JP2007081566A - Repeater and repeating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To establish connection with a second communication device at an arbitrary timing by sustaining connection state with a first communication device if connection is not established between a repeater and the second communication device when the first communication device is connected with the repeater for repeating data communication between communication devices of different communication protocol. <P>SOLUTION: The repeater comprises a first communication interface for communicating with a first communication device by first communication protocol, a second communication interface for communicating with a second communication device by second communication protocol, a means for performing protocol conversion between first and second communication protocols, and a means for responding to the first communication device the communication set information to be supplied from the second communication device to the first communication device as proxy for the second communication device when connection of the second communication device for the second communication interface is not established, in case that the first communication device is communicably connected to the first communication interface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay device and a relay method, and is suitable for use in a protocol conversion device that relays data communication between communication devices having different communication interfaces.

  In recent years, with the rapid spread of digital cameras, the opportunity for users to take pictures with digital cameras has increased. In addition, images printed by digital cameras and printers have become as high as silver halide photographs, and the number of users who print digital camera images with printers is increasing.

  Conventionally, in order to print an image of a digital camera with a printer, a personal computer is required, and it has been necessary to print after capturing the image of the digital camera in the personal computer. In recent years, in order to save this effort, a technique has been proposed in which a digital camera and a printer are directly connected by wire, and an image of the digital camera is directly printed by the printer without using a personal computer. A typical example is a technology called “PictBridge (CIPA DC-001)” standardized by the Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA) of a limited liability intermediate corporation.

  Hereinafter, a conventional direct printing process using PictBridge between a digital camera and a printer will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an outline of a printing process using PictBridge between a digital camera and a printer using a conventional USB connection.

  First, negotiation for whether or not each device is a device having a DPS (Direct Print Service) function is performed by issuing “DPS Discovery” (step S501). Thereby, after both devices recognize that both devices are PictBridge-compatible devices, control of both devices is transferred to the DPS application.

  After the DPS application is activated, both devices issue “DPS_ConfigurePrintService” and confirm what service function each PictBridge-compatible device has (step S502).

Next, the digital camera issues “DPS_GetCapability” to inquire about the print processing capability that can be set in the printer (step S503). About these setting information, the user can select as needed from the user interface provided in the digital camera.
Next, the digital camera issues “DPS_StartJob” when the user issues a print instruction from the user interface on the digital camera, and requests the printer to start printing together with various print setting information (step S504).

  The printer issues “DPS_GetFileInfo” to the digital camera and requests information such as the size of the image file necessary for printing (step S505). Based on the information obtained in step S506 as a response thereto, the printer issues “DPS_GetFile” and requests actual image data (step S507). In response to this request, the printer acquires image data supplied from the digital camera in step S508 and performs a printing operation (step S509).

When the printing operation is completed, the printer notifies the digital camera of the result using “DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus” (step S510).
According to the operation sequence as described above, the printing operation by the PictBridge between the digital camera and the printer is performed. Note that a plurality of printing operations are executed by repeating Steps S504 to S510.

  Hereinafter, an operation according to “DPS Discovery” between a digital camera and a printer using a conventional USB connection will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing details of the “DPS Discovery” operation shown in FIG.

  When the digital camera and the printer are physically connected via USB, if the printer detects that a device (digital camera) is connected, the printer transmits a “GetDeviceInfo” operation to the digital camera ( Step S601). In response to this, the digital camera transmits “DeviceInfoDataset” to the printer that is the transmission source of “GetDeviceInfo” (step S602). As a result, the digital camera informs the printer of device-specific information such as the operation type of the corresponding PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol (PIMA15740)).

  Next, the printer issues an “OpenSession” operation to the digital camera (step S603). On the other hand, when the digital camera returns an “OK” response to the printer (step S604), the connection by PTP between the digital camera and the printer is established.

  Next, the printer issues a “GetNumObject” operation to the digital camera (step S605). At this time, a script is designated as the type of Object, and the number of scripts held in the digital camera is returned to the printer as a response (step S606).

  Next, the printer issues a “GetObjectHandle” operation to the digital camera (step S607). At this time, a script is specified as the object type, and a handle of the script held by the digital camera is requested. The digital camera returns the handle of the held script to the printer as a response to the request (step S608).

  Next, the printer issues a “GetObjectInfo” operation to the digital camera for each handle of the script acquired earlier (step S609). The digital camera returns information such as the size and file name of the retained script to the printer as a response (step S610). Here, if a keyword indicating that the digital camera is compatible with PictBridge is included in the information returned to the printer side, then the printer issues a “SendObjectInfo” operation to the digital camera (Step S1). S611).

  Subsequently, the printer transmits information about the script held by the printer to the digital camera (step S612). Here, the information transmitted to the digital camera includes a response keyword for the previous keyword, and the digital camera confirms the response keyword and returns an “OK” response to the printer (step). S613).

  Through this series of processing, the printer and the digital camera can confirm that each other device is a device that supports PictBridge, and can then perform a printing operation using PictBridge.

