JP2018121206A - Communication device, external device, method of controlling the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology that enables a user to efficiently satisfy a proper device as a connection destination.SOLUTION: A communication device comprises: reception means that receives an inquiry for searching for a device that executes a predetermined function, from an external device; determination means that determines whether or not the predetermined function can be executed, in response to the reception of the inquiry; transmission means that, in a case where the determination means determined that the predetermined function can be executed, transmits a response to the inquiry, the response including identification information of the own device; and display control means that, in a case where the response is transmitted, controls a display part so as to display the identification information included in the response.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

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

    In recent years, a service discovery technique for performing a service search before establishing a link connection to a wireless network has been proposed. With this technology, it is possible to detect a wireless network that provides a desired service before connection, and therefore it is possible to seamlessly execute from wireless network connection to various service processes. Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for exchanging service information before establishing a connection between devices and establishing a connection after determining that a desired service is provided.

Special table 2009-521190

  However, the information exchanged before establishing the connection between the devices in the proposed technology is not expressed so that the device can be specified by the user. For general users, a device suitable for the connection destination is determined from the information. It was difficult to identify.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a technique for enabling a user to efficiently specify an appropriate device as a connection destination.

The present invention for solving the above problems is a communication device for communicating with an external device,
Receiving means for receiving an inquiry from an external device for searching for a device that performs a predetermined function;
Determining means for determining whether or not the predetermined function can be executed in response to reception of the inquiry;
A transmission unit that transmits a response to the inquiry including identification information of the device when it is determined that the determination unit can execute;
And display control means for controlling a display unit to display the identification information included in the response when the response is transmitted.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology that allows a user to efficiently identify an appropriate device as a connection destination.

The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the external device 100 corresponding to embodiment of invention. The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the communication apparatus 200 corresponding to embodiment of invention. The figure which shows an example of the communication system structure of the external device 100 and the communication apparatus 200 corresponding to embodiment of invention. The sequence diagram corresponding to an example of the process which establishes the connection between the external device 100 and the communication apparatus 200. FIG. The sequence diagram corresponding to an example of the service search process corresponding to embodiment of invention. The figure which shows an example of the display screen in the external device 100 corresponding to embodiment of invention. The figure which shows an example of the display screen in the communication apparatus 200 corresponding to embodiment of invention. The sequence diagram corresponding to an example of the process regarding the notification from the external apparatus 100 corresponding to embodiment of invention to the communication apparatus 200. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, a communication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, an example using a wireless LAN system compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series will be described. However, the communication form is not necessarily limited to the IEEE802.11 compliant wireless LAN, and the invention corresponding to this embodiment may be applied to a communication form corresponding to another communication standard.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an external device 100 corresponding to the embodiment of the invention. The external device 100 has a push-type transmission function for images via a network. The external apparatus 100 may be configured by hardware using a dedicated device, a logic circuit, and a memory except for a physical device such as an imaging optical system, an imaging element, and a display element. Alternatively, the processing program stored in the memory may be configured by software by a computer such as a CPU executing the processing program. The external device 100 can be implemented as a digital camera, for example, but in addition to that, it can be any information processing terminal or imaging device such as a personal computer, mobile phone, smartphone, PDA, tablet terminal, digital video camera, etc. Can do.

  In FIG. 1, a CPU 101, flash memory 102, memory 103, display control unit 104, imaging control unit 112, input unit 105, media I / F (interface) 106 and wireless communication I / F 107 are connected to an internal bus 111. The Further, the imaging control unit 112 is connected to the lens unit 113, and the display control unit 104 is connected to the display unit 110. Each unit connected to the internal bus 111 can exchange data with each other via the internal bus 111.

  The flash memory 102 is a nonvolatile memory and stores image data, other data, various programs for operating the CPU 101, and the like. The memory 103 is composed of a RAM, for example. The CPU 101 controls each unit of the external device 100 using the memory 103 as a work memory according to a program stored in the flash memory 102, for example.

