JP2005136833A - Device controller, device control method, computer program, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To always match photographic conditions on the side of an image photography device with the photographic conditions on the side of a device controller. <P>SOLUTION: In a device control method, the image photographic device, such as a digital camera is connected and controlled. Processing for receiving a photographic setting value change item list from the image photographic device is always performed, after setting a photography setting value on the image photographic device and when photographic setting is performed to the image photographic device. Acquisition and processing of a change result are started after acquiring the range of a changed parameter item, even if the parameter items except for a parameters which are set directly is changed subordinately on the side of the image photography device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a device control apparatus, a device control method, a computer program, and a computer-readable recording medium, and more particularly to a device control apparatus and method that can be controlled by connecting an image capturing device such as a digital camera.

  Conventionally, there are the following device control apparatuses that can be connected to and controlled by an image capturing device such as a digital camera. That is, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) equipped with a USB interface, and a PC in which device driver software corresponding to an image photographing device to be connected and control application software are introduced. If the software to be introduced into the PC is defined in Non-Patent Document 1, the connected image capturing device can be controlled from these PCs.

PIMA 15740: 2000, Photography-Electronic still picture imaging-Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) for Digital Still Photography Devices, PHOTOGRAPHIC AND IMAGING MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, INC., Approved 2000-07-05, First EDITION

  By the way, in some image capturing devices, a unique device control application may be developed and installed using a unique communication protocol. In such an image capturing device, even if it conforms to PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) described in PIMA15740: 2000 of Non-Patent Document 1, a problem may occur.

  That is, the PTP described in PIMA15740: 2000 includes, as standard commands, acquisition of recording media information in the camera, acquisition of data information on the media in the imaging device (including acquisition of directory information and the like), imaging device Image data acquisition, image shooting device operation (such as shooting by remote operation), and shooting parameter setting acquisition and setting of the image shooting device are prepared. However, with these standard commands alone, a device control application developed with a unique communication protocol is ported to a de-imaging device conforming to PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) described in PIMA 15740: 2000 of Non-Patent Document 1. In doing so, the following problems occurred.

  First, as problems, (b) When the PTP standard command is used and shooting settings are made on the image shooting device, the parameter items other than the directly set parameters are changed dependently on the image shooting device side. There was a thing. In this case, considering the implementation using the PTP standard command, a notification event “Device Prop Changed” is issued asynchronously by the number of parameter items, and the image capturing device notifies the device control application. The number of the notification events is indefinite according to the change of the photographing condition on the camera side, and there is a problem that the completion of processing cannot be determined on the device control application side.

  The problem (b) is that the elapsed time for completing the communication of all notification events in (b) also varies depending on the shooting conditions on the image shooting device side, and during the processing, the device control application side There was a problem that responsiveness to users could not be stabilized.

  In particular, when the shooting settings are changed on the image shooting device and the results are reflected in the device control application, only the PTP standard notification event can be used to change various shooting settings of the image shooting device. Notification was not possible, and the problems (a) and (b) were significant.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to always match the photographing condition on the image photographing device side and the photographing condition on the device control apparatus side.

