JP2018011269A - Communication device, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a communication device including a plurality of communication means to appropriately control connection or non-connection depending on an external device which the communication device is going to communicate with.SOLUTION: A communication device including first communication means, second communication means and third communication means for communicating with external devices includes control means for performing control to hand over communication to the third communication means if the communication device is communicating with an external device via the first communication means, and to maintain a state of communication via the second communication without handing over communication to the third communication means if the communication device is changed to communicate with the external device via the first communication means from a state where it is communicating with the external device via the second communication means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a control method thereof, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital cameras capable of transmitting and receiving image data by communicating with a cellular phone via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) are known. In such a digital camera, the first wireless communication is used to exchange the communication parameters of the second wireless communication having a longer communication distance than the first wireless communication, and to take over the second wireless communication. Some have the function of The connection handover function allows the user to omit a part of the operation procedure for performing the second wireless communication.
Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for sharing communication parameters for connecting devices via a wireless LAN between the devices using NFC (Near Field Communication).

JP 2013-157736 A

Furthermore, in recent years, digital cameras that can be connected to mobile phones via Bluetooth (registered trademark) are also known. As described above, in a digital camera equipped with various communication methods, services suitable for the characteristics of each communication method can be realized.
On the other hand, it is conceivable that which communication is permitted and executed at which timing differs depending on the mobile phone to be connected. In other words, there may be a case where it is preferable not to connect depending on an external device as a communication destination.

  It is an object of the present invention to appropriately control whether or not a communication device having a plurality of communication means connects according to an external device with which communication is performed.

  The communication apparatus according to the present invention is a communication apparatus including a first communication unit, a second communication unit, and a third communication unit for communicating with an external device, wherein the first communication is performed with the external device. Control to hand over to the third communication means when communicating by the means, and from the state of communicating with the external device by the second communication means, the external device and the first communication Control means for controlling to maintain the state of communication by the second communication means without handing over to the third communication means when communicated by the means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can control appropriately whether the communication apparatus which has a some communication means connects according to the external apparatus which communicates.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a digital camera. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a smart phone. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a communication system. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a digital camera and a smart phone. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a digital camera and a smart phone.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the present embodiment, the communication system includes a plurality of communication devices that can communicate with each other, one of the plurality of communication devices is the digital camera 100, and one different communication device is the smartphone 200 as an example. I will explain.

<Configuration of Digital Camera 100>
First, the hardware configuration of the digital camera 100 will be described.
FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the digital camera 100.
The digital camera 100 includes a control unit 101, an imaging unit 102, a nonvolatile memory 103, a work memory 104, an operation unit 105, a display unit 106, an RTC 107, a recording medium 108, a communication unit 109, a communication unit 110, and a proximity wireless communication unit 111. The power supply unit 112 and the like are included.

The control unit 101 controls the entire digital camera 100. Specifically, the control unit 101 controls each component of the digital camera 100 based on an input signal and a program described later. Note that the present invention is not limited to the case where the control unit 101 controls the entire digital camera 100, and the entire digital camera 100 may be controlled by a plurality of pieces of hardware sharing the processing.
The imaging unit 102 captures a subject image and generates image data. The imaging unit 102 includes an optical system, an imaging element, and the like. Here, the optical system includes an optical lens unit and a lens control unit that controls the aperture, zoom, focus, and the like. The imaging device converts subject light imaged through the optical lens unit into an electrical video signal. Here, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used as the imaging device. The imaging unit 102 converts subject light imaged on an imaging element through an optical lens unit into an electrical signal, performs noise reduction processing, and outputs digital data as image data. The control unit 101 records the output image data on the recording medium 108 in accordance with a DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) standard.

The nonvolatile memory 103 is an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory 103 stores a program executed by the control unit 101, identification information of the digital camera 100 described later, and the like.
The work memory 104 is used as a buffer memory that temporarily holds image data picked up by the image pickup unit 102, an image display memory of the display unit 106, a work area of the control unit 101, or the like.

