JP5127192B2 - Imaging apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a data communication technique via a communication line between an imaging device and an external storage device.

  Conventionally, it has been proposed that an imaging device and an external storage device are connected one-to-one by wired communication such as USB, and image data generated by the imaging device is backed up to an external storage device (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). That is, in such communication, the communication band between the external storage device and the imaging device can be all allocated to a single connection.

JP 2002-252798 A

  However, when the data transmission / reception between the imaging device and the external storage device becomes wireless communication, and the external storage device can transmit / receive data to / from a plurality of imaging devices, the communication between the external storage device and each imaging device Cannot secure enough bandwidth. When a plurality of imaging devices share a single external storage device, each imaging device transfers and stores image data to the external storage device for each shooting. Furthermore, when the imaging device performs communication that generates large traffic such as high-speed continuous shooting, moving image recording, or moving image reproduction, a data transmission / reception delay occurs due to a lack of communication bandwidth between the imaging device and the external storage device. Therefore, the performance of high-speed continuous shooting, moving image recording, and moving image reproduction is deteriorated.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to avoid a data transmission / reception delay due to a lack of communication bandwidth, and to prevent a decrease in real-time characteristics related to data transmission / reception at the time of continuous shooting, moving image recording, or operation reproduction.

Imaging apparatus of the present invention transmits a plurality of devices and an external storage device capable of receiving data, an imaging apparatus connected via a communication line, the image data obtained by imaging to the external storage device The external storage device from another device connected to the external storage device in response to the detection of the operation related to the image pickup by the transmission device, the image pickup device, and the image pickup device. an exclusive request to prohibit the storage of data to, and having a issuing means for issuing to the external storage device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid a data transmission / reception delay due to a lack of communication band, and to prevent a reduction in real-time characteristics related to data transmission / reception, for example, during continuous shooting, moving image recording, or operation reproduction.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a system in which two digital cameras 110 and 120 and a remote storage 200 are connected by respective wireless LAN interfaces 111, 121, and 201 is assumed.

  The digital cameras 110 and 120 include CPUs 112 and 122 that control imaging processing, reproduction processing, and the like, imaging buffers 113 and 123 that temporarily record captured image data, and wireless LAN interfaces 111 and 121 that control wireless communication. With.

  The remote storage 200 includes a CPU 203 that controls reading and writing of image data, an HDD 202 that is a large-capacity recording medium that records image data, and a wireless LAN interface 201 that controls wireless communication.

  Image data captured by the digital cameras 110 and 120 are temporarily recorded in the imaging buffers 113 and 123, respectively, and transmitted from the wireless LAN interfaces 111 and 121 to the remote storage 200.

  The remote storage 200 receives image data via the wireless LAN interface 201 and stores it in the built-in HDD 202. When the digital cameras 110 and 120 are each performing single shooting, the image data is sequentially transmitted from the digital cameras 110 and 120 to the remote storage 200, and data is not transmitted in bursts.

<Communication sequence during continuous shooting>
First, a communication sequence during continuous shooting will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a communication sequence between the devices in the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the first state change trigger in step 90 is a trigger for generating the first operation state change procedure in step 1000. The second operation state change opportunity in step 91 is an opportunity for generating the second operation state change procedure in step 1002.

  At the time of the continuous shooting operation, first, when the digital camera 110 is given the first state change trigger in step 90, the first operation state change procedure in step 1000 occurs. As a result, the digital camera 110 transmits an exclusion request to the remote storage 200 in step 1100.

  In step 1101, the remote storage 200 that has received the exclusion request transmits an exclusion notification to the digital camera 120 to notify that communication between the digital camera 120 and the remote storage 200 is to be temporarily suspended. In step 1200, the digital camera 120 that has received the exclusion notification displays on the user interface that it has been excluded from the remote storage 200 and communication has been temporarily suspended, and notifies the operator.

  The remote storage 200 that has stopped communicating with the digital camera 120 transmits an exclusion completion notification to the digital camera 110 in subsequent step 1102. After receiving the exclusion completion notification, the digital camera 110 transmits data to the remote storage 200 by the file transfer procedure in step 1001.

