JPH11266378A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability to make convenience to use better even in the case of being connected to a network such as an IEEE 1394 by activating a specific device among devices connected to a network in accordance with a selected function. SOLUTION: When '8: the others' is selected from a main menu on an image, it is shifted to an image D80. On the image D80, '81: a list of connection devices' and '82: setting of digital camera' can be selected. When the '81: a list of connection devices' is selected, a digital camera shows a list of connection devices that are connected onto a network. A specific device is started among devices connected to the network in accordance with a selected function. Because of this, a specific device can be activated, based on an operation from the digital camera side only by selecting a device without being aware of the existence of connections of devices and if they are available and operability can be improved remarkably.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of personal computers and facsimile machines in homes and the digitization of various home video equipment, IEEE 1394 and other devices for connecting individual video or communication equipment have been developed. A network has been proposed. With this network, individual devices can be organically combined,
Functions that could not be achieved by a single device can be realized. In addition, since physical connection between devices is completed simply by connecting connection lines, difficulties in connection work and complicated setting, which have conventionally occurred when transmitting analog video signals between devices, Problems relating to degradation of signal quality due to noise and the like are also solved.

[0003] Therefore, it has been proposed to connect digital cameras, which are becoming popular, to these networks.

[0004]

However, the proposal of such a network system does not disclose specific standards or specifications for individual devices. For images taken with a digital camera, send, print,
Processing such as display and editing is performed, but when the digital camera is connected to the network as described above, it is difficult to know which device should be selected and operated when performing the specific processing. Further, if the devices are installed apart from each other, it is not immediately known whether or not a device for executing the specific processing is available. Thus, when a digital camera is connected to the network,
It is expected that a problem will occur in terms of operability.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a digital camera capable of improving operability and being easy to use even when connected to a network such as IEEE1394. As an issue.

[0006]

The object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera connectable to a network to which one or more video or communication devices are connected, and which can be executed via the network. One or more functions are displayed, and a function selection mode for selecting the displayed function is provided. In accordance with the function selected in the function selection mode, a device is selected from among the devices connected to the network. The problem is solved by a digital camera including means for activating a specific device.

According to this digital camera, by selecting a function to be executed in the function selection mode, a specific device associated with the selected function is started. That is, a specific device can be started based on an operation from the digital camera, and operability is improved.

[0008] Preferably, when a specific device is unavailable, an alternative device is activated, when the specific device is unavailable, its contents are displayed, and a power supply of the device connected to the network is provided. It is preferable to be able to output an operation end signal for shutting off. As a result, the selected function can be executed by the substitute device, the state of the device can be grasped, and the power supply of the device can be cut off on the digital camera side, and the operability is further improved.

[0009] Further, the object is to provide a digital camera connectable to a network to which one or more video or communication devices are connected, wherein one or two of the digital cameras can be executed via the network. While displaying one or more functions, a function selection mode for selecting the displayed function, means for detecting the device connected to the network, and among the functions displayed in the function selection mode, the detected Means for enabling selection of only functions related to the device.

According to this digital camera, only the function related to the device connected to the network can be selected, so that the function related to the device not connected to the network is not erroneously selected. In addition, there is no need for a troublesome operation such as a cancel operation when an erroneous selection is made.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera connectable to a network to which one or more video or communication devices are connected, wherein one or more of the digital cameras can be executed via the network. A function selection mode for displaying two or more functions and selecting the displayed function; a unit for detecting the device connected to the network; and a unit for displaying a list of the detected devices. The digital camera is also characterized by the following.

According to this digital camera, the list of devices connected to the network can be displayed even if the digital camera and the devices or the devices are separated from each other.
The operator can recognize the devices connected to the network.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Overall Configuration of Network> FIG.
The overall configuration of the network will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a home AV device, a personal computer including a cable modem, a telephone, a notebook personal computer and a desktop personal computer, a facsimile, and a printer are connected on an IEEE 1394 home network. STB is IEEE
It is a set-top box equipped with a plurality of connectors for connecting 1394-compliant devices. The set boxes are also connected by IEEE1394.

The function of each device is as shown in the following table.

[0016]

[Table 1]

The devices connected to the home bus can exchange information by designating a plurality of output sides for one input side. For example, when recording while watching a TV program, a TV monitor and a video disk drive are designated as receivers of the digital video signal output by the tuner, and a TV signal from an antenna is selected, and the digital video signal is selected. On the home bus, and the television monitor receives and displays the signal.
On the other hand, the video disk drive can also receive and record the signal.

When a digital camera is connected to the set box STB, images taken by the digital camera can be transferred to a personal computer for processing, displayed on a television monitor, or printed by a printer.

The configuration of the digital camera is as follows.