The operation unit 105 receives an instruction from the user to the digital camera 100. The operation unit 105 includes a power button for instructing to turn on / off the power of the digital camera 100, a release switch for instructing photographing, a reproduction button for instructing reproduction of image data, and communication with an external device via the communication unit 109. Includes a dedicated connection button to get started. The operation unit 105 also includes a touch panel that can detect contact with the display unit 106.
The release switch described above has a first switch (SW1) and a second switch (SW2). During the operation of the release switch, the first switch is turned on in a so-called half-pressed state. When the first switch is turned on, the control unit 101 starts shooting preparations such as AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing. In other words, the first switch accepts a shooting preparation instruction from the user. In addition, the second switch is turned on when the operation of the release switch is completed, that is, in the fully pressed state. When the second switch is turned on, the control unit 101 starts a series of shooting processing operations for recording the image data output from the imaging unit 102 on the recording medium 208. That is, the second switch accepts a shooting instruction from the user.

  The display unit 106 displays a live view image at the time of shooting or displays shot image data. The display unit 106 also displays characters and the like so that it can be interactively operated with the user. Note that the digital camera 100 may be configured to include the display unit 106 by connecting to the inside or the outside of the digital camera 100 without forming the display unit 106 integrally. That is, the digital camera 100 only needs to have at least a display control function for controlling the display unit 106, and the control unit 101 controls the display unit 106 here.

The RTC 107 performs clock management. The RTC 107 is set based on an operation by the user via the operation unit 105, time information acquired through the communication unit 109 or the communication unit 110, and the like. The RTC 107 only needs to be able to perform clock management, and the time setting may be performed by receiving a standard radio wave as a radio clock.
The recording medium 108 records the image data output from the imaging unit 102. The recording medium 108 may be detachable from the digital camera 100 or may be built therein. That is, the digital camera 100 only needs to have a function of accessing the recording medium 108, and here, the control unit 101 controls access to the recording medium 108.

The communication unit 109 is an interface for communicatively connecting to an external device, here the smartphone 200, and corresponds to an example of a third communication unit.
The digital camera 100 can send and receive data to and from the smartphone 200 via the communication unit 109. Specifically, the image data generated by the imaging unit 102 can be transmitted to the smartphone 200 via the communication unit 109. The control unit 101 realizes wireless communication with the smartphone 200 by controlling the communication unit 109.
In the present embodiment, as a communication method of the communication unit 109, an interface for performing communication by a so-called wireless LAN (for example, Wi-Fi) conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard can be used. However, the communication method of the communication unit 109 is not limited to the wireless LAN, and may be an infrared communication method, for example.

The communication unit 110 is an interface for communicatively connecting to an external device, here the smartphone 200, and corresponds to an example of a second communication unit.
The digital camera 100 can send and receive data to and from the smartphone 200 via the communication unit 110. Specifically, the image data generated by the imaging unit 102 can be transmitted to the smartphone 200 via the communication unit 110. The control unit 101 realizes wireless communication with the smartphone 200 by controlling the communication unit 110.
In the present embodiment, as a communication method of the communication unit 110, an interface for performing so-called Bluetooth communication conforming to the IEEE 802.15.1 standard can be used. However, the communication method of the communication unit 110 is not limited to Bluetooth, and may be a wireless LAN conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard or an infrared communication method, for example.

  The communication unit 110 operates in either the peripheral mode or the central mode. The control unit 101 operates the communication unit 110 in the peripheral mode, so that the digital camera 100 operates as a client device in Bluetooth. When the digital camera 100 operates as a client device, it can communicate with the external device by connecting to the external device operating in the central mode. Note that when connecting to an external device, authentication with the external device is required, but the control unit 101 performs pairing with the external device in advance, and stores the unique information of the connected external device in the nonvolatile memory 103. Store and authenticate based on the stored unique information.

The close proximity wireless transfer unit 111 is an interface for connecting to an external device here in a communicable manner, and corresponds to an example of a first communication unit.
The close proximity wireless communication unit 111 includes, for example, an antenna for wireless communication, a modulation / demodulation circuit for processing wireless signals, a communication controller, and the like. The proximity wireless communication unit 111 outputs a modulated wireless signal from an antenna, or demodulates a wireless signal received by the antenna, thereby making contactless proximity in accordance with the ISO / IEC 18092 standard (NFC: Near Field Communication). Realize communication.