The device control apparatus of the present invention is a device control apparatus that can be connected to and controlled by an image capturing device such as a digital camera, and after setting the shooting setting value on the image capturing device, the image capturing setting from the image capturing device. It has a setting list acquisition means for receiving a value change item list.
Another feature of the present invention is a device control apparatus that can be connected to and controlled by an image capturing device, and has a device control screen that displays a plurality of shooting setting items for controlling the image capturing device. A setting value change monitoring unit that monitors whether or not a setting value change has occurred due to an operation, and when the setting value change is detected by the setting value change monitoring unit, the changed shooting setting item A change setting value transfer means for transferring the setting value to the image shooting device, and a shooting setting value change item list whose setting has been changed on the image shooting device side based on the setting value transferred by the change setting value transfer means. Change value list acquisition means for acquiring, and control screen setting means for setting the change value acquired by the change value list acquisition means on the device control screen It is characterized by a door.
Another feature of the present invention is that an unprocessed item determination unit that determines whether or not an unprocessed item exists in the shooting setting value change item list set by the control screen setting unit; If there is an unprocessed item as a result of the determination by the unprocessed item determination means, setting availability information as to whether or not the shooting setting item relating to the unprocessed item is operable is acquired from the image capturing device. Setting availability information acquisition means, setting availability determination means for determining whether or not the shooting setting item can be set on the device control screen based on the setting availability information acquired by the setting availability information acquisition means, and the setting If the result of determination by the availability determination means is settable, a set of possible values is acquired from the image capturing device and reflected on the device control screen. It is characterized by having a stage.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the image capturing device includes a change notification monitoring unit that monitors whether or not an operation for changing the shooting setting value has been performed. When it is detected by the notification monitoring means that the change has been made on the image photographing device side, a photographing setting item ID list whose setting has been changed on the image photographing device side is acquired.
In addition, another feature of the present invention is that after setting the shooting setting value on the image shooting device, the change item list in which the settable range of the shooting setting value is changed, the setting of the shooting setting value is not possible. It is characterized by having a list receiving means for receiving at least one list from the image photographing device among the change item list that has become possible and the change item list that has become possible to set the photographing setting value.
Another feature of the present invention is a change item list transfer means for transferring a list of setting items that are subordinately changed according to an operation performed on the device control screen to the image capturing device. It is characterized by having.
Another feature of the present invention is that the change item list includes at least one of exposure mode, aperture value, shutter speed, and exposure correction.

The device control method of the present invention is a control method in a device control apparatus that can be connected to and controlled by an image capturing device such as a digital camera, and after setting a shooting setting value on the image capturing device, the image capturing device And a setting list acquisition process for receiving a shooting setting value change item list.
Another feature of the present invention is a control method in a device control apparatus capable of connecting and controlling an image capturing device, and device control for displaying a plurality of shooting setting items for controlling the image capturing device. The setting value change monitoring process for monitoring whether or not a setting value change has occurred due to some operation on the screen, and the setting value change is detected when the setting value change is detected by the setting value change monitoring process. Change setting value transfer processing for transferring the setting value of the shooting setting item to the image shooting device, and change of the shooting setting value changed on the image shooting device side based on the setting value transferred by the change setting value transfer processing A change value list acquisition process for acquiring an item list, and a control screen setting for setting the change value acquired by the change value list acquisition process on the device control screen. It is characterized by having a process.
Another feature of the present invention is that an unprocessed item determination process for determining whether or not an unprocessed item exists in the shooting setting value change item list set by the control screen setting process; If there is an unprocessed item as a result of the determination of the unprocessed item determination process, setting availability information as to whether or not the shooting setting item relating to the unprocessed item is operable is acquired from the image capturing device. Setting availability information acquisition processing, setting availability determination processing for determining whether the shooting setting item can be set in the device control screen based on the setting availability information acquired by the setting availability information acquisition processing, and the setting If it is possible to set as a result of the determination of the availability determination process, a control screen that acquires a set of settable values from the image capturing device and reflects them on the device control screen It is characterized by having a Film processing.
Another feature of the present invention includes a change notification monitoring process for monitoring whether or not an operation for changing the shooting setting value has been notified from the image shooting device. When it is detected by the notification monitoring process that a change has been made on the image photographing device side, a photographing setting item ID list whose setting has been changed on the image photographing device side is acquired.
In addition, another feature of the present invention is that after setting the shooting setting value on the image shooting device, the change item list in which the settable range of the shooting setting value is changed, the setting of the shooting setting value is not possible. It is characterized in that it has a list receiving process for receiving at least one list from the image capturing device among the change item list that has become possible and the change item list in which the setting of the photographing setting value has become newly possible.
Another feature of the present invention is a change item list transfer process in which setting items that are subordinately changed in accordance with operations performed on the device control screen are listed and transferred to the image capturing device. It is characterized by having.
Another feature of the present invention is that the change item list includes at least one of exposure mode, aperture value, shutter speed, and exposure correction.

