JPH1125024A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide mutually connected information processors in which the transfer of information from one information processor to the other can be started without executing preceding operation. SOLUTION: When a digital camera is connected to a personal computer (PC) (SA1), the PC detects the connection of the camera and outputs a detection pulse (SA2). In response to the detection pulse, the camera transmits ACK (acknowledgment information) (SA3), and the PC receives the ACK and transmits a software transmission request (SA4). Thereby the camera reads out the requested software (SA5) and transmits the read software to the PC (SA6) and the PC receives and installs the software (ST7). Consequently interface software or the like can be installed in the PC by extremely simple operation for simply connecting the digital camera to the PC without requiring complicated processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a digital camera and an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer to which the information processing apparatus is connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, digital cameras that store an image picked up by an image pickup device in a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory or a magnetic memory have become widespread. In this digital camera, an image stored in a storage medium is transferred to a connected personal computer or the like, where the image is processed by the personal computer or stored in an album.

[0003]

However, in a conventional digital camera, interface software (often included in album software or the like) for transferring images to a personal computer or the like is provided on another storage medium such as a floppy disk. And the interface software must be installed in a personal computer in advance, and then the image must be transferred from the digital camera. Therefore, when transferring the captured image, a pre-installation work of installing the storage interface software in advance is required,
There was a problem that it was very troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and starts transferring information from one interconnected information processing apparatus to another information processing apparatus without prior work. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus capable of performing such operations.

[0005]

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, comprising: an interface software storing means for storing at least interface software for transferring information with another information processing apparatus; When,
Detecting means for detecting a connection with the other information processing apparatus;
A transmission unit for transmitting interface software stored in the interface software storage unit to the other information processing apparatus when the connection is detected by the detection unit. Therefore, when this information processing apparatus is connected to another information processing apparatus, and this connection is detected by the detecting means, the interface software is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the connected other information processing apparatus by the transmitting means. You. Therefore, when information is transferred from the information processing apparatus to another information processing apparatus, it is not necessary to perform an operation such as setting a floppy or the like in which interface software is stored in the other information processing apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus, comprising: interface software storage means for storing at least interface software for transferring information to and from another information processing apparatus; Receiving means for receiving the software transmission request, and transmission means for transmitting interface software stored in the interface software storage means to the other information processing apparatus when the software transmission request is received by the receiving means. I have. Therefore, this information processing device is
Upon receiving a software transmission request from another information processing device,
The transmission means transmits the interface software from the information processing device to another information processing device. Therefore, when information is transferred from the information processing apparatus to another information processing apparatus, it is not necessary to perform an operation such as setting a floppy or the like in which interface software is stored in the other information processing apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus further comprising: an image capturing means for capturing an image of a subject; and a digital storage medium for storing the image captured by the image capturing means. Means are
Interface software for transferring the image stored in the digital storage medium to the other information processing device is stored. In other words, the information processing apparatus is a digital camera having an image capturing unit and a digital storage medium for storing an image captured by the image capturing unit, and the digital camera is connected to another information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. Then, the interface means for transmitting the image to the another information processing apparatus is transmitted from the digital camera to the connected other information processing apparatus by the transmission unit.

Further, in the information processing apparatus according to claim 4, the interface software storage means is shared with the digital storage medium. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a means for storing interface software in the digital camera.

In the information processing apparatus according to a fifth aspect, the image is overwritten on the digital storage medium after the interface software is transmitted by the transmission means. Therefore, after transmitting the interface software to another connected information storage medium, the area of the digital storage medium where the interface software is stored is effectively used as an area for storing an image captured by the imaging unit. Is done.

Further, in the information processing apparatus according to claim 6, the transmitting means includes identification information receiving means for receiving identification information of the other processing apparatus before transmitting the interface software, The interface software corresponding to the identification information of the other information processing apparatus received by the identification information receiving means is transmitted. Therefore, the interface software according to the type of the information processing device that transmits and receives
The information is transmitted from one information processing device to the other information processing device.

Further, in the information processing apparatus according to claim 7, the transmitting means includes identification information transmitting means for transmitting identification information of the information processing apparatus before transmitting the interface software. The interface software is transmitted based on a software transmission request sent from the other information processing device in response to the transmission of the identification information.
Therefore, interface software corresponding to the type of the information processing apparatuses connected to each other is transmitted from one information processing apparatus to the other information processing apparatus.

According to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus, identification information storage means for storing identification information of the information processing apparatus; Transmitting means for transmitting the identification information stored in the means to the other information processing apparatus.
Therefore, when the information processing device is connected to another information processing device, the identification information of the information processing device is transmitted to the other information processing device.