  The digital camera 100 is communicably connected to the smartphone 200 by bringing a proximity wireless communication unit 111 and a proximity wireless communication unit 211 (to be described later) of the smartphone 200 close to each other. Note that when the proximity wireless communication unit 111 is used to connect to the smartphone 200, the proximity wireless communication unit 111 and the proximity wireless communication unit 211 are not necessarily in contact with each other. That is, since the close proximity wireless communication unit 111 and the close proximity wireless communication unit 211 can communicate even if they are separated by a certain distance, the close proximity wireless communication unit 111 and the close proximity wireless communication unit 211 can be brought close to a range where close proximity wireless communication is possible. That's fine. In the following, it is assumed that close to the range where close proximity wireless communication is possible is close. Note that the proximity wireless communication unit 111 of the present embodiment is disposed on the side of the digital camera 100 so as to be easily brought close to the proximity wireless communication unit 211 of the smartphone 200.

The power feeding unit 112 can perform power feeding by bringing the power feeding units close to a certain distance. That is, the digital camera 100 can be fed in a non-contact manner by the feeding unit 112 without using a cable or the like. The control unit 101 controls the start and end of power supply by the power supply unit 112.
As described above, the digital camera 100 includes the communication units 109 and 110 and the close proximity wireless communication unit 111 as a plurality of communication units. The communication unit 109 and the communication unit 110 are used when image data is transmitted and received. However, having a plurality of the communication units 109 and 110 can improve user convenience. On the other hand, the communication by the close proximity wireless transfer unit 111 functions as a trigger for a connection handover (hereinafter referred to as a handover) to be taken over by the communication unit 109 with an external device. The close proximity wireless communication unit 111 is close proximity wireless communication with a short communication distance compared to the communication units 109 and 110.

Next, the appearance of the digital camera 100 will be described.
FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating an example of the digital camera 100 as viewed from the front. FIG. 1C is a perspective view showing an example of the digital camera 100 viewed from the back.
As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the digital camera 100 includes a release switch 105a, a reproduction button 105b, a direction key 105c, and a touch panel 105d as operation members included in the operation unit 105 described above. In addition, a display unit 106 is disposed on the back of the digital camera 100, and image data captured by the imaging unit 102 is displayed. Further, in the digital camera 100, an antenna portion of the power feeding portion 112 is disposed on the side surface of the housing.

<Configuration of smartphone 200>
Next, the hardware configuration of the smartphone 200 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the smartphone 200.
The smartphone 200 includes a control unit 201, an imaging unit 202, a nonvolatile memory 203, a work memory 204, an operation unit 205, a display unit 206, an RTC 207, a recording medium 208, a communication unit 209, a communication unit 210, a proximity wireless communication unit 211, A public network connection unit 212 is provided. The smartphone 200 includes a microphone 213, a speaker 214, and the like.

The control unit 201 controls the entire smartphone 200. Specifically, the control unit 201 controls each component of the smartphone 200 based on an input signal and a program described later. In addition, it is not restricted to the case where the control part 201 controls the whole smart phone 200, You may control the smart phone 200 whole because a some hardware shares a process.
The imaging unit 202 captures a subject image and generates image data.

The nonvolatile memory 203 is an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory 203 stores an OS (operating system) that is a basic program executed by the control unit 201, an application that realizes an applied function in cooperation with the OS, and the like. In the present embodiment, the nonvolatile memory 203 stores an application (hereinafter referred to as an application) for communicating with the digital camera 100.
The work memory 204 is used as an image display memory of the display unit 206 or a work area of the control unit 201.

The operation unit 205 receives an instruction for the smartphone 200 from the user. The operation unit 205 includes a power button for instructing power ON / OFF of the smartphone 200, a touch panel capable of detecting contact with the display unit 206, an operation member for setting the RTC 207, and the like.
The display unit 206 displays image data or displays characters or the like so that it can be interactively operated with the user. The smartphone 200 may be configured to include the display unit 206 by connecting to the smartphone 200 without forming the display unit 206 integrally. That is, the smartphone 200 only needs to have at least a display control function for controlling the display unit 206, and the control unit 201 controls the display unit 206 here.

The RTC 207 performs clock management. The RTC 207 is time-set based on an operation by the user via the operation unit 205, time information acquired via the communication units 209 and 210 or the public network connection unit 212, and the like. The RTC 207 only needs to be able to perform clock management, and the time setting may be performed by receiving a standard radio wave as a radio clock or by detecting time information from a mechanical mechanism such as an analog clock. When detecting time information from a mechanical mechanism, the RTC 207 includes a detection mechanism from an analog timepiece.
A recording medium 208 records image data transmitted from the digital camera 100 and received via the communication unit 209 or the communication unit 210. The recording medium 208 may be detachable from the smartphone 200 or may be built therein. That is, the smartphone 200 only needs to have a function of accessing the recording medium 208, and here, the control unit 201 controls access to the recording medium 208.