  In the conventional PictBridge, it is assumed that PTP is used as a transport layer communication protocol and USB is used as a physical layer communication layer below it. However, since there is no restriction on the standard below the transport layer in PictBridge, it is conceivable that the PictBridge function will be realized in the future using a wireless LAN compliant with standards such as IEEE802.11b and IEEE802.11g in the physical layer communication layer. .

  For example, when a digital camera or printer having a communication interface connectable to a wireless LAN is realized, it is possible to perform PictBridge communication using the wireless LAN and perform cableless direct printing. However, since a communication interface is different between a digital camera having a communication interface connectable to a wireless LAN and a printer having only a USB interface, direct communication cannot be performed with PictBridge.

  In such a case, it is conceivable to use a relay device that includes both wireless LAN and USB communication interfaces and converts the communication protocol between the USB and the wireless LAN (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2005-33295

  FIG. 13 shows a direct print system configured using a relay device as described in Patent Document 1. The direct print system shown in FIG. 13 includes a printer 1301, a wireless adapter 1302, and a digital camera 1303, and performs communication using PictBridge. Further, it is assumed that the printer 1301 and the wireless adapter 1302 are connected by USB, and the wireless adapter 1302 and the digital camera 1303 are connected by a wireless LAN.

  Here, for example, the following procedure can be considered as the timing of connection establishment at the respective communication interfaces of the printer 1301 and the wireless adapter 1302, and the wireless adapter 1302 and the digital camera 1303. First, the wireless adapter 1302 is attached to the printer 1301 to establish a connection between the printer 1301 and the wireless adapter 1302 via USB. Thereafter, the wireless communication unit of the wireless adapter 1302 is activated to wait for a wireless communication connection with the digital camera 1303, and when the user instructs a wireless connection from the user interface of the digital camera 1303, the wireless adapter 1302 and the digital camera A wireless connection with 1303 is established.

  By establishing a connection between the respective communication devices in such a procedure, the wireless adapter 1302 is always attached to the printer 1301, and the digital camera 1303 and the wireless adapter 1302 are connected at an arbitrary timing when the user tries to print an image. A wireless connection can be established and a printing operation can be performed. Therefore, it seems convenient for the user.

  However, as a general operation of a printer that supports PictBridge, when a USB compatible device is connected to the printer, the printer checks whether or not each other device is a device that supports PictBridge. Therefore, the above-described operation called “DPS Discovery” is actively performed from the printer side. However, if the wireless connection with the digital camera is not established when the relay device is connected to the printer via USB, “DPS Discovery” from the printer cannot be relayed to the digital camera. Furthermore, the response from the digital camera cannot be relayed to the printer. In such a case, since there is no response to the “DPS Discovery” operation, the printer determines that the connection has failed and cancels the USB connection with the relay device.

  Here, when the “DPS Discovery” operation is performed from the printer by connecting the relay device to the printer via USB, the operation is stored in the relay device. Then, after the wireless communication unit in the relay device is activated and the wireless connection with the digital camera is established, the relay device starts the relay operation and the “DPS Discovery” operation is performed on the digital camera from the stored printer. You can also think about how to communicate. However, some printers specify a timeout time for the “DPS Discovery” operation. Therefore, if it takes time for the wireless communication unit to start up and establish a wireless connection in the relay device after the “DPS Discovery” operation is started from the printer side, the printer may time out. DPS Discovery ”operation cannot be guaranteed.

  Therefore, in such a relay device, it is impossible to realize a use application in which a relay device is always mounted on a printer, and when a user tries to print an image, a connection between the digital camera and the relay device is established and a printing operation is performed. .

  In the present invention, when a relay device that relays data communication between communication devices having different communication protocols is connected to the first communication device, the connection between the relay device and the second communication device is not established. It is another object of the present invention to maintain a connection state with the first communication device and to establish a connection with the second communication device at an arbitrary timing.

A relay apparatus according to the present invention is a relay apparatus that relays data communication between communication apparatuses having different communication protocols, and a first communication interface for communicating with the first communication apparatus using the first communication protocol. A second communication interface for communicating with the second communication device using the second communication protocol, and a protocol for performing protocol conversion between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol When the first communication device is communicably connected to the conversion means and the first communication interface, if the connection of the second communication device to the second communication interface is not established, Proxy setting means for responding to the first communication device on behalf of the second communication device with communication setting information supplied from the second communication device to the first communication device. It is characterized in.
A relay apparatus according to the present invention is a relay apparatus that relays data communication between an image supply apparatus having a first communication interface and a printing apparatus having a second communication interface, and the image supply apparatus A first communication interface for communicating; a second communication interface for communicating with the printing apparatus; a protocol conversion means for converting communication protocols of the first communication interface and the second communication interface; Processing of an image transfer protocol that is actively started from the printing apparatus until the connection with the image supply apparatus is established through the first communication interface when the printing apparatus is connected through the second communication interface. A response means for responding to the printing apparatus and a connection with the image supply apparatus via the first communication interface. After standing is characterized by having a relay means for converting a communication protocol by the protocol conversion means performs the relay operation of the data between the image supply device and the printing device.
The relay method of the present invention is a relay method for relaying data communication between communication devices having different communication protocols, and a protocol conversion step for performing protocol conversion between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol. And the second communication protocol when the first communication device is communicably connected to a first communication interface for communicating with the first communication device using the first communication protocol. If the connection of the second communication device to the second communication interface for communicating with the second communication device using the second communication device is not established, supply from the second communication device to the first communication device And a proxy response step of responding to the first communication device on behalf of the second communication device.
A program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a relay method for relaying data communication between communication devices having different communication protocols, between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol. When the first communication device is communicably connected to a protocol conversion step for performing protocol conversion and a first communication interface for communicating with the first communication device using the first communication protocol. If the connection of the second communication device to the second communication interface for communicating with the second communication device using the second communication protocol is not established, the second communication device sends the above-mentioned A proxy response step of responding to the first communication device on behalf of the second communication device with the communication setting information supplied to the first communication device; Characterized in that to execute.
The computer-readable recording medium of the present invention records the above program.

