JP2005176135A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus which can switch a role of an operating origin imaging unit/operating subject imaging unit flexibly to a user's request by all imaging apparatuses connected in the state that the plurality of the imaging apparatuses are connected by a plurality of users and which can communicate between the imaging apparatuses in which the consistency of the requested processes are guaranteed. <P>SOLUTION: In the imaging apparatus, the state of affairs that a plurality of digital still cameras 100 are connected, a communication control means 141 controls the communication so that the operation of the other digital still camera is allowed only by only the digital still camera having the right of the operation when a certain digital still camera operates the other digital still camera through a communication means 139, and control to decide the digital still camera which transfers the right of the operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a digital still camera that records captured image data in a storage medium.

  In general, there is a digital still camera that converts an optical still image captured by a lens into an electrical signal by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and stores it in a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory or a floppy (registered trademark) disk. Are known. Since this digital still camera stores still images as electrical information, the stored still images can be played back on a television receiver or transferred to a remote location via a communication line, for example. Various image processes can be performed.

  Conventionally, in order to process image data captured with a digital still camera and transfer image data to another device, a host computer, for example, a personal computer and a digital still camera are connected by a cable. It is necessary to transfer image data stored in the still camera to a personal computer, and there are already many digital still cameras having such a function.

  Further, as a connection means for connecting the above-described digital still camera and a personal computer, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) is generally used.

However, in addition to USB, interface standards such as IEEE 1394 and wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, HomeRF, and IEEE 802.11b exist as connection means for connecting a computer serving as a host and a digital still camera.
JP 2000-134527 A

  However, as described above, in order to transfer image data captured by a digital still camera to another device, the image data once captured is transferred to a host computer, and then the image data on the host computer is transferred to another device. There was a problem that it was necessary to transfer to other devices and it was very troublesome.

  As means for solving such problems, there is already a method for realizing direct exchange of image data by directly connecting digital cameras or between a digital camera and another device (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  According to these known examples (Patent Document 1), it is possible to connect a plurality of digital still cameras, transfer image data taken between them, and operate other digital still cameras.

  However, in a situation where a plurality of users bring a digital still camera, connect them to each other by a cable or the like, and perform an operation on another digital still camera such as transfer of image data, the plurality of users simultaneously There is a possibility that an operation request is issued to another digital still camera. In such a case, there arises a problem that the consistency of processing for each operation request is not guaranteed.

  Regarding such a problem, in the above-described known example (Patent Document 1), as shown in FIG. 11, an operation request is made in a situation where a plurality of digital still cameras 1101, 1102, and 1103 are connected via a hub 1104. A master camera (digital still camera 1101 in FIG. 11) that can be taken out and a slave camera (digital still camera 1102 in FIG. 11) that receives an operation request determine the role for each digital still camera, and the slave cameras Solves the above problem by accepting only certain operations.

  However, in the above-described known example (Patent Document 1), the master camera (digital still camera 1101 in FIG. 11) as the operation source communicates with the slave camera (digital still camera 1102 in FIG. 11) as the operation target. For this purpose, it is necessary for the user to manually set the roles of both the individual digital still cameras in advance for the master camera and the slave camera to be operated.

  In a situation where communication between the master camera and slave camera is possible, the master camera can cancel the role of the slave camera, but communication can be performed from a digital still camera with multiple master cameras connected. For example, even if the digital still camera 1101 shown in FIG. 11 cancels the role of the slave of the digital still camera 1102, the digital still camera 1103 is not manually set as a slave because there is no means for designating a target slave camera. As long as the digital still camera 1101 and the digital still camera 1103 cannot communicate with each other, it is inconvenient when a plurality of digital still cameras are connected to perform communication.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art as described above, and its purpose is to provide a connection between a plurality of imaging devices connected by a plurality of users. The imaging device can flexibly switch the roles of the operation source imaging device / operation target imaging device in response to a user's request, and communication between the imaging devices with guaranteed consistency of the requested processing is possible. Is to provide a simple imaging device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an imaging apparatus comprising a communication means for communicating by being connected to at least one other imaging apparatus, comprising a control means, In a situation where a plurality of imaging devices are connected, the control means is configured such that when a certain imaging device operates the other imaging device via the communication means, only the imaging device having the operation right has the other imaging device. Provided is an image pickup apparatus which is controlled so as to be permitted to operate the apparatus and which is controlled to determine an image pickup apparatus to which the operation right is transferred.

  According to the present invention, in a situation where a plurality of users connect a plurality of imaging devices and operate another imaging device from a certain imaging device, the operation source imaging device / operation target is flexibly adapted to the user's request. The imaging device can be switched, and the usability is improved.

  The above-described problem has a communication function such as an operation that allows at least one other imaging device to be connected by wire or wireless, and exchanges a file with another imaging device and makes another imaging device. In a situation where a plurality of imaging devices are connected, an operation to another imaging device is permitted only when the user has the operation right, and according to the request of the user when the operation right is not held. The present invention is solved by an imaging apparatus having a communication control function capable of issuing a request for obtaining an operation right, and further having an operation right determining function for determining an imaging apparatus to which the operation right is to be transferred.

