JP2013131945A - Communication device and method of configuring communication device for connection - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which: automatically connecting to a new device may mean connecting to an unintended device, thus posing a threat to the security, although selecting a connection target from multiple connection target candidates is cumbersome for a user, and it is also cumbersome that a confirmation message is displayed for only one device that is found as a connection target and is known to be available for connection from a history of past connections.SOLUTION: Devices on a network are searched for and a search result list is sorted so that priority is given to the devices that are known to be available for connection from a history of past connections. If only one device is found and the device is known to be available for connection, displaying the list is skipped and the device is automatically registered. If only one device is found and it is unknown whether the device is available for connection, a confirmation message is displayed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus capable of setting a connection with an external apparatus in a communication apparatus that connects to an external apparatus via a communication means, and a method thereof.

  In order to transmit / receive information to / from other apparatuses using the communication means, it is often necessary to make settings in advance such as the connection destination of the apparatus that is the communication partner, communication means, and security settings. For example, when using a wireless LAN, it is necessary to make settings such as SSID (Service Set IDentifier), authentication method, connection method, and passkey as settings for connecting to an access point that is a wireless master device. . There are many parameters of these setting information, and if one item fails to be input, there is a problem that connection cannot be made. Therefore, like the push button method of WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), by simultaneously pressing the buttons installed on each device, information necessary for connection is automatically exchanged between the devices and can be set. There is a connection setting method.

  Many devices adopt a user interface that searches for devices, displays a list of device information, and allows a user to make a selection from a list, such as the WPS push button method, when the user cannot directly operate the devices. Seen. For example, when the device is a UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) device, a packet transmitted from the external device is received in response to an M-SEARCH packet output from the search side device, and information on the external device is obtained. Alternatively, a NOTIFY packet issued when the external device joins the network is received to obtain information on the external device. This is a procedure of creating a list with the friendly name of the apparatus based on the information thus obtained and displaying a UI for allowing the user to select.

  When the UI selected by the user from the device list is taken, if a device that cannot be connected is entered in the list, the user has to select a desired device from the list. In view of this, it is conceivable to prepare a database of devices that have a connection history, and create a list only with devices that match the database by referring to the database. However, if a list is created only with devices that match the database, there is a possibility that a desired device may not be included in the list. Therefore, based on the method introduced in Patent Document 1, first, a search is performed based on information registered in the database, and if the search fails, it is automatically performed based on the information registered in the database. It is possible to re-search by automatically generating search conditions.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-162008

  However, as described above, if a list is created only with devices that match a database, a device that is not registered in the database cannot be selected if a device that matches the database can be searched. Therefore, there is a problem that it is impossible to connect to a device that is not intentionally registered in the database.

  On the other hand, when only one device can be found by searching, it is troublesome to display only one list and display a UI for the user to select. However, if the connection is automatically performed by omitting the step of displaying the search result, there is a problem from the viewpoint of security or the like, but there is no appropriate method.

The communication device of the present invention
A communication means for communicating with the network device;
Means for generating a search command for searching for an external device connected to the network;
External device information acquisition means for transmitting the search command by the communication means and acquiring at least one of a device name of the external device, device capability information, and manufacturer information based on response information obtained from the external device When,
Display means for displaying external information obtained by the external device information acquisition means;
When there are a plurality of external device information displayed by the display means, the selection means for the user to select a single external device from a plurality of information,
Setting information storage means for storing the information selected by the selection means;
Have
External device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means has external device identification means for judging whether or not a predetermined device;
If there is a plurality of external device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means, provide the display means and the selection means,
If the external device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means is single, and the external device identification means determines that the information is not a predetermined device, the display means is provided.
When the external device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means is single and the external device identification means determines that the information is a predetermined device, the display means is omitted. It is what.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a user interface capable of selecting and setting a device intended by a user with few operations from a search result of a connection destination device.