  The input unit 105 receives a user operation, generates a control signal corresponding to the operation, and supplies the control signal to the CPU 101. For example, the input unit 105 includes buttons arranged on the main body of the external apparatus 100, character information input devices such as a keyboard, and pointing devices such as a mouse and a touch panel as input devices that accept user operations. The touch panel is an input device that outputs coordinate information according to a position touched with respect to, for example, a planar input unit. The CPU 101 controls each unit of the external device 100 according to a program based on a control signal generated and supplied by the input unit 105 in response to a user operation performed on the input device. Thereby, it is possible to cause the external device 100 to perform an operation according to the user operation.

  The display control unit 104 outputs a display signal for causing the display unit 110 to display an image and an identifier list. For example, a display control signal generated by the CPU 101 according to a program is supplied to the display control unit 104. The display control unit 104 generates a display signal based on the display control signal and outputs the display signal to the display unit 110. Further, the display control unit 104 causes the display unit 110 to display a GUI screen constituting a GUI (Graphical User Interface) based on a display control signal generated by the CPU 101. When a touch panel is used as the input unit 105, the input unit 105 and the display unit 110 can be configured integrally. For example, the touch panel is configured such that the light transmittance does not hinder the display of the display unit 110 and is attached to the upper layer of the display surface of the display unit 110. Then, the input coordinates on the touch panel are associated with the display coordinates on the display unit 110. Thereby, it is possible to configure a GUI as if the user can directly operate the screen displayed on the display unit 110. In the present embodiment, the input unit 105 receives an input of pressing an application button that is an operation member (not shown) and a touch panel.

  The imaging control unit 112 converts light input to the lens unit 113 into digital information, performs data compression processing, and generates video data. For example, the imaging control signal generated by the CPU 101 according to the program is supplied to the imaging control unit 112. The imaging control unit 112 generates an imaging signal based on the imaging control signal, converts the light from the lens unit 113 into digital information, performs Jpeg compression processing, and uses the Jpeg data generated by the control of the CPU 101 as media I / Recording is performed on the external recording medium 109 via F106.

  The media I / F 106 can be loaded with an external recording medium 109 such as a memory card. Based on the control of the CPU 101, the media I / F 106 reads data from the loaded external recording medium 109 and writes data to the external recording medium 109. Do. The external recording medium 109 to which the media I / F 106 can be attached is not limited to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as a memory card, and a disk recording medium such as a CD or a DVD may be attached to the media I / F 106.

  The wireless communication I / F 107 is composed of a wireless LAN module, and performs communication with a network 108 such as a LAN or the Internet via a wireless LAN access point based on the control of the CPU 101. Further, P2P communication by WiFi Direct is also possible based on the control of the CPU 101.

  The configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely an example of the configuration of the external device 100, and the external device 100 may further include a hardware configuration other than that illustrated in FIG.

  Next, a communication device 200 corresponding to the embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the communication apparatus 200 corresponding to the embodiment of the invention. The communication device 200 is a device capable of providing a predetermined service to the external device 100 by communicating with the external device 100 and executing a predetermined function. When the function (service that can be provided) that can be executed with respect to the external device 100 is a so-called push-type image reproduction service that receives and reproduces an image that is push-transferred from the external device 100, for example, the communication device 200 is It can be configured as an image display device such as a television. The predetermined service includes an arbitrary service other than the image display service, and examples thereof include a push-type image printing service, a push-type music reproduction service, and a push-type image storage service, but are not limited thereto.

  Hereinafter, a case where the communication device 200 is configured as an image display device will be described, but the communication device 200 does not have to be configured as a television. For example, a personal computer or a tablet terminal may be used as long as the device has a display device such as a display. In addition, the communication device 200 can have a configuration according to the type of service that can be provided to the external device 100. For example, an apparatus that provides a print service includes a printing unit, an audio output unit that provides a music playback service, and a storage unit that includes an image storage service. Is done.