  According to the present invention, when the relay device and the first communication device are connected, if the connection between the relay device and the second communication device is not established, the relay device becomes the second communication device. Instead, the connection state with the first communication device can be maintained in response, and the connection with the second communication device can be established at an arbitrary timing.

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

(First embodiment)
A direct print system, which is an example of a wireless communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, includes a digital camera 1, a printer 201, and a wireless adapter 301. In the first embodiment, the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 are connected by a wireless LAN, and the printer 201 and the wireless adapter 301 are connected by a USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a digital camera 1 which is an example of an imaging apparatus and an example of an image supply apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that the imaging apparatus and the image supply apparatus in the present embodiment are not limited to digital cameras, and can be replaced with apparatuses that operate as digital cameras. Devices that operate as digital cameras include digital video cameras and mobile phones with digital cameras.

  In FIG. 1, 2 is a photographing lens, and 3 is a shutter having an aperture function. The image sensor 4 converts an optical image obtained by an optical system including the photographing lens 2 and the shutter 3 into an electric signal. The A / D converter 5 converts the analog signal output from the image sensor 4 into a digital signal.

  The timing generator 6 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 4, the A / D converter 5, and the D / A converter 7. The timing generator 6 is controlled by the memory controller 8 and the system controller 9. The D / A converter 7 converts the digital signal supplied from the memory control unit 8 into an analog signal.

  The memory control unit 8 controls the A / D converter 5, the timing generation unit 6, the D / A converter 7, the image processing unit 10, the image display memory 11, and the memory 12. The system control unit 9 controls the entire digital camera 1. The image processing unit 10 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 5 or the data from the memory control unit 8. Data output from the A / D converter 5 is written into the image display memory 11 or the memory 12 through the image processing unit 10 and the memory control unit 8 or directly through only the memory control unit 8.

  The memory 12 is a memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images and a moving image for a predetermined time. The image display unit 13 includes a display device such as a TFT or an LCD, and displays image data of a display image written in the image display memory 11 supplied via the D / A converter 7. In addition, it is possible to implement | achieve an electronic finder function by displaying the image data imaged using the image display part 13 sequentially.

  The exposure control unit 14 controls the shutter 3 having a diaphragm function, and realizes a flash light control function in cooperation with the flash 17. The distance measurement control unit 15 controls focusing of the photographic lens 2. The zoom control unit 16 controls zooming of the taking lens 2. The flash 17 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function.

  The power supply control unit 18 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like. The power supply control unit 18 detects the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level, controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control unit 9, and requires the necessary voltage It is supplied to each part including the recording medium for a long period. The power supply unit 19 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd (nickel cadmium) battery, a NiMH (nickel manganese hydrogen) battery, or a Li (lithium) battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  The memory 20 stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for the operation of the system control unit 9. The display unit 21 visually and / or audibly outputs an operation state, a message, and the like using characters, images, sounds, and the like according to execution of the program by the system control unit 9. The display unit 21 is installed in a single or a plurality of positions near the operation unit 25 of the digital camera 1 so as to be easily visible, and is configured by, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display device), an LED (light emitting diode), a speaker, or a combination thereof.

  The nonvolatile memory 22 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and stores wireless setting information necessary for wireless communication between the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301. The memory card interface 23 is for connecting a memory card which is an example of a removable storage medium. The memory card is a card-like storage medium having a nonvolatile memory. As the memory card, an SD memory card, CompactFlash (registered trademark), or the like can be used. The USB interface 24 is for connecting to an external device using a USB (Universal Serial Bus). The operation unit 25 is used to input various operation instructions of the system control unit 9, and is configured by a single or a combination of a switch, a dial, a touch panel, pointing by line-of-sight detection, a voice recognition device, and the like.

