JP2014168148A - Camera switching program and camera switching apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suitably switch a camera to wirelessly communicate with.SOLUTION: A camera switching apparatus causes a computer to execute: communication order determination processing to determine the order of wireless communication with plural cameras; communication processing to perform wireless communication with the cameras on the basis of the determined order; determination processing to determine whether or not camera switching is required, on the basis of a value indicating predetermined information; and switch processing to switch a wireless communication partner to the next camera based on the order, when the determination processing determines that camera switching is required.

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera switching program and a camera switching device.

  There is known a technique in which a camera has a communication function and wirelessly sends a shooting request from a mobile phone or the like to the camera (see Patent Document 1). A camera having a wireless LAN function is also known so as to perform network connection with an external device having a wireless LAN function (see Non-Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-167504 A

Nikon Digital Camera COOLPIX S800c Instruction Manual, p.80-81, Nikon Corporation

  The inventor recalled the fact that a plurality of cameras having a wireless LAN function are arranged, and that these cameras are photographed via a wireless LAN from a wireless terminal (for example, a high-performance mobile phone or a tablet device). . However, in general, when making a PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) connection from a wireless terminal to a camera via a wireless LAN, it takes time and effort to switch the setting to an SSID (Service Set Identifier) corresponding to the camera at the connection destination, thereby missing a shooting opportunity. I found the problem of end.

  The camera switching program according to the present invention is based on a communication order determination process for determining the order of wireless communication with a plurality of cameras, a communication process for performing wireless communication with a camera based on the determined order, and a value indicating predetermined information. The computer is caused to execute a determination process for determining whether or not camera switching is necessary, and a switching process for switching the wireless communication partner to the next camera based on the order when the determination process requires.

  According to the present invention, a camera for wireless communication can be switched appropriately.

It is a figure explaining the imaging | photography scene using the camera switching apparatus by one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the camera switching apparatus which displays a live view image and a release icon. It is a block diagram which illustrates the principal part structure of a camera switching apparatus. It is a figure which illustrates the camera switching apparatus which displays "camera switching setting". It is a figure which illustrates the camera switching apparatus which displays "switch in order of a list". It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the process by a camera switching program. It is a figure which illustrates the camera switching apparatus which displays "camera switching setting". It is a figure which illustrates the camera switching device which displays "switch in order of remaining battery levels". It is a figure explaining supply of a program.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a shooting scene using a camera switching device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a plurality of digital cameras (four in this example) are prepared and photographed with a person running on a land track as a main subject. Each of “first camera A” to “fourth camera D” is set in advance on a tripod and the shooting direction is adjusted.

  Each of “first camera A” to “fourth camera D” is equipped with a wireless LAN unit. The SSID (Service Set Identifier) of the wireless LAN unit is different among the cameras. In each camera, camera settings such as a shooting operation start instruction (that is, a release instruction) and a shooting condition change are controlled from the camera switching device 10 via a wireless LAN. The wireless LAN unit may be attached to an accessory terminal or the like outside the camera casing instead of being mounted in the camera casing.

  The camera switching device 10 is configured by, for example, a high-function mobile phone called a smartphone, and includes a wireless LAN unit. The high-function mobile phone operates as the camera switching device 10 by executing a basic program called an operation system (OS) and then executing a camera switching application program (hereinafter referred to as a camera switching program).

  The camera switching device 10 performs PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) connection via wireless LAN with any one of the “first camera A” to “fourth camera D”, and the PTP connection is in progress. Send a shooting control signal to the camera.

  In addition, the camera switching device 10 receives data and images (live view images acquired by the camera before the release instruction and captured images acquired by the camera in response to the release instruction) from the PTP-connected camera. The camera switching device 10 displays a live view image, a captured image, etc. received via the wireless LAN on the display / input unit 20.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the camera switching device 10 displaying the live view image and the release icon 25 on the display / input unit 20. In FIG. 2, the camera switching device 10 is PTP-connected to the “second camera B” and represents a state in which the live view image acquired by the “second camera B” is displayed. “BDCA” indicating the camera switching order is displayed at the top of the screen of the display / input unit 20. In this example, the left end of the screen represents the beginning of the camera switching order. That is, “BDCA” display indicates that the order of camera switching is “second camera B” → “fourth camera D” → “third camera C” → “first camera A”.