The communication unit 209 is an interface for communicatively connecting to an external device, here, the digital camera 100, and corresponds to an example of a third communication unit.
The smartphone 200 can transmit and receive data to and from the digital camera 100 via the communication unit 209. Specifically, the communication unit 209 has an antenna, and can receive image data transmitted from the digital camera 100 via the antenna. The control unit 201 realizes wireless communication with the digital camera 100 by controlling the communication unit 209.
In the present embodiment, as a communication method of the communication unit 209, an interface for performing communication by a so-called wireless LAN (for example, Wi-Fi) in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard can be used. However, the communication method of the communication unit 209 is not limited to the wireless LAN, and may be an infrared communication method, for example.

The communication unit 210 is an interface for connecting to an external device, here, the digital camera 100 so as to be communicable, and corresponds to an example of a second communication unit.
The smartphone 200 can transmit and receive data to and from the digital camera 100 via the communication unit 210. Specifically, the image data transmitted from the digital camera 100 can be received via the communication unit 210. The control unit 201 realizes wireless communication with the digital camera 100 by controlling the communication unit 210.
In the present embodiment, as a communication method of the communication unit 210, an interface for performing so-called Bluetooth communication conforming to the IEEE 802.15.1 standard can be used. However, the communication method of the communication unit 210 is not limited to Bluetooth, and may be, for example, a wireless LAN conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard or an infrared communication method.

  The communication unit 210 operates in either the peripheral mode or the central mode. The control unit 201 operates the communication unit 210 in the central mode, so that the smartphone 200 operates as a server device in Bluetooth. When the smartphone 200 operates as a server device, it can communicate with an external device by connecting to the external device operating in the peripheral mode. Note that when connecting to an external device, authentication is required with the external device, but the control unit 201 performs pairing in advance and stores the unique information of the connected external device in the nonvolatile memory 203. Authentication is performed based on the stored unique information.

The near field communication unit 211 is an interface for connecting to an external device, here, the digital camera 100 so as to be communicable, and corresponds to an example of a first communication unit.
The close proximity wireless communication unit 211 includes, for example, an antenna for wireless communication, a modulation / demodulation circuit for processing a wireless signal, a communication controller, and the like. The proximity wireless communication unit 211 realizes contactless proximity communication in accordance with the ISO / IEC 18092 standard (NFC) by outputting a modulated wireless signal from an antenna or demodulating a wireless signal received by the antenna. . Note that the proximity wireless communication unit 211 of the present embodiment is disposed on the side of the smartphone 200 so as to be easily brought close to the proximity wireless communication unit 111 of the digital camera 100.

The public network connection unit 212 is an interface for connecting to a telephone line network. The microphone 213 converts sound into an electric signal, and the speaker converts the electric signal into sound.
As described above, the smartphone 200 includes the communication units 209 and 210 and the proximity wireless communication unit 211 as a plurality of communication units. Communication by the close proximity wireless transfer unit 211 of the present embodiment functions as a handover trigger to take over communication with an external device by the communication unit 209. The close proximity wireless communication unit 211 is close proximity wireless communication with a communication distance shorter than that of the communication units 209 and 210.

<Configuration of communication system>
Next, the configuration of the communication system will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication system.
The communication system includes a digital camera 100 and a smartphone 200.
An arrow 301 illustrated in FIG. 3 indicates a state in which the digital camera 100a and the smartphone 200 are communicating via Bluetooth using the communication units 110 and 210. In this case, even if the close proximity wireless communication unit 111 of the digital camera 100a and the close proximity wireless communication unit 211 of the smartphone 200 are brought close to each other, nothing happens and the state of communicating with Bluetooth is maintained. This process will be described later.

  On the other hand, an arrow 302 illustrated in FIG. 3 indicates a state in which the close proximity wireless communication unit 111 and the close proximity wireless communication unit 211 are brought close to each other from a state in which the digital camera 100b and the smartphone 200 are not in communication. In this case, the digital camera 100b and the smart phone 200 start communication on the wireless LAN (hereinafter referred to as Wi-Fi), with the communication units 109 and 209 taking over the communication by the handover function. This process will be described later.