  In FIG. 2, a CPU 201, flash memory 202, memory 203, display control unit 204, audio output control unit 212, input unit 205, service providing unit 214, and wireless communication I / F 207 are connected to an internal bus 211. Further, the audio output control unit 212 is connected to the audio output unit 213, and the display control unit 204 is connected to the display unit 210. Each unit connected to the internal bus 211 can exchange data with each other via the internal bus 211. Here, each component is as follows.

  The CPU 201 is the same as the CPU 101 in FIG. The flash memory 202 is the same as the flash memory 102 of FIG. The memory 203 is the same as the memory 103 in FIG. The display control unit 204 is the same as the display control unit 104 in FIG. The audio output control unit 212 transmits an audio signal to the speaker unit 213 and outputs the audio by the audio output unit 213 when outputting audio such as when the display target is a moving image or audio. The input unit 205 is the same as the input unit 105 in FIG. The service providing unit 214 is a block that executes a function for providing a service when the communication apparatus 200 can provide a service by executing functions other than image display and audio output. . For example, in the case of a print service, it functions as a printing unit, and in the case of image storage, it functions as a large-capacity image storage unit such as a hard disk. The wireless communication I / F 207 is the same as the wireless communication I / F 107 in FIG. The display unit 210 is the same as the display unit 110 in FIG.

  Next, communication between the external device 100 and the communication device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a communication state between the external device 100 and the communication device 200 corresponding to the embodiment of the invention. The external device 100 can communicate with one or more communication devices 200 and 301 to 304, and transmits an inquiry signal for searching for an external device that provides a predetermined service. Of the plurality of communication devices, a device capable of providing a specified service responds to the inquiry. For example, when the predetermined service is a push-type image transfer function, the communication device 200 that provides the push-type image reproduction service responds. The external device 100 and the communication device 200 can act as a service user and a provider via the wireless network 300. Note that the plurality of communication devices shown in FIG. 3 are merely examples, and are not limited to the types of devices shown here.

  Next, referring to FIG. 4, a general connection establishment process sequence when image reproduction by the push-type image reproduction service is performed between the external apparatus 100 and the communication apparatus 200 via the wireless network 300 will be described. To do. FIG. 4 shows an example of a sequence of processing for establishing a connection between the external device 100 and the communication device 200. The same procedure can be used for other services.

  The push-type image reproduction service is provided by the communication device 200 and used by the external device 100. Note that the sequence shown in FIG. 4 is based on the premise that the external device 100 is not connected to the wireless network 300 in the initial state. Also, it is assumed that the image data to be transmitted to the communication device 200 has been selected in advance by the external device 100.

  In step S <b> 400, the external apparatus 100 receives an instruction to start the network image reproduction function in response to a user operation via the input unit 105. Upon receiving the instruction, the CPU 101 controls the wireless communication I / F 107 in S401, and uses the service discovery function in the wireless layer to send an inquiry signal for searching for an external device that provides the push-type image reproduction service. Send. In the present embodiment, this inquiry signal transmission is referred to as a “service search request”. The service discovery function in the wireless layer refers to a function for exchanging service information held by a counterpart device by transmitting / receiving an action frame defined by IEEE 802.11u.

  When CPU 201 of communication apparatus 200 detects that wireless communication I / F 207 has received a service search request, CPU 201 determines whether or not to respond to the service search request in S402. Here, it is determined whether or not the communication device 200 can provide the push-type image reproduction service requested from the external device 100. If the CPU 201 determines that the requested service can be provided as a result of this determination, the CPU 201 controls the wireless communication I / F 207 and transmits a detection response signal to the external apparatus 100 in step S403. When the CPU 101 of the external device 100 detects that the wireless communication I / F 107 has received a detection response, the CPU 101 controls the display control unit 104 in S404 to notify the user of the detected device information and determine whether to connect. Inquire. At this time, when a response is detected from other communication devices 301 to 304 other than the communication device 200, these devices are also included in the selection options of the connection partner, so that the user is similarly notified. However, the case where the communication apparatus 200 is selected as a connection partner will be described below.