Block diagram of a digital video camera according to the first embodiment 1 is a diagram in which a digital video camera according to a first embodiment and three PCs as external devices are connected to a network. UI control flowchart for setting connection with an external device in the UI control unit of the digital video camera according to the first embodiment UI display example when setting the connection with an external device on the display unit UI control flowchart for setting connection with an external device in the UI control unit of the digital video camera according to the second embodiment

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital video camera 100 according to the first embodiment.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a CPU for performing each process, and reference numeral 130 denotes a network module for communicating with an external device. In addition, there are an operation unit 170 such as a keyboard and a mouse for a user to input an operation, a display device 160 such as a display device for reproducing and displaying an operation result, and a storage 140 for storing data. The display unit 160 and the operation unit 170 may be a touch panel having an integrated configuration.

  The CPU 110 has the following blocks. A network driver 113 controls the network module 130 and communicates with an external device via a network. A storage controller 114 is an interface for controlling the storage 140. A search packet generator 115 generates an M-SEARCH packet for searching for an external device connected to the network. Reference numeral 116 denotes a UI control unit that classifies responses of received search packets and provides a user with a UI for setting a connection with an external device.

  In the storage 140, a device database 141 of devices that can be connected and setting information 142 related to connections with external devices are stored. The device database of devices that can be connected is a database in which the manufacture code, product name, and capability information of devices that have a connection history with the digital video camera 100 are registered. If the connection is newly successful, the device manufacture code, product name, and capability information are added. It is also possible to update the device database via the network. In the factory shipment state of the digital video camera, it is assumed that the manufacturer of the digital video camera registers the information of the device whose connection has been confirmed in advance in the device database and is shipped.

  FIG. 2 shows a diagram in which the digital video camera 100 according to the first embodiment and three PCs (200, 300, 400) as external devices are connected to a network. Each device is connected to the same home network. The connection may be a wired LAN or a wireless LAN. The HUB for connection and the router device are omitted from the figure. Only the PC 200 is registered in the apparatus database.

  FIG. 3 is a UI control flowchart when connection setting with an external device is performed in the UI control unit 116 of the digital video camera 100 according to the first embodiment.

  In S301, the search packet generated by the search packet generation unit 115 is transmitted, and a response from the external apparatus is waited for. During the search, the display of FIG. 4A is displayed on the display device 160. After a certain period, response information from the external device is received from the network driver 113. The response information includes a manufacture code, a product name, capability information, and a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier).

  If the number of external devices detected in S301 is zero in S302, the process proceeds to S308.

  If the number of external devices detected in S301 is one in S303, the process proceeds to S307. If two or more external devices can be detected, the process proceeds to S304.

  In S307, it is determined whether or not the detected external device has been registered in the device database 141. It is checked from the response information obtained from the external device in S301 whether the manufacture code, product name, and capability information match the device database. If it has not been registered in the device database, the process proceeds to S305, and if it has been registered, the process proceeds to S306.

  In step S304, the display order is rearranged to create a list display of devices that have responded to the search packet. The devices in the search result are collated with the device database 141 in order, and the order of matching sending is changed so that the matching device is higher in the list and the non-matching device is lower in the list, and the process proceeds to S305.

  In S305, the selection UI is displayed. A display example of the selection UI is shown in FIG. The list 401 can be selected with the up and down buttons (402, 403), and the display order of the list is displayed in order from the device registered in the database as shown in FIG. If the OK button 404 is pressed while displayed in the list 401, the process proceeds to S306.

  In step S306, a UI for saving the device information in the storage 140 as the setting information is the device information when it is determined that the device is selected in step S305 or the device registered in the device database in step S307. . As shown in the display example of FIG. 4D, a UI for inquiring whether to save the setting information of the apparatus is displayed to the user, and the saving is confirmed. If the No button S405 is pressed, the device information is not saved and the connection setting is terminated. If the YES button 406 is pressed, the process proceeds to S311 and the product name and UUID of the device are stored as setting information in the setting information 142 area of the storage 140. When 407 is pressed, information to be stored can be confirmed.