  The shutter switch 26 performs exposure processing for writing a signal read from the image sensor 4 to the memory 12 via the A / D converter 5 and the memory control unit 8, and calculation in the image processing unit 10 and the memory control unit 8. An instruction to start the operation of a series of processing called development processing is used. The wireless communication unit 27 is a wireless LAN communication interface such as IEEE802.11a / b / g, and transmits and receives wireless signals to control wireless communication with the wireless adapter 301. The wireless communication unit 27 may be built in the digital camera 1 or removable from the digital camera 1. The antenna 28 is an antenna that the wireless communication unit 27 has.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer 201 that is an example of a printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. Note that the printing apparatus in the present embodiment is not limited to a printer, and may be an apparatus that operates as a printer.
The print engine 202 has a function of actually printing an image on paper, and prints the image supplied from the digital camera 1 from the paper supply unit 213 onto the paper. The paper discharge unit 214 discharges the paper on which the image is printed. A print control unit 205 controls the operation of the print engine 202. The display unit 203 displays a reduced image of the image to be printed, displays a setting menu, displays a message regarding the printer 201, and displays a status of data communication with the digital camera 1. A liquid crystal display or the like can be used for the display portion 203. The display control unit 206 controls the operation of the display unit 203 and generates information displayed on the display unit 203.

  The operation unit 204 is an operation unit for inputting various operation instructions configured by a single or a plurality of combinations such as a switch, a dial, a touch panel, pointing by line-of-sight detection, and a voice recognition device via the system control unit 207. .

  The non-volatile memory 208 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and stores wireless setting information necessary for wireless communication between the printer 201 and another device. The memory 209 stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for the operation of the printer 201. The wireless communication unit 210 is a wireless LAN communication interface such as IEEE802.11a / b / g, and controls wireless communication by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from other devices. The wireless communication unit 210 may be built in the printer 201 or detachable from the printer 201. The antenna 215 is an antenna that the wireless communication unit 210 has. The USB interface 211 is for connecting to the wireless adapter 301 using a USB. The parallel interface 212 is for connecting to an external device such as a personal computer using parallel communication.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the wireless adapter 301 which is an example of the relay device according to the first embodiment. The wireless adapter 301 has at least two different communication interfaces. The wireless adapter 301 converts a first communication protocol used between the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 and a second communication protocol used between the printer 201 and the wireless adapter 301, This is a protocol conversion device that relays image transfer between the digital camera 1 and the printer 201.

  The system control unit 302 controls various control processes described later in the wireless adapter 301. The protocol conversion unit 303 converts different communication protocols. The nonvolatile memory 304 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and stores wireless setting information necessary for wireless communication between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1. The display unit 305 displays information related to the wireless adapter 301 using an LED or the like. The display control unit 306 controls the operation of the display unit 305.

  The wireless communication unit 307 is a communication interface for wireless LAN such as IEEE802.11a / b / g, and controls wireless communication by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from the digital camera 1. The wireless communication unit 307 may be built in the wireless adapter 301 or detachable from the wireless adapter 301. The antenna 310 is an antenna that the wireless communication unit 307 has. The USB interface 308 is for connecting to the printer 201 using the USB. The memory 309 stores constants, variables, programs, etc. for operation of the wireless adapter 301.

  Next, operations will be described based on the configuration of the digital camera 1, the printer 201, and the wireless adapter 301 described above. In the following, in the present embodiment, a process for mounting the wireless adapter 301 in the printer 201 and relaying data communication between the digital camera 1 having a wireless LAN communication interface and the printer 201 having a USB communication interface will be described. To do.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation sequence when the digital camera 1 and the printer 201 having different communication interfaces perform printing by PictBridge via the wireless adapter 301. In addition, about the LED display of step S701, S704, S709, and S714, description here is abbreviate | omitted and mentioned later.

  First, in order to relay data communication between communication apparatuses having different communication interfaces, the wireless adapter 301 is attached to the printer 201 by the user (step S702). The printer 201 monitors the state of the VBUS in the USB interface. When the state of the VBUS changes, the printer 201 recognizes that a USB compatible device is connected and starts the “DPS Discovery” operation (step S703).

  The wireless adapter 301 preferably converts the communication protocol for the “DPS Discovery” operation from the printer 201 and transmits it to the digital camera 1. In this embodiment, a wireless connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1 is established. Not done. Therefore, the wireless adapter 301 responds to the “DPS Discovery” operation from the printer 201 instead of the digital camera 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of the “DPS Discovery” operation performed between the printer 201 and the wireless adapter 301.
When the printer 201 detects the connection of the USB compatible device to the USB interface 211, the printer 201 transmits a “GetDeviceInfo” operation to the wireless adapter 301 after establishing the USB connection (step S801). In response to this, the wireless adapter 301 generates “DeviceInfoDataset” and transmits it to the printer 201 (step S802).

  Here, “DeviceInfoDataset” in step S802 transmitted to the printer 201 that is the issuing source of “GetDeviceInfo” describes information unique to the device of the digital camera 1 to be connected. However, here, for example, information on the corresponding PTP operation type and the like can be used as a proxy response by describing general digital camera information corresponding to PictBridge. Of course, the wireless adapter 301 may hold information on the digital camera 1 to be actually connected in advance, and “DeviceInfoDataset” may be generated based on the information.

  Next, the printer 201 issues an “OpenSession” operation to the wireless adapter 301 (step S803). In response to this “OpenSession” operation, when the wireless adapter 301 returns an “OK” response to the printer 201 (step S804), the connection by the PTP between the wireless adapter 301 and the printer 201 is established. Here, since the ID (printer-wireless adapter connection ID) is assigned to the established connection, the wireless adapter 301 stores this in the memory 309 or the like (step S705 in FIG. 4).