<Flowchart>
Next, processing of the digital camera 100 and the smartphone 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, it is assumed that the user communicates the digital camera 100 and the smartphone 200 with Bluetooth in order to transmit image data captured by the user with the digital camera 100 to the smartphone 200.
FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing processing of the digital camera 100. This processing is realized by the control unit 101 developing and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 103 in the work memory 104. The flowchart in FIG. 4A is started when the operation unit 105 receives an operation for communicating with the smartphone 200 via Bluetooth from a user, for example.

In step S <b> 401, the control unit 101 determines whether or not Bluetooth communication can be performed with the smartphone 200 via the communication unit 110. Specifically, the control unit 101 causes the communication unit 110 to operate in the peripheral mode and causes the communication unit 110 to send an Advertisement signal. The control unit 101 waits for a response to the Advertisement signal, determines that the communication by Bluetooth can be established when the session can be established by the response, and determines that the communication by Bluetooth cannot be performed when there is no response and the session cannot be established.
In addition, in order to perform communication by Bluetooth, there are generally a method of communication by authentication by pairing and a method of communication as one-time communication without authentication, but in this embodiment, any method can be used. Good.
If the control unit 101 determines that Bluetooth communication is possible, the process proceeds to S402. If the control unit 101 determines that Bluetooth communication is not possible, the control unit 101 ends the process.

  In step S <b> 402, the control unit 101 performs control so that identification information stored in the nonvolatile memory 103 is transmitted to the smartphone 200 via the communication unit 110. In addition, the control part 101 may transmit identification information according to the request | requirement from the smart phone 200, and may transmit unilaterally irrespective of a request | requirement. That is, the control unit 101 only needs to transmit the identification information of the digital camera 100 so that the smartphone 200 can receive it, and the transmission timing and the like are not limited.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating the process of the smartphone 200. This processing is realized by the control unit 201 developing and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 203 on the work memory 204. The flowchart in FIG. 4B is started when the operation unit 205 receives an operation for communicating with the digital camera 100 via Bluetooth from a user, for example.
In step S <b> 411, the control unit 201 determines whether or not communication with the digital camera 100 can be performed via the communication unit 210. Specifically, the control unit 201 operates the communication unit 210 in the central mode, and searches for the Advertisement signal. When the session can be established by responding to the Advertisement signal, the control unit 201 determines that communication by Bluetooth can be performed, and when the session cannot be established without responding, the control unit 201 determines that communication by Bluetooth cannot be performed.
If the control unit 201 determines that Bluetooth communication is possible, the process proceeds to S412. If the control unit 201 determines that Bluetooth communication is not possible, the control unit 201 ends the process.
In step S <b> 412, the control unit 201 controls to receive the identification information of the digital camera 100 transmitted from the digital camera 100 via the communication unit 210, and stores the received identification information in the work memory 204.

When the smart phone 200 and the digital camera 100 are communicated by Bluetooth at the time when the flowcharts of FIGS. 4A and 4B are finished, the identification information of the digital camera 100 is stored in the smart phone 200. On the other hand, when not communicating by Bluetooth, the smartphone 200 does not store the identification information of the digital camera 100.
In a state where the smartphone 200 and the digital camera 100 are communicated via Bluetooth, image data is transmitted and received according to the operation of the operation units 105 and 205 by the user.

  Next, processing of the digital camera 100 and the smartphone 200 after the flowcharts of FIGS. 4A and 4B are finished will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, both of the state in which the digital camera 100a indicated by the arrow 301 in FIG. 3 and the smartphone 200 communicate with each other, and the state in which the digital camera 100b indicated by the arrow 302 and the smartphone 200 do not communicate with each other. FIG. That is, it is a flowchart corresponding to both the case of communicating by Bluetooth and the case of not communicating.

FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing processing of the digital camera 100 when the digital camera 100 and the smartphone 200 are brought close to each other. This processing is realized by the control unit 101 developing and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 103 in the work memory 104.
In step S <b> 501, the control unit 101 determines whether or not NFC communication is performed, that is, whether or not the proximity wireless communication unit 211 of the smartphone 200 is close to the proximity wireless communication unit 111. If it is determined that the close proximity wireless communication unit 211 is close based on the communication status of the close proximity wireless communication unit 111, the control unit 101 proceeds to S502, and if it is determined that the close proximity wireless communication unit 211 is not close, the control unit 101 performs the process. finish.