The computer program of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to execute a control method in a device control apparatus that can be connected to and controlled by an image capturing device such as a digital camera, and after setting a capturing setting value on the image capturing device , And a setting list acquisition process for receiving a shooting setting value change item list from the image shooting device.
Another feature of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a control method in a device control apparatus that can be connected to and controlled by an image capturing device, and a plurality of image capturing settings for controlling the image capturing device. When the setting value change is detected by the setting value change monitoring process for monitoring whether or not a setting value change has occurred by performing some operation on the device control screen for displaying the item, and when the setting value change is detected by the setting value change monitoring process In addition, a change setting value transfer process for transferring the setting value of the changed shooting setting item to the image shooting device, and a setting change on the image shooting device side based on the setting value transferred by the change setting value transfer process A change value list acquisition process for acquiring the acquired shooting setting value change item list, and a change value acquired by the change value list acquisition process. It is characterized by a control screen setting processing for setting the chair control screen.

  The recording medium of the present invention is characterized by recording the computer program described above.

According to the invention of the present application, a device control apparatus capable of connecting and controlling an image capturing device such as a digital camera, and after setting a shooting setting value on the device, the shooting setting value change item from the image shooting device Since the list is received, the photographing conditions on the image photographing device side and the photographing conditions on the device control apparatus side can always be matched. As a result, when the shooting setting is performed on the image capturing device, even if parameter items other than the parameter for which the setting has been directly performed are subordinately changed on the image capturing device side, the range of the changed parameter item is acquired. The acquisition and processing of the change result can be started from. As a result, it is possible to determine the completion of processing on the device control application side.
According to another feature of the present invention, the device control application can freely interrupt or re-execute processing even if the changed item varies depending on the imaging condition on the image capturing device. Responsiveness to can be controlled.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an image photographing system for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. The computer apparatus 101 is equipped with a USB port (not shown), and is connected to the digital camera 102 through the USB port.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the computer apparatus 101. In FIG. 2, 201 is a processing device, 202 is an auxiliary storage device, 203 is a display device, 204 is a mouse, and 205 is a keyboard.

  Driver software and control application software, which are software for causing the computer apparatus 101 to operate as a device control apparatus, are installed in the auxiliary storage device 202. When the computer apparatus 101 operates as a device control apparatus, these software are started from the OS and operate on the processing apparatus 201.

  By the software, the setting value change monitoring unit, the changed setting value transfer unit, the changed value list acquisition unit, the unprocessed item determination unit, the control screen setting unit, the setting availability information acquisition unit, the setting availability determination unit, and the control according to the present embodiment A screen reflection unit, a list reception unit, a change notification monitoring unit, a setting list acquisition unit, a change item list transfer unit, and the like are configured.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of an embodiment of a device control screen (UI) displayed on the display device 203 by the control application software. In FIG. 3, 301 is an Exposure Mode radio button, and the selected value is the state of Program AE.

  Reference numeral 302 denotes an Av (Aparture Value) combo box, in which the selected value F = 2.8 cannot be operated. Reference numeral 303 denotes a Tv (Time Value: shutter speed) combo box, which is in a state in which the selected value 1/125 sec cannot be operated. Reference numeral 304 denotes an Exposure Compensation (exposure correction) combo box, which has a selection value of −1 / 2EV and is operable.

  Reference numeral 305 denotes an Exposure Mode radio button, and the selected value is set to Manual. Reference numeral 306 denotes an Av (Aparture Value) combo box, which is in a state where the selected value F = 2.8 can be operated. Reference numeral 307 denotes a Tv (Time Value: shutter speed) combo box which is in a state where the selection value can be operated for 1/125 sec. Reference numeral 308 denotes an Exposure Compensation combo box which has no selected value and cannot be operated.

