FIG. 8 shows a display on the display 40 for the operation prediction section 24 to guide the zoom button 64 to the user. The image viewpoint conversion processing unit 18 includes a zoom button 64
Is displayed on the display 40 as viewed from the direction of the surface on which the is arranged. The operation prediction unit 24 guides the user to operate the zoom button 64 so as to capture the subject 6 in a desired size.

Thereafter, when the user does not operate the zoom button 64 for a certain period of time and does not operate the shutter button 66, the operation predicting section 24 guides the shutter button 66 as shown in FIG.

When the user actually shoots using the camera 2, nothing happens when the shutter button 66 is pressed when the mode dial 62 is not in the "shooting mode". Therefore, the user has to check the instruction manual to see how the subject 6 can be photographed. But,
In the present embodiment, appropriate guidance can be provided to a user who does not know how to use the camera 2 well.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart used by the operation prediction section 24 to guide the user to the next operation according to the second condition. As described above, the second condition is to predict that the operating member will be operated next according to the state of the place where the camera 2 is installed.

The electronic device information obtaining section 14 obtains the state around the camera 2 from the camera 2. The operation prediction unit 24 predicts that the operation member will be operated next according to the state around the camera 2 and guides the user to the next operation. For example, when the periphery of the camera 2 is dark and the light amount is insufficient, strobe light emission is required at the time of photographing. Therefore, when the operation prediction unit 24 receives from the electronic device information acquisition unit 14 information that the amount of light around the camera 2 is insufficient (S90), the operation prediction unit 24 determines whether the strobe mode is on (S92). ). If the strobe mode is not turned on, the strobe button is guided to the user (S94).

FIG. 10 shows the strobe button 68 of the camera image displayed on the display 40.

Returning to FIG. 2, the operation control section 12 also has an additional function providing section 26. The additional function imparting unit 26 imparts an additional function to the operation member of the camera image displayed on the display 40. The operation reception processing unit 20 receives an operation for an additional function of the operation member, and the operation information generation unit 22 generates additional function operation information indicating the operation when receiving an operation for the additional function. The operation information generation unit 22 sends the generated additional function operation information to the camera 2, and causes the camera 2 to function according to the additional function of the operation member.

For example, the camera 2 shown in FIG. The cross button 70 is used to select a menu originally displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 60 of the camera 2. The additional function providing unit 26 includes a display 40
Is provided with a function of moving the camera 2 up, down, left, and right in addition to the original function. The additional function providing unit 26 gives the cross button 70 a function of controlling the camera driving unit 4 when an operation on the cross button 70 is performed, for example, when the mode dial 62 is set to the “shooting mode”. Is also good. In this case, the setting is made such that when the user clicks the up arrow, the camera driving unit 4 moves upward, and when the user clicks the right arrow, the camera driving unit 4 moves rightward. In this manner, the user can freely move the camera 2 up, down, left, and right to capture the subject 6 at a desired position, similarly to the case where the user holds the camera 2 for shooting.

Returning to FIG. 2, the operation control section 12 also has an operation form changing section 28. The operation mode changing unit 28 makes the operation mode of the operation member on the image different from the operation mode of the operation member of the camera 2 main body.

For example, when the user takes a picture while holding the camera 2 in his / her hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the user turns the mode dial 62 to select the "photographing mode". However, when shooting is performed by operating the camera 2 using the camera operation device 10, it is inconvenient to perform the same operation on the camera image displayed on the display 40. Therefore, the operation mode changing unit 28 operates the mode dial 62 of the display camera 42 in an operation mode different from the operation mode of the operation member of the camera 2 main body.
Is performed. For example, when the user enters the input device 5
When the shooting mode button is clicked with the pointer 80 using 0, the mode dial 62 is set to be changed to the shooting mode.

Next, a modification of the display method on the display 40 will be described.

FIG. 11 shows a modification of the method of displaying a camera image displayed on the display 40. The electronic device image generation unit 16 may display a plurality of side views of the camera 2 on the display 40 side by side. With this configuration, it is possible to perform operations on the operation members arranged on a plurality of surfaces of the camera 2.

Further, the electronic device image generating section 16 may switch between an image displaying the camera 2 main body and an image displaying the subject 6 captured by the camera 2 on the entire display 40.

The operation control section 12 has a function of not only operating the camera 2 but also giving information such as a method of operating the camera 2 to the user.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the camera 2 together with its operation information. FIG. 12 shows an image of the camera 2 viewed from a different direction from the camera image shown in FIG.