<Structure of Digital Camera> As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the digital camera 1 includes a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging unit 3. Imaging unit 3
Is the camera body 2 as viewed from the front (the front side in FIG. 2).
Is detachably attached to the right side surface of the camera and is rotatably mounted in a plane parallel to the right side surface.

The image pickup section 3 includes a photographing lens having a macro zoom and a CCD (Charge Coupled D).
device), which converts an optical image of a subject into an image composed of charge signals photoelectrically converted by each pixel of the CCD and captures the image. On the other hand, the camera body 2 is provided with an LCD (Liquid)
d Display (D Crystal Display), a mounting section 17 for the memory card 8, and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected. After that, processing such as display on the LCD display unit 10, recording on the memory card 8, and transfer to a personal computer is performed.

A macro zoom lens 301 is provided inside the image pickup section 3, and an image pickup circuit having a CCD color area sensor 303 is provided at an appropriate position behind the macro zoom lens 301. In addition, a dimming circuit 304 including a dimming sensor 305 that receives the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is provided at an appropriate position in the imaging unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the front surface of the camera body 2, a grip portion 4 is provided at an appropriate position on the left end, and a built-in flash 5 is provided at an appropriate upper portion on the right end. As shown in FIG. 2, on the upper surface of the camera body 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance when reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. The switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as an Up key) for advancing the recorded image in the direction in which the frame number increases (the direction of the photographing order). (Hereinafter referred to as Down key). Further, an erasing switch D for erasing an image recorded on the memory card 8 is provided on the left side of the Down key 7 when viewed from the back side (the front side in FIG. 3).
A shutter button 9 is provided at the upper right of the p key 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the back of the camera body 2, an LCD display for displaying a monitor of a captured image (corresponding to a viewfinder) and reproducing and displaying a recorded image is provided substantially at the center of the left end. 10 are provided. Also, LC
A compression rate setting slide switch 12 for switching and setting a compression rate K of image data recorded on the memory card 8 is provided below the D display unit 10. A connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected is provided on a side surface of the camera body 2 on the imaging unit 3 side, and a power switch PS is provided on an upper rear surface.

Further, the camera body 2 is provided with a microphone / speaker MIC for recording audio or displaying the recorded audio during reproduction. When displaying a video signal described later, an audio signal included in the video signal can be heard through the MIC.

The digital camera 1 includes a flash mode (hereinafter, flash is sometimes referred to as FL) flash mode, an "auto flash mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is automatically fired in accordance with the subject brightness, and a subject brightness mode. A “forced light emission mode” for forcibly emitting light from the built-in flash 5 and a “light emission prohibited mode” for forbidden light emission from the built-in flash 5 are provided regardless of the FL. Mode setting key 11
Each time is pressed, each mode of "automatic light emission", "forced light emission" and "light emission inhibition" is cyclically switched, and any one of the modes is selectively set. In the digital camera 1, two compression ratios K of 1/8 and 1/20 can be selected and set. For example, when the compression ratio setting switch 12 is slid to the right, the compression ratio K = 1/8 is set. Slide to the left, the compression ratio K = 1/20 is set. In the present embodiment, two types of compression ratios K can be selected and set, but three or more types of compression ratios K
May be selectively set.

Further, a photographing / playback mode setting switch 14 for switching and setting a "photographing mode" and a "playback mode" as a function selection mode in the present invention is provided at the upper right end of the rear surface of the camera body 2. I have. The shooting mode is
This is a mode in which photography is performed, and the reproduction mode is a mode in which a captured image recorded in the memory card 8 is reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. The shooting / playback mode setting switch 14 also includes a two-contact slide switch. For example, sliding to the right sets the playback mode, and sliding to the left sets the shooting mode.

A battery loading chamber 1 is provided on the bottom of the camera body 2.
8 and a card loading chamber 17 for the memory card 8 are provided.
The loading ports of the loading chambers 17 and 18 are closed by a clamshell type lid 15. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment uses a power supply battery E, which is formed by connecting four AA batteries in series, as a drive source.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital camera 1.

In the imaging section 3, the CCD 303
Converts the light image of the subject formed by the macro zoom lens 301 into image signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components (from a signal train of pixel signals received by each pixel). ) And output. The timing generator 314 generates various timing pulses for controlling driving of the CCD 303.

The exposure control in the imaging section 3 is performed by adjusting the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303 corresponding to the shutter speed, since the aperture is a fixed stop. If an appropriate shutter speed cannot be set when the subject brightness is low, the CCD 3
By performing the level adjustment of the image signal output from the device 03, the improper exposure due to the insufficient exposure is corrected. That is, when the luminance is low, the exposure control is performed by combining the shutter speed and the gain adjustment. The level adjustment of the image signal is performed in the gain adjustment of the AGC circuit in the signal processing circuit 313.