[0013] The information processing apparatus according to the ninth aspect further includes an image pickup means for taking a subject image, and a digital storage medium for storing the image taken by the image pickup means. That is, this information processing device is a digital camera, and when this digital camera is connected to another information processing device, the identification information of the digital camera is transmitted to the other information processing device.

Further, in the invention according to claim 10,
In an information processing device to which another information processing device is connected,
Interface software storage means for storing a plurality of interface software respectively corresponding to the identification information of the other information processing apparatus, and reception means for receiving the identification information sent from the transmission means of the other information processing apparatus connected And installation means for searching and installing interface software corresponding to the identification information received by the receiving means from the interface software storage means.

Therefore, when the information processing apparatus according to claim 8 or the information processing apparatus (digital camera) according to claim 9 is connected, and identification information is transmitted from a transmission unit of the information processing apparatus, the identification information is transmitted. The information is received by the receiving means. Then, the installation unit searches for the interface software corresponding to the identification information from the interface software storage unit and installs it. Therefore,
Appropriate interface software is installed according to the type of the connected information processing device (digital camera).

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, a digital camera 21 according to the present invention
It is applied to In the digital camera 21, the CCD 1 forms an image by an optical system, converts a video signal of a subject into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal. The amplifier 2 amplifies the electric signal. The A / D converter 3 converts the amplified analog signal into a digital signal and converts the signal into a TG (Timing Ge).
nerater) 4. The TG 4 generates a timing signal for controlling a driving circuit (Driver) 5 for driving the CCD 1, and the driving circuit 5 drives the CCD 1 based on the timing signal from the TG 4. The compression / expansion unit 6 is TG
The compression / decompression processing is performed by encoding / decoding the digital video signal taken in through (4). SG (Signal Generate
r) 7 adds a synchronization signal or the like to the digital video signal,
Create a digital video signal. The created digital video signal is stored in the VRAM 8 and D
The video signal is supplied to a video output terminal 11 and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 12 via an A / A converter 9 and an amplifier 10. The LCD 12 drives a liquid crystal based on the input analog video signal to display an image.

The key input unit 13 includes a power key operated when power is turned on and off, a capture key operated when image data is stored in a flash memory 18 described later, and a recording mode (storage mode) to a reproduction mode. Mode switch key operated when switching to the playback mode and switching from the playback mode to the recording mode, a playback key operated when playing back an image based on the image data stored in the flash memory 18, the flash memory 18 There are provided various keys such as a transfer key operated when transferring the image data stored in the information processing apparatus to another information processing apparatus.

The CPU 14 operates on the basis of key operation information input from the key input unit 13 and a program stored in the ROM 15, and uses the RAM 16 as a work area while using all necessary functions in the digital camera 21. It executes processing and controls each unit.
The DRAM 17 is a memory for temporarily storing a digital video signal captured according to an instruction from the CPU 14. The I / O port 19 is an interface for inputting and outputting a video signal and the like converted into a serial signal, and a serial I / O terminal 20 is connected.

The flash memory 18 is a digital storage medium according to the present embodiment, and has a header information recording area 18a, an image information storage area 18b, and a memory management information storage area 18c as shown in FIG. The header information recording area 18a stores information on the attributes and the like of each area provided in the flash memory 18. The image information storage area 18b is provided with, for example, 100 areas, and each area stores image data compressed with use of the digital camera 21. However, in a state before the image data is stored, when transferring the image data to another information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer), at least interface software required by the other information processing device is required. In addition to the stored software, software required by the other information processing apparatus for image processing, such as album software, is also stored. The memory management information storage area 18c stores management information of each area provided in the image information storage area 18b.

A PC to which the digital camera 21 is connected
Reference numeral 22 denotes an I / O terminal provided with an I / O terminal 23, as shown in FIG.
/ O port 24, CPU 25, display unit 26, key input unit 27, work RAM 28, R storing program
OM 29 and a hard disk 30 for storing interface software and the like taken in through the I / O port 24
And so on.

In this embodiment having the above-described configuration, the digital camera 21 and the CPUs 14 and 25 of the PC 22 are used.
Operate according to programs stored in the ROMs 15 and 29, respectively. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the I / O terminal 20 of the digital camera 21 is connected to the I / O terminal 23 of the PC 22 (SA1), and the CPU 25 of the PC 22 outputs a detection pulse to the I / O terminal 23. Yes (SA
2). This detection pulse is output from the I / O port 2 on the PC 22 side.
Via the I / O terminal 20 and the I / O port 19 of the digital camera 21 via the I / O terminal 4 and the I / O terminal 23.
Is input to Then, the CPU 1 of the digital camera 21
4 transmits ACK (identification information indicating the digital camera and the model of the digital camera) in response to the detection pulse (SA3). By this response signal, PC
The CPU 25 detects that the digital camera 21 is connected. The PC 22 receives this ACK (identification information), recognizes that the connected device is a digital camera, and transmits a software transmission request (SA
4). At this time, if the interface software has already been installed on the hard disk 30 of the PC 22, a software transmission request for album software other than the interface software is made, and if the interface software has not been installed, the interface software and the album software are transmitted. And so on.