When the user uses the input device 50 to move the pointer 80 near the operating member, the electronic device image generating section 16 displays the name of the operating member. In FIG.
Since the pointer 80 is near the mode dial 62,
The name "mode dial" is displayed. further,
At the bottom right of the screen, there is provided a button called "display all names".
The electronic device information acquisition unit 14 may acquire, as the electronic device information, the explanation information of the operation member in association with the position information of the operation member.

When the user clicks the display of the mode dial 62 or "mode dial", an enlarged view of the mode dial 62 and its explanatory diagram are displayed as shown in FIG.

When the user clicks the button "display all names", the operation members of the camera image and the names of the characteristic shape portions of the camera 2 are displayed on the screen as shown in FIG.

In this way, even if the user does not know how to operate the camera 2, the user can click the operation member of the camera image displayed on the display 40 without having to compare the instruction manual with the main body to find out the operation method. By simply doing so, the functions and the like of the operation members can be known, and the camera 2 can be easily operated.

FIG. 15 shows a modification of the camera operation device 10. The operation control unit 12 of the camera operation device 10 may include an electronic device information recording unit 30 in addition to the components illustrated in FIG. The electronic device information recording unit 30 includes the camera 2
Is recorded in association with the identification information for identifying the camera 2. The electronic device information is shape information, position information, and function information. In this case, when the camera 2 is connected to the camera operation device 10, the electronic device information acquisition unit 14 acquires identification information for identifying the camera 2 from the camera 2. Next, the electronic device information acquisition unit 14 acquires the electronic device information of the camera 2 corresponding to the identification information from the electronic device information recording unit 30. With this configuration, it is not necessary to transmit relatively large-capacity electronic device information including the shape information, the position information, and the function information of the camera 2 from the camera 2, so that the electronic device information can be quickly acquired.

FIG. 16 shows a camera operation device 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a general-purpose computer that can function as 0.

The camera operation device 10 may be realized by a general-purpose computer. In FIG. 16, the computer 100
Are a CPU 102, a ROM 104, and a RAM 106
, A hard disk drive 110, a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive 114, a CD-ROM drive 116, and a communication interface 118.

The recording medium is provided with a program having, as a functional configuration, an electronic device information acquisition process, an electronic device image generation process, an operation reception process, and an operation information generation process. These processes may be recorded on the recording medium in a compressed or uncompressed manner, and a part or all of them may be recorded on the recording medium. Since these processes are the same as the functions and operations of the corresponding electronic device information acquisition unit 14, electronic device image generation unit 16, operation reception processing unit 20, and operation information generation unit 22 of the present embodiment, Then, the description is omitted.

Examples of the recording medium include a floppy disk 124 and a CD-ROM 126. In addition, an optical recording medium such as a DVD, a magnetic recording medium such as an MD, a magneto-optical recording medium such as a PD, a tape medium, and a magnetic recording medium A medium, a semiconductor memory such as an IC card or a miniature card, or the like can be used. Further, a storage device such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet may be used as a recording medium, and the program may be provided to the computer 100 via the communication network.

The program recorded on the recording medium is installed in the hard disk drive 110,
102, the ROM 104 and the RAM 106.

As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiment. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiment. The present invention is applicable to electronic devices other than the digital camera, and various changes or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. For example, the electronic device may be a digital camera, an MP3 player, a photo printer, or the like. It is convenient to use the electronic device in which the operation members are arranged on a plurality of surfaces. It is apparent from the description of the appended claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0075]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the electronic device can be easily operated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a camera 2, a subject 6, and a camera operation device 10.
FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a camera operation device 10.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a camera image of the camera 2 operated by the camera operation device 10 as viewed from above from the rear on the display 40 in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart used by the operation prediction unit 24 to guide the user to the next operation according to the state of the camera 2.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an image for guiding a shutter button 66 on a display 40.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another part of a flowchart used by the operation prediction unit 24 to guide the user to the next operation according to the state of the camera 2.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an image for guiding a mode dial 62 on a display 40.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an image for guiding the zoom button 64 on the display 40.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart used by the operation prediction unit 24 to guide the user to the next operation according to the state around the camera 2.

FIG. 10 is a diagram in which an image for guiding a strobe button 68 is displayed on a display 40.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a modification of a method of displaying a camera image displayed on the display 40.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an image of the camera 2 when the camera 2 is viewed from a direction different from the camera image shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a mode dial 62 and an explanatory diagram thereof.