The timing generator 314 generates a drive control signal for the CCD 303 based on a reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202.
The timing generator 314 generates clock signals such as integration start / end (exposure start / end) timing signals and light-receiving signal readout control signals (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) for each pixel. Output to the CCD 303.

The signal processing circuit 313 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 313
It has a DS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit. The CDS circuit reduces the noise of the image signal, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit.

The dimming circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 in flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the overall control unit 211. In flash photography, the reflected light of flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 at the same time as the start of exposure, and when the amount of received light reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 3
An emission stop signal is output from 04 to the flash control circuit 214 via the overall control unit 211. The flash control circuit 214 forcibly stops the light emission of the built-in flash 5 in response to the light emission stop signal, whereby the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

In the camera body 2, the A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal of the image signal into a 10-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 205 is
A / D input from an A / D clock generation circuit (not shown)
Each pixel signal (analog signal) is converted into a 10-bit digital signal based on a clock for D conversion.

A timing control circuit 202 for generating a reference clock, a timing generator 314, and a clock for the A / D converter 205 is provided in the camera body 2. The timing control circuit 202 is controlled by the overall control unit 211.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) A / D converted by the A / D converter 205 to a reference black level. A white balance circuit (hereinafter, referred to as a WB circuit) 207 performs level conversion of pixel data of each of R, G, and B color components so that the white balance is adjusted after the γ correction. WB circuit 207
Converts the level of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components using the level conversion table input from the overall control unit 211. The conversion coefficient (gradient of the characteristic) of each color component in the level conversion table is set by the overall control unit 211 for each captured image.

The gamma correction circuit 208 corrects gamma characteristics of pixel data. The γ correction circuit 208 has, for example, six types of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics, and performs γ correction of pixel data using a predetermined γ correction table according to a shooting scene or shooting conditions.

The image memory 209 is a memory for storing pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 208. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, in the image memory 209, the CCD 303
In the case of having pixels in rows and m columns, it has a storage capacity for pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data is stored in a corresponding pixel position.

The VRAM 210 is a buffer memory for image data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. VR
The AM 210 has a storage capacity for image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

The MIC is a microphone and speaker as described above. When a video signal described later is displayed, the audio signal in the video signal is separated by the overall control unit 211 and can be heard through the MIC.

In the shooting standby state, each pixel data of an image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is
After being subjected to predetermined signal processing by the A / D converters 205 to γ correction circuit 208, the signals are stored in the image memory 209, transferred to the VRAM 210 via the overall control unit 211, and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. You. Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image from the image displayed on the LCD display unit 10. In the playback mode, after the image read from the memory card 8 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the overall control unit 211, the VRAM 210
And reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The card I / F 212 is an interface for writing image data to the memory card 8 and reading image data. Also, the communication I / F 21
3 indicates that the digital camera 9 is connected to each network connection device 19.
This is an interface conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard for external connection so that it can communicate with the Internet.

The flash control circuit 214 is a circuit for controlling light emission of the built-in flash 5. The flash control circuit 214 controls the presence / absence of light emission of the built-in flash 5, the amount of light emission, the light emission timing, and the like based on the control signal of the overall control unit 211. Is controlled.

The RTC 219 is a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time, and is driven by another power source (not shown).

The operation unit 250 includes the Up key 6,
A switch corresponding to a Down key 7, a shutter button 9, an FL mode setting key 11, a compression ratio setting switch 12, and a shooting / playback mode setting switch 14 is provided.

The overall control section 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the driving of each member in the image pickup section 3 and the camera main body section 2 in an organic manner to control the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 overall. is there.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a luminance determination unit 211a for setting an exposure control value (shutter speed (SS)) and a shutter speed (S
S) a setting unit 211b. Brightness determination unit 211
a is 1/1/3 by the CCD 303 in the shooting standby state.
The brightness of the subject is determined using an image captured every 30 (seconds). That is, the brightness determination unit 21
1a is for determining the brightness of the subject by using the image data updated and stored in the image memory 209.

The luminance judging section 211a includes an image memory 209
Is divided into nine blocks, and the luminance data representing each block is calculated using the pixel data of the G (green) color component included in each block.

The shutter speed setting section 211b sets the shutter speed (integration time of the CCD 303) based on the result of the brightness determination of the subject by the brightness determination section 211a. Shutter speed setting section 211b
Has a shutter speed table.

The shutter speed is set to 1 /
Initially set to 128 (seconds), and in the shooting standby state,
The shutter speed setting unit 211b includes a brightness determination unit 211
The setting is changed from the initial value to the high-speed side or the low-speed side step by step according to the determination result of the brightness of the subject by a.