  According to this imaging device, in a situation where a plurality of imaging devices are connected, an imaging device capable of determining an imaging device that receives a user's operation using the determination function of the imaging device that holds the operation right is provided. It is called a master (operation source), and this master exists only among a plurality of connected imaging devices. The imaging device other than the master is called a slave (operation target), and the operation right determining function does not work for an imaging device operating as a slave. The imaging device can play both the master and slave roles depending on the connection state.

  An imaging device that operates as a master in a situation where a plurality of imaging devices are connected acquires and holds identification information of all connected slaves, and supplies the identification information to other imaging devices as necessary. Can do. Furthermore, when the imaging device having the operation right operates an imaging device that does not have another operation right, the master can relay the communication between them from one to the other.

  The role determination of the master / slave is used so that, for example, in an interface conforming to the USB standard, a device connected to the upstream side of the interface is uniquely determined as a host, and a device connected to the downstream side is uniquely determined as a device. A determination method that makes use of the characteristics of the interface may be used, or a user who connects the imaging devices may arbitrarily determine.

  When an imaging device that does not hold an operation right requests an operation right from the master, the user can request the master to obtain the operation right at any time by inputting any key of the imaging device that does not hold the operation right. You can be notified. As a result, when the operation right can be acquired, it is possible to notify the user to that effect. As the notification method, for example, lighting of the display unit that has been turned off, notification by voice, or the like can be considered.

  In addition, when there is an operation right acquisition request from an imaging device that does not hold a plurality of operation rights at the same time or at similar timings, the master operation right determination function displays the time information when the operation right acquisition request is received (late arrival Priority is given to those that arrived / priority arrived earlier) and characteristics / features of the imaging device. The characteristics / features of the imaging device are, for example, the remaining amount of the battery that is the power source of the imaging device, the screen size of the display unit of the imaging device, and the like.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a digital still camera that is an imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, 100 is a digital still camera that is an imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment, 101 is a photographing lens, Reference numeral 102 denotes a shutter having a diaphragm function, and reference numeral 103 denotes an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electric signal. Reference numeral 104 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output from the image sensor 103 into a digital signal. A timing generation circuit 105 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 103, the A / D converter 104, and a D / A converter 109 described later. A memory control circuit 107 and a system control circuit 118 described later. Controlled by An image processing circuit 106 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing, color conversion processing, and the like on data from the A / D converter 104 or data from a memory control circuit 107 described later.

  Further, in the image processing circuit 106, a predetermined calculation process is performed using the captured image data, and based on the obtained calculation result, the system control circuit 118 described later includes an exposure control unit 113 and a distance measurement control unit. TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, EF (flash pre-emission) processing, and the like are performed to control 114. The image processing circuit 106 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  A memory control circuit 107 includes an A / D converter 104, a timing generation circuit 105, and an image processing circuit 106, all of which will be described later, an image display memory 108, a D / A converter 109, a first memory 111, and a compression / decompression circuit. 112 is controlled. The data of the A / D converter 104 is sent via the image processing circuit 106 and the memory control circuit 107, or the data of the A / D converter 104 is sent directly via the memory control circuit 107 and the image display memory 108 or the first Are written in the memory 111.

  Reference numeral 108 denotes an image display memory, 109 denotes a D / A converter, 110 denotes an image display unit including a TFT LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display), and the display image data written in the image display memory 108 is D / A. The image is displayed by the image display unit 110 via the converter 109. If the captured image data is sequentially displayed using the image display unit 110, an electronic viewfinder function can be realized. The image display unit 110 can arbitrarily turn on (ON) / off (OFF) the display according to an instruction from a system control circuit 118 (to be described later). Power consumption can be greatly reduced.

  Reference numeral 111 denotes a first memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a sufficient storage capacity for storing a predetermined number of still images and moving images for a predetermined time. Thereby, even in the case of continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, it is possible to write a large amount of images to the first memory 111 at high speed. The first memory 111 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 118 described later.

  A compression / decompression circuit 112 compresses / decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT), wavelet transform, etc., and reads an image stored in the first memory 111 to perform compression processing or decompression processing. The data that has been processed is written into the first memory 111. An exposure control unit 113 controls the shutter 102 having a diaphragm function, and has a flash light control function in cooperation with a flash 117 described later.

  Reference numeral 114 denotes distance measurement control means for controlling the focusing of the photographing lens 101. A zoom control unit 115 controls zooming of the photographing lens 101. Reference numeral 116 denotes a barrier control unit that controls the operation of a protection unit 133 that is a barrier described later. A flash 117 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function. The exposure control means 113 and the distance measurement control means 114 are controlled using the TTL method. Based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the imaged image data by the image processing circuit 106, the system control circuit 118 described later uses the exposure control means 113. Further, the distance measurement control means 114 is controlled.

  Reference numeral 118 denotes a system control circuit that controls the entire imaging apparatus 100. Reference numeral 119 denotes a second memory that stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for the operation of the system control circuit 118. A display unit 120 displays an operation state, a message, and the like using characters, images, sounds, and the like according to the execution of the program in the system control circuit 118. The display unit 120 visually recognizes the vicinity of the operation unit of the imaging apparatus 100. One or a plurality of positions are easily installed at a position, and are constituted by a combination of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and a sounding element.

