JP2014103673A - Communication device, its control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make operation simple when cooperation service between devices is implemented, although in the prior art, an operator is required to execute operation to determine many items, which makes operation complicated.SOLUTION: A communication device communicates service information including at least any one of a printing service, data transfer service, moving image transfer service, and streaming reproduction service with another communication device by near field communication (NFC), and performs the service indicated by the service information together with the other communication device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus that implements a cooperation service between devices, a control method thereof, and a program.

When implementing a service in which devices cooperate with each other (cooperation service), it is necessary to determine information necessary for the service implementation. For example, when realizing a print service by direct connection between a digital camera and a printer, the user sets extended information such as a print paper size and image quality. (
reference). In addition, in the infrared communication of a mobile phone, the user specifies settings on the transmission side and reception side and data to be transferred.

JP 2004-9388 A

  In recent years, information items (for example, service type, application, protocol, service confirmation information, etc.) to be confirmed for implementing the cooperation service are increasing with the diversification of the cooperation service. For this reason, the user has to execute a confirmation operation for many items, and the operation of the service user has become complicated. As a result, misoperation increases, and a service different from the desired linked service may be used, or the linked service may not be used.

  One of the objects of the present invention is to improve the operability when implementing the cooperation service. Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to use a cooperation service with a simple operation.

  Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

  One communication apparatus of the present invention communicates service information including at least one of a print service, a data transfer service, a video transfer service, and a streaming playback service with another communication apparatus by NFC (Near Field Communication). The service indicated by the service information is executed with the other communication device. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability when performing a cooperation service between devices.

System configuration diagram of Embodiment 1 Functional block diagram of communication device Operation Flowchart of Embodiment 1 Conceptual diagram of service information in the first embodiment Configuration example of service information storage table in embodiment 1 System configuration diagram of Embodiments 2 and 3 Operation flowchart of Embodiment 2 Conceptual diagram of service information in the second embodiment Configuration example of service information storage table in embodiment 2 Display example of selection menu in embodiment 2 Operation flowchart of Embodiment 3

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the first embodiment. Reference numeral 101 denotes a digital camera, and 102 denotes a mobile phone. A mobile phone 102 is a communication partner device of the digital camera 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes a display unit of the digital camera 101, and reference numeral 104 denotes a display unit of the mobile phone 102. The operator of the digital camera 101 and the mobile phone 102 can change and set the display state such as browsing and selecting the image file while viewing the display on the display units 103 and 104. The digital camera 101 and the mobile phone 102 have a computer (CPU) that controls the apparatus and a memory that stores a program executed by the computer.

  Reference numeral 105 denotes close proximity wireless communication, and peer-to-peer communication can be performed via the close proximity wireless communication 105 by bringing the digital camera 101 and the mobile phone 102 close to each other. The proximity wireless communication 105 includes non-contact IC card wireless communication using electromagnetic induction, NFC (Near Field Communication), communication using an induction electric field, and the like. The close proximity wireless communication 105 can perform communication when the distance between each other is within several centimeters.

  2A and 2B are block diagrams showing configurations of the digital camera 101 and the mobile phone 102. FIG. Each configuration in FIG. 2 is realized by the digital camera 101, the mobile phone 102, and a computer (CPU) of the digital camera 601 described later executing a program. FIG. 2B will be described in the second embodiment. A communication unit 201 performs close proximity wireless communication 105. Reference numeral 202 denotes an application existing in the device, and reference numeral 203 denotes application software that provides services such as image printing and moving image reproduction. A display control unit 204 controls the display state of the display units 103 and 104. The display control unit 204 includes a determination unit 215 and determines the display state of the display units 103 and 104. The display states of the display units 103 and 104 include a directory / file / service browsing state and a selection state. The display control unit 204 also holds detailed information regarding directories / files / services, and holds metadata such as file names and extensions, for example.

  A communication middleware unit 205 provides a control function of the communication unit 201 and a function for selecting a service to be performed. Reference numeral 206 denotes a communication control unit that controls near field communication, and reference numeral 207 denotes a communication detection unit that controls and detects connection and disconnection of near field communication. The communication detection unit 207 detects a connection when another device capable of communicating with the close proximity wireless communication 105 approaches the close proximity wireless communication range. Conversely, disconnection is detected when moving away from the close proximity wireless communication range.