  In FIG. 2, a frame surrounding “B” indicating “second camera B” is displayed thick, thereby indicating that the partner of the PTP connection is “second camera B”. In addition, in “BDCA” indicating the camera switching order, instead of displaying a thick frame surrounding a symbol indicating a camera connected to PTP, the camera connected to PTP is represented by changing the color of the frame or the color of the symbol. Also good. When a predetermined “switching requirement” is satisfied, the camera switching device 10 switches the PTP-connected camera according to the camera switching order. The “switching requirement” will be described later.

  In addition, when the release icon 25 displayed on the display / input unit 20 is tapped, the camera switching device 10 transmits a release instruction signal to the PTP-connected camera. As a result, the camera connected to the PTP performs shooting processing.

  Since this embodiment has a feature in camera switching processing by the camera switching device 10, the following description will be focused on this point. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the main configuration of the camera switching device 10 of FIG. In FIG. 3, the camera switching device 10 includes a display / input unit 20, a control unit 30, and a communication unit 11.

<Display / input section>
The display / input unit 20 includes a position detection unit 21, an information display unit 22, and an image display unit 23. The position detection unit 21 is based on a position detection signal indicating a contact position by a finger or the like and display information included in the display control unit 32 (information indicating where and what is displayed on the information display unit 22). An object (icon or character information) on the screen of the display unit 22 is specified.

  The information display unit 22 and the image display unit 23 are configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display panel in which touch operation members are stacked. The position detection signal is output from the touch operation member. The information display unit 22 displays icon or character information on the liquid crystal display panel when an input operation by the user is necessary. The image display unit 23 displays the live view image acquired by the camera on the liquid crystal display panel before transmitting the release instruction to the camera connected to the PTP. Further, the image display unit 23 displays a captured image acquired by the camera on the liquid crystal display panel after transmitting a release instruction to the camera connected to the PTP.

<Control unit>
The control unit 30 includes a program execution unit 31, a display control unit 32, and a communication control unit 33, and controls the operation of each unit in the camera switching device 10. The program execution unit 31 executes a program associated with the icon specified by the position detection unit 21 of the display / input unit 20. The camera switching program is one of programs associated with icons, and is stored in a nonvolatile memory (not shown) in the program execution unit 31.

  The display control unit 32 displays icons and character information on the information display unit 22 of the display / input unit 20 and displays an image on the image display unit 23. In addition, the display control unit 32 causes the information display unit 22 to display a mark or the like indicating the specific target in order to visually notify the user of the target specified by the position detection unit 21. The communication control unit 33 controls communication performed by the communication unit 11 with an external device (in this example, the first camera A to the fourth camera D).

<Communication Department>
The communication unit 11 performs wireless communication in response to an instruction from the communication control unit 33. The communication unit 11 is configured to be able to communicate via a mobile phone network in addition to communication via a wireless LAN.

<Camera switching setting>
Before describing the camera switching program executed by the program execution unit 31, “camera switching setting” will be described. In the present embodiment, camera switching is performed based on one “camera switching order” selected from the following four “camera switching orders”. Therefore, before starting the camera switching program, one “camera switching order” is determined in advance by a “camera switching setting” operation. Since the once determined “camera switching order” is stored in a non-illustrated nonvolatile memory, the same “camera switching order” as the previous time can be selected unless changed by the “camera switching setting” operation.
1. Among the “first camera A” to “fourth camera D”, the battery has the largest remaining amount. 2. “First camera A” to “fourth camera D” in descending order of radio field intensity received from the camera. 3. Pre-determined list order The order in which the number of frames that can be recorded is largest in “First Camera A” to “Fourth Camera D”

  The process of selecting one “camera switching order” from the above four “camera switching orders” is performed in the “setting” menu of the camera switching device 10. For example, when a “setting” icon (not shown) displayed on the information display unit 22 of the display / input unit 20 is specified by the position detection unit 21, the program execution unit 31 activates the setting process and performs FIG. The “camera switch setting” display illustrated in FIG. The user taps the check box of the item to be selected, for example, to check the “list order” check box.