  The display unit 120 is partly installed in an optical viewfinder 134 described later. Among the display contents of the display unit 120, what is displayed on the LCD or the like is, for example, single shot / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, compression rate display, number of recorded pixels, number of recorded images, number of remaining images that can be captured , Shutter speed display, Aperture value display, Exposure compensation display, Flash display, Red-eye reduction display, Macro shooting display, Buzzer setting display, Clock battery level display, Battery level display, Error display, Multi-digit number information display There are a recording medium 135 attachment / detachment state display, a communication I / F (interface) operation display, a date / time display, and a display indicating a connection state with an external computer, which will be described later.

  In addition, among the display contents of the display unit 120, what is displayed in an optical finder 134, which will be described later, is, for example, in-focus display, shooting preparation completion display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, flash charge completion display, shutter speed Display, aperture value display, exposure compensation display, recording medium writing operation display, and the like.

  Further, among the display contents of the display unit 120, the display on the LED or the like includes, for example, in-focus display, shooting preparation completion display, camera shake warning display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, flash charge completion display, and recording medium. There are a writing operation display, a macro shooting setting notification display, a secondary battery charge state display, and the like.

  And what is displayed on a lamp | ramp etc. among the display contents of the display part 120 includes a self-timer notification lamp etc., for example. This self-timer notification lamp may be shared with AF auxiliary light.

  Reference numeral 121 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory. Reference numerals 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 118. A single switch or dial, touch panel, pointing by line-of-sight detection, voice recognition device, or the like can be used. It is composed of multiple combinations.

  Here, the operation means 123 to 126 will be specifically described.

  The operation unit 122 is a power switch (main switch), and can switch and set the power-on and power-off modes of the image processing apparatus 100. The operation unit 122 can also switch and set the power-on and power-off settings of various accessory devices connected to the image processing apparatus 100.

  The operation means 123 is a first shutter switch (SW1), and is turned on (ON) during the operation of a shutter button (not shown), and AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) Instructs the start of operations such as processing, EF (flash pre-emission) processing, and the like.

  The operation means 124 is a second shutter switch (SW2), which is turned on (ON) when the operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed, and the signal read from the image sensor 102 is sent to the A / D converter 104 and the memory control circuit 107. Exposure processing for writing image data into the first memory 111, development processing using computations in the image processing circuit 106 and the memory control circuit 107, reading out image data from the first memory 111, and compression / decompression circuit 112 A compression process is performed, and an instruction to start an operation of a series of processes called a recording process for writing image data to a recording medium 200 described later is given.

  The operation unit 125 is an operation unit composed of various buttons, a touch panel, and the like. (Plus) button, Menu movement-(Minus) button, Playback image movement + (Plus) button, Playback image-(Minus) button, Shooting image quality selection button, Exposure compensation button, Date / time setting button, Image display on (ON) ) / OFF button, compression mode switch, quick review switch for setting a quick review function for automatically reproducing and displaying image data taken immediately after shooting using the image display unit 110, shooting and / or playback and / or communication Select / Off to set selection and switching of various functions when executing Instead switch, there is a decision / execution switch for setting the decision and the execution of the photographing and or various functions in executing reproduction and or communication.

  The compression mode switch is a switch for selecting a compression rate of JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) compression, or for selecting a CCD RAW mode in which the signal of the image sensor 103 is digitized and recorded on a recording medium. .

  As the JPEG compression mode, for example, a normal mode and a fine mode are prepared. The user of the imaging apparatus 100 can select the normal mode when emphasizing the data size of the captured image, and can select the fine mode when emphasizing the image quality of the captured image. It has become.

  In the JPEG compression mode, image data read from the image sensor 103 and written to the first memory 111 via the A / D converter 104, the image processing circuit 106, and the memory control circuit 107 is read and compressed. / Compressed to a compression rate set by the decompression circuit 112 and recorded on a recording medium 135 to be described later.

  In the CCD RAW mode, image data is read as it is for each line in accordance with the pixel arrangement of the color filter of the image sensor 103 and is written to the first memory 111 via the A / D converter 104 and the memory control circuit 107. The read image data is read out and recorded on a recording medium 135 described later.

  The operation means 126 is a mode dial switch that can switch and set each function mode such as an automatic shooting mode, a shooting mode, a panoramic shooting mode, a playback mode, a multi-screen playback / erase mode, and a PC connection mode.

  In the description of the present embodiment, the imaging apparatus 100 is particularly provided with a shooting mode, a playback mode, and a print service mode.

  Reference numeral 127 denotes a power supply control means, which includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level, and detects it. The DC-DC converter is controlled based on the result and an instruction from the system control circuit 118, and a necessary voltage is supplied to each part including the recording medium for a necessary period. 128 is one connector, 129 is the other connector, and these connectors 128 and 129 are connected to each other.

  Reference numeral 130 denotes a power supply means, which includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li-ion battery, an AC adapter, or the like. Reference numeral 131 denotes an interface with a recording medium such as a memory card or hard disk, and reference numeral 132 denotes a connector for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or hard disk. Reference numeral 133 denotes a protection unit that is a barrier that covers the imaging unit including the lens 101 of the imaging apparatus 100 to prevent the imaging unit from being soiled or damaged. Reference numeral 134 denotes an optical viewfinder, which can take an image using only the optical viewfinder 134 without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 110. In the optical viewfinder 134, some functions of the display unit 120, for example, a focus display function, a camera shake warning display function, a flash charge display function, a shutter speed display function, an aperture value display function, an exposure correction display function, etc. Is installed. Reference numeral 135 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 135 includes a recording unit 136 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface (I / F) 137 with the imaging apparatus 100, and a connector 138 for connecting to the imaging apparatus 100. This connector 138 is connected to the connector 132.