  A service information table 208 stores service information defined for each display state of the display units 103 and 104. The service information table is stored in the storage unit of the digital camera 101 and the mobile phone 102. The service information describes the types of services that can be performed in a certain display state, and is, for example, a list of services such as image printing and image transfer as shown in FIG. The service information table 208 holds service information for each display state as shown in FIG. 5, and is specifically described in a format such as an XML language.

  A service information acquisition unit 209 acquires service information corresponding to the display state notified from the display control unit 204 from the service information table 208. 210 is a service information transmission unit that transmits the service information acquired by the service information acquisition unit to the opposite device of the connection destination via the close proximity wireless communication 105. A service information receiving unit 211 receives service information from the opposite device. A service information determination unit 212 determines service to be performed by comparing service information of the own device and the counterpart device. Reference numeral 213 denotes a service information reception timer that measures the time until the service information reception unit 211 receives service information of the opposite device. If the service information is not received even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the service information determination unit 212 ends the process without determining the service. An application management unit 214 activates application software that provides the service determined by the service information determination unit 212.

  Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG. In the following description, the digital camera 101 is focused on, and the digital camera 101 is defined as the own device and the mobile phone 102 is defined as the opposite device. However, the same applies regardless of which device is the own device or the opposite device. Operation is possible.

  As an initial state, the digital camera 101 and the mobile phone 102 are disposed at a sufficiently long distance that the close proximity wireless communication 105 cannot be performed. When an image file stored in the digital camera 101 is to be transferred to the mobile phone 102, the image file to be transferred is selected by operating the digital camera 101. Usually, an image file to be transferred is displayed on the display unit 103 of the digital camera 101. On the other hand, the display state of the mobile phone 102 is a menu screen.

  In this state, the digital camera 101 is brought close to the mobile phone 102. In the digital camera 101, since the communication detection unit monitors the connection of the close proximity wireless communication 105, the connection is detected (S301). When the connection is detected, the determination unit 215 determines the display state of the display unit and notifies the service information acquisition unit 209 of the display state. By the notification, the service information acquisition unit 209 acquires the display state of the display unit 103 at that time (S302).

  As a result, the service information acquisition unit 209 can confirm that the image file is in the selected display state, searches the service information table 208, and acquires service information corresponding to the display state (S303). Here, since the display state is an image file selection state, image display (transmission side), image printing (transmission side), and image transfer (transmission side) are acquired as service information (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

  The service information transmission unit 210 transmits the service information acquired by the service information acquisition unit 209 to the mobile phone 102 which is the opposite device (S304), and starts the service information reception timer 213 (S305). If service information is not received from the opposite device even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the service information reception timer 213 is activated (S306), an abnormality has occurred in the opposite device or the opposite device is a legacy device that does not support this process. The service selection process is interrupted and terminated. When the service information reception unit 211 receives service information from the mobile phone 102 (S307), the service information reception timer 213 is stopped.

  When the service information receiving unit 211 receives service information from the mobile phone 102 (S307), the service information determining unit 212 receives the service information of the own device acquired by the service information acquiring unit 209 and the received service information of the mobile phone 102. Compare From this comparison, it is determined whether there is service information that operates in cooperation (S308). Here, since the display state of the mobile phone 102 is a menu screen, the service information receiving unit 211 receives image transfer (reception side), video transfer (reception side), and document file transfer (reception side). Accordingly, the image transfer (transmission side) and the image transfer (reception side) coincide with each other as service information that operates in cooperation, and the image transfer service is determined as the service to be used (S309).

  The application management unit 214 activates application software that provides the cooperation service (image transfer service) determined by the service information determination unit 212 (S310). Then, the determined cooperation service (image transfer service) is executed by the activated application software (S311).

  In the mobile phone 102 which is the opposite device, application software that provides an image transfer service is activated in order to perform the same processing. Therefore, the corresponding image transfer service application operates on both the digital camera 101 and the mobile phone 102, and the image file selected by the digital camera 101 is transferred to the mobile phone 102.