  The program execution unit 31 causes the information display unit 22 to display a “switch in order of list” illustrated in FIG. 5 in association with the checked items. In FIG. 5, a “camera switching order” column is displayed at the top of the screen. The program execution unit 31 displays an alphabetic keyboard (not shown) at the bottom of the screen, for example, when the user taps this field. When the user taps the displayed keyboard and inputs, for example, “B”, “D”, “C”, “A” in this order, the program execution unit 31 does not illustrate the input content as “list”. After saving in the non-volatile memory, the keyboard display is terminated. When the “list order” check box is checked, the order of the input “list” becomes the “camera switching order”. When the keyboard is not displayed, a “switching requirement” column is displayed at the bottom of the screen in FIG.

  In addition, by displaying the “list” used last time in the “camera switching order” field, the same “list” order as the previous one can be selected unless the user changes the “list” using the keyboard display. .

The program execution unit 31 further accepts an input operation of “switching requirement”. The “switching requirement” corresponds to a trigger when the camera is switched in the “camera switching order”. That is, the program execution unit 31 switches to the next camera in the “camera switching order” when the “switching requirement” is satisfied. The “switching requirement” is configured so that the following five items can be selected. In FIG. 5, the display order of items displayed in the “switching requirement” column represents a priority order.
1. Battery level: 30% or less Radio wave intensity: -50 dBm or less Number of shots: 1 time Number of recordable frames: 10 or less Elapsed time: 1 minute

  The user taps a check box of an item to be enabled to check at least one in the check box. Two items may be validated, or all five items may be validated. Further, the user drags an item whose priority is to be changed to a higher order, thereby switching the priorities of the plurality of enabled items. According to the content of “switch in order of list” in FIG. 5 described above, the program execution unit 31 performs the order of “camera switching order”, that is, “second camera B” → “fourth camera D” → “third camera”. The cameras are switched based on three “switching requirements” in the order of “C” → “first camera A”.

<Description of flowchart>
A flow of processing by the camera switching program executed by the program execution unit 31 will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. When the icon corresponding to the camera switching program is specified by the position detection unit 21 of the display / input unit 20, the program execution unit 31 activates the process illustrated in FIG.

  In step S10 of FIG. 6, the program execution unit 31 determines the “camera switching order” selected in the setting process and proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the program execution unit 31 sets the first camera in the “camera switching order” based on the received signals from the “first camera A” to the “fourth camera D” received by the communication unit 11. The corresponding SSID is selected and the process proceeds to step S12. Accordingly, the communication unit 11 starts PTP connection with the first camera. The program execution unit 31 measures the elapsed time from the time when the PTP connection is started.

  The SSIDs of “first camera A” to “fourth camera D” are registered in advance and stored in a nonvolatile memory in the program execution unit 31. The “camera switching order” is selected by the setting process described above.

  In step S <b> 12, the program execution unit 31 determines whether a camera operation has been performed on the camera switching device 10. The program execution unit 31 makes an affirmative determination in step S12 and proceeds to step S13 when a tap operation such as a release instruction or an imaging condition change instruction for a camera connected to PTP is performed. The program execution unit 31 makes a negative determination in step S12 and proceeds to step S14 when a tap operation such as a release instruction or an imaging condition change instruction is not performed on the PTP-connected camera.

  In step S13, the program execution unit 31 sends an instruction to the communication unit 11, transmits a shooting control signal to the camera connected to the PTP, and proceeds to step S14. In step S <b> 14, the program execution unit 31 determines whether the “switching requirement” is satisfied. When the “switching requirement” is satisfied, the program execution unit 31 makes a positive determination in step S14 and proceeds to step S15. When the “switching requirement” is not satisfied, the program execution unit 31 makes a negative determination in step S14 and returns to step S12. .