In step S <b> 502, the control unit 101 controls the identification information stored in the non-volatile memory 103 to be transmitted to the smartphone 200 via NFC communication, that is, the proximity wireless communication unit 111.
In S503, has the control unit 101 received the connection request for communication by Wi-Fi transmitted from the proximity wireless communication unit 211 of the smartphone 200 via NFC communication, that is, via the proximity wireless communication unit 111? Determine whether or not. When it is determined that the connection request has been received, the control unit 101 proceeds to the process of S504, and when it is determined that the connection request has not been received, the process ends.

In step S <b> 504, the control unit 101 determines whether or not communication is performed with an external device via Bluetooth based on the communication status of the communication unit 110. Here, it is assumed that the external device is communicating with a communication device different from the smartphone 200, but the control unit 101 does not determine which external device is, and simply communicates with the external device via Bluetooth. It is determined whether or not. If the control unit 101 determines that communication is performed with the external device via Bluetooth, the process proceeds to S505. If it is determined that communication is not performed, the control unit 101 proceeds to S506.
In step S <b> 505, the control unit 101 performs control so as to disconnect the communication using Bluetooth via the communication unit 110. As described above, by disconnecting the communication by Bluetooth, it is possible to prevent interference with the communication by Wi-Fi with overlapping frequency bands when the process proceeds to S506.
In step S <b> 506, the control unit 101 controls to start communication with the smartphone 200 via Wi-Fi via the communication unit 109 based on the connection request received via the close proximity wireless communication unit 111. That is, the control unit 101 executes a handover in which communication with the smartphone 200 is taken over by Wi-Fi communication using NFC communication as a trigger.

FIG. 5B is a flowchart illustrating processing of the smartphone 200 when the digital camera 100 and the smartphone 200 are brought close to each other. This processing is realized by the control unit 201 developing and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 203 on the work memory 204.
In step S <b> 511, the control unit 201 determines whether NFC communication is performed, that is, whether the close proximity wireless communication unit 111 of the digital camera 100 is close to the close proximity wireless communication unit 211. If the control unit 201 determines that the close proximity wireless communication unit 111 is close based on the communication status of the close proximity wireless communication unit 211, the control unit 201 proceeds to S512, and if it is determined that the close proximity wireless communication unit 111 is not close, the control unit 201 performs the process. finish.

In step S <b> 512, the control unit 201 performs control so that the identification information of the digital camera 100 transmitted from the digital camera 100 is received via NFC communication, that is, the close proximity wireless communication unit 211. The control unit 201 stores the received identification information in the work memory 204.
In step S <b> 513, the control unit 201 determines whether or not communication with the digital camera 100 is performed based on the communication status of the communication unit 210. Here, the digital camera 100 includes a digital camera 100 other than the digital camera 100 communicating by NFC. If the control unit 201 determines that communication is being performed with the digital camera 100 via Bluetooth, the process proceeds to S514. If it is determined that communication is not being performed, the control unit 201 proceeds to S515.

In step S <b> 514, the control unit 201 controls the identification information of the digital camera 100 communicating via the communication unit 210 to be read from the work memory 204. This identification information corresponds to the identification information received in S412 of the flowchart of FIG. In addition, the control unit 201 performs control so that the identification information of the digital camera 100 received via the close proximity wireless communication unit 211 is read from the work memory 204. This identification information corresponds to the identification information received in S512 of the flowchart of FIG.
The control unit 201 compares the read identification information and determines whether or not the digital camera 100 communicating via Bluetooth and the digital camera 100 communicating via NFC are the same.

In this embodiment, identification information of the communication unit 109 of the digital camera 100, specifically, a MAC address for uniquely specifying the communication unit 109 used for communication by Wi-Fi is used as the identification information. Here, since communication by NFC is used as a trigger to perform communication by Wi-Fi, the user recognizes that the digital camera 100 in the vicinity has a communication unit corresponding to communication by Wi-Fi. It is highly possible that Therefore, the possibility that the identification information can be compared can be increased by using the identification information for uniquely identifying the digital camera 100 as the MAC address. On the other hand, it is preferable not to use an address (Bluetooth address) for uniquely identifying the communication unit 110 used for communication by Bluetooth as identification information. This is because the adjacent digital camera 100 does not necessarily have a communication unit corresponding to communication by Bluetooth.
However, when trying to perform communication using Bluetooth using NFC, it is preferable to use a Bluetooth address as identification information for uniquely identifying the digital camera 100.
If the identification information is not the same as a result of the comparison, the control unit 201 determines that the digital cameras 100 are not the same and proceeds to S515. If the identification information is the same, the control unit 201 determines that the digital cameras 100 are the same. Determination is made and the process proceeds to S517.