  If there is no matching service information as a result of the comparison in S308, or if there is a plurality of matching service information and the service information cannot be uniquely determined (S309), the service information determination unit 212 performs service selection processing. Suspend and exit.

  As described above, if the operator selects an image file on the display unit 103 of the digital camera 101 and sets the mobile phone 102 to the menu screen, the image file can be obtained simply by bringing the digital camera 101 into contact with the mobile phone 102 (approaching it). Can be transferred. Further, it is possible to cope with the occurrence of an abnormality in the opposite device or the case where the opposite device is a legacy device, and the processing can be terminated without causing a malfunction. If the service information cannot be uniquely determined, the process can be terminated so that a service different from the service intended by the operator is not performed. In this case, the operator can use a desired service by performing an operation of determining service information to be used in both the digital camera 101 and the mobile phone 102.

(Example 2)
FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of the second embodiment. Reference numeral 601 denotes a digital camera, and 602 denotes a printer. The printer 602 is a communication partner device of the digital camera 601. Reference numeral 603 denotes a display unit of the digital camera 601, and reference numeral 604 denotes a display unit of the printer 602. An operator of the digital camera 601 and the printer 602 can change and set a display state such as browsing and selecting an image file by looking at the display on the display units 603 and 604. The digital camera 101 and the digital camera 601 have a computer (CPU) that controls the apparatus and a memory that stores a program executed by the computer. Reference numeral 605 denotes close proximity wireless communication. By bringing the digital camera 601 and the printer 602 close to each other, peer-to-peer communication can be performed via the close proximity wireless communication 605.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the digital camera 601 and the printer 602. In the present embodiment, the service information determination unit 212 has the configuration shown in FIG. Hereinafter, a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described.

  The service information in the present embodiment includes the types of services that can be performed in a certain display state, the application necessary for performing the service, service setting information, a communication protocol (hereinafter referred to as protocol), and each priority level. Items are described (FIG. 8). However, it is not always necessary to assign a priority, and a preset default value is automatically assigned to an item without a priority.

  The service information table 208 holds service information for each display state as shown in FIG. In the service information table 208, all types of services that can be executed by the own device and necessary applications, service setting information, and protocols are held in association with each other so as to correspond to the services. Note that the information managed in the service information table 208 may be one or more pieces of information, not all of the information.

  The service information acquisition unit 209 acquires the display state from the display control unit 204, and acquires service information and a service list corresponding to the display state from the service information table. The service information transmission unit 210 transmits service information and a service list to the opposite device. The service information receiving unit 211 receives service information and a service list from the opposite device.

  The service information determination unit 212 includes a selection menu control unit 216 and a selection information reception timer 217. When the service to be used cannot be automatically determined, the selection menu control unit 216 performs a process for causing the operator to select an item of service information. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, items that could not be determined on the display units 603 and 604 by the control of the display control unit 204 are displayed as a list, and service information is determined by allowing the operator to select and determine. The determined service information is transmitted to the opposite device through the service information transmission unit 210. In addition, the service information can be determined by receiving the service information determined from the opposite device 602.

  The selection information reception timer 217 measures the time until service information is received from the opposite device 602. The selection information reception timer 217 is started when the selection menu is displayed on the display units 603 and 604 from the selection menu control unit 216, and is stopped when the service information is determined.

  Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG. In the second embodiment, the digital camera 601 is focused on, and the digital camera 601 is described as the own device and the printer 602 as the opposite device. However, the same operation is performed regardless of which device is the own device or the opposite device. .

  As an initial state, the digital camera 601 and the printer 602 are arranged at a sufficiently long distance that the close proximity wireless communication 605 is not possible. When an image file stored in the digital camera 601 is to be printed by the printer 602, the image file to be printed is selected by operating the digital camera 601. Usually, the image of the image file may be displayed on the display unit 603 of the digital camera 601. On the other hand, the display state of the printer 602 is a menu screen.

  In this state, the digital camera 601 is brought close to the printer 602. In the digital camera 601, since the communication detection unit monitors the connection of the close proximity wireless communication 105, the connection is detected (S701). When the connection is detected, the determination unit 215 determines the display state of the display unit and notifies the service information acquisition unit 209 of the display state. With this notification, the service information acquisition unit 209 acquires the display state of the display unit 603 at that time (S702).