  Here, handling of priorities when a plurality of “switching requirements” are enabled will be described. According to FIG. 5, “remaining battery power”, “radio wave intensity”, and “number of times of photographing” are set as “switching requirements” in order of priority. When executing the determination in step S14 during PTP connection with a certain camera, the program execution unit 31 first determines the “battery remaining amount” with the first priority. When the program execution unit 31 detects that the remaining battery level of the camera is 30% or less based on transmission information from the PTP-connected camera, the program execution unit 31 determines that the “switching requirement” is satisfied.

  The program execution unit 31 determines “radio field intensity” of priority number 2 when the “switching requirement” of priority number 1 is not satisfied. When detecting that the radio field intensity received by the communication unit 11 is −50 dBm or less based on the radio wave transmitted from the camera connected to the PTP, the program execution unit 31 determines that the “switching requirement” is satisfied.

  The program execution unit 31 further determines “number of times of photographing” of the priority order 3 when both of the “switching requirements” of the priority order 1 and 2 are not satisfied. The program execution unit 31 determines that the “switching requirement” is satisfied when a release instruction is transmitted once from the communication unit 11 to the PTP-connected camera.

  Next, handling of priorities when other “switching requirements” are enabled will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a “camera switching setting” display. The user taps a check box of an item to be selected, for example, to check a check box of “in order of remaining battery level”.

  The program execution unit 31 displays the “switch in order of remaining battery power” illustrated in FIG. 8 on the information display unit 22 of the display / input unit 20 in association with the checked items. In FIG. 8, the program execution unit 31 displays a “camera switching order” column at the top of the screen. For example, “first camera A” → “fourth camera D” → “third camera” in order from the one with the largest remaining battery charge for “first camera A” to “fourth camera D”. “C” → “second camera B” is displayed as “camera switching order”. Here, the “remaining battery amount” of each camera is information on “number of frames that can be recorded” by sequentially connecting PTP between “first camera A” to “fourth camera D”, for example, during the setting process described above. In addition, it shall be acquired from each camera. Note that the program execution unit 31 when the check box of “in order of strong radio wave intensity” is checked, “first camera A” to “fourth camera D” “in order from the strongest radio wave intensity” Display the “Camera switching order” column. In addition, the program execution unit 31 in the case where the check box of “in descending order of the number of recordable frames” is checked indicates that the number of recordable frames for “first camera A” to “fourth camera D” is large. The “camera switching order” column is displayed in order.

  According to FIG. 8, “elapsed time” and “number of recordable frames” are set in the priority order as “switching requirements”. When executing the determination in step S14 during PTP connection with a certain camera, the program execution unit 31 first determines the “elapsed time” having the first priority. The program execution unit 31 determines that the “switching requirement” has been satisfied when the elapsed time from the connection to the PTP-connected camera reaches 1 minute.

  The program execution unit 31 determines the “number of recordable frames” with the second priority when the “switching requirement” with the first priority is not satisfied. Based on the transmission information from the camera connected to the PTP, the program execution unit 31 determines that the “switching requirement” is satisfied if the number of recordable frames in the camera is 10 frames or less.

  As described above, the program execution unit 31 when a plurality of “switching requirements” are validated determines a plurality of items in priority order, and affirmatively determines step S14 if at least one item is satisfied. On the other hand, the program execution unit 31 makes a negative determination in step S14 when all items are not satisfied.

  In step S15 of FIG. 6, the program execution unit 31 determines whether or not the PTP-connected camera is the last in the “camera switching order”. If it is the last time, the program execution unit 31 makes an affirmative decision in step S15, terminates the PTP connection with the PTP-connected camera, and terminates the process of FIG. If the PTP-connected camera is not the last “camera switching order”, the program execution unit 31 makes a negative determination in step S15 and proceeds to step S16.

  In step S <b> 16, the program execution unit 31 selects an SSID corresponding to the next camera in the “camera switching order” instead of the SSID corresponding to the PTP-connected camera, and returns to step S <b> 12. Thereby, the communication part 11 starts PTP connection between the cameras of the next order.

