JP2020107274A - Communication device, control method for communication device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To delete a communication setting that becomes unavailable or to prevent it from being changed so that it does not become unavailable when deleting or changing information referred for the communication setting.SOLUTION: A communication device includes: a database which stores first information concerning a network connected by communication means and/or second information concerning a device connected via the network, and third information concerning a setting of communication referring to the first information and the second information; and control means which can change at least one of the first information and/or the second information according to user operation. The control means controls not to change the first information and/or the second information if the third information is unavailable when the first information and/or the second information is changed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a technique of managing information necessary for communication between devices.

In an imaging device such as a digital camera equipped with a communication function, it is common to record the captured image data as a file in a recording medium such as a memory card built in or attached to the camera. Since the image data is in the file format, it can be easily transmitted and received by communication.

Further, when connecting to the partner device using the communication function, first, a network connection process for connecting to the network is performed, and then a device connection process for connecting to the partner device existing in the connected network is performed. It often goes through. At that time, by saving the connection setting information necessary for the network connection processing, the connection device information necessary for the device connection processing, and the communication setting information that refers to them, communication connection from the next time onward becomes easy. On the other hand, if the information to be referred to is deleted or changed, the information cannot be referred to.

In Patent Document 1, when deleting the first information, it is confirmed whether there is second information that refers to the first information, and if there is second information, a warning is issued before deletion. Is listed.

JP 2005-004424 A

However, in Patent Document 1, when the second information referencing the first information becomes unavailable due to deletion or modification of the first information, the second information remains unavailable. Will end up. Therefore, when the connection setting information or the device connection information is deleted or changed, it is necessary to appropriately manage the communication setting information such that the communication setting information becomes unusable or the change is restricted so as not to become unusable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to delete a communication setting that cannot be used or not to use it when deleting or changing information referred to for communication setting. It is to realize a technology that prevents the change.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a communication device of the present invention includes: first information about a network connected by communication means and/or second information about a device connected via the network; A database storing first information and third information relating to communication settings referring to the second information, and at least one of the first information and/or the second information in response to a user operation. Changeable control means, the control means, if the third information becomes unavailable when the first information and/or the second information is changed, the first information And/or control not to change the second information.

Further, the communication device of the present invention provides the first information on the network connected by the communication means and/or the second information on the device connected via the network, the first information and the second information. A database storing third information relating to the setting of communication to be referred to, and a control unit capable of deleting at least one of the first information and/or the second information in response to a user operation, When deleting the first information and/or the second information, the control means also deletes the third information referring to the first information and/or the second information to be deleted. To control.

According to the present invention, when the information referred to for the communication setting is deleted or changed, the communication setting that becomes unavailable cannot be deleted or cannot be changed so as not to become unavailable.

The block diagram which illustrates the composition of the digital camera of this embodiment. The block diagram which illustrates the composition of the smart device of this embodiment. The figure which illustrates the system configuration of this embodiment. The figure which illustrates the database which manages the information required for communication of this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the update process of the database of this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the update process of the database of this embodiment. The figure which illustrates the UI screen in the update process of the database of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention according to the claims. Although a plurality of features are described in the embodiment, not all of the plurality of features are essential to the invention, and the plurality of features may be arbitrarily combined. Further, in the accompanying drawings, the same or similar components are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted.

Hereinafter, a configuration in which a digital camera and a smart device are applied as the image pickup apparatus and the communication apparatus of the present embodiment and the digital camera 100 can communicate with the smart device 200 via a network will be described. Further, in the present embodiment, a digital camera capable of capturing a still image or a moving image is described as an example of the imaging device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an information processing device such as a tablet device with a camera function or a personal computer, a surveillance camera, a medical device, or the like. It may be a camera for use. Further, the smart device includes a digital camera with a communication function, a smart phone which is a kind of mobile phone, a tablet device, a personal computer, a wristwatch type smartwatch, and a wearable computer such as glasses type smart glasses.

<Structure of Digital Camera 100> First, the structure of the digital camera 100, which is an example of the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG.