FIG. 14 is a view showing an operation member of a camera image and names of characteristic shape portions of the camera 2 on a display 40.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a modification of the camera operation device 10.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a general-purpose computer that can function as the camera operation device 10 of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Camera 4 Camera drive unit 6 Subject 10 Camera operation device 12 Operation control unit 14 Electronic device information acquisition unit 16 Electronic device image generation unit 18 Image viewpoint conversion processing unit 20 Operation reception processing unit 22 Operation information generation unit 24 Operation prediction unit (Operation Prediction unit) 26 additional function providing unit (additional function providing unit) 28 operation mode changing unit (operation mode changing unit) 30 electronic device information recording unit 40 display 50 input device

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) H04Q 9/00 301 H04Q 9/00 301E 5K048 F term (reference) 2H020 FB01 5C022 AA13 AB65 AC11 AC31 AC69 5C025 AA30 BA18 BA27 BA28 CA09 CB03 DA10 5C056 AA01 BA10 CA01 CA11 DA08 EA06 EA09 5E501 AA30 AC37 BA05 CA04 CB03 CB14 DA12 EA05 EA10 EB05 FA05 FA13 FA14 FA43 FB03 FB04 FB24 5K048 AA04 BA03 BA10 DC01 EB02 EB15 FB03 FB05 FB03 FB05 FB03 FB05

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device operating device for operating an electronic device by connecting to an electronic device having an operating member, comprising: information on a shape of the electronic device and position information of the operating member on the electronic device. An electronic device information acquisition unit that acquires electronic device information including: an electronic device that generates an image of the electronic device on which the operation member is arranged based on the shape information of the electronic device and the position information of the operation member. A device image generation unit, an operation reception processing unit that receives an operation on the operation member on the image when an image of the electronic device is displayed, and generates operation information indicating the operation when the operation is received An operation information generating unit that causes the electronic device to function according to the operation of the operation member. 2. The electronic device information according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device information acquired by the electronic device information acquisition unit includes function information representing a function of the electronic device corresponding to an operation of the operation member. Electronic equipment operation device. 3. The electronic device operation device according to claim 2, wherein the operation information generation unit generates the operation information based on the function information of the operation member. 4. The electronic device operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a viewpoint conversion processing unit that converts a viewpoint of the electronic device on the image. 5. The electronic device operating device according to claim 2, further comprising an operation predicting unit that predicts that the operating member will be operated next based on the function information. . 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the operation predicting unit predicts that the operation member will be operated next according to a state of the electronic device, and guides the user to perform the next operation. Electronic device operating device according to the above. 7. The electronic device information acquiring unit acquires a state around the electronic device, and the operation predicting unit predicts that the operation member will be operated next according to a state around the electronic device. 6. The electronic device operating device according to claim 5, wherein the next operation of the user is guided. 8. The electronic device image generation unit generates an image for guiding an operation of the operation member arranged on the electronic device according to the prediction of the operation prediction unit. 8. The electronic device operating device according to any one of 5 to 7. 9. The electronic apparatus further includes an additional function imparting unit that causes the operation member on the image to have an additional function when an image of the electronic device is displayed, wherein the operation reception processing unit includes The operation information generating unit receives an operation for the additional function, and generates an additional function operation information indicating the operation when the operation for the additional function is received. The electronic device operation device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is caused to function according to a function. 10. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an operation mode changing unit configured to change an operation mode of the operation member on the image from an operation mode of the operation member of the electronic device main body. An electronic device operating device according to any one of the above. 11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the electronic device is operated by the electronic device operation device, the electronic device does not function depending on an operation of the operation member of the electronic device main body. Electronic device operating device according to any one of the above. 12. An electronic device information recording unit that records the electronic device information in association with identification information for identifying the electronic device, wherein the electronic device information acquisition unit is configured to obtain the electronic device information from the electronic device. The electronic device information is acquired from the electronic device information recording unit when the identification information is received.
12. The electronic device operating device according to any one of claims 11 to 11. 13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a camera, and the electronic device operation device generates a subject image acquired by the camera together with an image of the electronic device on which the operation member is arranged. 13. The electronic device operating device according to any one of 1 to 12. 14. A camera operable by an electronic device operating device, wherein electronic device information including shape information of the electronic device and position information of the operating member on the electronic device is transmitted to the electronic device operating device. A camera which functions according to an operation of the electronic device operation device with respect to an image of the electronic device on which the operation member displayed by the electronic device operation device is arranged. 15. A recording medium storing a computer-executable program for operating an electronic device by connecting to an electronic device having an operation member, wherein the program comprises: An electronic device information acquisition process for acquiring electronic device information including position information of the operation member on the electronic device; and the operation member based on the shape information of the electronic device and the position information of the operation member. An electronic device image generation process of generating an image of the electronic device in which is arranged; an operation receiving process of receiving an operation on the operation member on the image when the image of the electronic device is displayed; An operation information generation process for causing the electronic device to function in accordance with the operation of the operation member by generating operation information indicating the operation when the operation information is received, Wherein the allowed to run computer, the recording medium readable by a computer.