  Note that the recording medium 135 is described as a configuration built in the imaging apparatus 100 in the present embodiment.

  139 is a communication means, such as wired communication such as RS232C, USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394, wireless communication such as 1394 IrDA (Infrared Data Association), Bluetooth, HomeRF, IEEE802.11b, etc. A configuration having a communication function may be used.

  In this embodiment, the USB standard is used as the communication unit 139. This USB standard was developed as a medium-speed interface for connecting peripheral devices of personal computers, and has attracted attention as an interface capable of hot connection by Plug and Play.

  The USB standard physically has a connection structure as shown in FIG. 2, and the personal computer 200A located at the apex of the tree structure has the initiative as a host and corresponds via the upper hub 200B. Peripheral devices such as a CF reader 200C, a keyboard 200D, and an external storage device 200E are controlled, and further, peripheral devices such as a mouse 200F are controlled via the peripheral device 200D. As described above, in the USB standard, only the personal computer 200A located at the apex of the tree structure, which is the physical connection shown in FIG. 2, is used to control each peripheral device. This is because when the compliant devices are connected to each other, the logical connection structure has a star structure centered on the personal computer 300A as shown in FIG.

  Accordingly, the peripheral devices 300B to 300E in FIG. 3 have knowledge about the personal computer 300A located in the center of the star-type connection structure, but do not have knowledge about other peripheral devices connected to the peripheral devices 300B to 300E. It is impossible for the mouse of the device 300C to directly control the external storage device of the peripheral device 300E. In this case, the operation of the mouse 300C is detected and processed by the personal computer 300A, and the processing specified by the mouse 300C is executed in such a way that the personal computer 300A controls the external storage device 300E according to the result.

  In the USB standard, a device that plays a central role in controlling other devices such as the personal computer 300A is called a host, and other devices that operate as peripheral devices such as 300B to 300E are called devices.

  In the USB standard logical connection structure in FIG. 3, the digital still camera 100 is used under the control of the personal computer 300 </ b> A as a device in the USB standard such as 300 </ b> B to 300 </ b> E.

  However, there is no restriction that only a personal computer becomes a host in the USB standard, and the digital still camera 100 has a function as a host and a device defined in the USB standard in the communication unit 139.

  A connector (or antenna) 140 is used when connecting to other devices by the communication means 139, and is a connector in the case of wired communication and an antenna in the case of wireless communication. In this embodiment, since the communication means 139 is USB, 140 is a connector.

  A connector 140 shown in FIG. 1 can function as both an upstream connector and a downstream connector in the USB standard, and an upstream connector / downstream connector is used as a connector of a cable connected thereto. The role of the digital still camera 100 in the USB standard (host / device) is determined by the directionality of the cable-side connector connected to the connector 140.

  141 is a communication control means, which is a central device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation right determination when a plurality of digital still cameras 401, 402, 403 are connected via the hub 404 and Communication control is realized.

  In FIG. 4, CBL1 and CBL2 are USB cables for connecting the digital still cameras 401, 402, and 403 to each other.

  Hereinafter, the control operation of the communication control unit 141 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 9, taking as an example the case where a plurality of digital still cameras 100 according to the present embodiment are connected as shown in FIG. .

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing operations relating to the issuance of the operation right of the master digital still camera among the digital still cameras according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the digital still camera according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a digital still camera that does not have an operation right. FIG. 7 is a flow of an operation right transfer destination determination processing operation of the master digital still camera among the digital still cameras according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation right assignment destination determination processing operation of a master digital still camera when a plurality of operation right request notifications are received simultaneously among the digital still cameras according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9 shows a digital still camera that does not have an operation right among the digital still cameras according to this embodiment. It is a flowchart showing a flow of camera operation right acquisition processing operation.

  One of the functions of the communication control unit 141 is to determine the role of the master / slave. As the processing flow, a cable is connected to the connector 140 and the host / device is determined by the communication unit 139, and the determination information is notified to the communication control unit 141. As a result, the role of the digital still camera 100 is determined by the communication control unit 141, and thereafter, the communication control unit 141 performs control so as to operate with either a master or a slave function in communication between the digital still cameras. Is done.

  In the present embodiment, the communication control unit 141 controls the digital still camera 100 as a master by notifying the communication unit 139 that the host is a USB standard host, and conversely notifies the USB standard device as a device. In this case, the communication control unit 141 controls the digital still camera 100 as a slave.

  As described above, the master / slave role determination regarding the communication control unit 141 is performed using the USB standard logical connection configuration rule. This ensures that the master is unique among a plurality of digital still cameras to which the master is connected, and the user can arbitrarily determine it.

  First, processing operations relating to operation right issuance of a master digital still camera among the digital still cameras according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the master digital still camera among a plurality of connected digital still cameras is a host in the USB standard role and recognizes the connected slave (the role of the device in the USB standard). doing.