The general control unit 211 sets “low-luminance scene”, “medium-luminance normal scene”, “medium-luminance normal scene”, A scene determination unit 211c that determines four types of shooting scenes, that is, a “medium brightness backlight scene” and a “high brightness scene” is provided. "Low brightness scene"
Is a scene that normally requires auxiliary light from a flash, such as indoor shooting or nighttime shooting. A “medium-luminance normal scene” is a mode in which illumination light (including natural light and artificial light) for the main subject is in direct light. In addition, the scene can be photographed without auxiliary light because its brightness is appropriate. The “medium brightness backlight scene” is a scene in which the overall brightness is appropriate, but the flash light is preferable because the illumination light for the main subject is backlight, and the “high brightness scene” is, for example, a clear sea scene. It is a very bright scene like shooting at a ski resort. The determination result by the scene determination unit 211c is stored in the memory 211d.

Further, the overall control unit 211 determines whether the captured image is a normal photographed image of a landscape, a person, or the like (hereinafter, this type of captured image is referred to as a natural image), a character drawn on a board, An image determination unit 211e that determines whether an image such as a chart (hereinafter, an image similar to a binary image of this type is referred to as a character image) is provided.

The image determining unit 211e is provided with an image memory 209.
A histogram of the luminance data at each pixel position is created based on the pixel data constituting the captured image stored in the storage device, and the content of the captured image is determined based on the histogram. In general, a histogram of luminance data of a captured image is a so-called one-peak distribution having a single peak value with a small bias in the luminance distribution in the case of a natural image. In the case of a character image, a bias in the luminance distribution is observed in each of a white background portion and a black character portion.
Mountain distribution. Therefore, the image determining unit 211e determines whether the histogram of the brightness data BV (i, j) of the captured image has a single-peak distribution or a double-peak distribution, and determines whether the captured image is a natural image or a character image. It is determined whether the image is an image.
Then, this determination result is also stored in the memory 211d.

The overall control unit 211 includes a filter unit 211f for performing a filtering process and a recorded image generating unit 211g for generating a thumbnail image and a compressed image in order to perform the recording process of the photographed image. In order to reproduce the reproduced image on the LCD display unit 10, a reproduction image generation unit 211h that generates a reproduction image is provided.

The filter section 211f corrects the high-frequency component of the image to be recorded by a digital filter to correct the image quality related to the contour. Filter unit 21
1f is a digital filter for performing a standard contour correction for each of the compression ratios K = 1/8 and 1/20, and two types of digital filters for enhancing the contour and the contour for the standard contour correction. A total of five types of digital filters, two types of digital filters to be weakened, are provided.

The recording image generator 211g reads out pixel data from the image memory 209 and generates a thumbnail image and a compressed image to be recorded on the memory card 8. The recording image generation unit 211g reads pixel data for every eight pixels in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction while scanning from the image memory 209 in the raster scanning direction, and sequentially transfers the pixel data to the memory card 8, thereby obtaining the thumbnail image. Is recorded on the memory card 8 while generating.

The recording image generation unit 211g reads out all pixel data from the image memory 209 and converts these pixel data into JPE data such as two-dimensional DCT transform and Huffman coding.
A predetermined compression process according to the G method is performed to generate image data of a compressed image, and the compressed image data is recorded in the main image area of the memory card 8.

In the photographing mode, when photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9 in the photographing mode, the overall control section 211 displays the thumbnail image of the image taken into the image memory 209 after the photographing instruction and the compression ratio set by the compression ratio setting switch 12. A compressed image compressed by the JPEG method using K is generated, and tag information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression ratio K, shooting date, flash on / off data at shooting, scene information, image ) Are stored in the memory card 8 together with the information such as the judgment result of the above).

As shown in FIG. 7, images recorded by the digital camera can store 40 frames of images at a compression ratio of 1/20, and each of frames 81 to 85 is compressed with a tag portion and JPEG format. High-resolution image data (64
0 × 480 pixels) and image data for thumbnail display (8
0 × 60 pixels). For example, each frame can be handled as an image file in the EXIF format.

<Operation of Digital Camera on Network> As described above, with the digital camera 1 connected to an arbitrary set-top box STB on the home bus, the photographing / reproduction mode setting switch 14 is set to the reproduction mode. When set to the side, a screen D1 is displayed on the display unit 10 as shown in FIG. Screen D1 is the main menu,
This is a screen for selecting a function to be used. On the screen D1, print is selected, but by operating the Up / Down switches 6 and 7, eight menus shown in the figure can be selected.

On screen D1, numbers 1 to 8 are:
A function selection screen is displayed. After the shooting / playback mode setting switch is set to the playback mode side, the digital camera inquires about a device connected to the network before displaying the screen D1. I have. Each device has a unique ID number and type registered in a nonvolatile memory inside the device in advance, so that a list of devices connected to the network is created. This is shown in the following table.

[0063]

[Table 2]

Thus, it is possible to determine whether or not a device of a related type is connected to each function displayed on the main menu. The following table circles the type of equipment associated with each function. The number next to the circle indicates the order in which the function is called when the function is selected. For example, if "4: Internet" is selected, then the terminal adapter is called if the cable modem is unavailable.