  The control application software monitors the operation performed by the user on the device control screen and transfers it to the digital camera 102. In this embodiment, the user changes the shooting mode from the setting of Program AE (shooting in the automatic exposure mode) as shown in 301 in FIG. 3A to the shooting mode as shown in 305 in FIG. An example of screen transition when changing to Manual (shooting in manual exposure mode) will be described.

  FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the control application software at the time of shooting setting. As shown in FIG. 4A, in the present embodiment, the function of the existing control application software is used to monitor that the user has performed some operation on the device control screen of the device control apparatus. When the photographing setting value to be transferred to the digital camera 102 is changed, the processing of this flowchart is executed.

  First, in step S401, it is determined whether or not a setting value change has been generated by a user operation in any shooting setting item on the device control screen. As a result of this determination, if the set value has not been changed, this process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the setting value has been changed as a result of the detection in step S 401, the process proceeds to step S 402, and the changed setting value of the shooting setting item is transferred to the digital camera 102. The PTP standard command “Set Device Prop Value” is used for the transfer.

  In step S403, a shooting setting item ID list whose settings have been changed on the digital camera 102 side as a result of the transfer in step S402 is acquired. In this embodiment, in order to perform the acquisition, a PTP extended command “RC Get Changed Release Prams List” as shown in FIG. 5 is newly added and used.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S404, and it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed item in the shooting setting item ID list obtained in step S403. In step S402, if the ID list is NULL (when the digital camera 102 notifies that there is no changed setting item), the determination is false and the processing is known. Also, if the item ID of step S408 is set to the processed state and there are no unprocessed item IDs, the determination in step S404 is false and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S404 is true, the process proceeds to step S405, and the setting change value of the shooting setting item relating to the item ID and the setting availability information on whether or not this shooting setting item is operable can be obtained. Get from. In the present embodiment, the PTP standard command “Get Device Prop Value” is used for the acquisition.

  Next, proceeding to step S406, it is determined whether or not the shooting setting item relating to the item ID acquired at step S405 is operable. If this determination is true, the process proceeds to step S407, where a set of values that can be set for the shooting setting item relating to this item ID is acquired from the digital camera 102 and stored as a value that can be set on the device control screen. After saving, the process proceeds to step S408. In order to perform the acquisition, a PTP standard command “Get Device Prop Desc” is used in the present embodiment.

  The setting on the device control screen is, for example, 304 in FIG. 3 is a combo box part for setting Exposure Compensation. In this settable value list, -2EV to 2EV (1/3 steps) ) By saving a list of values.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S406 is negative, the process proceeds to step S408, where the setting change value of the shooting setting item relating to this item ID is stored on the device control screen, and whether or not this shooting setting item is operable. Accordingly, the display change is made on whether or not setting is possible on the device control screen.

  For example, the Tv (Time Value: Shutter Speed) combo box component shown by 303 in FIG. 3 has Exposure Mode set to Program AE (automatic exposure). When the value is determined to be 1/125 seconds by the automatic exposure calculation of the digital camera 102 and acquired in step S405, the value is displayed.

  For example, the 303 Tv (Time Value: Shutter Speed Setting) combo box part in Fig. 3 is digital when the Exposure Mode is Program AE (automatic exposure). Since it is set by automatic exposure calculation of the camera 102, it is displayed in a gray color that cannot be set on the device control screen and cannot be operated.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment is performed from a number of shooting setting items of the digital camera 102, exposure mode (exposure mode), Av (aparture value), Tv (time value: shutter speed), and exposure compensation. The explanation will focus on (exposure compensation).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the four setting items are: Exposure Mode is Program AE (automatic exposure mode), Av is 2.8 (F = 2.8 is set by the AE mechanism of the digital camera 102, and the device control screen ), Tv is 1/125 (1/125 is set by the AE mechanism of the digital camera 102 and cannot be changed from the device control screen), Exposure Compensation-1 / 2 (-1/2 EV A case will be described in which Manual (manual exposure mode) is selected in Exposure Mode on the device control screen in the state of “under correction”.