  As a result, the service information acquisition unit 209 can confirm that the image file is in the selected display state, searches the service information table 208, and acquires service information corresponding to the display state (S703). Here, since the display state is an image file selection state, image print (transmission side) and image transfer (transmission side) are acquired as service information (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

  The service information transmission unit 210 transmits the service information acquired by the service information acquisition unit 209 to the printer 602 that is the opposite device (S704), and starts the service information reception timer 213 (S705). If service information is not received from the opposite device even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the service information reception timer 213 is activated (S706, S707), an error occurs in the opposite device or the legacy device does not support this processing. The service selection process is interrupted and terminated. When the service information reception unit 211 receives service information from the opposite device (S707), the service information reception timer 213 is stopped.

  When the service information receiving unit 211 receives service information from the opposite device (S707), the service information determining unit 212 receives the service information of the own device acquired by the service information acquiring unit 209 and the mobile information received by the service information receiving unit 211. The service information of the telephone 102 is compared. From this comparison, it is determined whether there is service information that operates in cooperation (S708). Here, since the display state of the printer 602 is a menu screen, the service information receiving unit 211 receives image printing (reception side) and image transfer (reception side). Therefore, as service information operating in cooperation, image printing (transmission side), image printing (reception side), image transfer (transmission side), and image transfer (reception side) match.

  When there is a service that matches all items (S709), the sum of the priorities of the own device and the opposite device of each item relating to those services is compared, and the service having the highest sum of priorities is determined. (S710). If there is only one service that matches all items, it is determined as a service that implements the service regardless of the priority (S710). The application management unit 214 activates application software that provides the cooperation service determined by the service information determination unit 212 (S720). Then, the determined cooperation service is executed by the activated application software (S721).

  In the second embodiment, since the priority (total priority) of the image print service is higher than that of the image transfer service, the service to be executed is determined to be the image print service. Furthermore, regarding the application necessary for implementing the service, since the priority of the application # 1 and the application # 2 is equal, the service information cannot be determined. When the service information cannot be determined, the selection menu control unit 216 displays the service information that could not be determined on the display unit 603 as an option (S713), and prompts the operator to determine the service to be used. Also, the selection information reception timer 217 is activated (S714). Here, for example, the display of FIGS. 10A and 10B is performed, and the service information is selected in the own device or the opposite device. When the operator operates the digital camera 601 to select service information and determine a service (S717), the service information transmission unit 210 transmits the determined service information (S718). When the operator performs the service information determination operation with the printer 602 of the opposite device, and the service information receiving unit 211 receives the service information determined by the opposite device (S715), the service information is also determined as the received service information. If the service information is not selected by the own device and the selected service information is not received from the opposite device until the selection information reception timer 217 counts the predetermined time, the process is terminated (S716).

  When the service information is selected by the own device or the opposite device and the selected service information is notified to the other party, the service information determination unit 212 determines the service to be used. The application management unit 214 activates application software that provides the cooperation service determined by the service information determination unit 212 (S720). Then, the determined cooperation service is executed by the activated application software (S721). Here, a service for printing an image selected by the digital camera 601 by the printer 602 is executed. If the service information is not selected by the own device or the opposite device and the operator selects the end (S719), the process ends.

  Note that the service information is displayed as shown in FIG. 10A, and when the operator selects image printing, next, application options are displayed as shown in FIG. 10B. When the application is selected by the operator, service information can be determined. As described above, when the service cannot be determined, the service desired by the user can be selected.

  As another example, since the image printing service can be determined by comparing the priorities, it may be displayed from choices of items that could not be determined. In the case of this example, as shown in FIG. 10B, display may be made from application options for image printing. By allowing the user to select items that cannot be automatically determined, the user's operation can be simplified.

  If there is no matching service information in the service information exchanged between the digital camera 601 and the printer 602 in S709, the service list list (all services) of the digital camera 601 and the printer 602 that is the opposite device is compared (S711). . If there is service information that matches the service information that operates in cooperation (S712), an option for selecting the service information is displayed, and the operator is made to select the service (S713). There are a plurality of methods for selection here. For example, there is a display method in which matching service information is displayed in a list, and the operator selects which service to use from the list. As another method, there is a method in which the operator selects an item of service information that cannot be determined. Since the processing after S713 is the same as described above, it is omitted.