[0065]

[Table 3]

Here, regarding the recognizable / non-recognizable states of the devices connected on the network, the following seven states are assumed. On the screen D1, only the function corresponding to the device recognized on the network can be selected according to the connection state of the network cable and the power cable.

[0067]

[Table 4]

In the state where the network cable is disconnected, since the digital camera 1 cannot control the function, the function related to the device with the disconnected network cable cannot be selected and is displayed in a light color. It has become.

For example, when the terminal adapter is not connected, the function of “6: data transmission” cannot be selected.

As described above, when the network cable is connected but the power cable is not connected, the usable / unusable state differs depending on the device. That is, whether or not recognition is possible on the network is determined by whether or not the battery can be driven or whether or not power can be supplied via the network.

In this example, the telephone, the notebook computer, and the terminal adapter are equipped with secondary batteries inside, and only these three can be driven by the batteries. Therefore, even if the power cable is disconnected, as long as the network cable is connected, these devices are recognized on the network and the corresponding functions can be used. If the power is off as in
By transmitting the N signal from the digital camera, the power of the target device can be turned on.

A network cable,
When connected to the power cable, the device is recognized on the network, and the corresponding function is available. Even when the power state of the device is OFF as in the above, the power can be turned ON by transmitting a power ON signal from the digital camera.

On the screen D1, the function corresponding to the unusable device due to the disconnection of the network cable cannot be selected and is displayed in a light color, so that the function corresponding to the unusable device is supported. The inconvenience of selecting a function is eliminated, and only a function corresponding to an available device can be reliably selected, thereby improving operability.

When there are a plurality of devices corresponding to the specific function, the display is displayed in light color only when all the devices corresponding to the specific function cannot be used. For example, in the case of "2: playback", the display is dimmed only when all of the three persons, the television monitor, the desktop personal computer, and the notebook personal computer, are unavailable.

<Selection of Screen> When "1: Print" is selected on the screen D1 shown in FIG. 8 and the shutter button is pressed, the screen transits to the screen D10.

Screen D10 is a screen for selecting a print image, in which images of four frames recently photographed by digital camera 1 are displayed together with frame numbers, and the newest image is selected. A frame is displayed on the selected image.

When the Up key is pressed on the screen D10, an image with the next larger frame number is selected, and when the Down key is pressed, an image with the next smaller frame number is selected.

When "2: Play" is selected on the screen D1 and the shutter button is pressed, the screen transits to the screen D20. Screen D20
In, it is possible to select a place where an image stored in the memory card 8 of the digital camera 1 is reproduced.
“21: Display on camera monitor”, “2: Display on camera monitor”, “2:
2: Display on television "and" 23: Display on personal computer "are displayed on the screen. Note that, on the screen D20, the newest image captured by the digital camera 1 is also displayed.

When "3: TV program" is selected on the screen D1, the display transits to a screen D30. On the screen D30, the recently selected channel number is displayed at the lower left. When the Up key is pressed, the channel number increases by one, and the Dow is displayed.
Pressing the n key decreases the channel number by one. In addition, on the screen D30, an image corresponding to the set channel number is displayed.

When "4: Internet" is selected on the screen D1, a transition is made to a screen D40 shown in FIG. Screen D4
At 0, an Internet address for browsing WWW content on a monitor screen of a digital camera can be selected. The address is set in advance and the Up
It is changed each time the key or the Down key is pressed. If not, scroll the selection.

When "5: Data recording" is selected on the screen D1, the display transits to a screen D50. On the screen D50, it is possible to select an object for storing an image recorded in the memory card 8 of the digital camera 1. Here, a video deck connected to the network and two personal computers can be selected, and the recording target can be changed each time the Up key or Down key is pressed. if,
If you can't fit on the screen, scroll through the choices.

When "6: Send" is selected on the screen D1,
Transition to screen D60. On the screen D60, a destination to which an image recorded in the memory card 8 of the digital camera 1 is transmitted can be selected. Up key, Down
It is possible to change the destination each time the key is pressed. If you can't fit on the screen, scroll through the choices. Note that the screen D60 also displays an item “64: Set destination” for setting the destination.

When "7: Execute application" is selected on the screen D1, the display transits to a screen D70. Screen D70
In, various applications for digital cameras can be selected. Each time the Up key or Down key is pressed, the selected application can be changed.

When "8: Other" is selected on the screen D1, the display transits to a screen D80. On the screen D80, “81:
Two items, "list of connected devices" and "82: digital camera settings" can be selected. Each time the Up key or Down key is pressed, the selected item can be changed.

Note that in screens D10 to D80, FL
When the mode setting key 11 is pressed, the screen returns to the screen D1, and when the shutter button 9 is pressed, the selected item is determined.