In step S515, the control unit 201 transmits a connection request for communication by Wi-Fi to the digital camera 100 that has performed communication by NFC via NFC communication, that is, via the proximity wireless communication unit 211. Control.
In step S <b> 516, the control unit 201 controls the communication with the digital camera 100 via Wi-Fi via the communication unit 209. That is, the control unit 201 executes a handover in which communication with the digital camera 100 is taken over by Wi-Fi communication using NFC communication as a trigger. Note that the control unit 201 continues communication using Bluetooth with the digital camera 100 that has been performing communication using Bluetooth from the beginning.
On the other hand, in step S517, the control unit 201 performs control so as not to transmit a connection request for communication by Wi-Fi to the digital camera 100 that has performed communication by NFC. That is, the control unit 201 continues communication with the digital camera 100 using Bluetooth.

Here, it is assumed that, among the devices shown in FIG. 3, the user owns the digital camera 100a and the smartphone 200, and the other person owns the digital camera 100b. At this time, it is assumed that the close proximity wireless communication units 111 and 211 are close (communication by NFC) from a state in which the digital camera 100a and the smartphone 200 are communicating by the communication units 110 and 210 (communication by Bluetooth). In this case, in S514 described above, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 200 determines that the digital camera 100a communicating via Bluetooth is the same as the digital camera 100a communicating via NFC. Accordingly, in step S517, the control unit 201 does not make a connection request for communication by Wi-Fi to the digital camera 100a. That is, the digital camera 100a and the smartphone 200 continue communication (communication by Bluetooth) at the communication units 110 and 210 without performing handover to communication by Wi-Fi.
Here, both Bluetooth communication and Wi-Fi communication can transmit and receive image data. Therefore, it is difficult to assume that the user is connected by Wi-Fi through a hand-over that has been communicated by NFC from a state in which the user is communicating the digital camera 100a and the smartphone 200 by Bluetooth. Therefore, it can be estimated that the case where the digital camera 100a and the smartphone 200 are communicated by NFC from the state where the digital camera 100a and the smartphone 200 are communicated by Bluetooth is, for example, that the digital camera 100a and the smartphone 200 are accidentally approached by putting them in the same bag.
That is, even if the digital camera 100a communicating with Bluetooth and the smartphone 200 are brought close to each other, the confusion of the user can be prevented by continuing the communication by Bluetooth without performing the handover to the communication by Wi-Fi.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the proximity wireless communication units 111 and 211 are close (communication by NFC) from a state in which the smartphone 200 and another person's digital camera 100b are not communicating with each other. In this case, in S514 described above, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 200 determines that the digital camera 100a communicating via Bluetooth is not the same as the digital camera 100b communicating via NFC. Accordingly, in step S515, the control unit 201 issues a connection request to the digital camera 100b for communication via Wi-Fi, and in step S516, the control unit 201 performs handover to the digital camera 100b via Wi-Fi.
Here, when the user brings the smartphone 200 close to another person's digital camera 100b, it can be assumed that there is an intention to connect to Wi-Fi communication by handover via NFC communication.
That is, when the smartphone 200 and the digital camera 100b that are not communicating with each other are close to each other, communication by Wi-Fi is performed using NFC communication as a trigger. Accordingly, the user can easily perform Wi-Fi communication with another person's digital camera 100b, and can transmit and receive image data between the digital camera 100b and the smartphone 200, for example. Note that the control unit 201 of the smartphone 200 continues the Bluetooth communication without disconnecting the digital camera 100a, so that the user can continue to communicate with the digital camera 100a already communicating. Therefore, the convenience of communication with the digital camera 100a can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately control whether or not a communication apparatus having a plurality of communication means connects according to an external apparatus with which communication is performed. Therefore, since the user can simplify the operation of connecting or disconnecting according to the external device, the operability can be improved.