The control unit 101 is an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) that controls the entire digital camera 100 as a whole, and executes a program stored in a nonvolatile memory 103 to be described later, thereby performing communication processing and control processing to be described later. To realize. Note that instead of the control unit 101 controlling the entire device, a plurality of hardware may share the processing to control the entire device.

The image pickup unit 102 includes a lens group including a zoom lens and a focus lens, and a shutter having a diaphragm function. Further, the image pickup unit 102 has an image pickup element configured by a CCD or a CMOS element for converting a subject image into an electric signal, and an A/D converter for converting an analog image signal output from the image pickup element into a digital signal. Under the control of the control unit 101, the image pickup unit 102 converts the subject image light formed by the lens included in the image pickup unit 102 into an electric signal by an image pickup element, performs noise reduction processing, and the like, and is formed of a digital signal. Output image data.

The control unit 101 performs resizing processing such as pixel interpolation and reduction, and color conversion processing on the image data captured by the image capturing unit 102. In addition, the control unit 101 compresses and encodes still image data that has been subjected to image processing by JPEG or the like, or moves video data to MPEG2 or H.264. An image file is generated by encoding with a moving image compression method such as H.264 and recorded in the recording medium 110. In the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, image data is recorded on the recording medium 110 in accordance with the DCF (Design Rule for Camera File system) standard. Further, the control unit 101 performs a predetermined calculation process using the captured image data, and the control unit 101 controls the focus lens, the diaphragm, and the shutter of the image pickup unit 102 based on the obtained calculation result, so that AF( Auto focus) processing and AE (automatic exposure) processing are performed.

The nonvolatile memory 103 is an electrically erasable/recordable memory, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used. In the non-volatile memory 103, constants for operating the control unit 101, programs, etc. are recorded. The program referred to here is a program for executing a database management process described later in this embodiment.

The work memory 104 is used as a work area in which constants and variables for the operation of the control unit 101, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 103, and the like are expanded. Further, the work memory 104 is used as a buffer memory that temporarily holds the image data captured by the image capturing unit 102 or an image display memory of the display unit 106.

The operation unit 105 includes operation members such as various switches, buttons, and touch panels that receive various operations from the user. The operation unit 105 includes, for example, a power button for turning on/off a power source, a shutter button for instructing shooting of a still image, a shutter button for instructing start/end of moving image recording, a playback button for instructing image playback, and a camera button. Includes a mode switch button that changes the operating mode to still image shooting mode, video recording mode, or playback mode. Further, the operation unit 105 includes a dedicated connection button and the like for starting communication with the smart device 200 as an external device described later. A touch panel integrally formed on the display unit 106 described later is also included in the operation unit 105.

The shutter button is turned on by a so-called half-press (shooting preparation instruction) during operation, and the first shutter switch signal SW1 is generated. Upon receiving the first shutter switch signal SW1, the control unit 101 controls the imaging unit 102 to perform AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash). Start operations such as processing. When the shutter button operation is completed, that is, when the shutter button is fully pressed (shooting instruction), the switch is turned on to generate the second shutter switch signal SW2. Upon receiving the second shutter switch signal SW2, the control unit 101 starts a series of shooting processing operations from the signal reading from the image pickup unit 102 to the writing of image data in the recording medium 110.

The display unit 106 displays a viewfinder image at the time of shooting, displays a shot image, displays characters for interactive operation, and the like. The display unit 106 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display unit 106 may be integrated with the digital camera 100 or may be an external device connected to the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 may be connected to the display unit 106 and may have a function of controlling display on the display unit 106.

Image data output from the imaging unit 102 is recorded on the recording medium 110, and an image file already recorded by the control unit 101 is read. The recording medium 110 may be a memory card or a hard disk drive mounted on the digital camera 100, or a flash memory or a hard disk drive built in the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 may have at least a means for accessing the recording medium 110.