<1: Select print> On the screen D1, select "1:
The processing when "print" is selected is described in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the shutter button 9 is pressed while "1: print" is selected on the screen D1, a print routine of the step (hereinafter, step is referred to as "S") 10 in the flowchart of FIG. Call. The description will be given on the assumption that the inkjet printer is connected to a network.

When the printer receives the calling signal from the digital camera, it starts the reception processing routine of S1000.

In the reception processing routine, first, in S1010, the self power state is determined, and if the power is off (YES in S1010), the power is turned on in S1020. Then, in S1030, the status (state)
Is updated from power OFF to power ON. And S10
At 40, the status is transmitted to the digital camera. S10
As a result of judging the power state in step 10, if the power is on (S10
(NO at 10), the status is transmitted as it is at S1040. The status content includes information on whether the printer is currently being used by a device other than a digital camera.

The digital camera waits for a status signal from the printer in S110. If the status signal is not received even after one minute has elapsed in S120 (S1
(YES in 20), the screen transitions to a warning screen in S130, and displays that the printer is not connected (including the case where the printer is connected even if it was initially connected but was disconnected halfway), and executes the alternative process 1 in S140. I do. The alternative process 1 is a process for activating other printers and means to enable printing when the printer is unavailable, and will be described later in detail.

When the status signal is received in S110, the received status signal is checked, and in S150, it is determined whether or not the printer can be used.

If available (YE at S150)
S), a screen D10 is displayed in S155. On the screen D10, an image to be printed can be selected and a print instruction can be given. If not available (N in S150
O), and proceed to S160.

At S160, if the printer is used by a device other than the digital camera (S16
(YES at 0), the screen transits to a warning screen at S165, displays that the printer is being used by another device, and then proceeds to S140.

If it is not in use (NO in S160),
In S170, it is determined whether or not the ink is out. If the ink is out (YES in S170), a warning display indicating that the ink is out is performed in S175, and the process proceeds to S140.

If the ink is not exhausted (N in S170)
O), it is determined whether or not there is no paper in S180. If there is no paper (YES in S180), a warning is displayed in S185 that paper is set, and the process proceeds to S140.

When it is determined in S180 that there is a sheet (NO), other errors have occurred, and thus S190
To display a warning to confirm the printer, and then proceeds to S140.

As described above, when the printer is unavailable, various contents such as that the printer is being used by another device, that the printer is out of ink, that paper is to be set, and that the printer is to be checked are checked. The display allows the operator to immediately understand why the printer is unavailable when the printer is unavailable.

<Description of Alternative Processing 1> In the above-described print processing, a warning screen is shown in FIG.
(A). S130, S155, S165, S17, except that the wording of the underlined part is different.
5, S185 and S190, the shutter button 9
Is pressed, the operation when the FL mode setting key 11 is pressed is the same.

The contents of the alternative process 1 shown in S140 in FIG. 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In the alternative processing 1 routine, first, in S1400
To determine whether the shutter button 9 has been pressed. If not pressed (NO in S1400), S1410
Wait for the FL mode setting key 11 to be pressed. S14
If the FL mode setting key is pressed at 10 (YES),
The process jumps to S1420, displays the screen D1, and exits this routine. If the shutter button 9 is pressed in S1400 (YES), a facsimile is called in S1430.

Upon receiving the calling signal from the digital camera, the facsimile activates the receiving routine of S14300.

In the reception processing routine, the power state of itself is determined first in S14310, and if the power is off (YES in S14310), the power is turned on in S14320. Then, in S14330, the status is updated from power OFF to power ON. And S14
At 340, the status is transmitted to the digital camera. S1
As a result of judging the power state at 4310, if the power is on (S
(NO in 14310), and the status is directly transmitted in S14340. The status content includes information on whether the facsimile is currently being used by a device other than the digital camera.

In step S1440, the digital camera waits for reception of a status signal from a facsimile. S145
If the status signal is not received even if 1 minute has elapsed at 0 (YES at S1450), a transition is made to a warning screen at S1460, indicating that the facsimile is not connected, and
The process jumps to S1470, and determines whether the shutter button has been pressed in S1470. If not pressed (S
(NO at 1470), waits for the FL mode setting key to be pressed at S1480, and if not pressed (S148)
(NO at 0), and returns to S1470. On the other hand, when the shutter button is pressed (YES in S1470) or when the FL mode setting key is pressed (S14
If YES at 80), screen D1 is displayed at S1420.

If a status signal has been received in S1440 (YES in S1440), it is determined whether a facsimile can be used in S1490 by looking at the received status signal.

If available (YE at S1490)
S), a screen D10 is displayed in S1500. Screen D10
Then, an image to be printed can be selected and a print instruction can be given. If the facsimile is not available (NO in S1490), the process advances to S1510 to determine whether the facsimile is being used by a device other than the digital camera.