If the control unit 201 determines that the digital camera 100 is not the same in S514 described above, the process proceeds to S515. In S515, the control unit 201 connects to the digital camera 100b for communication by Wi-Fi. A request has been sent, but this is not a limitation. For example, although it is determined that they are not the same digital camera 100, a specific function that prioritizes communication with the own digital camera 100a is used, and transition to Wi-Fi communication with the digital camera 100b is made. Sometimes you do n’t want to.
Assuming such a case, a process for determining whether or not the control unit 201 is communicating using a specific function via the communication unit 210 can be added between S514 and S515. If the control unit 201 determines that communication is performed using a specific function, the control unit 201 proceeds to S517, performs control so as not to be handed over to communication by Wi-Fi, and does not perform communication using the specific function. If it is determined, the process can be shifted to S515. Here, the specific function includes, for example, a remote operation function that causes the digital camera 100 to perform a photographing operation via the operation unit 205 from the smartphone 200.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by embodiment mentioned above, this invention is not limited only to these embodiment, A change etc. are possible within the scope of the present invention.
In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which handover by NFC communication is used as a trigger to perform handover to Wi-Fi communication. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and handover may be performed to communication by Bluetooth using NFC communication as a trigger.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the example of the communication device is the digital camera 100 has been described. However, the communication device is not limited to the digital camera. For example, the communication device may be an information processing device such as a portable media player, a so-called tablet device, or a personal computer.
In the embodiment described above, a case where the example of the communication device is the smartphone 200 has been described, but the communication device is not limited to the smartphone. The communication apparatus may be an information processing apparatus such as a digital camera with a wireless function, a so-called tablet device, or a personal computer.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100: Digital camera (communication apparatus) 101: Control part 109: Communication part 110: Communication part 111: Proximity wireless communication part 200: Smartphone (communication apparatus) 201: Control part 209: Communication part 210: Communication part 211: Proximity wireless communication Part

Claims (11)

A communication device comprising a first communication means, a second communication means and a third communication means for communicating with an external device,
Control to hand over to the third communication means when communicated with the external device by the first communication means;
When the second communication means communicates with the external device from the second communication means, the second communication means does not perform handover to the third communication means when the external device communicates with the first communication means. A communication device comprising control means for controlling to maintain the state of communication by the communication means. The control means includes
In order to communicate with the different external device when communicating with the external device different from the external device and the first communication means from the state of communicating with the external device by the second communication means The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so as to perform handover to the third communication unit. When the control means is in a state of communicating with the external device by the second communication means, and is communicating with the external device using a specific function. ,
3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein control is performed so that handover to the third communication unit is not performed even when communication is performed with the different external apparatus through the first communication unit. The control means includes
Control is performed so as to maintain the state of communication with the external device by the second communication unit even when handed over to the third communication unit in order to communicate with the different external device. The communication device according to claim 2 or 3. The control means includes
It is determined whether or not the external device communicating with the second communication means and the external device communicated with the first communication means are the same, and when it is determined that they are the same, the third device 5. The control according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so as to maintain a state in which the second communication unit communicates with the external apparatus without performing handover to the communication unit. The communication device described. The control means includes
Depending on the comparison result whether or not the identification information received via the second communication means and the identification information received via the first communication means are the same, the second communication means 6. The communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein it is determined whether or not the communicating external apparatus is the same as the external apparatus communicated by the first communication unit.   The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the identification information is identification information for uniquely specifying a communication unit of the external apparatus corresponding to the third communication unit.   The communication according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first communication unit is a proximity communication having a communication distance shorter than that of the second communication unit and the third communication unit. apparatus.   When the first communication means communicates with the external device different from the external device from the state in which the second communication means communicates with the external device. 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is handed over to the third communication means to disconnect communication with the external apparatus by the second communication means. A method for controlling a communication device including a first communication unit, a second communication unit, and a third communication unit for communicating with an external device,
Control to hand over to the third communication means when communicated with the external device by the first communication means;
When the second communication means communicates with the external device from the second communication means, the second communication means does not perform handover to the third communication means when the external device communicates with the first communication means. A control method for a communication apparatus, comprising: a control step for controlling so as to maintain a communication state by the communication means.   The program for functioning a computer as a control means of the communication apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 9.

Images