  At this time, the device control screen setting change process described in the flowchart of FIG. 4A is performed. In step S401, the device control screen change is detected. In step S402, the change is transferred to the digital camera 102. In the digital camera 102, it is acquired that the settings of Av, Tv, and Exposure Compensation have been changed, and these changed values are acquired from the digital camera 102 and set on the device control screen.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, Av is 2.8 (manual exposure initial value F = 2.8 is set and can be changed from the device control screen), Tv is 1/125 (manual exposure initial value 1 / 125 sec is set and it can be changed from the device control screen), Exposure Compensation value is not set (Because it is manual exposure, exposure compensation value is lost and setting is impossible).

  Next, an example will be described in which the user operates the digital camera 102, and as a result, the screen changes from the transition state screen of FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B.

  FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process in which the control application software detects a change in shooting settings on the digital camera 102. In this example, an event notified from the digital camera 102 that the user has performed some operation is monitored by the function of the existing control application software, and this process is executed when the event is notified To do.

  When the process starts, first, in step S4021, the notified event is the PTP standard event “Device Prop Changed”, and “Device Prop Code” is expanded to the range of the vendor extension code in this embodiment. It is confirmed that the code indicates that “some setting value change has occurred due to user operation on the camera”. If the notified event is other than this, this processing ends.

  If it is determined in step S4021 that the setting value has been changed on the digital camera 102, the process proceeds to step S403, and the shooting setting item ID whose setting has been changed on the digital camera 102 side based on the determination result in step S4021. Get a list. In this embodiment, a PTP extension command “RC_Get Changed Release Prams List” as shown in FIG. 5 is newly added and used for this acquisition.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S404, and it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed item in the shooting setting item ID list obtained in step S403. In step S402, if the ID list is NULL (when the digital camera 102 notifies that there is no changed setting item), the determination is false and the processing is known. Also, if the item ID of step S408 is set to the processed state and there are no unprocessed item IDs, the determination in step S404 is false and the process ends.

  If the determination in step S404 is true, the process proceeds to step S405, and the setting change value of the shooting setting item relating to the item ID and the setting availability status as to whether or not this shooting setting item is operable are acquired from the digital camera 102. In this embodiment, the PTP standard command “Get Device Prop Value” is used for this acquisition.

  Next, in step S406, it is determined whether the shooting setting item related to the item ID acquired in step S405 is operable. As a result of this determination, if the determination is true, the process proceeds to step S407, a set of values that can be set for the shooting setting item relating to this item ID is acquired from the digital camera 102, and is stored as a settable value on the device control screen. For this acquisition, in this embodiment, the PTP standard command “Get Device Prop Desc” is used. After saving, the process proceeds to step S408.

  The setting on the device control screen is, for example, 304 in FIG. 3 is a combo box part for setting Exposure Compensation. In this settable value list, -2EV to 2EV (1/3 steps) ) By saving a list of values.

  If the determination in step S406 is false, the process proceeds to step S408, the setting change value of the shooting setting item relating to this item ID is stored on the device control screen, and the device control screen is displayed depending on whether or not this shooting setting item is operable. Change the display whether or not setting is possible with.

  For example, the 303 Tv (Time Value: Shutter Speed) combo box shown in FIG. 3 is used when the Exposure Mode is Program AE (automatic exposure). Since the value of 1/125 seconds is determined by the automatic exposure calculation of 102 and acquired in step S405, the value is displayed.

  For example, the 303 Tv (Time Value: shutter speed setting) combo box in FIG. 3 is used when the Exposure Mode is Program AE (automatic exposure). Since it is set by the automatic exposure calculation of 102, it is displayed in a gray color that cannot be set on the device control screen and cannot be operated.

  The operation of the embodiment of the present invention is carried out from a number of shooting setting items of the digital camera 102, from Exposure Mode, Av (Aparture Value), Tv (Time Value: shutter speed), Exposure Compensation (Exposure). Correction)

  For example, as shown in Fig. 3 (a), the four setting items are Program AE (automatic exposure mode) in Exposure Mode, Av is 2.8 (F = 2.8 is set by the AE mechanism of the digital camera 102, and the device control screen displays (Cannot be changed), Tv is 1/125 (1/125 is set by the AE mechanism of the digital camera 102 and cannot be changed from the device control screen), Exposure Compensation-1 / 2 (-1/2 EV under correction) A case where Manual (manual exposure mode) is operated in Exposure Mode on the camera in the state of (set to) will be described.