  When the second operation state change procedure of step 1002 occurs due to the second state change opportunity of step 91, the digital camera 110 transmits an exclusion release request to the remote storage 200 in step 1103.

  In step 1104, the remote storage 200 that has received the exclusion release request transmits an exclusion release notification to the digital camera 120 and resumes communication with the digital camera 120. In step 1201, the digital camera 120 that has received the exclusion release notification displays on the user interface that communication with the remote storage 200 that has been excluded is resumed, and notifies the operator.

<First operation state change procedure>
In the communication sequence at the time of the continuous shooting described above, the first state change trigger in step 90 is half-press of the release button, full press of the release button, start of image capture, and start of first file generation. Depending on each opportunity, the first operation state change procedure of step 1000 is also divided into four types of sequences. Here, half-pressing the release button is an operation for focusing. Fully pressing the release button is an operation for releasing the shutter. The start of image capture is the timing for capturing an image. The first file generation start is a timing at which generation of the first file for continuous shooting starts.
It should be noted that not all of these four types of triggers must be implemented by the digital camera 110, but at least one of these may be set as the first state change trigger.

In the case of half-pressing the release button First, the case where the half-pressing of the release button is used as the first state change opportunity in step 90 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, an event management unit 11 is an object having a function of detecting an event of half-pressing the release button and full-pressing the release button. The focus processing unit 12 is an object having a function of performing focusing processing. The communication exclusion control unit 13 is an object having a function for the digital camera 110 to transmit and receive an exclusion request and an exclusion completion notification with the remote storage 200. The imaging processing unit 14 is an object having a function of capturing an image as data. The file control unit 15 is an object having a function of generating image data as a file.

  When the operator of the digital camera 110 presses the release button halfway (step 3000) to adjust the focus, the event management unit 11 receives this event and in step 3002, instructs the focus control unit 12 to focus. I do. In response to this, the focus control unit 12 performs a focusing operation in step 3003.

  In step 3100, the event management unit 11 issues an exclusion request to the communication exclusion control unit 13. Receiving this, the communication exclusion control unit 13 transmits an exclusion request to the remote storage 200 in step 1100. In step 1102, when the communication exclusion control unit 13 receives the exclusion completion notification returned from the remote storage 200, the communication exclusion control unit 13 sends an exclusion completion notification to the event management unit 11 in step 3101. At this point, the exclusive processing is completed as the communication system. Thereafter, when the operator fully presses the release button in step 3001, the event management unit 11 detects this event, and instructs the imaging processing unit 14 to start image capture in step 3004. Upon receiving this instruction, the imaging processing unit 14 instructs the file control unit 15 to generate the first file in step 3005, and the file control unit 15 generates the first file of the image data in accordance with the instruction. Do.

When Release Button is Fully Pressed The case where the release button full press (step 3001) is used as the first state change trigger in step 90 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the sequence of the exclusion request in step 3100, the exclusion request in step 1100, the exclusion completion notification in step 1102 and the exclusion completion notification in step 3101 occurs when the release button is fully pressed in step 3001. Other sequences are the same as those described above in the case of half-pressing the release button.

Case of Start of Image Capture A case where the start of image capture (step 3004) is the first state change trigger in step 90 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the sequence of the exclusion request in step 3100, the exclusion request in step 1100, the exclusion completion notification in step 1102 and the exclusion completion notification in step 3101 is triggered by the start of image capture from the event management unit 11 to the imaging processing unit 14. To do. Upon receiving the exclusion completion notification in step 3101, the imaging processing unit 14 instructs the file control unit 15 to start file generation in step 3005, and the file control unit 15 generates a file of image data in response to this instruction. To start.

Case of Start of First File Generation The case where the first file generation start (step 3005) is the first state change trigger in step 90 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, in the sequence of the exclusion request in step 3100, the exclusion request in step 1100, the exclusion completion notification in step 1102 and the exclusion completion notification in step 3101, the imaging processing unit 14 instructs the file control unit 15 to start the first file generation. It occurs when triggered by this.