  When the CPU 101 of the external device 100 detects that the connection with the communication device 200 is selected by a user operation in S405, the CPU 101 controls the wireless communication I / F 107 and transmits a wireless connection request signal to the communication device 200 in S406. To do. When detecting that the wireless connection request signal has been received via the wireless communication I / F 207, the CPU 201 of the communication device 200 controls the wireless communication I / F 207 and transmits a success response signal to the external device 100 in S407.

  When the CPU 101 of the external device 100 detects that the success response signal has been received via the wireless communication I / F 107, the wireless communication I / F 107 is controlled in step S408 to establish a wireless network connection with the communication device 200. Implement the process. In the wireless network connection processing, control based on the Wi-Fi Direct protocol specification is performed, and the role in the wireless layer such as which is the wireless LAN access point and which is the wireless LAN station between the external device 100 and the communication device 200. decide. In Wi-Fi Direct, a communication device that performs a wireless LAN access point function is referred to as a P2P group owner, and a communication device that performs a wireless LAN station function is referred to as a P2P client. After the wireless network connection is established, IP address setting processing by DHCP is performed between the external device 100 and the communication device 200.

  Thereafter, the CPU 101 of the external apparatus 100 executes the UPnP discovery process in S409 as the application layer service discovery process with the communication apparatus 200, and acquires detailed information of the push-type image reproduction service. Subsequently, the CPU 101 of the external device 100 controls the wireless communication I / F 107 in S410 to set a URL for acquiring a reproduction target image file recorded on the external recording medium 109 as a reproduction target. A request signal is transmitted to the communication device 200. When detecting that the URL setting request has been received, the CPU 201 of the communication apparatus 200 controls the wireless communication I / F 207 and transmits a success response signal to the external apparatus 100 in S411.

  When detecting that the success response has been received, the CPU 101 of the external device 100 controls the wireless communication I / F 107 to transmit a signal requesting to start reproduction display of image data to the communication device 200 in S412. When the CPU 201 of the communication apparatus 200 detects that the reproduction display start request has been received, the wireless communication I / F 207 is controlled in S413 and a success response signal is transmitted to the external apparatus 100. In S414, the URL set in S410 is transmitted. A signal for requesting image acquisition is transmitted to. When detecting that the image acquisition request has been received, the CPU 101 of the external device 100 controls the wireless communication I / F 107 in step S415 and transmits the image data to the communication device 200 as a successful response. When the CPU 201 of the communication apparatus 200 detects the reception of the image data, the CPU 201 controls the display control unit 204 in S416, and executes a display display process of the image data in the display unit 210.

  Next, the details of the service search process corresponding to the embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, processing related to a service search request will be described with reference to FIG. The process illustrated in FIG. 5 is executed between the external device 100 and each device when a plurality of devices exist around the external device 100. In FIG. 5, the same processes as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals. First, the start of the network image playback function in S400 is transmitted when the execution of the function of displaying an image on the monitor is instructed on the menu screen displayed on the display unit 110 by the display control unit 104 of the external apparatus 100.

  FIG. 6A shows a display example of the menu screen at this time. A menu screen 600 in FIG. 6A shows a list of function menus of the external device 100. By operating the menu button of the input unit 105 while displaying the image 601 on the external device 100, the display control unit 104 is displayed. Then, it is displayed on the display unit 110. In the present embodiment, the input on the touch panel is detected by the input unit 105 in the form of coordinates, and the display control unit 104 can determine what operation has been performed on the GUI being displayed. This function menu displays a list of operations for the image being played back, and the external apparatus 100 executes an operation corresponding to the selected item.