The built-in wireless communication unit 111 is an interface for connecting to an external device such as a smart device 200 described later so as to be capable of wireless communication. The digital camera 100 of the present embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the built-in wireless communication unit 111. In this embodiment, the built-in wireless communication unit 111 includes an interface for communicating with an external device via a wireless LAN. The control unit 101 realizes wireless communication with an external device by controlling the built-in wireless communication unit 111. The communication system is not limited to the wireless LAN, and may include, for example, an infrared communication interface, a wireless communication interface such as WirelessUSB.

The wired communication unit 112 is an interface for connecting to an external device so that wired communication is possible. The digital camera 100 of this embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the wired communication unit 112. In this embodiment, the wired communication unit 112 includes an interface for communicating with an external device via a wired LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark). The control unit 101 realizes wired communication with an external device by controlling the wired communication unit 112. The communication system is not limited to the priority LAN, and a wired connection means such as a USB cable, HDMI (registered trademark), or IEEE 1394 may be used.

The connection unit 113 is an interface for connecting the digital camera 100 and the external wireless module 150. The digital camera 100 of the present embodiment can be communicatively connected to the external wireless module 150 via the connection unit 113, and can exchange data with an external device via the external wireless module 150. The external wireless module 150 can be attached to and detached from the digital camera 100, and may be attached only when in use.

The external wireless control unit 151 controls each unit of the external wireless module 150 according to the input signal and a program described later. Note that instead of the external wireless control unit 151 controlling the entire external wireless module, a plurality of hardware may share the processing to control the entire external wireless module.

The external wireless communication unit 152 is an interface for connecting to an external device in a wireless communication manner. The external wireless module 150 of this embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the external wireless communication unit 152. In the present embodiment, the external wireless communication unit 152 includes an interface for communicating with an external device via a wireless LAN. The external wireless control unit 151 realizes wireless communication with an external device by controlling the external wireless communication unit 152. The communication system is not limited to the wireless LAN, and may include, for example, an infrared communication interface, a wireless communication interface such as WirelessUSB.

The external wireless connection unit 153 is an interface for connecting the external wireless module 150 and the digital camera 100. The external wireless module 150 of this embodiment is communicably connected to the digital camera 100 via the external wireless connection unit 153, and exchanges data with an external device under the control of the digital camera 100.

The digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment can select at least one of the built-in wireless communication unit 111, the wired communication unit 112, and the external wireless communication unit 152 as means for communicating with an external device.

The digital camera 100 in this embodiment can operate as a slave device in the infrastructure mode of the wireless LAN. When operating as a slave device, it is possible to participate in a network formed by an AP by connecting to a peripheral access point (hereinafter, AP). Further, although the digital camera 100 in the present embodiment is a kind of AP, it can also operate as a simple AP having limited functions (hereinafter, simple AP). The AP in this embodiment is an example of a relay device. When the digital camera 100 operates as a simple AP, the digital camera 100 itself forms a network. Devices around the digital camera 100 can recognize the digital camera 100 as an AP and can participate in the network formed by the digital camera 100. The program for operating the digital camera 100 as described above is stored in the non-volatile memory 103.

Although the digital camera 100 in the present embodiment is a type of AP, it is a simple AP that does not have a gateway function for transferring data received from a slave device to an internet provider or the like. Therefore, even if data is received from another device participating in the network formed by itself, it cannot be transferred to a network such as the Internet. In addition, as another embodiment, the digital camera 100 may be provided with a gateway function.

<Structure of Smart Device 200> An outline of the structure and functions of the smart device 200 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The smart device 200 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 201, an imaging unit 202, a non-volatile memory 203, a work memory 204, an operation unit 205, a display unit 206, a recording medium 210, and a connection unit 211. The basic functions of these elements are similar to those of the digital camera 100, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the non-volatile memory 203 stores an OS (operating system) which is basic software executed by the control unit 201 and an application which realizes an applied function in cooperation with the OS. Further, in the present embodiment, the non-volatile memory 203 stores an application for communicating with the digital camera 100.

The processing of the smart device 200 of this embodiment is realized by reading the software provided by the application. Note that the application has software for using the basic functions of the OS installed in the smart device 200. The OS of the smart device 200 may have software for implementing the processing in this embodiment.