  In S308, as shown in the display example of FIG. 4E, a UI for re-searching the device is displayed. When the re-search button 408 is pressed, the process returns to S301. When the end button 409 is pressed, the connection setting is ended.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a UI control flowchart when the UI control unit 116 performs connection setting with an external device.

  In the first embodiment, in FIG. 3, in the apparatus search step of S301, when the number of detections is 0, a UI for re-search is provided in S308, and the user intentionally re-searches. In the second embodiment, a step of S312 is provided instead of the step of S308, and re-search is automatically performed as a retry process of a specified number of times (three times, etc.). If the device is not found even after the specified number of times has been reached, a warning message that the device has not been found is notified to the user as shown in the display example of FIG.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment, it is possible to provide a user interface capable of selecting and setting a device intended by a user with few operations from a search result of a connection destination device. Is possible. In particular, when only one device registered in the device database is found, the user can be expected to register the found device, so that the user can omit the selection step. On the other hand, if only one unregistered device is found in the device database, it is possible to prevent unintentional registration of settings by going through a selection step for confirmation to the user. . Further, by displaying in order from devices already registered in the device database, it is easy to select a device that has a high possibility of being selected, and it is also possible to select a newly registered device.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. A part of the above-described embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  Also, when a software program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied from a recording medium directly to a system or apparatus having a computer that can execute the program using wired / wireless communication, and the program is executed Are also included in the present invention.

  Accordingly, the program code itself supplied and installed in the computer in order to implement the functional processing of the present invention by the computer also realizes the present invention. That is, the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention is also included in the present invention.

  In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk or a magnetic tape, an optical / magneto-optical storage medium, or a nonvolatile semiconductor memory may be used.

  As a program supply method, a computer program that forms the present invention is stored in a server on a computer network, and a connected client computer downloads and programs the computer program.

100 ... Digital video camera 110 ... CPU
116 UI control unit 130 Network module 140 Storage 160 Display device 170 Operation unit 200 PC (device database registered)
300 ... PC (device database not registered)
400 ... PC (device database not registered)

Claims (2)

A communication means for communicating with the network device;
Means for generating a search command for searching for an external device connected to the network;
External device information acquisition means for transmitting the search command by the communication means and acquiring at least one of a device name of the external device, device capability information, and manufacturer information based on response information obtained from the external device When,
Display means for displaying external information obtained by the external device information acquisition means;
When there are a plurality of external device information displayed by the display means, the selection means for the user to select a single external device from a plurality of information,
Setting information storage means for storing the information selected by the selection means;
In a communication device having
External device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means has external device identification means for judging whether or not a predetermined device;
If there is a plurality of external device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means, provide the display means and the selection means,
If the external device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means is single, and the external device identification means determines that the information is not a predetermined device, the display means is provided.
When the external device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means is single and the external device identification means determines that the information is a predetermined device, the display means is omitted. A communication device.

A communication means for communicating with the network device;
Means for generating a search command for searching for an external device connected to the network;
External device information acquisition means for transmitting the search command by the communication means and acquiring at least one of a device name of the external device, device capability information, and manufacturer information based on response information obtained from the external device When,
Display means for displaying external information obtained by the external device information acquisition means;
When there are a plurality of external device information displayed by the display means, the selection means for the user to select a single external device from a plurality of information,
Setting information storage means for storing the information selected by the selection means;
In the communication device connection setting method,
External device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means has external device identification means for judging whether or not a predetermined device;
If there is a plurality of external device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means, provide the display means and the selection means,
If the external device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means is single, and the external device identification means determines that the information is not a predetermined device, the display means is provided.
When the external device information obtained by the external device information acquisition means is single and the external device identification means determines that the information is a predetermined device, the display means is omitted. A communication device connection setting method.