  At this time, the processing of the camera setting change notification event of FIG. 4-2 is performed, and the setting value change on the camera is detected in step S4021, and the exposure mode, Av, Tv, Exposure Compensation is detected in the digital camera 102 in step S403. It is acquired that the setting of the camera is changed, and those changed values are acquired from the digital camera 102 and set on the device control screen. As shown in FIG. 3B, Manual (manual exposure mode) is set in Exposure Mode, and Av is set. 2.8 (Initial value of manual exposure F = 2.8 is set and can be changed from the device control screen), Tv is 1/125 (Initial value of manual exposure is set to 1/125 sec and can be changed from the device control screen) ), Exposure Compensation value is not set (Because it is manual exposure, exposure compensation value is lost and setting is impossible).

(Other embodiments of the present invention)
A program code of software for realizing the functions of the embodiment is provided to an apparatus or a computer in the system connected to the various devices so as to operate various devices to realize the functions of the embodiment. What is implemented by operating the various devices according to a program supplied and stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  In this case, the program code of the software itself realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, the program code are stored. The recorded medium constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for recording the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code supplied by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or other application software in which the program code is running on the computer, etc. The program code is also included in the embodiment of the present invention even when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with the above.

  Further, after the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit based on the instruction of the program code The present invention also includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a photographing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structural example of the device control apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the image display screen of the control application software in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the control application software process in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the control application software process in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a specification of the PTP extended command in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 Computer 102 Digital Camera 201 Processing Device 202 Auxiliary Storage Device 203 Display Device 204 Mouse 205 Keyboard 301 Exposure Mode Radio Button 302 Av (Aparture Value) Combo Box 303 Tv (Time Value: Shutter Speed) Combo Box 304 Exposure Compensation combo box 305 Exposure Mode radio button 306 Av (Aparture Value) combo box 307 Tv (Time Value: shutter speed) combo box 308 Exposure Compensation combo box

Claims (17)