The connection unit 211 includes a wireless LAN communication interface for wirelessly communicating with an external device such as the digital camera 100. The control unit 201 realizes wireless communication with an external device by controlling the connection unit 211. The connecting unit 211 may be directly connected to the digital camera 100 or may be connected via an access point. As a protocol for communicating data, for example, PTP/IP (Picture Transfer Protocol over Internet Protocol) through a wireless LAN can be used. The communication with the digital camera 100 is not limited to this.

The connection unit 211 is an interface for connecting to an external device such as the digital camera 100 described above so as to be capable of wireless communication. The smart device 200 of this embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the connection unit 211. In the present embodiment, the connection unit 211 includes an interface for communicating with an external device via a wireless LAN. The control unit 201 realizes wireless communication with an external device by controlling the connection unit 211. The communication system is not limited to the wireless LAN, and may include, for example, an infrared communication interface, a wireless communication interface such as WirelessUSB. Further, the smart device 200 according to the present embodiment can operate at least as a station device in the infrastructure mode, and can participate in the network formed by peripheral APs.

The public network connection unit 212 is an interface used when performing wireless communication via a wide area network (WAN) such as 3G/LTE. The smart device 200 can talk with other devices and can perform data communication via the public network connection unit 212. During a call, the control unit 201 inputs and outputs a voice signal via the microphone 213 and the speaker 214. In the present embodiment, the public network connection unit 212 is not limited to 3G or LTE, and other communication methods such as WiMAX, ADSL, and FTTH may be used. In the present embodiment, the public network connection unit 212 is an antenna, and the control unit 201 can connect to the public network via the antenna. Note that the connection unit 211 and the public network connection unit 212 can be shared by one antenna. Note that the connection unit 211 and the public network connection unit 212 do not necessarily have to be configured by independent hardware, and for example, one antenna can also serve as both.

<System Configuration> Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a system configuration in which the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment and the smart device 200 are connected will be described.

When the digital camera 100 and the smart device 200 transmit and receive data, three data communication modes shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are possible.

FIG. 3A is a first data communication mode in which the digital camera 100 and the smart device 200 participate in a wireless LAN network formed by an external AP 300, which is an example of an external relay device. The digital camera 100 and the smart device 200 detect the beacon signal that the external AP 300 regularly transmits and participate in the wireless LAN network formed by the external AP 300. At this time, the digital camera 100 communicates using the built-in wireless communication unit 111 or the external wireless module 150. After the digital camera 100 and the smart device 200 participate in the same wireless LAN network, they are able to send and receive data via the wireless LAN through mutual device discovery, device capability acquisition, etc. (establishing a connection between devices). ..

Further, the external AP 300 in this embodiment can be connected to an external network such as the Internet using a public network or the like. Therefore, the digital camera 100 and the smart device 200 can transmit data on the Internet via the external AP 300.

FIG. 3B is a second data communication mode in which the digital camera 100 and the smart device 200 are directly connected to each other without the external AP 300. In this case, the digital camera 100 operates as a simple AP to form a wireless LAN network. When the digital camera 100 operates as a simple AP, it starts periodic transmission of beacon signals. The smart device 200 detects the beacon signal and joins the wireless LAN network formed by the digital camera 100. At this time, the digital camera 100 communicates using the built-in wireless communication unit 111 or the external wireless module 150. Then, as in the case of FIG. 3A, connection is established through mutual device discovery, device capability acquisition, etc., and data transmission/reception becomes possible. As described above, the digital camera 100 in this embodiment does not have a function of connecting to an external network such as the Internet. Therefore, the smart device 200 participating in the wireless LAN network formed by the digital camera 100 cannot transmit data to the Internet or the like via the simple AP.

FIG. 3C is a third data communication mode in which the digital camera 100 is connected to the network formed by the external AP 300 by the wired LAN and the smart device 200 is connected by the wireless LAN. The digital camera 100 joins the network formed by the external AP 300 by connecting to the external AP 300 with a LAN cable. At this time, the digital camera 100 communicates using the wired communication unit 112. Then, as in the case of FIG. 3A, connection is established through mutual device discovery, device capability acquisition, etc., and data transmission/reception becomes possible.