  Next, the printer 201 sequentially issues a “GetNumObject” operation and a “GetObjectHandle” operation to the wireless adapter 301 by specifying a script as an object type (steps S805 and S807). The wireless adapter 301 generates and holds a script indicating that it corresponds to a PictBridge to be used later at an arbitrary timing until the processing in steps S805 and S807 is performed. Accordingly, the wireless adapter 301 sequentially returns the number of scripts and the handle thereof to the printer 201 (steps S806 and S808).

  Next, the printer 201 issues a “GetObjectInfo” operation to the wireless adapter 301 with respect to the handle of the script acquired earlier (step S809). The wireless adapter 301 includes a keyword indicating that it corresponds to PictBridge in the script information held by itself, and transmits it to the printer 201 as “ObjcetInfoDataset” (step S810). In response to this response, the printer 201 transmits “ObjectInfoDataset” including the keyword of the response to the previous keyword to the wireless adapter 301 (steps S811, S812). The wireless adapter 301 confirms the keyword of the response and returns an “OK” response to the printer 201 (step S813).

  At the stage of performing the processing so far, the printer 201 confirms that the connected partner is a device compatible with PictBridge, and issuance of a command that is actively started from the printer 201 is terminated and issued from the partner device. Transitions to a state waiting for a command. Therefore, the wireless adapter 301 can connect the printer 201 and the wireless adapter 301 by responding to the command issued from the printer 201 even if the connection with the digital camera 1 is not established. Can continue to maintain. Therefore, it is possible to wait for establishment of a wireless connection between the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the wireless adapter 301 activates the wireless communication function when the “DPS Discovery” operation with the printer 201 is completed (step S <b> 706). Thereafter, the wireless adapter 301 transitions to a state of waiting for a wireless connection request from the digital camera 1.

  Here, in the wireless connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1, wireless parameter information such as an ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier) used in a general wireless LAN and an encryption key is required. For example, the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1 may hold common information in advance, or information may be exchanged using another communication interface at this stage. Any method is acceptable. The present embodiment does not depend on a method for holding this common information.

  Here, in step S707 executed at an arbitrary timing, the digital camera 1 issues a wireless connection instruction to the wireless adapter 301 in response to a user operation on the user interface. In the present embodiment, if the wireless adapter 301 has already completed the processing up to step S706 described above, wireless connection between the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 is established in step S708.

  If the wireless connection instruction is issued in step S707 before the wireless adapter 301 finishes the process up to step S706, the wireless adapter 301 may wait until the process up to step S706 is finished. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a timeout time and give up the wireless connection after a certain period of time, and use the display unit 21 of the digital camera 1 to display a message such as “Could not connect” to the user.

  When the wireless connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1 is established, the digital camera 1 transitions to a state of waiting for a “DPS Discovery” operation from the printer 201. In the present embodiment, in order to start the operation of the DPS application in the digital camera 1, the wireless adapter 301 actively starts the “DPS Discovery” operation for the digital camera 1 (step S710).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing details of the “DPS Discovery” operation performed between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1.
When the wireless connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1 is established, the wireless adapter 301 transmits a “GetDeviceInfo” operation to the digital camera 1 (step S901). In response to this, the digital camera 1 generates “DeviceInfoDataset” and transmits it to the wireless adapter 301 (step S902).

  Note that “DeviceInfoDataset” transmitted in step S902 describes information such as the PTP operation type that the digital camera 1 supports. If the wireless adapter 301 holds such information in advance, steps S901 and S902 can be omitted.

  Next, the wireless adapter 301 issues an “OpenSession” operation to the digital camera 1 (step S903). In response to this “OpenSession” operation, when the digital camera 1 returns an “OK” response to the wireless adapter 301 (step S904), the connection by the PTP between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1 is established. Here, since the ID (digital camera-wireless adapter connection ID) is assigned to the established connection, the wireless adapter 301 stores this in the memory 309 or the like (step S711 in FIG. 4).

  Next, the wireless adapter 301 sequentially issues a “GetNumObject” operation and a “GetObjectHandle” operation to the digital camera 1 by specifying a script as an object type (steps S905 and S907). The digital camera 1 generates and holds a script indicating that it corresponds to a PictBridge to be used later at an arbitrary timing until the processing in steps S905 and S907 is performed. Accordingly, the digital camera 1 sequentially returns the number of scripts and the handle thereof to the wireless adapter 301 (steps S906 and S908).

  Next, the wireless adapter 301 issues a “GetObjectInfo” operation to the digital camera 1 for the handle of the script acquired earlier (step S909). The digital camera 1 includes a keyword indicating that it corresponds to PictBridge in the retained script information, and transmits it to the wireless adapter 301 as “ObjcetInfoDataset” (step S910). In response to this response, the wireless adapter 301 transmits “ObjectInfoDataset” including the keyword of the response to the previous keyword to the digital camera 1 (steps S911 and S912). The digital camera 1 confirms the keyword of the response and returns an “OK” response to the wireless adapter 301 (step S913).