  In FIG. 5, first, in step S501, it is determined whether another digital still camera serving as a slave is connected from the USB host function of the communication means 139. When it is determined that the other digital still camera is connected, notification information indicating that fact is sent to the communication control unit 141. The communication control unit 141 that has received the notification information acquires the identification information of the connected slave using the communication unit 139 in step S502. The communication control means 141 is provided with a storage device for storing the identification information of the connected slave, and the slave identification information obtained via the communication means 139 is stored in the storage device in step S503. Then, the process returns to step S501.

  The processing in step S503 is performed each time the communication unit 139 detects a slave connection, and the communication control unit 141 stores information on the connected slaves one by one in the storage device.

  If it is determined in step S501 that no other digital still camera serving as a slave is connected, the process proceeds to step S504, where it is determined whether or not there is a key input to the digital still camera serving as a master. If it is determined that a key input has been made to the master digital still camera, the process proceeds to step S505 to determine whether or not the main switch has been pressed. If it is determined that the main switch has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S506, where all slaves are notified of the end of connection, and then this processing operation ends.

  On the other hand, in step S504, if it is determined that there is no key input in the master digital still camera, the process proceeds to step S507, and it is determined whether an operation right acquisition request is received from the slave. If it is determined that the operation right acquisition request is not received from the slave, the process returns to step S501. If it is determined in step S507 that an operation right acquisition request has been received from the slave, the process proceeds to step S508.

  If it is determined in step S505 that the main switch is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S508.

  In step S508, it is determined whether or not an operation right acquisition request has been simultaneously received from a plurality of slaves. If it is determined that there is no operation right acquisition request from a plurality of slaves at the same time, the process proceeds to step S509, and after performing an operation right transfer destination determination process shown in FIG. 7 to be described later, the process proceeds to step S510. It is determined whether the right can be acquired. If it is determined that the operation right can be acquired, the process proceeds to step S512, where an operation right issuance notification is transmitted to the corresponding digital still camera, and then the process returns to step S501.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S508 that there are simultaneous operation right acquisition requests from a plurality of slaves, the process proceeds to step S513, and the operation right transfer destination at the time of simultaneous reception of the operation right request notification shown in FIG. After executing the determination process, the process returns to step S501.

  Next, processing operations of a digital still camera that does not have an operation right among the digital still cameras according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S600, it is determined whether a key input has been received. If it is determined that a key input has been received, the process proceeds to step S601 to determine whether or not the main button has been pressed. If it is determined that the main button is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S602, and an operation right request notification is transmitted to the master. Next, it progresses to step S603, and after performing the operation-right acquisition process shown in FIG. 9 mentioned later, it progresses to step S604.

  In step S604, it is determined whether an operation right has been acquired. If it is determined that the operation right has been acquired, the process advances to step S605 to notify the user that the operation right has been acquired. Next, in step S606, processing requested by the user is executed, and in step S607, an operation right return notification is transmitted. Next, in step S608, the user is notified of the operation right return, and then the process returns to step S600.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S600 that no key input is received, the process proceeds to step S609, and it is determined whether or not there is a connection end notification from the master. If it is determined that there is no connection end notification from the master, the process returns to step S600. If it is determined that there is a connection end notification from the master, this processing operation ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S601 that the main button is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S610, and a connection release notification is transmitted.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S604 that the operation right cannot be acquired, the process advances to step S611 to notify the user that the acquisition of the operation right has failed, and then returns to step S600.

  Next, the operation right assignment destination determination processing operation of the master digital still camera among the digital still cameras according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S700, identification information of all digital still cameras including the master is transmitted to the digital still camera that has transmitted the operation right request notification. Next, in step S701, the master executes a process of receiving identification information of a digital still camera that is a candidate for operation from the digital still camera that requests an operation right. Next, in step S702, it is determined whether or not the digital still camera to be operated by the digital still camera that has requested the operation right is communicating. If it is determined that the digital still camera to be operated is not in communication, the process proceeds to step S703, the operation right issuance is permitted (OK), and the processing operation ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S702 that the digital still camera to be operated is in communication, the process proceeds to step S704, where the operation right is rejected (NG), and then this processing operation ends.

  Next, among the digital still cameras according to the present embodiment, the operation right transfer destination determination processing operation of the master digital still camera when the operation right request notification is simultaneously received from a plurality of digital still cameras, based on FIG. explain.

  First, in step S800, a digital still camera that has received the operation right request notification last is selected from a plurality of digital still cameras. In step S801, the slave and master identification information of the communication control unit 141 is transmitted to the digital still camera selected in step S800. In step S802, identification information of the digital still camera to be operated is received from the digital still camera selected in step S800 via the communication unit 139, and the identification information is transferred to the communication control unit 141. In step S803, the communication control unit 141 determines the operation target of the digital still camera selected in step S800 from the received identification information and the communication status information stored in the storage device in the digital still camera. It is determined whether or not the digital still camera is communicating. If it is determined that the digital still camera is not communicating, the process proceeds to step S804, and the communication control unit 139 notifies the digital still camera selected in step S800 via the communication unit 139. After the transmission, this processing operation ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S803 that the digital still camera is communicating, the process proceeds to step S805, where it is determined whether there is a digital still camera for which an operation right transfer destination is to be determined. If it is determined that there is a digital still camera for which the operation right transfer destination is to be determined, the process proceeds to step S807, where the digital still camera that has received the operation right request notification is next to the currently selected digital still camera. After selecting the camera, the process returns to step S801, and the processing from step S801 is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S805 that there is no digital still camera that is the target for determining the operation right transfer destination, the process proceeds to step S806, and BUSY is sent to all the digital still cameras that have transmitted the operation right acquisition notification. After transmitting the command, this processing operation is terminated.