If a facsimile is being used (YES in S1510), a transition is made to a warning screen in S1520, a message indicating that the facsimile is being used by another device is displayed, and the flow advances to S1470.

If not in use (N in S1510)
O), it is determined whether there is no paper in S1530, and if there is no paper (YES in S1530), a warning is displayed in S1540 to set the paper, and the flow advances to S1470.

If it is determined in S1530 that there is a sheet (NO in S1530), since another error has occurred, a warning is displayed in S1550 to confirm the facsimile, and the flow advances to S1470.

As described above, even when the facsimile used in the substitute processing is not available, various facsimile statuses indicating that the facsimile is being used by another device, setting of paper, and confirmation of the printer are displayed. Because
The operator can immediately grasp the current state of the facsimile.

The warning screen in the alternative processing 1 is displayed in S1460.
Is shown in FIG. In this screen, when the shutter button is pressed or the FL mode setting key is pressed, or when any of the situations occurs, the screen D1 is displayed.
Return to The other warning screens operate in the same manner except for the wording of the underlined portions.

When returning to the screen D1, when both the printer and the facsimile cannot be used, "1: PRINT" is displayed in light color (displayed in italics in FIG. 12B). Therefore, the selection item moves to the next selectable item (in the example, “2: Play”).

As described above, when the printer is not available, a facsimile is started as an alternative process, and printing by facsimile becomes possible, so that the printing function selected by the operator can be reliably executed.

<3: Selection of TV Program> The process when "3: TV program" is selected on the screen D1 is shown in FIG.
3, description will be made with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14 and the screen transition diagram of FIG.

When the shutter button 9 is pressed while “3: TV program” is selected on the screen D1, the screen D3 is displayed.
At the same time, the tuner is called in S300 shown in FIG. When the tuner receives the calling signal from the digital camera, the tuner activates the reception processing routine of S3000.

In the reception processing routine, first, in S3010, the self power state is determined. If the power is OFF (YES in S3010), the power is turned ON in S3020.
To Then, in step S3030, the status is updated from power OFF to power ON. Then, in step S3040, the status is transmitted to the digital camera. As a result of determining the power state in S3010, if the power is ON (NO in S3010), the status is transmitted as it is in S3040. The status content includes information on whether the tuner is currently being used by a device other than a digital camera.

The digital camera waits for a status signal from the tuner in step S310. If the status signal is not received even after one minute has elapsed in S320 (S3
20), a warning screen D shown in FIG.
The screen transitions to 30A1, a message indicating that the tuner is not connected is displayed, and the routine exits.

If a status signal is received in S310 (YES), the received status signal is checked, and
At 40, it is determined whether a tuner is available. if,
If the tuner is used by a device other than the digital camera (NO in S340), the process proceeds to S350 in FIG.
The screen transits to the warning screen D30A2 of No. 5 to indicate that the tuner is being used by another device, and exits this routine.

If it is determined in S340 that the tuner is available (YES), the channel signal is transmitted to the tuner in S360, and the reception of a video signal from the tuner is waited in S370.

When the tuner receives the channel signal from the digital camera, the tuner starts the channel signal routine of S3600. In this routine, a channel is set in S3610, and a video signal is transmitted to the digital camera in S3620.

When the digital camera receives a video signal from the tuner in S370 (YES), the video is displayed on the monitor in S380. Up key / Dow in S390
It is determined whether or not the channel has been set by the n key, and if the channel has been changed (YES), S4
At 00, the channel signal is transmitted to the tuner.

When the tuner receives the channel signal from the digital camera in S4000 (Y in S4000)
ES), and returns to S3610 to perform channel setting.
If a channel signal has not been received (NO in S4000), it is determined in S4200 whether or not a television display end signal has been received.
NO in step S3620, and the transmission of the video signal is continued.

If the digital camera determines in S390 that the channel has not been set, (N
O) In S410, it is determined whether or not the FL mode setting key has been pressed. If the FL mode setting key has been pressed (YES in S410), a television display end signal is transmitted to the tuner in S420, and in S430. It returns to the screen D1 and exits this routine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S410 that the FL mode setting key has not been depressed (NO in S410)
O), returning to S370.

When the tuner receives the television display end signal in S4200 (YES in S4200), S421
A display end process of 0 is executed, and the process exits from this routine. S
If the television display end signal has not been received in 4200 (NO), the process returns to S3620 to continue transmitting the video signal.

Next, the display end process in S4210 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. S
The transmission of the video signal is stopped at 4220, and the status of the tuner is updated at S4230. In S4240, it is determined whether one minute has elapsed since the reception of the television display end signal, and if one minute has elapsed (YES in S4240), the process proceeds to S4240.
At 250, the tuner is turned off. in this way,
Since the power of the tuner is shut off based on the television display end signal (operation end signal) output from the digital camera, the operator does not need to directly shut off the power of the tuner, which is convenient.