  As described above, the operator can select the image file on the display unit 603 of the digital camera 601 and print the image file only by touching the printer 602 without setting all the service setting information necessary for starting the service. . Further, by using the priority, it is possible to flexibly cope with a case where there are a plurality of services, applications, service setting information, and protocols that can be implemented. Further, when the service to be used cannot be automatically determined, the operator can select the service to be used from the available services. In addition, when the service information can be narrowed down to some extent by the priority of the service information, the operator can simplify the operation by using the method that allows the operator to select only the service information items that cannot be automatically determined. You can use the service.

(Example 3)
In the present embodiment, service information is selected from the display state of the own device, and a cooperation service with the opposite device is started. If the service can be started normally, the service is continued. If the service with the opposite device cannot be started, the service is switched to another service and the cooperation service with the opposite device is started.

  The diagram of the system configuration of the present embodiment is the same as FIG. Further, the configuration of the digital camera 601 may not include the service information transmission unit 210, the service information reception unit 211, and the service information reception timer 213 illustrated in FIG. Assume that the printer 602 only provides an image printing service using the application # 1.

  The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG. In the following description, the digital camera 101 will be described as its own device, focusing on the digital camera 101.

  As an initial state, the digital camera 601 and the printer 602 are arranged at a sufficiently long distance that the close proximity wireless communication 605 is not possible. When an image file stored in the digital camera 601 is to be printed by the printer 602, the image file to be printed is selected by operating the digital camera 601. Usually, the image of the image file may be displayed on the display unit 603 of the digital camera 601.

  In this state, the digital camera 601 is brought close to the printer 602. In the digital camera 601, since the communication detection unit monitors the connection of the close proximity wireless communication 105, the connection is detected (S1101). When the connection is detected, the determination unit 215 determines the display state of the display unit and notifies the service information acquisition unit 209 of the display state. By the notification, the service information acquisition unit 209 acquires the display state of the display unit 603 at that time (S1102).

  As a result, the service information acquisition unit 209 can confirm that the display state in which the image file is selected, searches the service information table 208, and acquires service information corresponding to the display state (S1103). Here, since the display state is an image file selection state, image print (transmission side) and image transfer (transmission side) are acquired as service information (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

  The service information determination unit 212 confirms the priority of the service information acquired by the service information acquisition unit 209, and selects the service information having the highest priority (S1104). When the service information is selected, the application management unit 214 activates application software that provides a service corresponding to the selected service information (S1105). Then, using the activated application software, the opposite device is notified of the service start (S1106). If the opposite device does not support the service, an error or no response is returned, and the service ends in error (S1107). If the opposite device is compatible with the service, a normal response is returned to the start of the service, so the service is continuously executed (S1107, S1108). When the service ends in error (S1107), the service information determination unit 212 reselects the service with the next priority, and performs the processing from S1105 onward. If none of the services in the service information acquired in S1103 can be executed, the process ends.

  In this example, since the display state of the digital camera 601 is an image file selection state, the service information acquisition unit 209 acquires image printing (transmission side) and image transfer (transmission side) as service information. The selection and start of service information are repeated until image printing (transmission side) using application # 1 corresponding to the printer 602 is selected. When image printing using the application # 1 (transmission side) is selected, an image printing service with the printer 602 is executed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the counterpart device does not support automatic service selection, it is possible to implement a service based on automatic service selection based on the display state.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Digital camera 102 Mobile phone 103 Display part 104 Display part 201 Communication part 202 Application 203 Application 204 Display control part 205 Communication middleware 206 Communication control part 207 Communication detection part 208 Service information table 209 Service information acquisition part 210 Service information transmission part 211 Service Information reception unit 212 Service information determination unit 213 Service information reception timer 214 Application management unit 215 Determination unit 216 Selection menu control unit 217 Selection information reception timer

Claims (1)

A communication device that communicates service information including at least one of a print service, a data transfer service, a video transfer service, and a streaming reproduction service with another communication device by NFC (Near Field Communication);
Execution means for executing the service indicated by the service information communicated by the communication means with the other communication device;
A communication apparatus comprising:

Images