  Next, an operation right acquisition processing operation of a digital still camera that does not have an operation right among the digital still cameras according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S900, identification information of all digital still cameras is received, and in step S901, identification information of an operation target is transmitted. Next, in step S902, after receiving the result of determination by the master (determination of operation right), this processing operation ends.

  In this embodiment, when the connection of the other digital still cameras described above is completed, all the digital still cameras (regardless of the role of the master / slave) operate the other digital still cameras with respect to the master. It is possible to request acquisition of an operation right for the purpose.

  Even when the connection of the digital still camera is completed, each digital still camera can accept a user's key operation (step S504 in FIG. 5 and step S600 in FIG. 6), except for the main button. When the user presses any key (step S601 in FIG. 6), an operation right request notification is transmitted from the digital still camera that does not hold the operation right to the master (step S602 in FIG. 6).

  When the master receives an operation right acquisition request from a digital still camera that does not hold the operation right, the master receives the notification information via the communication unit 139 (step S507 in FIG. 5), and the notification information is the communication control unit 141. Passed to. The communication control unit 141 that has received the operation right acquisition request determines whether or not a plurality of operation right acquisition requests have been received simultaneously (step S508 in FIG. 5). A destination determination process (step S509 in FIG. 5) is executed. In this operation right transfer destination determination process (step S509 in FIG. 5), identification information of all digital still cameras including the master is transmitted to the digital still camera that has transmitted the operation right request notification (step in FIG. 7). S700).

  The digital still camera that has received the identification information (the digital still camera that has requested the operation right) returns the identification information of the digital still camera to be operated by itself (step S901 in FIG. 9). The master receives the identification information of the digital still camera that is the candidate for operation from the digital still camera that requests the operation right (step S701 in FIG. 7), and passes the identification information to the communication control means 141. In the communication control unit 141, in order to manage the identification information of the slave, whether or not the operation right has already been issued to another digital still camera, and if so, which digital still camera is which digital still camera. Information regarding the communication status such as whether the camera is operated is stored and managed in a storage device in the communication control unit 141.

  Therefore, when an operation right request notification is received from a digital still camera that does not hold the operation right, the operation right state information and the communication state information stored in the storage device in the communication control unit 141 are read, and the information is read out. First, it is determined whether or not the digital still camera to be operated by the digital still camera that has requested the operation right is communicable (step S702 in FIG. 7), and issuance of the operation right is determined. As a result, when it is determined that the operation right may be issued (the determination result in step S510 in FIG. 5 is affirmative: Y), an operation right issuance notification is transmitted to the corresponding digital still camera (FIG. 5). 5 step S512).

  The digital still camera that has received the operation right issuance notification in step S902 in FIG. 9 (the digital still camera that has requested the operation right) interprets the operation right issuance notification by the communication control unit 141 (determination in step S604 in FIG. 6). If the result is affirmative: Y), the system control circuit 118 is notified to the user that the operation right has been successfully acquired (step S605 in FIG. 6). The notification method at that time is not mentioned here.

  Conversely, when the communication control unit 141 determines that the operation right cannot be issued in response to the operation right acquisition request notification from the digital still camera that does not hold the operation right on the master side (the determination result in step S510 in FIG. 5 is negative). : N), the communication control means 141 transmits a BUSY command to the corresponding digital still camera to the communication means 139 (step S511 in FIG. 5). When the corresponding digital still camera receives the BUSY command (step S902 in FIG. 9), the information is notified from the communication unit 139 to the communication control unit 141, and the communication control unit 141 interpreting this BUSY command performs system control. A notification (step S611 in FIG. 6) when the operation right acquisition has failed is requested to the circuit 118. The notification method at that time is not mentioned here.

  As for the master operation right request notification, the system control circuit 118 informs the communication control means 141 that the user has input a key, and the communication control means 141 internally receives the operation right request notification from the slave. It is processed in the same way as the case.

  The digital still camera that has transmitted the operation right request notification receives the operation right issuance notification from the master, and receives the operation right issuance notification from the master until the received operation right issuance notification is stored in the storage device of the communication control unit 141. Communication control means 141 rejects communication other than notification. When the digital still camera that holds the operation right finishes the operation for a series of other digital still cameras, the operation right information stored in the storage device in the communication control unit 141 is discarded, and the operation right return notification is mastered. (Step S607 in FIG. 6; in the case of the master itself, step S511 in FIG. 5).

  Also, when a digital still camera that holds the operation right operates another digital still camera, the digital still camera that holds the operation right cannot directly communicate with another digital still camera due to the specifications of the USB standard.