<Data transfer procedure>
The internal sequence of the portion indicated by the file transfer procedure of step 1001 in FIG. 2, shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, a UI 16 is a user interface for displaying information. At the time of continuous shooting, the file generated by the digital camera 110 is transmitted from the digital camera 110 to the remote storage 200 in step 4000. The remote storage 200 receives a file in step 4100, stores it in a disk in step 4101, and calculates the remaining number of shootable images in step 4102. The calculated remaining number of shootable images is transmitted to the digital camera 110 at step 4001 and received by the file control unit 15. The file control unit 15 notifies the UI 16 of the remaining number of shootable images, and the UI 16 displays this on the interface.

<Second operating state change procedure>
In the communication sequence at the time of the continuous shooting described above, the second state change trigger in step 91 is the release button half-press release, the release button full-press release, the image capture stop, and the last file generation end. The second operating state changing procedure in step 1001 is also divided into four types of sequences according to the respective triggers.
It should be noted that not all of these four types of triggers have to be implemented by the digital camera 110, but at least one of these may be used as a second state change trigger.

-Release button half-press release The case where release button half-press release (step 3500) is the second state change opportunity in step 91 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the event management unit 11 that has received release of the release button half-press in step 3500 as an event issues an exclusive release request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 3900. Receiving this, the communication exclusion controller 13 transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the remote storage 200 in step 1103.

-Release button full-press release The case where release button full-press release is the second state change opportunity in step 91 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the event management unit 11 that has received release of the release button full press in step 3501 as an event instructs the imaging processing unit 14 to stop image capture in step 3600. In response to this, the imaging processing unit 14 instructs the file control unit 15 to start the last file generation in step 3601. In response to this, in step 3602, the file control unit 15 notifies the photographing processing unit 14 of the completion of the last file generation when the last file generation is completed.

  In step 3900, the event management unit 11 issues an exclusion cancellation request to the communication exclusion control unit 13. Receiving this, the communication exclusion controller 13 transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the remote storage 200 in step 1103.

When Image Capture is Stopped The case where the image capture stop is the second state change trigger in step 91 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the imaging processing unit 14 that has received an instruction to stop image capture in step 3600 from the event management unit 11 instructs the file control unit 15 to start the last file generation in step 3601. In response to this, the file control unit 15 instructs the file control unit 15 to start the last file generation in step 3601. In response to this, in step 3602, the file control unit 15 notifies the photographing processing unit 14 of the completion of the last file generation when the last file generation is completed.

  In step 3900, the imaging processing unit 14 that has received the final file generation completion notification issues an exclusion cancellation request to the communication exclusion control unit 13. The communication exclusion control 13 that has received the exclusion cancellation request transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the remote storage 200 in step 1103.

Case of Ending Last File Generation A case where the end of the last file generation is used as the second state change opportunity 91 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, for the last data remaining in the imaging buffer after the image capture is stopped, the imaging processing unit 14 instructs the file control unit 15 to start the last file generation in step 3601. In response to this, the file control unit 15 notifies the imaging processing unit 14 of the completion of the last file generation in step 3602 when the last file generation is completed.

  In step 3900, the file control unit 15 that notifies the completion of the last file generation issues an exclusive release request to the communication exclusive control unit 13. The communication exclusion control 13 that has received the exclusion cancellation request transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the remote storage 200 in step 1103.

<Communication sequence during video recording>
Next, a communication sequence at the time of moving image recording will be described. The communication sequence at the time of moving image recording is the same as the communication sequence at the time of continuous shooting described with reference to FIG. 3, the first operation state change procedure at Step 1000, the data transfer procedure at Step 1001, and the second operation state at Step 1002. The sequence of change procedure is different.