  At this point, the digital camera 1 and the printer 201 can recognize that the devices connected to the digital camera 1 and the printer 201 are compatible with PictBridge, and can then perform a printing operation using PictBridge.

  Next, after confirming that the connected device is a device compatible with PictBridge, the digital camera 1 issues “DPS_ConfigurePrintService” to confirm what service function the printer 201 has ( Step S712). The wireless adapter 301 receives “DPS_ConfigurePrintService” from the digital camera 1. The wireless adapter 301 relays the received “DPS_ConfigurePrintService” to the printer 201 by converting the communication protocol (steps S713 and S715).

  In the subsequent steps, the wireless adapter 301 sequentially converts the communication protocol from USB to wireless LAN and from wireless LAN to USB, and performs data communication between the digital camera 1 and the printer 201 using a communication method compliant with PictBridge. Relay. The printing operation by PictBridge actually performed in the subsequent steps is the same as the conventional operation sequence shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the protocol conversion process in step S713 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the communication layers of the digital camera 1, the wireless adapter 301, and the printer 201 in the present embodiment.

  The printer 201 includes a communication interface compatible with USB, and operates as a USB host device. The printer 201 uses PTP as a higher-level communication protocol, and operates as an initiator that initiates PTP processing. In addition, the digital camera 1 includes a communication interface corresponding to a wireless LAN (IEEE802.11). Similar to the printer 201, the digital camera 1 uses PTP as an upper-layer communication protocol, and operates as a responder that is a side responding to a request from the PTP initiator.

  On the other hand, the wireless adapter 301 includes both a communication interface compatible with USB and a communication interface compatible with wireless LAN, and includes a communication protocol corresponding to the printer 201 and the digital camera 1, respectively. Here, the protocol conversion unit shown in the figure converts only the portion corresponding to the lower communication protocol and relays data communication between the digital camera 1 and the printer 201 having different communication interfaces.

  Further, as described above, the wireless adapter 301 performs a “DPS Discovery” operation with the digital camera 1 and the printer 201, and holds an ID for the PTP connection established in each. Here, in step S713, the wireless adapter 301 converts the communication protocol and relays the data communication between the digital camera 1 and the printer 201. Such processing may be performed. The wireless adapter 301 may perform processing for ensuring consistency between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1 or the printer 201 for the ID for PTP connection as necessary.

  An operation of relaying “DPS_ConfigurePrintService” from the digital camera 1 to the printer 201 in steps S712 to S715 will be described as an example.

  Suppose that the ID of the PTP connection between the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 obtained in step S705 is “A”. Here, it is assumed that the ID of the PTP connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the printer 201 obtained in step S711 is “A”. In this case, the wireless adapter 301 can convert only the communication protocol from USB to wireless LAN, and can relay data communication without changing the protocol higher than PTP.

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the ID of the PTP connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the printer 201 obtained in step S711 is “B”. In this case, if the wireless adapter 301 performs the relay operation as it is without changing the protocol higher than the PTP, there is a possibility that the relay operation cannot be normally performed because the PTP connection IDs do not match. . This is because the received printer 201 expects that “A” will come for the ID of the PTP connection, and therefore the IDs of the PTP connection will not match.

  Therefore, in step S713, the wireless adapter 301 performs a process for determining the ID obtained in steps S705 and S711. As a result, when the IDs are different, the wireless adapter 301 exchanges IDs for data relayed between the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 and between the wireless adapter 301 and the printer 201.

  For example, if the ID obtained in step S711 is “B”, the data in step S712 is sent with the ID “B” on the PTP. In step S713, the wireless adapter 301 performs processing for determining the ID obtained in steps S705 and S711. As a result, since the wireless adapter 301 is different between “A” and “B”, when transmitting data in step S715, the wireless adapter 301 changes the ID on the PTP to “A” and transmits it to the printer 201. .

Accordingly, communication operations between the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 and between the wireless adapter 301 and the printer 201 can be performed without contradiction.
In steps S717 to S719, the reverse operation of step S713 is performed in the protocol conversion process and the ID conversion process in step S718 of the operation of relaying “DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus” from the printer 201 to the digital camera 1.

  As described above, data communication is relayed between the printer 201 and the digital camera 1 having different communication interfaces in the wireless adapter 301 in the sequence described above. At this time, it is possible to notify the user of the connection state between the wireless adapter 301 and the printer 201 or the digital camera 1 using an LED display or the like.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the wireless adapter 301 in the present embodiment. Here, the system control unit 302 controls the lighting of the LED display unit 305 to indicate the connection state of the wireless adapter 301 to the user. For example, the LED display (steps S701, S704, S709, and S714) shown in the operation sequence of FIG. 4 is assigned as follows in this embodiment.

  In the LED display 1 in step S701, the LED 305 of the wireless adapter 301 is off. When the LED 305 is turned off, the user knows that the wireless adapter 301 is not connected to another device and is not operating.

  Further, in the LED display 2 in step S704, the LED 305 of the wireless adapter 301 blinks once per second. When the LED 305 is blinking, the user can recognize that the USB connection between the printer 201 and the wireless adapter 301 has been established. The user looks at the state of the LED 305 of the wireless adapter 301, and if the wireless connection instruction is issued from the digital camera 1 in step S707 when the LED 305 is blinking, the wireless connection is established with the wireless adapter 301. I understand that I can do it.