Then, the CPU 14 of the digital camera 21
Reads the requested software stored in the image information storage area 18b (SA5) and transmits the read software to the PC 22 (SA6). The transmitted software is transmitted from the I / O port 19 and I / O terminal 20 on the digital camera 21 side to the I / O terminal 23 and I / O terminal on the PC 22 side.
An incoming call is received by the CPU 25 of the PC 22 via the / O port 24, and the CPU 25 installs the received software on the hard disk 30 (SA7). Therefore, the interface software and the like can be installed in the PC 22 without any trouble by a very simple operation of simply connecting the digital camera 21 to the PC 22.

Then, when the installation is completed,
The PC 22 outputs an installation end signal (SA8),
In the digital camera 21, the CPU 1 receiving the
4 deletes the software transmitted in SA6 from the image information storage area 18b (SA9). Therefore, after the installation is completed, the area in which the interface software and the like are stored can be used as a normal image data storage area, and the interface software and the like are stored in the image information storage area 18b. In addition, it is not necessary to provide a separate memory for storing software in the digital camera 21.

After the installation is completed, the digital camera 21 is disconnected from the PC 22 to record a desired subject image while viewing the subject image displayed on the LCD 12 with the recording mode set. The key image capturing key provided on the key input unit 13 is operated. Then, the CPU 14 generates a video capture signal on the TG 4 and the CCD 1 outputs the amplifier 2A.
The digital video signal via the / D converter 3 is fetched and temporarily stored in the DRAM 17. CPU 14
Performs a color operation on the stored digital video signal to generate a luminance signal and a color signal from the video signal.
The luminance signal and the chrominance signal are transferred to the compression / expansion unit 6 to compress the data, and are stored in the image information storage area 18b of the flash memory 18. At this time, if the installation has been completed, since the interface software and the like stored in the image information storage area 18b have been deleted as described above, the entire area of the image information storage area 18b is replaced with the image data recording area. Can be used as

When reproducing a video signal, the key input unit 1
When the reproduction key 3 is operated, the CPU 14 reads out compressed image data (compressed luminance signal and color signal data) from the image information storage area 18b of the flash memory 18 and transfers it to the compression / decompression unit 6. By transferring the luminance signal and the chrominance signal expanded by the compression / transfer unit 6 to the SG 7,
An image based on the video signal which is converted into a video signal by the SG 7 and stored in the flash memory 18 in advance is stored in the LCD 12.
Will be displayed.

When transferring the image data stored in the image information storage area 18b to the PC 22, both I / Os
The terminals 20 and 23 are connected. At this time, since the interface software and the like are already installed in the PC 22, the PC 22 does not make the software transmission request (SA4) shown in FIG. 3 and starts the operation based on the interface software and the like. Therefore, when the transfer key is operated on the key input unit 13 of the digital camera 21 to read and transfer the image data from the image information storage area 18b, the transferred image data is processed by the interface software or album software on the PC 22 side. Will be done.

In this embodiment, as described above, the image information storage area 18b of the flash memory 18 is used.
Although the interface software and the like are stored and deleted after the installation, a separate memory may be provided and stored in the memory, or the image may be stored without being deleted even after the installation, and the image may be stored. The data may be overwritten.

Further, in this embodiment, the connection detection pulse is output from the PC side and detected by the PC side. However, the detection pulse is output by the digital camera side to detect the connection. You may. That is, the processing of SA1 to SA4 in FIG. 4 is reversed, and when the power of the digital camera is input, a detection pulse is output to the I / O terminal 20 (in the reverse direction of SA2).
The C side transmits ACK (identification information indicating that the PC is a PC and the OS version of the PC) to the digital camera side (the reverse direction of SA3). Based on this response signal, the CPU of the digital camera recognizes that the PC has been connected. In response to this, the digital camera transmits a software installation request (in the opposite direction of SA4, changing the software transmission request to a software installation request), and subsequently reads out the software corresponding to the identification information (SA5). ), And transmits the software (SA6). The PC installs the software sent based on the software installation request (SA7).