<First operation state change procedure>
The first operation state change procedure of Step 1000 at the time of moving image recording is triggered by the first state change trigger of Step 90 as in the communication sequence at the time of continuous shooting described above. There are three types of triggers for changing the first state in step 90: transition to the moving image recording mode, pressing the first moving image recording button, and starting moving image capture. The sequence of the first operation state change in step 1000 in each case is shown in FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. In these drawings, the moving image recording unit 20 is an object having a function of capturing video and converting it into data. The transition to the moving image recording mode is to switch the shooting mode of the digital camera 110 to a state in which moving image recording is possible. The first moving image recording button press is an opportunity to start moving image recording given to the digital camera 110 by the operator. The start of moving image capture is a trigger for capturing images provided from the event management unit 11 to the moving image recording unit 20.

Transition to moving image recording mode FIG. 14 shows the first operation state change procedure in step 1000 when the operator switches the digital camera 110 to the moving image recording mode as a first state change trigger in step 90. It explains using. In this case, the event management unit 11 first detects that the operator has switched the state of the digital camera 110 to the moving image recording mode (step 7000). Next, the event management unit 11 sends an exclusion request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 3100. Receiving this, the communication exclusion control unit 13 transmits an exclusion request to the remote storage 200 in step 1100.

  Further, the communication exclusion control unit 13 that has received the exclusion completion notification from the remote storage 200 in step 1102 returns the exclusion completion notification to the event management unit 11 in step 3101. At this point, exclusion as the communication system is completed.

  When the event management unit 11 detects that the first moving image recording button is pressed (step 7001), the event management unit 11 instructs the moving image recording unit 20 to start moving image capture in step 7002.

First Movie Record Button Press The first operation state change procedure of Step 1000 when the first status change trigger of Step 90 is the first movie record button press by the operator will be described with reference to FIG. To do. In this case, the event management unit 11 detects the first moving image recording button press (step 7001) by the operator, and sends an exclusion request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 3100.

  Thereafter, the sequence from the exclusion request in step 1100, the exclusion completion notification in step 1102 and the exclusion completion notification in step 3101 is the same as the sequence in the case where the transition to the moving image recording mode described above is used as a state change trigger in step 90. . In addition, the moving image capture start sequence in step 7002 is the same as the sequence in the case where the transition to the moving image recording mode described above is used as a state change trigger in step 90.

-Moving picture capture start The first operation state changing procedure in step 1000 when the first state change opportunity in step 90 is moving picture capture start will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, in step 7002, the event management 11 instructs the moving image recording unit 20 to start moving image capture, and the moving image recording unit 20 that receives the instruction transmits an exclusion request in step 3100.

  Hereinafter, the sequence leading to the exclusion request in step 1100, the exclusion completion notification in step 1102 and the exclusion completion notification in step 3101 is the sequence when the transition to the moving image recording mode described above is the first state change trigger in step 90. It is the same.

<File transfer procedure>
Next, the file transfer procedure in step 1001 of FIG. 2 when recording a moving image will be described with reference to FIG. At the time of moving image recording, the moving image data shot by the digital camera 110 is transmitted from the file control unit 15 to the remote storage 200 in step 5000. In step 5100, step 5101 and step 5102, the remote storage 200 receives and stores moving image data and calculates the remaining recordable time. The calculated remaining recordable time is transmitted to the digital camera 110 in step 5001 and received by the file control unit 15. The file control unit 15 notifies the UI 16 of the remaining recordable time, and the UI 16 displays this on the interface.

<Second operating state change procedure>
The second operation state change procedure in step 1002 at the time of moving image recording is triggered by the second state change trigger in step 91 as in the communication sequence at the time of continuous shooting described above. There are three types of second state change triggers in step 91: the end of the moving image recording mode, the pressing of the second moving image recording button, and the start of moving image capture. The second operation state change sequence in step 1002 in each case is shown in FIGS. Note that the end of the moving image recording mode is to switch the digital camera 110 to a state in which no moving image recording is performed. Pressing the second moving image recording button is an opportunity for the end of moving image recording given by the operator to the digital camera 110 during moving image recording. The stop of moving image capture is an opportunity to stop capturing video from the event management unit 11 to the moving image recording unit 20.