As described above, the digital camera 100 and the smart device 200 have three data communication modes. In the present embodiment, an example of performing appropriate control according to these data communication modes will be described.

<Data Structure of Connection History> Next, the database held by the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the digital camera 100 connects to the communication partner device, it first joins the network (including the case where the device itself forms a network as a simple AP), and then establishes a connection with the communication partner device. In this embodiment, network information, information of a communication partner device to be connected, and information associated with reference to these pieces of information are managed in another database. The connection setting information 410, the connection device information 420, and the communication setting information 430 are recorded in the database held by the digital camera 100 in this embodiment.

The connection setting information 410 is information for managing information on a network formed by an external AP or the like in which the digital camera 100 has participated, or a network formed by the digital camera 100 as a simple AP. The connection setting information 410 includes a “connection setting information number” assigned to each connection setting information, a “connection setting name”, a “connection form”, an “ESSID”, an “authentication method”, an “encryption type”, and an “encryption”. "Key", "channel", "IP address", and "DNS" are stored. Here, the “connection setting name” is a connection setting name that can be set by the user, and can be freely changed so that the user can identify the connection setting. Further, M pieces of connection setting information 410 can be stored, and it is necessary to delete the already stored connection setting information 410 in order to store more pieces. Further, the connection setting information 410 does not necessarily need to store all items.

The connected device information 420 is information for managing the communication partner device to which the digital camera 100 has been connected via the network. In the connected device information 420, a “connected device information number” given to each connected device information, a “connected device name”, a “device type”, and a “UUID/URL” are recorded. Here, the “connected device name” is a connected device name that can be set by the user, and can be freely changed so that the user can identify the connected device. Note that the “device type”, “registered name”, “UUID/URL”, etc. do not necessarily have to be separate information, and for example, these information can be identified by one ID that is a combination of the type, name and unique character string. You may be able to. Further, N pieces of connected device information 420 can be stored, and it is necessary to delete the already stored connected device information 420 in order to store more pieces.

The communication setting information 430 is information for the digital camera 100 to manage the association between the connection setting information 410 and the connected device information 420. The communication setting information 430 includes a “communication setting information number” assigned to each piece of communication setting information, a “communication setting name”, a “communication IF”, a “priority connection setting information number”, and an “alternate connection setting information number”. , "First connected device information number" and "second connected device information number" are stored. Here, the “communication setting name” is a communication setting name that can be set by the user, and can be freely changed so that the user can identify the communication setting information. Further, “communication IF” indicates the communication IF to be used, and indicates which of the built-in wireless communication unit 111, the wired communication unit 112, and the external wireless communication unit 152 of FIG. 1 is used. Further, the “priority connection setting information number” and the “alternate connection setting information number” are respectively the connection setting information number of the connection setting information 410 to be used preferentially and the connection setting information 410 to be used when the connection setting information is not available. This is a setting information number. Further, the “first connected device information number” and the “second connected device information number” are connected device information numbers of the connected device information 420 to be used, and depending on these device types, two connected devices are simultaneously connected. It is possible. Further, the communication setting information 430 can be stored in O number, and it is necessary to delete the already stored communication setting information 430 in order to store more.

The database held by the digital camera 100 may be expanded from the nonvolatile memory 103 to the work memory 104 by the control unit 101 and used. In the description below, it is assumed that the database held by the digital camera 100 is expanded in the work memory 104.

<Database Update Processing> Next, with reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6, database update processing by the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

Note that the processing of FIGS. 5A and 5B is realized by the control unit 101 of the digital camera 100 executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 103 and controlling each unit of the digital camera 100. Further, the processing of FIGS. 5A and 5B is started in response to the reception of a database update instruction by a user operation through a menu screen or the like.

FIG. 6A exemplifies a UI screen displayed on the display unit 106 when updating the database. The user of the digital camera 100 can select either communication setting, connection setting, or connection device as the database to be updated. When the "return" button is selected, the screen returns to the previous screen.

FIG. 6B exemplifies the UI screen displayed on the display unit 106 when the connection setting information to be updated is selected when the connection setting is selected on the UI screen of FIG. 6A. The user of the digital camera 100 can select the connection setting information to be updated.

FIG. 6C is displayed on the display unit 106 when the process to be performed on the selected connection setting information is selected when NW2 is selected as the connection setting information on the UI screen of FIG. 6B. The UI screen is illustrated. The user of the digital camera 100 can select processing such as setting change, setting deletion, and setting content confirmation for the selected connection setting information.

The user of the digital camera 100 can change or delete at least one connection setting and/or connection device by repeating the same operation through the UI screens of FIGS. 6A to 6C.

(Process of Changing Connection Setting Information) Here, a process when the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment changes the connection setting information will be described with reference to FIG. 5A. It should be noted that this process is started in response to the setting change being selected in FIG. Note that the following processing is the same even when the connected device information is changed.

In S501, the control unit 101 determines whether the connection setting information to be changed is referred to by the communication setting information. If it is determined that the connection setting information to be changed is referred to by the communication setting information, the control unit 101 advances the process to S502 to notify or warn that the connection setting information to be changed is referred to by the communication setting information. Is displayed. If the control unit 101 determines that the connection setting information to be changed is not referred to by the communication setting information, the control unit 101 advances the process to step S505, and performs the connection setting information changing process. For example, when the state of the database is as shown in FIG. 4 and an instruction to change the connection setting information NW2 is given, since the communication setting information SET1 and the communication setting information SET3 refer to the priority connection setting information number 2, the connection setting It is determined that the NW2 having the information number 2 is referred to by the communication setting information.

In S502, the control unit 101 displays on the display unit 106 a screen for notifying or warning that the connection setting information to be changed is referred to by the communication setting information. FIG. 6D exemplifies a screen for notifying or warning that the connection setting information to be changed is referred to by the communication setting information. In addition, in FIG. 6D, the user of the digital camera 100 can easily confirm the influence on the communication when the change is made by also notifying the communication setting information referring to the connection setting information to be changed. ..

In S503, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the connection setting information to be changed can be really changed. When the “OK” button is selected in FIG. 6D, that is, when it is determined that the change may be really made, the control unit 101 advances the process to S<b>504, and of the items of the connection setting information to be changed, the change is impossible. Check the items. When cancel is selected in FIG. 6D, that is, when it is determined that the change is not made, the control unit 101 ends the process.

In step S504, the control unit 101 confirms the unchangeable items among the items of the connection setting information to be changed. For example, when the state of the database is as shown in FIG. 4 and the connection setting information NW2 is instructed to be changed, the communication setting information SET3 refers to the connection setting information NW2 and the connection device information FTP1. The connected device information FTP1 has a function of transferring an image to a server on a network such as the Internet, and therefore cannot be used when the connection mode of the connection setting information NW2 is changed from network participation to network formation. Therefore, the connection form of the connection setting information NW2 cannot be changed. FIG. 6E illustrates a UI screen for changing the connection setting information after confirming the unchangeable items. In FIG. 6E, for example, the item of the connection form is displayed in gray out so that the item cannot be selected. In the present embodiment, the items that cannot be changed among the items of the connection setting information that are changed by checking the communication setting information that refers to the connection setting information that is changed are confirmed. You may decide the item.

In S505, the control unit 101 changes the selected connection setting information. FIG. 6F illustrates a UI screen for changing the connection setting information. In FIG. 6F, the IP address of the connection setting information NW2 is changed. The connection setting information is changed by selecting the "OK" button in FIG. 6(f).

In step S506, the control unit 101 determines whether the digital camera 100 is connected to the network using the connection setting information to be changed. When it is determined that the connection setting information to be changed is used to connect to the network, the control unit 101 advances the process to S507. If it is determined that the connection setting information to be changed is not being used to connect to the network, the control unit 101 advances the process to step S508.

In step S507, the control unit 101 determines whether the digital camera 100 has completed the network connection. If it is determined that the network connection is ended, the control unit 101 advances the process to S508, and if it is determined that the network connection is not ended, the control unit 101 returns the process to S507 and determines whether the network connection is ended again. Determine whether.

In S508, the control unit 101 updates the database so that the connection setting information changed from the next network connection can be used. Updating the database here means rewriting the contents of the database with the connection setting information changed in S505.

According to the present embodiment, when the communication setting information refers to the connection setting information and/or the connection device information to be changed, the notification is performed, so that it is possible to prevent the communication from being affected by an inadvertent change. it can. Further, if the communication setting information becomes unusable when the connection setting information and/or the connected device information is changed, the communication setting information becomes unusable by disabling the connection setting information and/or the connected device information. Can be prevented.

FIG. 6G illustrates a UI screen displayed on the display unit 106 when updating the database. The user of the digital camera 100 can select either communication setting, connection setting, or connection device as the database to be updated. When the "return" button is selected, the screen returns to the previous screen.

FIG. 6H exemplifies the UI screen displayed on the display unit 106 when selecting the connected device information to be updated when the connected device is selected on the UI screen of FIG. 6G a. The user of the digital camera 100 can select the connected device information to be updated.

FIG. 6I is displayed on the display unit 106 when the process to be performed on the selected connected device information is selected when FTP1 is selected as the connected device information on the UI screen of FIG. 6H. The UI screen is illustrated. The user of the digital camera 100 can select processing such as setting change, setting deletion, and setting content confirmation for the selected connected device information.

The user of the digital camera 100 can change or delete at least one connection setting and/or connection device by repeating the same operation through the UI screens of FIGS. 6G to 6I.

(Connected Device Information Deletion Process) Next, with reference to FIG. 5B, a process when the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment deletes the connected device information will be described. It should be noted that this process is started in response to the setting deletion being selected in FIG. Note that the following process is the same when the connection setting information is deleted.

In S521, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the connected device information to be deleted is referred to by the communication setting information. If it is determined that the connected device information to be deleted is referred to by the communication setting information, the control unit 101 advances the process to S522, and a screen that notifies or warns that the connected device information to be deleted is referred to by the communication setting information. Is displayed. Further, when it is determined that the connected device information to be deleted is not referred to by the communication setting information, the control unit 101 advances the process to S526, and deletes the connected device information. For example, in the state of the database shown in FIG. 4, when the deletion of the connected device information FTP1 is instructed, the communication setting information SET1 and the communication setting information SET3 refer to the connected device information number 3, and therefore the connected device information. It is determined that the FTP 1 having the number 3 is referred to by the communication setting information.

In step S522, the control unit 101 displays on the display unit 106 a screen that notifies or warns that the connected device information to be deleted is referred to by the communication setting information. FIG. 6J exemplifies a screen for notifying or warning that the connected device information to be deleted is referred to by the communication setting information. In addition, in FIG. 6(j), the user of the digital camera 100 can easily confirm the influence of the deletion on the communication by notifying the communication setting information referred to by the connection device information to be deleted. ..

In S523, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the connected device information to be deleted can really be deleted. When the “OK” button is selected in FIG. 6(j), that is, when it is determined that the deletion should be allowed, the control unit 101 advances the process to S524. When the cancel is selected in FIG. 6J, that is, when it is determined that the deletion is not performed, the control unit 101 ends the process.

In S524, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the communication setting information that refers to the connection device information to be deleted becomes unavailable. For example, in the state of the database shown in FIG. 4, when the deletion of the connected device information FTP1 is instructed, the communication setting information SET1 that refers to the information also refers to the connected device information MobilePhone1. Therefore, it is determined to be available. Further, the communication setting information SET3 that refers to the information is determined to be unusable because it does not refer to other connected device information. When it is determined that the communication setting information referring to the connection device information to be deleted becomes unavailable, the control unit 101 advances the process to S525. If it is determined that the communication setting information that refers to the connected device information to be deleted is available, the control unit 101 advances the process to S526.