  In the LED display 3 in step S709, the LED 305 of the wireless adapter 301 is lit. When the LED 305 is lit, the user can see that the wireless connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1 is established.

  In the LED display 4 in step S714, the LED 305 of the wireless adapter 301 blinks five times per second. When the LED 305 is blinking at a high speed, the user knows that the wireless adapter 301 is relaying data communication between the printer 201 and the digital camera 1.

  Further, the LED display is not limited to the above-described example, and when an error occurs in the wireless adapter 301, it is possible to warn the user with a color different from the normal color. With these LED displays, the wireless adapter 301 can improve usability for the user.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the wireless adapter 301 and the printer 201 are connected when the connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1 is not established, the wireless adapter 301 is connected to the printer 201. Responds to the command from As a result, it is possible to wait for establishment of a wireless connection between the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 while maintaining the connection relationship without releasing the connection state from the printer 201. Here, when the wireless adapter 301 responds in advance to a command from the printer 201, it is possible to reduce the subsequent processing relayed by the wireless adapter 301 between the digital camera 1 and the printer 201. Therefore, the processing time between the digital camera 1 and the printer 201 can be shortened. In the first embodiment, the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 are connected by a wireless LAN, but may be connected by a wireless communication line other than the wireless LAN. In the first embodiment, the printer 201 and the wireless adapter 301 are connected by USB, but may be connected by a wired communication line other than USB.

  Further, according to the wireless adapter 301 in the first embodiment, even when the wireless connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1 is established, the connection by the PictBridge between the digital camera 1 and the printer 201 is performed. Can be established instead of the digital camera 1. Accordingly, it is possible to wait for the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 to be wirelessly connected while maintaining the USB connection between the printer 201 and the wireless adapter 301. Further, according to the wireless adapter 301 in the first embodiment, when the wireless connection between the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 is established, the connection of the digital camera 1 and the printer 201 by PictBridge is established. Can be done instead. As a result, a connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the printer 201 can be established at an arbitrary timing, and direct printing can be started.

  In addition, according to the wireless adapter 301 in the first embodiment, since the standby state of the wireless adapter 301 can be displayed, the user is informed that the digital camera 1 can be connected to the wireless adapter 301. I can inform you.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment, which is a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, will be described. Since the second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, the description of the same parts as those of the first embodiment is omitted.
In the second embodiment, the wireless adapter 301 is attached to the printer 201 as in the first embodiment, and the communication between the digital camera 1 having a wireless LAN communication interface and the printer 201 having a USB communication interface is relayed. The operation to be performed will be described.

  The configurations of the digital camera 1, the printer 201, and the wireless adapter 301 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the wireless adapter 301 stores the state of the printer 201 before connecting the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 and notifies the digital camera 1 of the state. .

Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a connection operation sequence between the wireless adapter 301 and each of the digital camera 1 and the printer 201 having different communication interfaces in the second embodiment.

  The operations from Steps S1201 to S1206 shown in FIG. 9 are the same as the operations in Steps S701 to S706 in the first embodiment described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

After executing the processing up to step S1206, the wireless adapter 301 transitions to a state of waiting for wireless connection from the digital camera 1.
Here, when a change occurs in the state of the printer 201, the state of the printer 201 is transmitted to the wireless adapter 301 by “DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus” (step S1207).

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating details of “DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus” in step S1207.
When a change occurs in the state of the printer 201, the printer 201 tries to transmit information on the state change to the wireless adapter 301. First, the printer 201 transmits details about information to be transmitted to the wireless adapter 301 (steps S1301 and S1302). When the printer 201 receives an “OK” response from the wireless adapter 301 (step S1303), the printer 201 next transmits information about the state change of the printer 201 to the wireless adapter 301 (steps S1304 and S1305). In response to this, when the wireless adapter 301 transmits a response of “OK” (step S1306), the “DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus” operation ends.

  Returning to FIG. 9, the wireless adapter 301 stores the received status of the printer 201 (step S1208). In step S 1209, the user issues a wireless connection instruction to the wireless adapter 301 from the user interface of the digital camera 1, and tries to establish a wireless connection between the wireless adapter 301 and the digital camera 1.

  Next, in step S1211, the wireless adapter 301 performs a determination process for the stored printer state, and notifies the digital camera 1 of what is determined to be notified (step S1212). . With regard to this notification, for example, when there is a wireless connection request from the digital camera 1 in step S1210, the wireless adapter 301 returns a rejection response to the request and notifies the stored status of the printer 201. May be. As a result, the user can quickly know that the printing operation cannot be performed with the printer 201 when the wireless connection is attempted.

  Alternatively, “DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus” may be issued from the wireless adapter 301 by PictBridge communication after establishing a wireless connection with the digital camera 1 in step S1201. In this case, the digital camera 1 can use the function of receiving and processing the printer status on PictBridge as it is. In addition, the digital camera 1 does not transmit the status of the printer 201 to the digital camera 1 via the wireless adapter 301 after the wireless adapter 301 performs an operation of relaying data communication between the printer 201 and the digital camera 1. The user can quickly know that the printing operation cannot be performed.