End of moving image recording mode The second operation state changing procedure in step 1002 when the operator ends the moving image recording mode of the digital camera 110 as a second state change trigger in step 91 will be described with reference to FIG. I will explain. In this case, the event management unit 11 receives the end of the moving image recording mode in step 7100 as an event, and instructs the moving image recording unit 20 to stop moving image capture in step 7102. Next, the event management unit 11 transmits an exclusion release request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 3900. Upon receiving this, the communication exclusion control 13 sends the exclusion release request to the remote storage in step 1103. 200 is transmitted.

Second video recording button pressed Second operation state change procedure when the operator presses the second video recording button of the digital camera 110 during video recording as a second status change trigger in step 91 Will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the event management unit 11 detects the second moving image recording button press in step 7101. The subsequent sequence is the same as the sequence in the case where the end of the above-described moving image recording mode is used as the second state change trigger in step 91.

Moving Image Capture Stop A second operation state change procedure when moving image capture is stopped as the second state change trigger in step 91 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the event management unit 11 instructs the moving image recording unit 20 to stop moving image capture in step 7102, and the moving image recording unit 20 that has received this instructs the communication exclusive control unit 13 in step 3900. Send an exclusive release request. The communication exclusion control unit 13 that has received the exclusion cancellation request transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the remote storage 200 in step 1103.

<Communication sequence during video playback>
Next, a communication sequence at the time of moving image reproduction will be described. The communication sequence at the time of moving image reproduction is the same as the communication sequence at the time of continuous shooting described with reference to FIG. 3, the first operation state change procedure at step 1000, the data transfer procedure at step 1001, and the second operation state at step 1002. The sequence of change procedure is different.

<First operation state change procedure>
The first operation state change procedure in step 1000 at the time of moving image reproduction is triggered by the first state change trigger in step 90, as in the communication sequence at the time of continuous shooting described above. There are four types of triggers for changing the first state in step 90: transition to the moving image playback mode, pressing of the first moving image playback button, start of reading of the moving image file, and start of reproduction of the moving image file. The sequence of the first operation state changing procedure of step 1000 in each case is shown in FIGS. 20, 21, 22, and 23. FIG. In these drawings, the moving image reproducing unit 21 is an object having a function of reading and reproducing a moving image file. The transition to the moving image playback mode is to switch the shooting mode of the digital camera 110 to a state in which the moving image can be played back. The pressing of the first video playback button is an opportunity for video playback given to the digital camera 110 by the operator. The start of reading a moving image file is an opportunity for the digital camera 110 to start receiving a moving image file from the remote storage 200. The reproduction start of the moving image file is an opportunity to start reproduction processing of the moving image file read by the moving image reproducing unit 21.

Transition to the moving image playback mode FIG. 20 shows the first operation state change procedure in step 1000 when the operator switches the digital camera 110 to the moving image playback mode as a first state change trigger in step 90. It explains using. In this case, the event management unit 11 first detects that the operator has switched the state of the digital camera 110 to the moving image playback mode (step 8000). Next, the event management unit 11 sends an exclusion request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 3100. Receiving this, the communication exclusion control unit 13 transmits an exclusion request to the remote storage 200 in step 1100.

  Further, the communication exclusion control unit 13 that has received the exclusion completion notification from the remote storage 200 in step 1102 returns the exclusion completion notification to the event management unit 11 in step 3101. At this point, exclusion as the communication system is completed.

  When the event management unit 11 detects that the first moving image playback button is pressed (step 8001), the event management unit 11 instructs the file control unit 15 to start reading the moving image file in step 8002. Receiving this, the file control unit 15 receives the moving image file from the remote storage 200 according to the file transfer procedure in step 1001. That is, the file control unit 15 requests the remote storage 200 to transmit a moving image file (step 6000), and receives the moving image file transmitted from the remote storage 200 (step 6001).

  In step 8003, the event management unit 11 instructs the moving image reproducing unit 21 to reproduce the moving image received from the remote storage 200.