In step S525, the control unit 101 deletes the communication setting information that refers to the connection device information to be deleted. FIG. 6K illustrates a UI screen displayed when deleting the communication setting information that refers to the connected device information to be deleted.

In S526, the control unit 101 deletes the connected device information to be deleted.

In S527, the control unit 101 updates the database. Updating the database here means deleting the connected device information deleted in S525 from the database.

In addition, in the deletion processing in S525 to S526, if the connected device information to be deleted is used to connect to the network, the deletion is performed after the network connection is completed.

According to this embodiment, when the communication setting information refers to the connection setting information and/or the connection device information to be deleted, it is possible to prevent unintentional influence on communication. .. Further, when deleting the connection setting information and/or the connected device information, the communication setting information referring to the connection setting information and/or the connected device information is also deleted. For details, if the communication setting information that refers to the connection setting information to be deleted and/or the connected device information becomes unavailable, also delete the communication setting information that refers to the connection setting information to be deleted and/or the connected device information. delete. As a result, it is possible to prevent the communication setting information from being stored without being used.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention supplies a program that implements 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. It can also be realized by the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the following claims are attached to open the scope of the invention.

100... Digital camera, 101... Control part, 111... Built-in wireless communication part, 112... Wired communication part, 113... Connection part, 150... External wireless module, 200... Smart device, 201... Control part, 211... Connection part

Claims (14)

Third information regarding first information regarding a network connected by a communication means and/or second information regarding a device connected through the network, and third information regarding a communication setting referring to the first information and the second information. A database that stores information and
Control means capable of changing at least one of the first information and/or the second information in response to a user operation,
The control means does not change the first information and/or the second information when the third information becomes unavailable after changing the first information and/or the second information. A communication device that is controlled as described above. When a user operation for changing the first information and/or the second information is received, it is confirmed that the third information refers to the first information and/or the second information to be changed. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for notifying. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first information and/or the second information that cannot be changed by the control unit is determined in advance. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first information and/or the second information that cannot be changed by the control unit is determined based on the third information. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the notifying unit notifies the third information referring to the first information and/or the second information to be changed. The control means, when receiving an instruction to change the first information and/or the second information regarding the connected network, makes the change after the connection is completed. 4. The communication device according to any one of 4 above. Third information regarding first information regarding a network connected by a communication means and/or second information regarding a device connected through the network, and third information regarding a communication setting referring to the first information and the second information. A database that stores information and
A control unit capable of deleting at least one of the first information and/or the second information in response to a user operation,
When deleting the first information and/or the second information, the control means also deletes the third information referring to the first information and/or the second information to be deleted. A communication device characterized by being controlled to. If the third information becomes unusable after deleting the first information and/or the second information, the control means refers to the first information and/or the second information to be deleted. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the communication device is controlled so that the third information that is being deleted is also deleted. When a user operation for deleting the first information and/or the second information is accepted, the third information refers to the first information and/or the second information to be deleted. 9. The communication device according to claim 7, further comprising a notification unit for notifying. The communication device according to claim 9, wherein the notification unit notifies the third information referring to the first information and/or the second information to be deleted. 11. The control unit, when receiving an instruction to delete the first information and/or the second information related to the network being connected, deletes the connection after the connection is completed. The communication device according to any one of 1. Third information regarding first information regarding a network connected by a communication means and/or second information regarding a device connected through the network, and third information regarding a communication setting referring to the first information and the second information. A method of controlling a communication device for storing information, comprising:
A control step capable of changing at least one of the first information and/or the second information in response to a user operation,
In the control step, if the third information becomes unavailable when the first information and/or the second information is changed, the first information and/or the second information is not changed. The method is characterized by controlling. Third information regarding first information regarding a network connected by a communication means and/or second information regarding a device connected through the network, and third information regarding a communication setting referring to the first information and the second information. A method of controlling a communication device for storing information, comprising:
A control step capable of deleting at least one of the first information and/or the second information in response to a user operation,
In the control step, when the first information and/or the second information is deleted, the third information referring to the first information and/or the second information to be deleted is also deleted. The method characterized by controlling to. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 12.