  Therefore, the master mediates communication between the digital still camera holding the operation right and the digital still camera to be operated using the communication control unit 141. As a procedure at that time, the master holds information regarding the digital still camera holding the operation right and the digital still camera to be operated in the communication control unit 141, and holds the operation right using this information. The master communication control unit 141 receives an operation request from the digital still camera to the operation target. The operation request received by the master includes the identification information of the operation target digital still camera. Based on the identification information, the communication control unit 141 determines the operation target digital still camera to be relayed, and targets the operation request. The communication relay is realized by transmitting to the digital still camera. Conversely, communication from the digital still camera to be operated to the digital still camera holding the operation right can be performed in the same flow.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in a situation where a plurality of digital still cameras are connected, an operation right request notification may be received from a plurality of digital still cameras simultaneously or at a timing close thereto. In that case, the communication control unit 141 accepts all operation right request notifications within a certain period, and determines a digital still camera that issues the operation right from the notifications. As a determination method at that time, the last received operation right request notification is selected as a valid operation right request notification among the received operation right request notifications (step S800 in FIG. 8), and the operation right request notification is transmitted. The identification information of all the digital still cameras is transmitted to the digital still camera (step S801 in FIG. 8). As in the case of not simultaneously receiving from a plurality of digital still cameras, the identification information of the target digital still camera is received from the digital still camera that has requested the operation right (step S802 in FIG. 8), and the communication control means 141 is received. 8 determines whether or not the digital still camera to be operated is communicating (step S803 in FIG. 8). At this time, if the digital still camera to be operated is participating in the communication (the determination result in step S803 in FIG. 8 is affirmative: Y), it is determined whether there is a corresponding digital still camera (FIG. 8). 8 step S805). If there is a corresponding digital still camera, the operation right request notification received late after the currently selected operation right request notification is selected as a valid operation right request notification (step in FIG. 8). After that, the above process (steps S801 to S803 in FIG. 8) is repeated to select a digital still camera capable of communication.

  If the digital still camera to be operated is not participating in communication (the determination result in step S803 in FIG. 8 is negative: N), an operation right issue notification is transmitted to the digital still camera (FIG. 8). 8 step S804). However, if the operation right cannot be issued to any of the digital still cameras in the above-described operation right transfer destination determination process (the determination result in step S805 in FIG. 8 is negative: N), all the operations right requested A BUSY command is transmitted to the digital still camera (step S806 in FIG. 8).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the presence of the communication control device 115 in FIG. 1 makes all the digital still cameras connected to each other equivalent to each other as viewed from the user, and responds to the user's request. Thus, the operation source / operation target can be flexibly switched. In addition, due to the existence of a digital still camera (master: operation source) that controls communication between each digital still camera, processing consistency can be maintained even when there are operation requests from multiple digital still cameras at the same time. It becomes.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  Note that the basic configuration of the digital still camera, which is the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment, is the same as that of FIG. 1 of the first embodiment described above. .

  This embodiment relates to the operation right assignment destination determination process at the time of simultaneous reception of the master side operation right request notification in the first embodiment described above.

  In the first embodiment described above, the operation right transfer destination determination process is realized using the temporal order of the operation right request notification on the master side as the operation right transfer destination determination criterion.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, attention is paid to various characteristics / features of the digital still camera, and these are used as transfer destination determination criteria for the operation right.

  Hereinafter, the operation right assignment destination determination processing operation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The portion shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is the processing of step S513 in FIG.

  In FIG. 10, first, in step S1000, when the master receives an operation right request notification from a plurality of digital still cameras simultaneously in step S508 of FIG. 5, the communication control means 141, as in the first embodiment, A characteristic value request notification is transmitted via the communication means 139 to all the digital still cameras that have transmitted the request notification in order to acquire characteristic values of the individual digital still cameras. Thereafter, in step S1001, the digital still camera that issued the request returns the requested characteristic values to the master, and the master receives the information by the communication means 139 and passes it to the communication control means 141. In step S1002, the communication control unit 141 selects a digital still camera based on the magnitude of the characteristic value from all the digital still cameras that have transmitted the characteristic value request notification.

  In step S1003, the slave and master identification information of the communication control unit 141 is transmitted to the digital still camera selected in step S1002. In step S1004, identification information of the digital still camera to be operated is received from the digital still camera selected in step S1002 via the communication unit 139, and the identification information is passed to the communication control unit 141. .

  In step S1005, the communication control unit 141 operates the digital still camera selected in step S1002 based on the received identification information and communication-related information stored in the storage device in the digital still camera. It is determined whether or not the digital still camera is communicating. If it is determined that the digital still camera is not communicating, the process proceeds to step S1006, and the communication control unit 141 sends an operation right issuance notification via the communication interruption 39 to the digital selected in step S1002. Send to the still camera.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1005 that the digital still camera is communicating, the process proceeds to step S1007, where the digital still having the next largest characteristic value or the smallest characteristic value after the currently selected digital still camera. After selecting the camera, the process returns to step S1003, and the processing from step S1003 is repeated.

  On the other hand, in step S1007, if it is finally determined that there is no digital still camera that is an operation right transfer destination determination target, the process proceeds to step S1008 to all the digital still cameras that have transmitted the operation right acquisition notification. After the BUSY command is transmitted, this processing operation ends.

  As described above, the communication control means 141 in FIG. 1 enables communication control utilizing the characteristics of the digital still camera.

Although the details regarding the characteristic value of the digital still camera described in the present embodiment and the operation right transfer destination determination criteria depending on the characteristic value have not been described, as an example, the following combinations are conceivable.
(1) Priority is given to an operation right transfer destination with a high remaining battery capacity as a power source of the digital still camera.
(2) A priority is given to an operation right transfer destination with a low battery remaining.
(3) A screen having a large screen size of the display unit 120 is preferentially determined as the operation right transfer destination.
(4) A storage area (storage medium 135 in FIG. 1) in the digital still camera having a large remaining capacity is preferentially determined as the operation right transfer destination.
(5) A storage area (storage medium 135 in FIG. 1) in the digital still camera with a small remaining capacity is preferentially determined as the operation right transfer destination.