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention. The ROM 29 of the PC 22 is provided with a software storage area 29a shown in FIG. The software storage area 29a stores a plurality of identification numbers indicating the model of the digital camera, and interface software and the like respectively corresponding to the plurality of identification numbers, and each interface software indicates the corresponding identification number. For digital cameras.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG.
The I / O terminal 20 of the digital camera 21 is connected to the I / O terminal of the PC 22
When connected to the O terminal 23 (SB1) and power is input, the CPU 14 of the digital camera 21 outputs a detection pulse to the I / O terminal 20 (SB2). Then, CP of PC22
U25 transmits an identification information transmission request in response to the detection pulse (SB3). Based on this response signal, the CPU 14 of the digital camera 21 recognizes that the PC 22 has been connected. In response to the identification information transmission request, the digital camera 21 transmits identification information indicating its own model stored in the ROM 15 in advance (SB4). Then P
The CPU 25 of C22 searches the software storage area 29a for interface software corresponding to the received identification information (SB5), and installs the searched interface software on the hard disk 30 (SB5).
6). Therefore, simply connect the digital camera 21 to the PC 22
It is possible to install appropriate interface software corresponding to the connected digital camera 21 without any inconvenience due to the extremely simple operation of connecting to the digital camera 21.

Then, when the installation is completed,
The PC 22 outputs an installation end signal (SB7).
In the digital camera 21, based on the installation completion signal, an installation completion display is displayed on the LCD 12, for example, to indicate to the user that the installation has been completed. Thus, the user can confirm that the installation has been completed.

In the embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the digital camera 21 and the PC 22 has been described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to other information processing apparatuses.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, when information is transferred from the information processing apparatus to another information processing apparatus, the prior work of installing interface software on the other information processing apparatus becomes unnecessary. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience caused by the necessity of the preliminary work. Further, a separate storage medium such as a floppy disk for storing the interface software is not required, and the cost caused by using the individual storage medium can be reduced.

In a digital camera having a digital storage medium for storing an image, the interface software storage means is shared with the digital storage medium, so that it is not necessary to separately provide a means for storing interface software, thereby reducing the cost. Can be implemented. Further, after the interface software is transmitted to the information processing apparatus of the connection partner, by overwriting the image on the digital storage medium, the interface software can be stored without reducing the area for storing the image. Furthermore, by receiving the identification information from the connected partner device, and searching for and installing the interface software corresponding to the identification information, an appropriate software is provided according to the type of the connected information processing device (digital camera). Interface software can be installed.

[0035]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital camera to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a memory configuration diagram of a flash memory of the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a PC to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing communication and operation between a PC and a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a ROM of a PC according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of the storage state of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing communication and operation between the PC and the digital camera according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 CPU 18 Flash memory 21 Digital camera 22 PC 29a Software storage area

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An interface software storage unit storing at least interface software for transferring information with another information processing apparatus; a detection unit detecting connection with the another information processing apparatus; Transmitting means for transmitting the interface software stored in the interface software storage means to the other information processing apparatus when the detection is performed. 2. Interface software storage means for storing at least interface software for information transfer with another information processing apparatus; receiving means for receiving a software transmission request from the other information processing apparatus; And a transmission unit for transmitting the interface software stored in the interface software storage unit to the another information processing device when receiving a software transmission request. 3. An image capturing means for capturing an image of a subject, and a digital storage medium for storing an image captured by the image capturing means, wherein the interface software storage means stores the image stored in the digital storage medium. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein interface software for transferring the information to another information processing apparatus is stored. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said interface software storage means is shared with said digital storage medium. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image is overwritten on the digital storage medium after the interface software is transmitted by the transmission unit. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said transmission means includes identification information receiving means for receiving identification information of said another processing apparatus before transmitting said interface software. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein interface software corresponding to the identification information is transmitted. 7. The transmission means includes identification information transmission means for transmitting identification information of the information processing apparatus before transmitting the interface software, and the other information processing apparatus responds to the transmission of the identification information. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the interface software is transmitted based on a software transmission request transmitted from the apparatus. 8. An information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus, comprising: an identification information storage means for storing identification information of the information processing apparatus; and an identification information stored in the identification information storage means. Transmitting means for transmitting to the information processing apparatus. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: an imaging unit that captures a subject image; and a digital storage medium that stores an image captured by the imaging unit. 10. An information processing apparatus to which another information processing apparatus is connected, comprising: interface software storage means for storing a plurality of interface software respectively corresponding to identification information of the other information processing apparatus; Receiving means for receiving the identification information transmitted from the transmitting means of the information processing apparatus, and installing means for searching and installing interface software corresponding to the identification information received by the receiving means from the interface software storage means. An information processing apparatus, comprising: