JP2009164843A - Communication device and operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently configure setting for a series of processing leading from construction of a logic network to data communication processing. <P>SOLUTION: A camera 120 holds logic network connection information for constructing the logic network with a storage server 140, and communication information used for the data communication with the storage server 140 via the logic network. Then, the camera 120 transmits the logic network connection information to a router B111, and performs data communication with the storage server 140 via the logic network constituted by the router B111 based on the communication information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for constructing a logical network and performing data communication processing via the constructed logical network.

  Televisions and recording devices having a network connection function are commercially available, and still images and moving images can be transmitted and received between different manufacturers according to standards and implementation guidelines. As such standards and implementation guidelines, there are UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance). There are also communication adapters that add a network connection function to input / output devices such as cameras and printers that do not have a network connection function.

  There is a method of configuring a logical network on a communication network (for example, a TCP / IP network) that is not restricted by a physical network configuration. This method is called VPN (Virtual Private Network).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a method for requesting participation in a logical network and accepting participation using a servant ID of a seed servant and a servant ID of the own servant.

  In order to exchange information between devices connected to the network, it is necessary to determine connection information such as a network address, a port number, and a protocol between the transmission device and the reception device. These pieces of information are set through a normal setting file or a GUI (Graphical User Interface) of a setting application.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a GUI that allows a user to visually designate a file to be printed and a printing destination. In this conventional example, when a camera icon is dragged and dropped onto a printer icon, a camera list and printer list information are displayed, and the user can select a desired combination.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-322566 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-231434

  However, in the prior art, logical network connection information (for example, connection destination IP address, port number, authentication information, etc.) and device communication information to be performed after connection are stored separately. Alternatively, it is customary to perform an operation with an input device each time without determining the content of device communication via a logical network in advance. In addition, although the logical network connection setting is complicated, there is no efficient method for setting the logical network connection information and the device communication contents after network connection collectively.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable efficient setting for a series of processes from construction of a logical network to data communication processing.

The communication apparatus according to the present invention includes logical network connection information that is setting information for establishing a logical network with an external apparatus, and communication information that is setting information for performing data communication processing with the external apparatus via the logical network. Are stored in a recording medium, transmission means for transmitting the logical network connection information to a communication control apparatus that controls the construction of the logical network, and construction by the communication control apparatus based on the communication information And data communication processing means for executing data communication processing with the external device via the logical network.
An operating device of the present invention is an operating device that is communicably connected to a first communication device, and issues an instruction for data communication processing via a logical network between the first communication device and the second communication device. Communication information that is setting information for performing data communication processing between the first communication device and the second communication device via the logical network in accordance with an instruction by the operation device and an instruction by the operation device And logical network connection information which is setting information for constructing a logical network between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus together with the communication information generated by the generation means. Transmission means for transmitting to the first communication device.
The communication device control method of the present invention is a communication device control method, which is logical network connection information that is setting information for constructing a logical network with an external device, and the external device and data via the logical network. A holding step for holding communication information, which is setting information for performing communication processing, in a recording medium; a transmission step for transmitting the logical network connection information to a communication control device that controls construction of the logical network; And a data communication processing step for executing data communication processing with the external device via the logical network constructed by the communication control device based on communication information.
A method for controlling an operating device according to the present invention is a method for controlling an operating device that is communicably connected to a first communication device, via a logical network between the first communication device and the second communication device. Communication that is setting information for performing data communication processing between the first communication device and the second communication device via the logical network in response to an instruction from an operation unit for instructing data communication processing A generation step for generating information, and logical network connection information which is setting information for constructing a logical network between the first communication device and the second communication device together with the communication information generated by the generation step Transmitting to the first communication device.
According to a first aspect of the program of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute a method for controlling a communication device, wherein the logical network connection information is setting information for establishing a logical network with an external device, and the logic A holding step for holding communication information, which is setting information for performing data communication processing with the external device via a network, on a recording medium; Causing a computer to execute a transmission step of transmitting information and a data communication processing step of executing data communication processing with the external device via the logical network constructed by the communication control device based on the communication information It is characterized by.
According to a second aspect of the program of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an operating device connected to be communicable with the first communication device, the first communication device and the second communication device. Data communication processing between the first communication device and the second communication device via the logical network in response to an instruction by the operating means for instructing data communication processing between the communication devices via the logical network Generating a communication information, which is setting information for performing communication, and a logical network between the first communication device and the second communication device together with the communication information generated by the generation step The computer is caused to execute a transmission step of transmitting logical network connection information, which is the setting information, to the first communication device.

  In the present invention, logical network connection information for constructing a logical network and communication information for performing data communication processing via the logical network are held together, and the construction and data of the logical network are used using them. Communication processing is performed. Therefore, according to the present invention, settings for a series of processes from construction of a logical network to data communication processing can be performed efficiently.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment described below, a system that constructs a logical network among a plurality of independent networks and performs data communication processing such as file transfer between devices and stream communication is handled. Setting information required for logical network connection (hereinafter referred to as “logical network connection information”) and setting information required for inter-device communication (hereinafter referred to as “device communication information”) are stored inside the device, and the logical network connection of the device A method for automatically performing predetermined communication processing will be described. A method for easily performing settings for connecting a logical network and settings for communication between devices will also be described. The device communication information is an application example of the communication information of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a home network 100 and a destination network 110 that are independent networks are connected to the Internet 170 via a network control device such as a router to constitute a logical network. Note that FIG. 1 is described using the reference numerals in FIG. 1 when the configuration shown in FIG. 1 can be used in the description of other embodiments to be described later.

  The router exists on both the home network 100 side and the outside network 110 side. As an example of device communication, an upload process for transferring an image of a camera taken out to the storage server 140 at home will be taken up. The router A 101 on the home network 100 side and the router B 111 on the outside network 110 side are both devices that control the construction of the logical network. The router B111 is an application example of the communication control device of the present invention, and the router A101 is a configuration of an application example of the other communication control device of the present invention.

  First, in the home network 100, setting information necessary for logical network connection and upload processing is created and stored in the camera 120. Next, the camera 120 is taken outside to take a picture and connected to the outside network 110. Then, a logical network is constructed with the home network 100, and file upload processing is performed. The logical network connection information and device communication information saved at this time are used.

  A camera 120, a display 130, and a storage server 140 are connected to the home network 100. The camera 120 is connected via a wireless LAN AP (Access Point) 112. The camera 120 can perform shooting control and image browsing of the internal recording medium. The display 130 incorporates a computer, has an input interface such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is connected to the camera 120 so as to be communicable. The storage server 140 stores image and audio files therein and can send and receive these files in response to requests via the network. The display 130 is a configuration that is an application example of the operation device of the present invention.

  A camera 120 and an information terminal 150 are connected to the outside network 110. The camera 120 takes out what was used in the home network 100. A wireless LAN is employed as an example, and the devices are connected via the wireless LAN AP 112. The information terminal 150 can browse files such as images in the storage server 140 of the home network 100.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the camera 120 according to the present embodiment. The camera includes an imaging unit 201, an image processing unit 202, an imaging control unit 203, a CPU 205, a ROM 206, a RAM 207, and a position / orientation detection unit 208. It also has an external storage interface 211 and an external memory 212 such as a memory card. It also has an operation device 214 such as buttons and switches, an operation interface 213 for device control, a small display (display device) 216 such as a liquid crystal or an organic EL, and a display interface 215 for controlling this. Furthermore, it has a communication interface 217 for communicating with the outside. Here, the communication interface has a USB (Universal Serial Bus) and a wireless LAN interface, but it is also possible to have an interface corresponding to another communication method.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection setting information including logical network connection information and device communication information. The connection setting information is roughly divided into logical network connection information from ID2 to ID8, wireless LAN connection information from ID9 and ID10, and device communication information from ID11 to ID13, starting with the connection destination name of ID1. Although FIG. 3 shows an example of one connection setting information, it is possible to simultaneously have a plurality of connection setting information and select one of them. Connection setting information including logical network connection information and device communication information is stored in a recording medium such as the RAM 207.

  The logical network connection information from ID2 to ID8 will be described. The logical network connection information from ID2 to ID8 is generated by the router A101 and saved as connection acceptance information at the same time. ID2 is an IP address, which is an IP address of a connection destination that permits logical network connection. Examples of the IP address include an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address, but other IP address formats may be used. ID3 is a port number of a connection destination that permits connection of the logical network. ID4 is a transport protocol used when communicating with a connection destination that permits connection to a logical network. Transport protocols include TCP and UDP, but other protocols can be used depending on the purpose.

  Next, ID5 is an authentication type, which is an authentication method / encryption method used when communicating with a connection destination that permits connection to a logical network. The authentication method / encryption method includes a method using a common key and an authentication method / encryption method using a public key. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other authentication methods / encryption methods and algorithms can be used. ID6 is a 256-bit common key used for authentication / encryption with a connection destination that permits connection to the logical network. ID7 is a public key, which is a 4096-bit public key of a connection destination that permits connection to the logical network, which is used for authentication and encryption with a connection destination that permits connection of the logical network. An arbitrary length key can be used for the public key and the common key.

  ID8 is a lifetime, and is a valid time of the connection parameter. During the lifetime, it is possible to connect to a connection destination that permits connection of the logical network. The lifetime can be an arbitrary length value including infinite length. Note that the parameters of the logical network (address or ID on the logical network, route information on the logical network, etc.) may be stored in a form added to FIG.

  ID9 and ID10 are information necessary for wireless LAN connection. This ID is not required when not connected to the wireless LAN. ID9 is an SSID, and ID10 is a 64-bit secret key required for WEP authentication. Since the present embodiment does not depend on a specific authentication method, other authentication methods can be used when connecting to a wireless LAN.

  ID11, ID12, and ID13 are information necessary for device communication. ID11 is the type of operation performed after connection to the logical network, for example, uploading to a storage server or acquisition of a camera video. The ID 12 is an ID for specifying a communication target device, and is, for example, a location or a unique service name (USN: Unique Service Name) notified by RI or UPnP discovery processing. ID 13 is an argument for device communication, and in the case of upload, is the ID of the upload destination directory. This is described in accordance with a directory description language used in, for example, CDS (Content Directory Service). ID12 and ID13 are arguments for device communication, and a plurality of arguments are set according to the type of device communication. Hereinafter, the device communication is referred to as an operation using the terminology in FIG. 3, and the device communication setting is referred to as an operation setting.

  A procedure for uploading a camera image via a logical network will be described with reference to a method of using the connection setting information in FIG. The connection procedure is broadly divided into 1) setting saving in the home network 100, 2) connection in the out-of-office network 110, and 3) setting deletion in the home network 100.

  First, 1) A procedure for saving settings in the home network 100 will be described. Here, the logical network connection information and the device communication information described with reference to FIG. In the home network 100, when the camera 120 finds a wireless LAN access point that can be connected to the network, the user is prompted to confirm whether or not to connect. When the user permits, the wireless LAN is connected. When the camera 120 is connected to the home network 100, the display 130 detects this and activates the setting application. The user instructs what operation is to be performed from the camera 120 using the setting application GUI. When instructed by the user, the setting application acquires logical network connection information generated by the router A101. Then, the setting application stores the acquired logical network connection information and the device communication information generated by the setting application in the camera 120. Finally, the setting application notifies the router A 101 that the setting has been completed. The router A 101 waits for a connection request from the camera 120 based on the provided logical network connection information. The process in which the camera 120 described above stores the logical network connection information and the device communication information is an example of a process of the holding unit of the present invention.

  Next, 2) a connection procedure in the destination network 110 will be described. Similarly to the home network 100, the camera 120 is connected to the out-of-office network 110 via a wireless LAN. Next, the camera 120 transmits logical network connection information to the router B 111 of the destination network 110. Note that the process in which the camera 120 transmits logical network connection information to the router B 111 is an example of a process of the transmission unit of the present invention. The router B 111 confirms that the connection destination is other than the outside network 110 and makes a logical network connection to the home network 100. After the logical network connection is completed, direct communication with the storage server 140 on the home network 100 becomes possible. Therefore, the camera 120 performs an upload process for transferring a captured image to the storage server 140 at home based on the device communication information. The upload destination server and directory are specified as argument IDs 12 and 13 of the operation information. The upload process by the camera 120 described above is an example of the data communication processing means of the present invention.