If one minute has not elapsed since the reception of the television display end signal in S4240 (NO in S4240), it is determined in S4260 whether or not there is a connection request from another device as viewed from the tuner. If there is a connection request (YES in S4260), the process exits this routine, and
A predetermined process is performed according to the device that has issued the connection request. If there is no connection request (NO in S4260), S4
Return to 240.

As described above, when "1: print" is selected from the main menu on the screen D1, the facsimile is activated after the printer, and when "3: television program" is selected, the tuner is activated. explained. Other "2: Play", "4: Internet",
Also when “5: data recording” and “6: data transmission” are selected, the related devices shown in the above table are activated.

<Display of List of Connected Devices> Screen D1 in FIG.
When "8: other" is selected, the screen transits to a screen D80 in FIG. On the screen D80, “81: List of connected devices” and “82: Digital camera settings” can be selected as described above. When "81: List of connected devices" is selected and the shutter button 9 is pressed, the digital camera inquires of devices connected on the network, and a list of connected devices shown in FIG. 16 is displayed. This list display allows the operator to recognize the devices connected to the network even if the digital camera and the devices or the devices are arranged apart from each other.

On this screen, the type of device, connection status,
A list of statuses (usable / in use) is displayed. Up
It is possible to scroll and display the whole with the key and the Down key. Press shutter button 9 to display screen D80
When the FL mode setting key 11 is pressed, the screen returns to the screen D1.

[0129]

As described above, the digital camera according to the present invention activates a specific device from the devices connected to the network in accordance with the function selected in the function selection mode. From this, it is possible to activate a specific device based on an operation from the digital camera side without having to be aware of the presence / absence of connection of the device and whether or not the device can be used, simply by selecting the function described above. Can be improved step by step.

In addition, in the case where the alternative device is activated when a specific device is unavailable, the selected function can be executed by the alternative device, so that the function selected by the operator can be more reliably performed. Can be performed.

Further, when a specific device is not available, if its contents are displayed, the operator can easily grasp the state of the device and take appropriate measures according to it. be able to.

Further, when an operation end signal for shutting off the power supply of a device connected to the network is configured to be output, the power supply of the device can be cut off on the digital camera side, so that the operability is further increased. Get better.

Further, when a device connected to the network is detected and only a function related to the detected device is configured to be selectable, a function related to a device not connected to the network is erroneously selected. Can be automatically avoided, and operability is improved.

In a case where the apparatus connected to the network is detected and the detected apparatuses are displayed in a list, the list of the apparatuses connected to the network allows the digital camera and the apparatus or the apparatuses to be connected to each other. The operator can recognize the devices connected to the network even if the devices are remotely located, and the operability is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a network to which a digital camera according to the present invention is connected.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the digital camera.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital camera shown in FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an overall control unit in the block diagram of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage structure of an image in a memory card 8;

FIG. 8 is a part of a divided screen transition diagram for explaining an initial screen in a reproduction mode (function selection mode) and a screen when each function is selected.

FIG. 9 is another part of a screen transition diagram for explaining an initial screen in a reproduction mode (function selection mode) and a screen when each function is selected.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process when a “1: print” function is selected on the screen D1 of FIG. 8;

11 is an alternative process 1 in the flowchart of FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of FIG.

12 is a transition diagram of a screen displayed in the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 13 shows “3: TV program” on screen D1 in FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing a process when a function is selected.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the contents of a display end process in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a transition diagram of a screen displayed in the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a list display screen of connected devices.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera 2 ... Camera body part 3 ... Imaging part 8 ... Memory card 9 ... Shutter button 10 ... Display part 11 ... FL mode setting key 14 ... Shooting / playback mode setting switch 19 ... Network connection device 211 ... General control part D1 , D10 to D80 ... screen

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera connectable to a network to which one or more video or communication devices are connected, wherein one or more functions executable through the network are provided. And a function selection mode for selecting a displayed function, and a means for activating a specific device from among the devices connected to a network in accordance with the function selected in the function selection mode. A digital camera, comprising: 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein an alternative device is activated when a specific device is unavailable. 3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein when a specific device is unavailable, its contents are displayed. 4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein an operation end signal for shutting off a power supply of a device connected to the network can be output. 5. A digital camera connectable to a network to which one or more video or communication devices are connected, wherein one or more functions executable via the network are provided. And a function selection mode for selecting the displayed function; a unit for detecting the device connected to the network; and a function related to the detected device among the functions displayed in the function selection mode. Means for selecting only the function to be performed. 6. A digital camera connectable to a network to which one or more video or communication devices are connected, wherein one or more functions executable through the network are provided. And a function selection mode for selecting a displayed function, a unit for detecting the device connected to the network, and a unit for displaying a list of the detected devices. camera.