<Switching according to flick operation>
In addition to the automatic camera switching described above, the program execution unit 31 switches the camera to be PTP connected in response to a flick operation on the display / input unit 20. For example, when the display / input unit 20 that displays the live view image and the release icon 25 illustrated in FIG. 2 is flicked from left to right in the display / input unit 20 illustrated in FIG. The camera to which the PTP connection is made is switched from “B” to “fourth camera D”. On the other hand, when the screen is flicked from right to left, the program execution unit 31 switches the camera that performs PTP connection from the “second camera B” during PTP connection to the “first camera A”.

<Switching according to tap operation>
Further, in addition to the automatic camera switching described above, the program execution unit 31 switches the camera to be PTP connected in response to a tap operation on the display / input unit 20. For example, in the display / input unit 20 that displays the live view image and the release icon 25 illustrated in FIG. 2, the program execution unit 31 is in PTP connection when the “camera switching order” field at the top of the screen is tapped. The second camera B is switched from the “second camera B” to the camera corresponding to the tapped symbol. For example, when the symbol “C” is tapped, the program execution unit 31 switches the PTP-connected camera from the “second camera B” to the “third camera C” during PTP connection.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The program execution unit 31 of the camera switching device 10 determines the order in which wireless communication is performed with a plurality of cameras (S10), and performs wireless communication with the camera based on the determined order (S11). It is determined whether or not the camera switching requirement is satisfied based on the value of the checked item among the radio wave intensity, the number of shots, the number of recordable frames, and the elapsed time (S14). The wireless communication partner is switched to the next camera (S16). Thereby, the camera which carries out wireless communication can be switched appropriately. By automatic switching by the program, for example, it is possible to avoid troublesome shooting opportunities by switching to the SSID corresponding to the camera of the wireless communication partner, and missing the photographing opportunity.

(2) When the program execution unit 31 in (1) makes a negative determination that the camera switching requirement is not satisfied, the wireless communication partner is maintained without switching the wireless communication partner. It is possible to prevent the other party from switching.

(3) In the program execution unit 31 of (2) above, when the wireless communication partner is switched to the next camera based on the order (S16) and then the affirmative determination satisfying the camera switching requirement is made again, the program execution unit 31 further The wireless communication partner is switched to the next camera (S16). Accordingly, the cameras that perform wireless communication can be switched appropriately and sequentially in the determined order.

(4) In the program execution unit 31 of (3), the predetermined information includes the first information and the second information having a lower priority than the first information, and whether or not the camera switching requirement is satisfied. The determination determines whether or not the value indicating the second information reaches the second determination threshold when the value indicating the first information does not reach the first determination threshold, and the first information and the second information When one of them reaches the determination threshold, an affirmative determination is made. Since the determination regarding the more important item is made first, the camera for wireless communication can be switched appropriately.

(5) In the program execution unit 31 of (4) above, the predetermined information includes the remaining battery level of the camera that is the wireless communication partner, the number of times the camera that is the wireless communication partner is shooting, and the recordable frames of the camera that is the wireless communication partner. This includes the number, the radio field intensity from the camera that is the wireless communication partner, and the time that has elapsed since the camera became the wireless communication partner (PTP connection), so the camera status, shooting setup, or wireless The camera for wireless communication can be switched appropriately according to the communication environment.

(6) In the program execution unit 31 of (5) above, the order of wireless communication with a plurality of cameras is as follows: a list order determined in advance; an order in which the remaining battery level of the camera is large; Since the number of frames that can be recorded by the camera is determined according to the order in which the number of frames that can be recorded is large, the camera for wireless communication can be appropriately switched according to the shooting setup, the state of the camera, or the wireless communication environment.

(7) In the program execution unit 31 of (6) above, since the wireless communication partner is switched to the camera instructed by the user operation, for example, according to the user's intention corresponding to the flick operation or the tap operation. The wireless communication partner can also be switched.