-Depression of first moving image playback button The first operation state change in step 1000 when the first state change trigger in step 90 is the first moving image reproduction button pressed by the operator will be described with reference to FIG. To do. In this case, the event management unit 11 detects that the operator has pressed the first video playback button (step 8001), and sends an exclusion request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 3100. Hereinafter, the sequence leading to the exclusion request in step 1100, the exclusion completion notification in step 1102 and the exclusion completion notification in step 3101 is the sequence in the case where the transition to the moving image playback mode described above is the first state change trigger in step 90. It is the same.

  In addition, the file transfer procedure in step 1001 and the moving image file reading start and moving image reproduction start sequences in steps 8002 and 8003 are sequences when the transition to the above-described moving image reproduction mode is the first state change trigger in step 90. It is the same.

Start of reading moving image file The first operation state changing procedure of step 1000 when the first state change trigger of step 90 is the start of reading of a moving image file will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the event management unit 11 sends an instruction to start reading the moving image file to the file control unit 15 in step 8002. In response to this, the file control unit 15 sends an exclusion request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 3100. Hereinafter, the sequence leading to the exclusion request in step 1100, the exclusion completion notification in step 1102 and the exclusion completion notification in step 3101 is the sequence in the case where the transition to the moving image playback mode described above is the first state change trigger in step 90. It is the same.

  The file transfer procedure in step 1001 and the moving image playback start instruction sequence in step 8003 are the same as those in the case where the transition to the moving image playback mode described above is used as the first state change trigger in step 90.

-Moving Image Reproduction Start The first operation state changing procedure of Step 1000 when the first state change opportunity 90 of Step 90 is moving image reproduction start will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the event management unit 11 sends a moving image reproduction start instruction to the moving image reproduction unit 21 in step 8003. Receiving this, the moving image reproduction unit 21 sends an exclusion request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 3100. Hereinafter, the sequence leading to the exclusion request in step 1100, the exclusion completion notification in step 1102 and the exclusion completion notification in step 3101 is the sequence in the case where the transition to the moving image playback mode described above is the first state change trigger in step 90. It is the same.

<Data transfer procedure>
The file transfer procedure in step 1001 during moving image reproduction will be described with reference to FIG. First, the file control unit 15 of the digital camera 110 transmits a moving image file transfer request to the remote storage 200 in step 6000. Receiving this, the remote storage 200 transfers the moving image file to the file control unit 15 in step 6001.

<Second operating state change procedure>
The second operation state change procedure in step 1002 at the time of moving image reproduction is triggered by the second state change trigger in step 91, as in the communication sequence at the time of continuous shooting described above. There are four types of triggers for changing the second state in step 91: the end of the video playback mode, the pressing of the second video playback button, the stop of reading of the video file, and the stop of video playback. The end of the moving image playback mode is to switch the shooting mode of the digital camera 110 to a state where no moving image playback is performed. The second video playback button press is an opportunity to end video playback given by the operator to the digital camera 110 during video playback. Stopping the reading of the moving image file is a trigger for stopping the reading of the moving image file, which is instructed from the event management unit 11 to the file control unit 20.

Ending the Movie Playback Mode The second operation state change procedure when the operator ends the movie playback mode of the digital camera 110 as the second state change trigger in step 91 will be described with reference to FIG. . In this case, the event management unit 11 receives the end of the moving image playback mode in step 8500 as an event, and instructs the file control unit 15 to stop reading the moving image file in step 8501. Thereby, the file control unit 15 transmits a moving image file transfer stop request to the remote storage 200.

  Next, in step 8502, the event management unit 11 transmits a video playback stop request to the video playback unit 21, and the video playback unit 21 that has received the request stops the playback of the video.

  Next, the event management unit 11 transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 8900. In response to this, the communication exclusion control unit 13 transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the remote storage 200 in step 1103.

-Depression of the second video playback button The second operation state change procedure when the second video playback button is pressed by the operator as the second state change trigger in step 91 will be described with reference to FIG. . In this case, the event management unit 11 receives the second moving image playback button press in step 8503 as an event during moving image reproduction, and the event management unit 11 reads the moving image file from the file control unit 15 in step 8501. Instruct to stop. Accordingly, the file control unit 15 transmits a moving image file transfer stop request to the remote storage 200 in step 6002.