  Finally, 3) A procedure for deleting logical network connection information in the home network 100 will be described. When the camera 120 is reconnected to the home network 100, the display 130 detects this and activates the setting application as in 1). The setting application checks whether or not the logical network connection information already exists in the camera 120, and displays the state as an icon. The user instructs the deletion of the logical network connection information and device communication information in the camera 120 by the setting application. When the instruction is given, the setting application transmits the instruction to the camera 120 and the router A101. Upon receiving the instruction, the camera 120 deletes its own logical network connection information and device communication information. On the other hand, the router A101 also ends the connection waiting state from the camera 120.

  Next, the software configuration of the setting application that operates on the display 130 will be described with reference to FIG. In this software, the setting application is developed using an OS (operation system) that provides a basic function, a window system that provides a GUI, and a communication module (communication protocol stack) that provides a communication function. The communication module includes a router, storage (eg, DLNA media server), and middleware for communicating with the camera.

  Next, a GUI example of a setting application operating on the display 130 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a PC-type GUI for operating the window system with a keyboard and a mouse is adopted. In FIG. 5, a list of operation contents, that is, a list of data communication processes that can be performed between the camera 120 and the storage server 140 is displayed in a window 510 displayed by the setting application. Each of these is called a pallet 511. When the OS detects the camera 120 on the network, the window system displays a camera icon 520 on the screen. The window system is a configuration as an application example of the operation means of the present invention, and the setting application is a configuration as an application example of the generation means and the transmission means of the present invention. The camera icon 520 is a configuration example of the first display information of the present invention. The palette 511 is a configuration example of the second display information of the present invention.

  If the user wants to upload from outside, the user drags and drops the camera icon 520 to the “Upload from outside” palette in the control palette (501). Then, the operation of ID11 in FIG. 3 is determined. Therefore, the camera 120 acquires logical network connection information from the router A 101 and receives it together with device communication information. Here, as the argument ID 12 and ID 13 of the device communication information, an uploadable folder or directory of the upload destination server is determined in advance using a GUI (not shown). Thereafter, a camera icon change request is made to the window system. Thus, when the storage state of the logical network connection information or the like in the camera 120 is changed, the window system changes the display state of the camera icon to the state 522 including the connection setting information. Instead of dragging and dropping the camera icon 520 to the palette 511, it is also possible to drag and drop the palette 511 to the camera icon 520. In any case, it is only necessary that the camera icon 520 and the device communication information can be linked.

  Next, the processing procedure among the camera 120, the window system, the setting application, and the router A101 in the home network when generating logical network connection information and device communication information will be described in detail with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the router A 101 has no logical network connection acceptance setting and the camera 120 has no connection setting information. In step S801, the camera 120 is connected to the network, and in step S802, the display OS detects this. The detection of the network connection is possible, for example, by mounting a UPnP device function on the camera. In step S <b> 803, the window system displays a camera icon 520. This icon 520 has no connection setting information as already described.

  Next, the display activates the setting application in S804 and displays the palette 511. The camera icon 520 is dragged and dropped onto the palette 511 in order to set a specific operation performed by the user between the camera and a specific device. Here, for the sake of explanation, the specific device and the specific operation are assumed to be a file upload operation for the storage server 140. In step S805, the window system notifies the setting application of a drag and drop event, and the setting application receives the event. Upon receiving the event, the setting application requests the router A 101 to generate logical network connection information in S806. The logical network connection information corresponds to ID2 to ID8 in FIG.

  In step S807, the router A101 generates logical network connection information and returns it to the setting application. In step S <b> 808, the router A <b> 101 performs processing such as opening a designated port as processing for starting acceptance of a connection request from the camera 120. The setting application receives the logical network connection information, and requests the camera 120 to save the logical network connection information in S810. The logical network connection information includes the information described with reference to FIG. The device communication information generated by the setting application indicates upload processing, and the folder URI of the storage server 140 as an argument is determined in advance. The camera 120 is prepared with a protocol for receiving logical network connection information and device communication information. For example, this may be implemented as a service action of a UPnP device, or simply using the HTTP POST method.

  The camera 120 receives and stores the logical network connection information and device communication information in S811, and returns a setting completion notification in S812. On the other hand, the setting application makes an icon change request to the window system in S813. In step S814, the window system changes the icon. This corresponds to an icon change from 520 to 522 in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an end process (not shown) will be described. After storing the logical network connection information and the device communication information, the camera 120 terminates the network connection by a user operation. Next, the OS detects the end of the network connection of the camera 120. The detection may be implemented by UPnP, or may be polled by Ping processing for the IP address. The window system then erases the camera icon. The setting application may be terminated when there is no other device that requires network connection. Of course, it is possible for the user to terminate normally.