(Modification 1)
In the embodiment described above, the camera switching device 10 has been described by taking a high-function mobile phone as an example, but a tablet terminal can also be used. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the supply of the camera switching program to the high-function mobile phone or tablet terminal is transmitted from the personal computer 205 storing the program to the high-function mobile phone or the like by infrared communication or short-range wireless communication. be able to.

  The program may be supplied to the personal computer 205 by setting a storage medium 204 such as a CD-ROM storing the program in the personal computer 205, or to the personal computer 205 by a method via the communication line 201 such as a network. You may load. When passing through the communication line 201, the program is stored in the storage device 203 of the server 202 connected to the communication line.

  It can also be transmitted to a high-function mobile phone or the like via a wireless LAN access point (not shown) connected to the communication line 201. Further, a storage medium 204B such as a memory card storing the program may be set in a high-function mobile phone or the like. As described above, the camera switching program can be supplied as various types of computer program products such as provision via a storage medium or a communication line.

(Modification 2)
One minute of the “elapsed time” exemplified as the “switching requirement” is an example, and may be longer or shorter than this. You may change suitably according to actual imaging | photography object.

(Modification 3)
The 10 frames of the “number of recordable frames” exemplified as the “switching requirement” is an example, and may be more or less than this. You may change suitably according to an actual imaging | photography scene.

(Modification 4)
30% of the “battery remaining amount” exemplified as the “switching requirement” is an example, and may be more or less than this. You may change suitably according to an actual imaging | photography scene.

(Modification 5)
The “radio field intensity” of −50 dBm exemplified as the “switching requirement” is an example, and may be stronger or weaker. You may change suitably according to an actual communication environment.

(Modification 6)
One “shooting number” exemplified as the “switching requirement” is an example, and may be more than this. You may change suitably according to an actual imaging | photography scene.

  The above description is merely an example, and is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Camera switching apparatus 11 ... Communication part 20 ... Display / input part 21 ... Position detection part 22 ... Information display part 23 ... Image display part 30 ... Control part 31 ... Program execution part 32 ... Display control part 33 ... Communication control part

Claims (8)

A communication order determination process for determining the order of wireless communication with a plurality of cameras;
Communication processing for performing wireless communication with the camera based on the determined order;
A determination process for determining whether or not camera switching is necessary based on a value indicating predetermined information;
A switching process for switching a wireless communication partner to the next camera based on the order when a determination is made in the determination process;
A camera switching program for causing a computer to execute. In the camera switching program according to claim 1,
A camera switching program for maintaining a wireless communication partner without performing the switching process when a negative determination is made in the determination process. In the camera switching program according to claim 2,
After the switching process for switching the wireless communication partner to the next camera based on the order, if it is determined again in the determination process, the switching process for switching the wireless communication partner to the next camera based on the order is performed on the computer. A camera switching program that is executed. In the camera switching program according to claim 3,
The predetermined information includes first information and second information having a lower priority than the first information,
The determination process determines whether or not the value indicating the second information reaches a second determination threshold when the value indicating the first information does not reach a first determination threshold, and the first information A camera switching program characterized in that the determination is made when one of the second information reaches the determination threshold. In the camera switching program according to claim 4,
The predetermined information includes the remaining battery level of the camera that is the wireless communication partner, the number of times the camera that is the wireless communication partner captures, the number of frames that can be recorded by the camera that is the wireless communication partner, and the camera that is the wireless communication partner. A camera switching program, comprising: a radio field intensity of the camera; and a time elapsed since the camera became the wireless communication partner. In the camera switching program according to claim 5,
The communication order determination process is performed by any one of a predetermined list order, an order in which the battery level of the camera is large, an order in which the radio field intensity from the camera is strong, and an order in which the number of frames that can be recorded by the camera is large. A camera switching program characterized by determining an order of communication. In the camera switching program according to claim 6,
A camera switching program for causing a computer to further execute a switching process for switching a wireless communication partner to a camera instructed by a user operation.   A camera switching device comprising an execution unit that executes the camera switching program according to claim 1.

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