  In step 8502, the event management unit 11 transmits a video playback stop request to the video playback unit 21. Receiving this, the moving image reproduction unit 21 stops the reproduction of the moving image. Thereafter, the event management unit 11 transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 8900. In response to this, the communication exclusion control unit 13 transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the remote storage 200 in step 1103.

Stopping Reading of Moving Image File A second operation state changing procedure when the moving image file reading stop is set as the second state change trigger in step 91 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the file control unit 15 receives a moving image file reading stop from the event management unit 11 in step 8501, and transmits a moving image file transfer stop request to the remote storage 200 in step 6002. Thereafter, the file control unit 15 transmits an exclusion release request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 8900. Receiving this, the communication exclusion controller 13 transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the remote storage 200 in step 1103. In addition, after the processing in step 8501, the event management unit 11 instructs the moving image reproduction unit 21 to stop moving image reproduction in step 8502.

-Moving picture reproduction stop A second operation state changing procedure in the case where the moving picture reproduction stop is set as the second state change trigger in step 91 will be described with reference to FIG. In step 8502, the video playback unit 21 receives an instruction to stop video playback from the event management unit 11, and sends an exclusive release request to the communication exclusion control unit 13 in step 8900. Receiving this, the communication exclusion controller 13 transmits an exclusion cancellation request to the remote storage 200 in step 1103.

  According to the embodiment described above, one remote storage 200 is connected to a plurality of digital cameras 110 and 120 wirelessly, and each digital camera 110 and 120 sequentially transmits image data to the remote storage 200 in real time during shooting. doing. Thus, in the present embodiment, it is possible to realize a form in which the remote storage 200 collectively stores image data from a plurality of digital cameras. In addition, while one digital camera is communicating, communication between another digital camera and the remote storage 200 is prohibited. As a result, it is possible to prevent the transmission / reception delay due to the lack of the communication band during continuous shooting, moving image recording, and moving image reproduction, and reducing the real-time characteristics of continuous shooting, moving image recording, and moving image reproduction.

  Furthermore, when one digital camera is recording a moving image, this imaging device occupies communication with the remote storage, so that no interruption of the storage area from other digital cameras occurs. The recordable time can be calculated easily and accurately.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer such as the system reads and executes the program codes from the storage medium. Is also achieved.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  In addition, the case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing by an OS or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code read by the computer. It is.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or the like performs actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the above-described processing is performed. The case where the functions of the embodiment are realized is also included.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the communication sequence between each apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in case the release button half-press is made into a 1st state change opportunity at the time of continuous imaging | photography. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in case the release button full press is made into a 1st state change opportunity at the time of continuous imaging | photography. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in the case of making image capture start into a 1st state change opportunity at the time of continuous imaging | photography. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in the case of making the first file generation start into a 1st state change opportunity at the time of continuous imaging | photography. It is a figure which shows the internal sequence of the file transfer procedure at the time of continuous imaging | photography. It is a figure which shows the internal sequence of the file transfer procedure at the time of moving image recording. It is a figure which shows the internal sequence of the file transfer procedure at the time of video reproduction. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation state change procedure in the case of making release button half-press release the 2nd state change opportunity at the time of continuous imaging | photography. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation state change procedure in case the release button full press release is made into a 2nd state change opportunity at the time of continuous imaging | photography. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation state change procedure in the case of making image capture stop into a 2nd state change opportunity at the time of continuous imaging | photography. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation state change procedure in the case of making the end of the last file production | generation at the time of continuous imaging | photography into a 2nd state change opportunity. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in the case of having switched to the moving image recording mode at the time of moving image recording as a 1st state change opportunity. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in the case of making the 1st moving image recording button press into a 1st state change opportunity at the time of moving image recording. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in the case of making a moving image capture start into a 1st state change opportunity at the time of moving image recording. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation state change procedure in the case of making the operation recording mode complete | finished at the time of moving image recording into a 2nd state change opportunity. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation state change procedure in the case of making the 2nd state change opportunity to press the 2nd moving image recording button at the time of moving image recording. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation state change procedure in the case of making moving image capture stop into a 2nd state change opportunity at the time of moving image recording. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in the case of having switched to the moving image reproduction mode at the time of moving image reproduction as a first state change opportunity. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in the case of making a 1st moving image reproduction button press into a 1st state change opportunity at the time of moving image reproduction. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in the case of starting reading of a moving image file at the time of a moving image reproduction as a 1st state change opportunity. It is a figure which shows the 1st operation state change procedure in the case of making a moving image reproduction start into a 1st state change opportunity at the time of moving image reproduction. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation state change procedure in the case of making it make a 2nd state change opportunity complete | finish a moving image reproduction mode at the time of moving image reproduction. It is a figure which shows the 2nd moving image state change procedure in case a 2nd moving image reproduction button press is made into a 2nd state change opportunity at the time of moving image reproduction. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation state change procedure in the case of making a moving image file reading stop into a 2nd state change opportunity at the time of moving image reproduction. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation state change procedure in the case of making operation | movement reproduction stop into a 2nd state change opportunity at the time of moving image reproduction.