  An image upload procedure from the camera 120 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This is to transmit the image in the camera 120 to the storage server 140 specified in advance in the device communication information after the camera 120 is connected to the outside network 110, and will be described as an example of the operation in this embodiment. . In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the home network 100 side is the storage server 140 and the router A 101, and the destination network 110 side is the camera 120 and the router B 111.

  After the start, when the camera 120 detects a wireless LAN access point in step S1001, it tries to connect to the wireless LAN. A detailed description of the procedure for connecting to the wireless LAN will be omitted. Next, when the connection to the wireless LAN is completed in S1002, the router B111 detects the camera 120 in S1003. This is a device detection process similar to S802. In step S <b> 1004, the router B <b> 111 requests logical network connection information from the camera 120. On the other hand, in step S1005, the camera 120 returns logical network connection information to the router B111. Next, the router B111 uses this information to start connection to the home network in S1006. This is a request from the router B111 to the router A101 to permit a connection from the camera 120 based on a predetermined authentication method for a predetermined port number. The router A 101 determines whether or not connection is possible by referring to the authentication information issued in advance and held by itself. If possible, a connection is made, and a connection completion notice is sent to the router B111 in S1008. At this time, it is possible to connect the device connected to the destination network 110 to the device connected to the home network 100.

  When the logical network connection is established, the camera 120 detects the storage server 140 in S1009. The detection process can be performed by mounting the UPnP device in the camera 120 and the storage server 140. In step S1010, the camera 120 shifts to the upload mode. In S1011, file designation and upload start processing are performed by the user. Specifically, the user designates a file by operating buttons and switches of the camera 120. Next, the upload button is pressed to instruct the start of upload. In step S1012, the camera 120 starts upload processing. This repeats the file transfer in S1013 and the file reception in S1014. In the upload process from the camera 120 to the storage server 140, a CDS (Content Directory Service) compliant with UPnP AV is installed in the storage server 140. And it can implement | achieve by mounting the control point which controls CDS in the camera 120. FIG. The CDS has a function of acquiring, searching, adding, deleting, etc. a list of contents in the storage server.

  Next, end processing (not shown) will be described. After completing the designated file transfer process, the camera 120 ends the upload mode. This is done, for example, by pressing a camera direct mode end button on the camera 120. The network connection may be disconnected at the end of the transfer process, or may be left as it is. When the camera 120 detects disconnection of the network by moving the camera 120 out of the wireless LAN, the upload mode may be terminated. When the camera 120 is separated from the network, the router B111 detects this and performs a logical network disconnection process. This corresponds to, for example, making a request to the router A101 to end the VPN session.

  As described above, this embodiment provides a GUI for simply setting device communication information in logical network connection. Thereby, it is possible to automatically process a series of procedures starting from construction of a logical network to device communication.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the camera 120 holds together logical network connection information for constructing a logical network and device communication information for performing data communication processing via the logical network. The camera 120 uses such information to perform logical network construction and data communication processing. Accordingly, settings for a series of processes from the construction of the logical network to the data communication process can be performed efficiently.

  In the present embodiment, a function for deleting connection setting information is provided. The function of the connection setting information deletion process will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the camera 120 is already connected to the home network 100 and the camera icon is displayed on the display 130 in a state 522 in which connection setting information has been saved. Further, it is assumed that the router A 101 holds logical network connection information in order to accept a connection via a logical network. In this state, when the camera icon 522 is dragged and dropped onto the setting deletion palette in the window 510, the logical network connection information stored in the camera 120 and the router A101 is deleted.

  Specifically, when a drag and drop operation is performed, an event is issued from the window system to the setting application in S904 of FIG. The setting application receives the event, and requests the router A101 to delete the logical network connection information in S905. In step S906, the router A101 ends the external access acceptance state. In step S907, the logical network connection information is deleted, and a successful deletion is returned to the setting application. Such setting information request and deletion processing can be implemented using, for example, UPnP Internet Gateway Device.