  An image 601 is an image that is an execution target of the function selected on the menu screen 600. In the present embodiment, as executable functions, “print image” 602, “display image on monitor” 603, “protect image” 604, “rotate image” 605, “delete image” 606. When “print image” 602 is selected, the external apparatus 100 executes a function of transmitting a print request for the image 601 to the communication apparatus 200 which is a printer. When “display image on monitor” 603 is selected, the external apparatus 100 executes a function of transmitting a display request for the image 601 to the communication apparatus 200 that is a display apparatus. In the present embodiment, the selection of “display image on monitor” 603 corresponds to the start instruction of the network image playback function and serves as a trigger for starting the sequence shown in FIG.

  When “protect image” 604 is selected, the external apparatus 100 sets the image 601 that is currently displayed to deletion prohibition. When “Rotate image” 605 is selected, the external apparatus 100 changes the setting of the orientation (orientation) of the currently displayed image 601 to 90 °, 180 °, or 270 ° to the right. Can be selected. The display control unit 104 of the external device 100 displays the corresponding image on the display unit 110 at a specified rotation rate after changing the orientation of the image.

  In this way, when the CPU 101 of the external device 100 detects selection of “display image on monitor” 603 on the menu screen 600 shown in FIG. 6A, the CPU 101 activates the wireless communication I / F 107 in S 401. And a service search request for searching for an external device providing the push-type image reproduction service is transmitted by the service discovery function in the wireless layer. When “Print image” 602 is selected, a service search request for searching for an external device that provides a network printing service is transmitted.

  On the other hand, when detecting that the wireless communication I / F 207 has received the service search request, the CPU 201 of the communication apparatus 200 responds to the service search request based on whether or not the requested service can be provided in S402. Determine whether or not. If it is determined that the requested service can be provided and the response is made, the CPU 201 controls the wireless communication I / F 207 in step S403 and transmits a detection response signal to the external apparatus 100. At this time, the CPU 201 can include the identification information of the communication device 200 in the detection response signal. In the present embodiment, this identification information can be address information of the communication device 200, for example, a MAC address. The identification information may be a serial number other than the address information. When the communication device 200 determines to transmit the detection response signal, the communication device 200 displays the identification information on the display unit 210 of the communication device 200. When the communication device 200 determines not to transmit the detection response signal, the communication device 200 communicates the identification information. It is not displayed on the display unit 210 of the device 200. Specifically, in step S <b> 501, when the CPU 201 determines to transmit a detection response signal based on the determination result in step S <b> 402, the CPU 201 controls the display control unit 204 to display identification information on the display unit 210. A display example at this time is as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 7A, a screen 700 shows an example of a display screen on the display unit 210 of the communication device 200. On the screen 700, thumbnails of arbitrary images are displayed as a list of thumbnails 701. However, the display example on the screen 700 is not limited to the form of the thumbnail list, and other display forms may be used. The identification information display area 702 shows the identification information display area of the own apparatus displayed in S501 only when a detection response signal is returned in S403. As described above, since the MAC address is transmitted as the identification information in S403, the MAC address is also displayed in the identification information display area 702 in FIG. In the present embodiment, since the same information as the identification information included in the response only needs to be displayed on the screen, it is not necessary to limit the display information to a specific type.

  On the other hand, in response to receiving the detection response signal in S403, the external apparatus 100 notifies the user of information on the device detected by controlling the display control unit 104 in S404 and inquires whether to connect. . An example of the display screen on the display unit 110 at this time is as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6B shows an example of a list display screen 610 of identification information of devices including the device 200 that has returned a detection response signal to the service search request of the external device 100. Here, since the identification information is a MAC address, the MAC addresses 612 to 615 of the responding devices are listed. When the user selects one of these, a wireless connection request is transmitted to the selected device in S406, and the subsequent processing is executed. At this time, it is assumed that the MAC address 614 of the communication apparatus 200 is selected.

  However, since only the MAC address is displayed on the screen 610 shown in FIG. 6B, it is not easy for the user to specify which device is connected. However, as described above, the display unit 210 of the communication device 200 that has transmitted the detection response signal displays the MAC address (6F: 12: 82: C6: 96: BA of the device) as shown in FIG. : 7F) is displayed in the identification information display area 702. Therefore, it is possible to easily specify the MAC address 614 of the device desired by the user on the screen 610 by confirming the display of the identification information display area 702 on the display unit 210 of the device to which the user is to connect. It becomes.