  Note that what is used as the operation right transfer destination determination criterion is not limited to the above (1) to (5).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a situation where a plurality of users connect a plurality of digital still cameras and operate another digital still camera from one digital still camera, according to the user's request. The master (operation source) / slave (operation target) can be flexibly switched, which improves usability.

[Other Embodiments]
The above is the description of the embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and may be configured to achieve the functions shown in the claims or the functions of the configurations of the embodiments. Anything is applicable.

  In the first and second embodiments, the USB standard is used as the communication unit 139. However, any communication unit capable of taking a star-type connection form physically / logically may be used. In this case, either wired or wireless communication may be used.

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the digital still camera which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a physical connection structure in which a plurality of digital still cameras according to a first embodiment of the present invention are connected using a USB standard interface. 1 is a block diagram showing a logical connection structure using a USB standard interface in a digital still camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic at the time of connecting the multiple digital still cameras which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a master operation right issuing process operation in the digital still camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a processing operation of the digital still camera which does not have an operation right among the digital still cameras which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation right assignment destination determination processing on the master side in the digital still camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation right assignment destination determination processing on the master side when a plurality of operation right request notifications are received simultaneously in the digital still camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the operation right acquisition process operation | movement of the digital still camera which does not have an operation right among the digital still cameras which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the operation right transfer destination determination processing operation | movement at the side of the master at the time of receiving the operation right request notification simultaneously in the digital still camera concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state in which the several digital still camera in the past was connected.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Digital still camera 101 Shooting lens 102 Shutter provided with a diaphragm function 103 Image sensor 104 A / D converter 105 Timing generation circuit 106 Image processing circuit 107 Memory control circuit 108 Image display memory 109 D / A converter 110 TFT LCD (Thin film transistor liquid crystal) Display device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 1st memory 112 Compression / decompression circuit 113 Exposure control means 114 Distance control means 115 Zoom control means 116 Barrier control means 117 Flash 118 System control circuit 119 2nd memory 120 Display part 121 Non-volatile memory 122 Operation means (Power supply) Switch: Main switch)
123 Operating means (first shutter switch: SW1)
124 operation means (second shutter switch: SW2)
125 operation means (operation unit)
126 Operating means (mode dial switch)
127 Power supply control means 128 One connector 129 Other connector 130 Power supply means 131 Interface (I / F)
132 Connector 133 Protective Means 134 Optical Finder 135 Recording Medium 136 Recording Unit 137 Interface (I / F)
138 Connector 139 Communication means 200A Personal computer 200B Hub 200C CF reader 200D Keyboard 200E External storage device 200F Mouse 300A Personal computer 300B Peripheral device 300C Peripheral device 300D Peripheral device 300E Peripheral device 401 Digital still camera 402 Digital still camera 403 Digital still camera 404 Hub CBL1 USB cable CBL2 USB cable

Claims (17)

An imaging device comprising a communication means for connecting to and communicating with at least one other imaging device,
Comprising control means,
In a situation where a plurality of imaging devices are connected, the control unit is configured such that when an imaging device operates the other imaging device via the communication unit, only the imaging device having the operation right is the other imaging device. An image pickup apparatus that performs control so as to be permitted to operate the image pickup apparatus and that determines an image pickup apparatus to which the operation right is transferred.   In the situation where the plurality of imaging devices are connected, the control means defines the only imaging device that determines the operation right as a master and other imaging devices as slaves. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is controlled so as to function as any of the slaves.   The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image pickup apparatus functions as the master, the control unit performs control so as to acquire identification information of all connected image pickup apparatuses.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit controls the acquired identification information to be supplied to an imaging apparatus having an operation right as needed.   When the imaging device functions as the master, the control means relays communication from one to the other between the imaging device having the operation right including itself and another imaging device to be operated. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so that   The control unit performs control so that an imaging apparatus that does not hold the operation right can request transfer of the operation right to the master at an arbitrary timing according to an instruction of the user. The imaging device according to claim 1.   The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so that the image pickup apparatus can notify a user of the image pickup apparatus of the presence or absence of an operation right.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit uses a wireless communication medium to connect the communication unit between the master and the slave.   The control means controls to determine an imaging device to which the operation right is transferred based on time information when the master receives an operation right acquisition request from an imaging device that does not hold the operation right. The imaging device according to claim 1.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so as to determine an imaging apparatus to which the operation right is transferred based on time information when the operation right acquisition request is received.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so as to determine an imaging device to which the operation right is transferred based on characteristics / characteristics of the imaging device that does not hold the operation right that has transmitted the operation right acquisition request. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the characteristic / characteristic of the imaging apparatus is a remaining amount of a battery that is a power source of the imaging apparatus.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the characteristic / characteristic of the imaging apparatus is a display screen size of a display unit of the imaging apparatus.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying a user when the operation right is acquired.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the notification unit is configured to perform notification by turning on a display unit screen in an unlit state of the imaging apparatus.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the notification means notifies by voice.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is a digital still camera.

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