  Further, in step S910, the setting application requests the camera 120 to delete the series of connection setting information described in FIG. 3, such as logical network connection information and device communication information. Upon receiving the request, the camera 120 deletes the connection setting information stored in the camera 120 in S911, and reports to the setting application that the deletion has been completed in S912. Such deletion of logical network connection information and device communication information for the camera 120 can be implemented using UPnP, for example, but this embodiment does not depend on the protocol.

  Finally, the setting application receives a setting deletion completion notification from the camera 120, and makes an icon change request to the window system in S913. In step S <b> 914, the window system changes the icon of the camera 120 to a state without setting (520).

  With the method described above, according to the present embodiment, deletion of connection setting information can be instructed using an intuitive GUI.

  In this embodiment, a specific folder of a specific storage server can be directly specified as a GUI for specifying a file upload destination.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the setting application provides a window 610 for designating an upload destination storage server and a folder 611. When the camera icon 520 is dragged and dropped onto the folder on the window 610, the storage server and the folder, that is, the data transfer destination can be determined. Thereby, the apparatus communication information of ID11 to ID13 of FIG. 3 can be set. The folder 611 is a configuration example of the third display information of the present invention.

  Servers and folders to which files can be uploaded can be obtained using CDS (Content Directory Service) which is one of the UPnP AV standards. CDS is a service for searching for content in a storage server, and adding / deleting. That is, a list of storage servers can be displayed by searching for storage servers that release CDS. In addition, after selecting the storage server, the directory structure can be acquired and the upload location can be displayed.

  By the method described above, according to the present embodiment, the upload destination storage server and folder can be easily set.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, setting in a menu format is possible. This is because a drag-and-drop operation cannot be performed with a pointing device such as a mouse on a device that is operated with a remote controller. An example of the GUI in this case is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu displayed when the camera 120 is connected to the network. Since it is displayed in the menu method, it can be operated only with the cursor key and the enter key of the remote control. When the camera 120 is connected to the network, a menu dialog 701 for selecting an operation content is displayed. If “remote device communication setting” is selected here, the process moves to the next state 702 to select a desired device operation. This corresponds to the window 510 in FIG. When “Upload file” is further selected, the process transits to the next state 703 to select an upload destination server. In step 704, a folder or directory in the server is selected. This corresponds to designation of the upload destination in FIG. 9 in the fourth embodiment. Finally, when the state transitions to the state 705 and the completion of the setting is confirmed and completed, a series of processing from the connection setting information storage processing S806 to S812 in FIG. 6 is executed.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the camera 120 may have a configuration in which the network connection function is separated and a communication adapter having a separate network connection function is used. In this case, the camera 120 is connected to the home network 100 via a communication adapter. The camera 120 and the communication adapter are connected by, for example, USB (Universal Service Bus).

  FIG. 11 shows a configuration example of the communication adapter. The communication adapter 121 has a CPU 205, ROM 206, RAM 207, external storage interface 211, and external memory 212. The external memory is a recording medium such as an SD card. Further, it has an operation interface 213, an operation device 214, a display interface 215, and a display device 216. The operation device 214 is a button or a switch, and the display device 216 is a small liquid crystal display or the like. It also has a device interface 218 and a network interface 219. The device interface 218 performs device communication with the camera 120 in accordance with a standard such as USB. The network interface 219 is connected to a wired or wireless LAN.

  Each means and each step constituting the embodiment of the present invention described above can be realized by operating a program stored in a RAM, a ROM, or the like of a computer. This program and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program are included in the present invention.

  Further, the present invention can be implemented as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium, and may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  The present invention supplies a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely to a system or apparatus. In addition, this includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention. In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, and the like.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. Furthermore, based on the instructions of the program, an OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.

  As another method, a program read from a recording medium is first written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, based on the instructions of the program, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are also realized by the processing.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the network system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a camera. It is a figure which shows the example of the connection setting information containing logical network connection information and apparatus communication information. It is a figure for demonstrating the software structure of the setting application which operate | moves on a display. It is a figure for demonstrating the GUI example of the setting application which operate | moves on a display. It is a sequence chart which shows the process sequence among the router A of a camera, a window system, a setting application, and a home network at the time of logical network connection information and apparatus communication information generation. It is a sequence chart which shows the image upload procedure from a camera. It is a sequence chart which shows the deletion process of connection setting information. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the window for designating the storage server and folder of an upload destination. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the setting window by a menu system. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a communication adapter.