  The digital camera 1 displays the notified printer status on the user interface as necessary (step S1213).

  Thus, according to the second embodiment, for example, when the printer 201 is out of paper or out of ink in step S1207, the printing operation is performed in step S1211 immediately after the wireless adapter 301 is wirelessly connected to the digital camera 1. It is determined that cannot be performed. Then, it can be notified and a message indicating that printing cannot be performed on the user interface of the digital camera 1 can be displayed. In the second embodiment, the digital camera 1 and the wireless adapter 301 are connected by a wireless LAN, but may be connected by a wireless communication line other than the wireless LAN. Also in the second embodiment, the printer 201 and the wireless adapter 301 are connected by USB, but may be connected by a wired communication line other than USB.

(Other embodiments)
The above-described embodiments can also be realized by a computer program that can be executed by a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) in the apparatus or system. In this case, the computer program is supplied to the apparatus or system via a computer-readable recording medium. As the computer-readable recording medium, 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.
In the above-described embodiment, the computer program is also used when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) or other application software running on the computer. Needless to say, it is included in the embodiments of the present invention.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a digital camera that is an example of an imaging apparatus and an example of an image supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer that is an example of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the wireless adapter which is an example of the relay apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement sequence in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows about "DPS Discovery" operation | movement between the wireless adapter and printer in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows about "DPS Discovery" operation | movement between the wireless adapter and digital camera in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure shown about the structure of each communication layer of the digital camera, wireless adapter, and printer in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the wireless adapter in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement sequence in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows about "DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus" operation | movement between the relay apparatus and printer in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the whole processing flow at the time of the printing by the conventional PictBridge. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the "DPS Discovery" operation | movement at the time of the printing by the conventional PictBridge. It is a figure which shows an example of the direct print system comprised from the digital camera, the printer, and the relay apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 9 System control part 22 Non-volatile memory 27 Wireless communication part 28 Antenna 201 Printer 207 System control part 208 Non-volatile memory 210 Wireless communication part 215 Antenna 301 Wireless adapter 302 System control part 303 Protocol conversion part 307 Wireless communication part 310 Antenna

Claims (9)

A relay device that relays data communication between communication devices with different communication protocols,
A first communication interface for communicating with a first communication device using a first communication protocol;
A second communication interface for communicating with a second communication device using a second communication protocol;
Protocol conversion means for performing protocol conversion between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol;
If the connection of the second communication device to the second communication interface is not established when the first communication device is communicably connected to the first communication interface, the second communication device A relay device, comprising: proxy response means for proxying the second communication device for communication setting information supplied from the communication device to the first communication device and responding to the first communication device. A relay device that relays data communication between an image supply device having a first communication interface and a printing device having a second communication interface,
A first communication interface for communicating with the image supply device;
A second communication interface for communicating with the printing device;
Protocol conversion means for converting communication protocols of the first communication interface and the second communication interface;
Processing of an image transfer protocol that is actively started from the printing apparatus until connection with the image supply apparatus is established through the first communication interface when the printing apparatus is connected through the second communication interface Response means for responding to the printing device;
After establishing a connection with the image supply device via the first communication interface, a relay means for converting a communication protocol by the protocol conversion means and relaying data between the image supply device and the printing device is provided. A relay device comprising the relay device.   3. The relay apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the relay apparatus responds to a negotiation operation from the printing apparatus when connected to the printing apparatus through the second communication interface in compliance with the PictBridge standard. The protocol conversion means includes storage means for holding respective identifiers for the processing of the image transfer protocol in the first communication interface and the second communication interface,
The relay apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit that assigns the identifier suitable for each of the communication using the first communication interface and the second communication interface.   5. The relay device according to claim 2, further comprising a display unit configured to perform display in accordance with a connection state between the image supply device and the printing device. Receiving means for receiving an operation state of the printing apparatus when the response means performs a response operation to the printing apparatus;
Storage means for storing the operating state of the printing apparatus received by the receiving means;
The relay apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the image supply apparatus of the operation state of the printing apparatus stored by the storage unit. A relay method for relaying data communication between communication devices having different communication protocols,
A protocol conversion step for performing protocol conversion between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol;
When the first communication device is communicably connected to a first communication interface for communicating with the first communication device using the first communication protocol, the second communication protocol is used. Communication supplied from the second communication device to the first communication device when the connection of the second communication device to the second communication interface for communicating with the second communication device is not established. And a proxy response step of responding to the first communication device with the setting information on behalf of the second communication device. A program for causing a computer to execute a relay method for relaying data communication between communication devices having different communication protocols,
A protocol conversion step for performing protocol conversion between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol;
When the first communication device is communicably connected to a first communication interface for communicating with the first communication device using the first communication protocol, the second communication protocol is used. Communication supplied from the second communication device to the first communication device when the connection of the second communication device to the second communication interface for communicating with the second communication device is not established. A program for causing a computer to execute a proxy response step of responding to the first communication device on behalf of the second communication device with setting information.   9. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 8 is recorded.

Images