  In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a response to a service search request is made regardless of the operation state of the communication apparatus 200. Without being limited thereto, for example, a response may be made only when the user is activated to use the communication device 200 or when the display unit 210 is in a display state for use. As a result, the communication device 200 that the user does not intend to use and is not activated is not detected. Note that the state of not being activated can include a standby state of the apparatus (for example, the apparatus is not completely turned off, but the display unit 210 is in a non-display state).

  As described above, in this embodiment, the communication device 200 that has responded to the service search request operates to display the identification information of the communication device 200 on the display unit 210. The user can confirm the display and select an appropriate communication device 200 from the list of identification information displayed by the external device 100 that has issued the service search request. As a result, when the communication device 200 and the external device 100 are connected to receive provision of a predetermined service, an appropriate communication device can be reliably selected.

[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment described above, the case where the MAC address is used as the identification information has been described. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a case will be described in which a predetermined character string set in the device is used as identification information instead of the MAC address. In the following description of the second embodiment, points different from the first embodiment will be mainly described in detail in order to avoid duplication of explanation. Since the hardware configuration diagram of the external device 100, the hardware configuration diagram of the communication device 200, the communication system diagram of the communication device 200 and the external device 100, and the sequence of the connection establishment process are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  Also in the second embodiment, the process flow in the service search request is the same as that shown in FIG. However, the identification information included in the detection response signal transmitted in S403 is a predetermined character string preset in the communication apparatus 200. The character string can be the device name of the communication device 200, for example. The device name is configured as a character string preset by a manufacturer in a format such as a company brand + model name, for example. However, it is not necessary to limit the character string used as the identification information to a preset device name, and a character string arbitrarily input by other users may be used.

  In response to this, when the CPU 201 determines to transmit a detection response signal based on the determination result of S402, the CPU 201 controls the display control unit 204 in S501 to display the character string on the display unit 210 as identification information. A display example at this time is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7B, a screen 710 shows an example of a display screen on the display unit 210 of the communication device 200. On the screen 710, thumbnails of arbitrary images are displayed as a list as the thumbnail list 711. However, the display example on the screen 710 is not limited to this form, and other display forms may be used. The identification information display area 712 shows the identification information display area of the own apparatus displayed in S501 only when a detection response signal is returned in S403. As described above, since the apparatus name is transmitted as the identification information in S403, the apparatus name is displayed in the identification information display area 712 in FIG.

  On the other hand, in response to receiving the detection response signal in S403, the external apparatus 100 notifies the user of information on the device detected by controlling the display control unit 104 in S404 and inquires whether to connect. . An example of the display screen on the display unit 110 at this time is as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6C shows an example of a list display screen 610 of identification information of devices including the communication device 200 that has returned a detection response signal in response to a service search request from the external device 100. Here, since the identification information is a device name, a list of device names 622 to 625 of each responding device is displayed. When the user selects any one of them in S405, a wireless connection request is transmitted to the selected apparatus in S406, and the subsequent processing is executed. At this time, it is assumed that the device name 624 of the communication device 200 is also selected in this embodiment.

  Unlike Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, since identification information is displayed as a character string understandable by the user, the user can more easily specify the communication device 200 (CANO-TV 624) of the connection destination. Become. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, since the same device name CANO-TV is displayed on the display unit 210 of the communication device 200, even if there is a similar product, It is possible to check the display and select an appropriate device.

  Thus, also in this embodiment, when connecting the communication apparatus 200 and the external apparatus 100 and receiving provision of a predetermined service, an appropriate communication apparatus can be selected reliably.