Explanation of symbols

110, 120 Digital camera 111, 121 Wireless LAN interface 112, 122 CPU
113, 123 Imaging buffer 200 Remote storage 201 Wireless LAN interface 202 HDD
203 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Event management part 12 Focus processing part 13 Communication exclusive control part 14 Imaging processing part 15 File control part 16 UI
20 Movie recording unit 21 Movie playback unit

Claims (8)

An external storage device capable of receiving data from a plurality of devices, an imaging apparatus connected via a communication line,
Transmitting means for transmitting image data obtained by imaging to the external storage device;
Detecting means for detecting an operation related to imaging by the imaging device;
In response to the operation related to the imaging by the imaging device is detected, an exclusive request to prohibit the storage of data from said external storage device to the other connected device to the external storage device, the external storage device And an issuing means for issuing to the imaging apparatus. By the detection means, said imaging device according to the completed operation relating to the imaging is detected, the issuing means, data from the other devices is prohibited by the lock requests to the external storage device The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an exclusion cancellation request for canceling the storage of is issued. The operation related to imaging includes any of an operation for focusing, an operation for releasing a shutter, a start of capturing captured image data, and a start of generation of the first image file for the captured image data. the imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein free it. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation related to imaging is an operation performed when the imaging apparatus performs continuous imaging. The imaging device is capable of shooting a video,
Wherein the operation related to the imaging of the moving image recording mode transition, operation for starting recording of a moving image, and, of claims 1 to 3, characterized in including that either the occurrence of capture start instruction of the moving image data The imaging device according to any one of the above. It further comprises receiving means for receiving information relating to the remaining capacity of the storage device calculated by the external storage device during a period in which data storage from the other device to the external storage device is prohibited. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging apparatus is characterized. An external storage device capable of receiving data from a plurality of devices, and a method for controlling an imaging device connected via a communication line,
A transmission step of transmitting image data obtained by imaging to the external storage device;
A detection step of detecting an operation related to imaging by the imaging device;
In response to the operation related to the imaging by the imaging device is detected, an exclusive request to prohibit the storage of data from said external storage device to the other connected device to the external storage device, the external storage device A method for controlling the imaging apparatus, comprising: A program for executing an external storage device capable of receiving data from a plurality of devices, a control method of an imaging apparatus connected via a communication line to the computer,
A transmission step of transmitting image data obtained by imaging to the external storage device;
A detection step of detecting an operation related to imaging by the imaging device;
In response to the operation related to the imaging by the imaging device is detected, an exclusive request to prohibit the storage of data from said external storage device to the other connected device to the external storage device, the external storage device A program for causing a computer to execute an issuance step issued to a computer.

Images