Explanation of symbols

100 Home network 101 Router A
110 Out-of-office network 111 Router B
112 Wireless LAN access point 120 Camera 130 Display 140 Storage server 150 Information terminal

Claims (12)

Recording medium stores logical network connection information, which is setting information for constructing a logical network with an external device, and communication information, which is setting information for performing data communication processing with the external device via the logical network. Holding means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the logical network connection information to a communication control device that controls construction of the logical network;
A communication device comprising: data communication processing means for executing data communication processing with the external device via the logical network constructed by the communication control device based on the communication information.   The logical network connection information is information generated by another communication control device, and the communication control device and the other communication control device construct the logical network based on the logical network connection information. The communication device according to claim 1. An operating device that is communicably connected to the first communication device,
Operating means for instructing data communication processing via a logical network between the first communication device and the second communication device;
Generating means for generating communication information that is setting information for performing data communication processing between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus via the logical network in response to an instruction by the operation means;
Along with the communication information generated by the generating means, logical network connection information, which is setting information for constructing a logical network between the first communication device and the second communication device, is sent to the first communication device. An operating device comprising a transmitting means for transmitting.   The operation means displays the content of data communication processing that can be performed between the first communication device and the second communication device in a menu manner, and instructs the data communication processing corresponding to the menu selected by the operation. The operation device according to claim 3, wherein the operation device is performed.   The operation means displays first display information indicating the first communication device, and sets a plurality of contents of data communication processing that can be performed between the first communication device and the second communication device. The second display information corresponding to the position to which the first display information has been moved is displayed by moving the first display information to any one of the plurality of second display information. The operation device according to claim 3, wherein an instruction for data communication processing corresponding to the display information is provided.   The operation means displays first display information indicating the first communication device, and sets a plurality of contents of data communication processing that can be performed between the first communication device and the second communication device. The second display moved to the position of the first display information by displaying any one of the plurality of second display information to the first display information. The operation device according to claim 3, wherein the operation device instructs data communication processing corresponding to the information.   The operation means displays a plurality of third display information indicating a data transfer destination in the second communication device, and displays the first display information in any of the plurality of third display information. 7. The instruction to transfer data to a transfer destination corresponding to the third display information corresponding to the position to which the first display information has been moved is performed by moving the first display information. Operating device.   The operation means changes a display state of the first display information according to a storage state of the logical network connection information and the communication information in the first communication device. The operating device according to any one of 7. A communication device control method comprising:
Recording medium stores logical network connection information, which is setting information for constructing a logical network with an external device, and communication information, which is setting information for performing data communication processing with the external device via the logical network. Holding step;
A transmission step of transmitting the logical network connection information to a communication control device that controls the construction of the logical network;
A communication device control method comprising: a data communication processing step for executing data communication processing with the external device via the logical network constructed by the communication control device based on the communication information. A control method of an operating device connected to be communicable with a first communication device,
The first communication device and the first communication device via the logical network in response to an instruction by an operating means for instructing data communication processing via the logical network between the first communication device and the second communication device. A generation step of generating communication information which is setting information for performing data communication processing between the second communication devices;
Along with the communication information generated by the generation step, logical network connection information, which is setting information for constructing a logical network between the first communication device and the second communication device, is stored in the first communication device. And a transmission step of transmitting the operation device. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of a communication device,
Recording medium stores logical network connection information, which is setting information for constructing a logical network with an external device, and communication information, which is setting information for performing data communication processing with the external device via the logical network. Holding step;
A transmission step of transmitting the logical network connection information to a communication control device that controls the construction of the logical network;
A program for causing a computer to execute a data communication processing step for executing data communication processing with the external device via the logical network constructed by the communication control device based on the communication information. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an operating device that is communicably connected to a first communication device,
The first communication device and the first communication device via the logical network in response to an instruction by an operating means for instructing data communication processing via the logical network between the first communication device and the second communication device. A generation step of generating communication information which is setting information for performing data communication processing between the second communication devices;
Along with the communication information generated by the generation step, logical network connection information, which is setting information for constructing a logical network between the first communication device and the second communication device, is stored in the first communication device. A program for causing a computer to execute a transmission step for transmission.

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