[Embodiment 3]
In the first and second embodiments described above, identification information is provided from the communication device 200 to the external device 100, and the user's device selection operation is performed only on the external device 100 side. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, by notifying the external device 100 of the result of the user performing a device selection operation in advance on the communication device 200, it is possible to further reduce the operation burden on the external device 100 side. In the following description of the third embodiment, points different from the first embodiment will be mainly described in detail to avoid duplication of explanation. Since the hardware configuration diagram of the external device 100, the hardware configuration diagram of the communication device 200, the communication system diagram of the communication device 200 and the external device 100, and the sequence of the connection establishment process are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, the details of the discovery process corresponding to the embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, with reference to FIG. 8, a process in a service search request will be described. The process shown in FIG. 8 is executed between the external device 100 and each device when a plurality of devices exist around the external device 100. In FIG. 8, the same processes as those in FIGS. 4 and 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals. First, the processing from S400 to S501 is the same as the operation in the first or second embodiment described with reference to FIG. However, in the identification information display of S501, an operation button for accepting a candidacy operation is displayed along with the identification information. An example of the screen display at this time is shown in FIG. The candidacy operation is an operation performed by the user in advance on an apparatus that the user desires to use, and by notifying the external apparatus 100 that the operation has been performed, an apparatus that the user desires to use on the external apparatus 100 side. It becomes possible to discriminate.

  A screen 720 in FIG. 7C shows an example of a display screen on the display unit 210 of the communication device 200. On the screen 720, thumbnails of arbitrary images are displayed as a list as the thumbnail list 721. However, the display example on the screen 720 is not limited to this form, and may be another display form. The identification information display area 722 indicates a display area of identification information of the own apparatus displayed in S501 only when a detection response signal is returned in S403. Although the MAC address is displayed as the identification information in FIG. 7C, it may be a predetermined character string such as a device name as shown in FIG. 7B.

  The button 723 is operated when the user desires to transmit a notification from the communication apparatus 200 to the external apparatus 100 so that the communication apparatus 200 can be identified on the display screen of the external apparatus 100. The button 723 may not be displayed in the screen 720. For example, the same function may be executed by operating the input unit 205 as a predetermined button of the communication device 200. Alternatively, when the input unit 205 is a receiving unit for a signal transmitted from a remote controller (remote controller) for remotely operating the communication device 200 and receives a signal corresponding to a user operation on the remote controller, the input unit 205 functions similarly. May be executed.

  After the screen shown in FIG. 7C is displayed, the CPU 201 determines whether or not an operation corresponding to the candidate operation is accepted in S801. If it is determined that the operation is accepted, the wireless communication I / F 207 is determined in S802. And a candidate notification signal is transmitted to the external device 100.

  In contrast, when the external device 100 detects that the CPU 101 has received the candidacy notification signal, the display control unit 104 is controlled in S803 so that the external device 100 that has transmitted the signal can be identified. To display. A display example at this time is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6D shows an example of a list display screen 630 of identification information of devices including the communication device 200 that has returned a detection response signal in response to a service search request from the external device 100. Here, since the identification information is a MAC address, the MAC addresses 632 to 635 of the responding devices are listed. When the user selects any one of them in S405, a wireless connection request is transmitted to the selected apparatus in S406, and the subsequent processing is executed. At this time, it is assumed that the MAC address 634 of the communication apparatus 200 is selected. Further, the communication apparatus 200 may limit the counterpart apparatus so that only the destination external apparatus 100 that has transmitted the candidacy notification signal performs wireless connection.

  In addition, the screen 630 shown in FIG. 6D is different from the first and second embodiments in that an identification display 636 is displayed in addition to the MAC address. The identification display 636 corresponds to the candidacy notification signal transmitted from the communication device 200 to the external device 100, and is displayed in association with the communication device 200 that has transmitted the candidacy notification signal. With this display, the external device 100 can clearly grasp the device that the user desires to use.

  The display form of the identification display 636 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 6D. For example, the MAC address 634 may be made distinguishable by changing the character color. In addition, other MAC addresses may be grayed out, or may be identified by highlighting the display area of the MAC address 634.