A device control apparatus that can be connected to and controlled by an image capturing device such as a digital camera,
A device control apparatus comprising setting list acquisition means for receiving a shooting setting value change item list from the image shooting device after setting shooting setting values on the image shooting device. A device control apparatus that can be connected to and controlled by an image capturing device,
Setting value change monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a setting value change has occurred by performing some operation on a device control screen that displays a plurality of shooting setting items for controlling the image shooting device;
Change setting value transfer means for transferring the setting value of the changed shooting setting item to the image shooting device when the setting value change is detected by the setting value change monitoring means;
Change value list acquisition means for acquiring a shooting setting value change item list whose settings have been changed on the image shooting device side based on the setting values transferred by the changed setting value transfer means;
And a control screen setting unit configured to set the change value acquired by the change value list acquisition unit on the device control screen. Unprocessed item determination means for determining whether or not there is an unprocessed item in the shooting setting value change item list set by the control screen setting means;
If there is an unprocessed item as a result of the determination by the unprocessed item determination means, setting availability information as to whether or not the shooting setting item relating to the unprocessed item is operable is acquired from the image capturing device. Setting availability information acquisition means to perform,
Setting availability determination means for determining whether or not the shooting setting item can be set in the device control screen based on the setting availability information acquired by the setting availability information acquisition means;
As a result of the determination by the setting availability determination means, the control screen reflecting means for acquiring a set of settable values from the image capturing device and reflecting them on the device control screen when setting is possible. The device control apparatus according to claim 2. Change notification monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the image capturing device has notified that an operation for changing the shooting setting value has been performed;
When the change notification monitoring unit detects that a change has been made on the image photographing device side, the photographing setting item ID list whose setting has been changed on the image photographing device side is acquired. The device control apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3.   After setting the shooting setting value on the image shooting device, the change item list in which the setting range of the shooting setting value has been changed, the change item list in which the shooting setting value cannot be set, and the setting of the shooting setting value 5. The device control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a list receiving unit configured to receive at least one list from among the change item lists newly enabled by the image capturing device. .   6. A change item list transfer unit that transfers a list of setting items that are subordinately changed in accordance with an operation performed on the device control screen to the image capturing device. The device control apparatus according to any one of the above.   The device control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the change item list includes at least one of an exposure mode, an aperture value, a shutter speed, and exposure correction. A control method in a device control apparatus capable of connecting and controlling an image capturing device such as a digital camera,
A device control method comprising setting list acquisition processing for receiving a shooting setting value change item list from the image shooting device after setting shooting setting values on the image shooting device. A control method in a device control apparatus capable of connecting and controlling an image capturing device,
A setting value change monitoring process for monitoring whether or not a setting value change has occurred by performing some operation on a device control screen that displays a plurality of shooting setting items for controlling the image shooting device;
A change setting value transfer process for transferring the setting value of the changed shooting setting item to the image shooting device when the setting value change is detected by the setting value change monitoring process;
A change value list acquisition process for acquiring a shooting setting value change item list whose setting has been changed on the image shooting device side based on the setting value transferred by the change setting value transfer process;
A device control method, comprising: a control screen setting process for setting a change value acquired by the change value list acquisition process on the device control screen. An unprocessed item determination process for determining whether or not an unprocessed item exists in the shooting setting value change item list set by the control screen setting process;
If there is an unprocessed item as a result of the determination of the unprocessed item determination process, setting availability information as to whether or not the shooting setting item related to the unprocessed item is operable is acquired from the image capturing device. Setting availability information acquisition processing to
A setting availability determination process for determining whether or not the shooting setting item can be set in the device control screen based on the setting availability information acquired by the setting availability information acquisition process;
A control screen reflecting process for obtaining a set of settable values from the image capturing device and reflecting them on the device control screen when the setting is possible as a result of the determination of the setting availability determination process; The device control method according to claim 9. A change notification monitoring process for monitoring whether or not an operation for changing the shooting setting value has been notified from the image shooting device;
When the change notification monitoring process detects that a change has been made on the image shooting device side, a shooting setting item ID list whose settings have been changed on the image shooting device side is acquired. The device control method according to claim 8.   After setting the shooting setting value on the image shooting device, the change item list in which the setting range of the shooting setting value has been changed, the change item list in which the shooting setting value cannot be set, and the setting of the shooting setting value 12. The device control method according to claim 8, further comprising: a list receiving process for receiving at least one list from the image capturing device among the change item lists that are newly enabled. 12. .   13. A change item list transfer process of transferring a list of setting items that are subordinately changed according to an operation performed on the device control screen to the image photographing device. The device control method according to claim 1.   The device control method according to claim 13, wherein the change item list includes at least one of an exposure mode, an aperture value, a shutter speed, and exposure correction. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method in a device control apparatus that can be controlled by connecting an image capturing device such as a digital camera,
A computer program, comprising: setting list acquisition processing for receiving a shooting setting value change item list from the image shooting device after setting shooting setting values on the image shooting device. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method in a device control apparatus that can be controlled by connecting an image capturing device,
A setting value change monitoring process for monitoring whether or not a setting value change has occurred by performing some operation on a device control screen that displays a plurality of shooting setting items for controlling the image shooting device;
A change setting value transfer process for transferring the setting value of the changed shooting setting item to the image shooting device when the setting value change is detected by the setting value change monitoring process;
A change value list acquisition process for acquiring a shooting setting value change item list whose setting has been changed on the image shooting device side based on the setting value transferred by the change setting value transfer process;
A computer program comprising: a control screen setting process for setting a change value acquired by the change value list acquisition process on the device control screen.   17. A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 15 or 16 is recorded.

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