  In addition, in FIG. 6D, identification information of a device other than the communication device on which the identification display 636 is displayed is also displayed. However, when a candidacy notification signal is received from any one of the communication devices 200, Responses from other than the communication device 200 may be ignored and not displayed on the screen 630. Or you may enable it to switch between the display form which includes communication apparatuses other than the communication apparatus 200 which transmitted the candidacy notification signal, and the display form which is not included according to predetermined | prescribed operation. Further, when a candidacy notification signal is received, reception of a selection operation from the user may be omitted, and a wireless connection request may be automatically transmitted to the communication device 200 that has transmitted the candidacy notification signal.

  Thus, also in this embodiment, when connecting the communication apparatus 200 and the external apparatus 100 and receiving provision of a predetermined service, an appropriate communication apparatus can be selected reliably. In particular, in this embodiment, the user performs a selection operation in advance on the communication device 200 side, and notifies the external device 100 of the result, thereby simplifying the selection operation of the communication device 200 on the external device 100 side. Incorrect operation at the time of selection can be prevented.

100: External device, 200: Communication device, 300: Wireless network

Claims (13)

Receiving means for receiving an inquiry from an external device for searching for a device that performs a predetermined function;
Determining means for determining whether or not the predetermined function can be executed in response to reception of the inquiry;
A transmission unit that transmits a response to the inquiry including identification information of the device when it is determined that the determination unit can execute;
And a display control unit configured to control a display unit to display the identification information included in the response when the response is transmitted.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is address information of the communication apparatus.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is information indicating a name of the communication apparatus.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is based on a character string input to the communication apparatus by a user. The transmission means includes
When the display control means is controlling the display unit in a non-display state, the response is not transmitted,
5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the response is transmitted when the display control unit is controlling the display unit to a display state. 6. It further comprises operation accepting means for accepting an operation from the user,
When the operation accepting unit accepts an operation while the display unit displays the identification information, the transmitting unit further sends a notification that the operation is accepted to the external device,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification is used to display the communication apparatus in an identifiable manner in association with the identification information in the external apparatus. The operation from the user is an operation in a remote controller for remotely operating the communication device,
The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the operation accepting unit accepts an operation from the user by receiving a signal from a remote controller transmitted in response to the operation.   8. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the transmission unit transmits the notification, communication is established only with an external apparatus that is a destination of the notification. Transmitting means for transmitting an inquiry for searching for a device that performs a predetermined function to the communication device;
Receiving means for receiving a response according to the inquiry from one or more communication devices that have received the inquiry;
Display control means for displaying identification information of the communication device included in the response on a display unit when the response is received;
A selection unit that selects a communication device that is a target of communication among the communication devices displayed on the display unit;
When the receiving unit further receives a notification indicating that the user has performed a predetermined operation on the communication device, the display control unit can distinguish the communication device that has transmitted the notification from other communication devices. An external device characterized by being displayed. A receiving step of receiving an inquiry for searching for a device that performs a predetermined function from an external device;
A determination step of determining whether or not the predetermined function can be executed in response to reception of the inquiry;
When it is determined that it can be executed in the determination step, a transmission step of transmitting a response to the inquiry including identification information of the own device;
And a display control step of controlling a display unit to display the identification information included in the response when the response is transmitted. A transmission step of transmitting an inquiry for searching for a device that performs a predetermined function to the communication device;
A receiving step of receiving a response corresponding to the inquiry from one or more communication devices that have received the inquiry;
A display control step of displaying identification information of the communication device included in the response on the display unit when the response is received;
A selection step of selecting a communication device to be communicated with by the own device among the communication devices displayed on the display unit;
In the receiving step, when the user further receives a notification that the user has performed a predetermined operation in the communication device, in the display control step, the communication device that has transmitted the notification can be distinguished from other communication devices. A method of controlling an external device, characterized by being displayed.   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the communication apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 8.   A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the external device according to claim 9.

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