Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
  • H04N1/00129—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
  • H04N1/00347—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
  • H04N1/00405—Output means
  • H04N1/00408—Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00912—Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
  • H04N1/00933—Timing control or synchronising
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00962—Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software
  • H04N1/00965—Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
  • H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
  • H04N23/63—Control of cameras or camera modules by using electronic viewfinders
  • H04N23/631—Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
  • H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
  • H04N23/66—Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
  • H04N23/661—Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2101/00—Still video cameras
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0008—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus
  • H04N2201/001—Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
  • H04N2201/0084—Digital still camera
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
  • H04N2201/0086—Image transceiver
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
  • H04N2201/0087—Image storage device

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a
• a combo card that has, in addition to a memory function for storing image data, a wireless communication function. By mounting this combo card for use in a digital camera, it is possible to wirelessly transfer image data from the digital camera to an external apparatus that has a wireless communication function.
• the digital camera can switch the memory function and the wireless communication function of the combo card between being activated and deactivated.
• the combo card When the memory function is active, the combo card operates in response to reception of a command from the digital camera. Therefore, the digital camera only needs to supply a clock to the combo card when actually accessing the combo card to read or write image data and the like.
• the combo card when the wireless communication function is active, the combo card first issues an interrupt signal or the like to the digital camera that serves as a host. Accordingly, the digital camera needs to constantly maintain the state in which communication with the combo card is possible so as to be able to receive signals from the combo card any time. Therefore, the digital camera continues to supply the clock as well as supplying power to the combo card even while no communication is actually being performed.
• PTP Picture Transfer Protocol
• DLNA Digital Living Network Alliance
• the digital camera In order to wirelessly communicate with an external apparatus using the wireless communication function of the combo card, the digital camera needs to use a communication protocol with which this external apparatus is compatible.
• the combo card is not necessarily compatible with all
• the digital camera needs to identify the communication protocol with which the combo card is compatible and to select, as the communication partner, an external apparatus that is compatible with this communication protocol. For example, in the case where the combo card is compatible with PTP but not DLNA, the digital camera can select, as the communication partner, a PC that is compatible with PTP but not a TV that is not compatible with PTP.
• the digital camera cannot identify the communication protocol with which the combo card is compatible. As a result, the digital camera cannot appropriately select, as the communication partner, an external apparatus that is compatible with the same communication protocol as that of the combo card.
• the present invention was made in view of such a situation and provides a technology for
• a communication control apparatus such as a digital camera that is capable of wirelessly communicating with an external apparatus by using a wireless communication function of a storage medium such as a combo card, power consumption associated with the storage medium.
• a communication control apparatus comprising: connection means for connecting a storage medium that has a memory function for reading and writing data, and a wireless communication function for communicating with an external apparatus; control means for supplying a clock to the storage medium at a predetermined timing and controlling the wireless communication function of the storage medium; obtaining means for obtaining, after the storage medium is supplied with the clock by the control means,
• control means stops supplying the clock to the storage medium after the communication protocol information has been obtained by the obtaining means.
• a method for controlling a communication control apparatus including connection means for connecting a storage medium that has a memory function for reading and writing data, and a wireless communication function for communicating with an external apparatus, the method comprising: supplying a clock to the storage medium at a predetermined timing and controlling the wireless communication function of the storage medium; obtaining, after the storage medium is supplied with the clock in the supplying, communication protocol information on a communication protocol with which the wireless- communication function is compatible from the storage medium; and performing display according to the communication protocol
• FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram digital camera 100
• FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a memory card 200.
• FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams each illustrating a display example of a communication menu screen for wireless communication using the memory card 200, the communication menu screen being displayed by the digital camera 100.
• FIGS. 4A to 4B are flowcharts illustrating processing for initializing the memory card 200 performed by the digital camera 100.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating
• a digital camera is described as an example of a communication control apparatus.
• the communication control apparatus is not limited to the digital camera, and may be any apparatus that can wirelessly communicate with an external apparatus with the use of a wireless communication function of a combo card.
• FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a digital camera 100.
• a control unit 101 is, for example, a programmable processor such as a CPU or an MPU, and controls the entire digital camera 100.
• a nonvolatile memory 102 stores processing procedures (program) of the control unit 101, various types of settings of the digital camera 100, graphical user interface (GUI) data such as a menu screen, and the like.
• a RAM 103 is used as a work area of the control unit 101.
• An operation unit 104 is a group of buttons and switches, and is used for a user to give various types of instructions to the digital camera 100.
• a display unit 105 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) , and is used for displaying captured images or a menu screen for selecting various types of settings.
• LCD liquid crystal display
• An optical unit 106 is constituted mainly by a lens (a zoom lens, a focus lens, or the like) , an actuator for driving the lens, and the like.
• An image sensor 107 is a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor. Under the control of the control unit 101, a driver 108 controls the optical unit 106.
• a connector 109 is a connector for
• the memory card 200 of the present embodiment is a combo card that has, in addition to a memory function, a wireless communication function.
• the memory card 200 is an SD memory card (SD is a registered trademark) .
• An interface (I/F) 110 is a digital interface, such as a USB interface, an IEEE 1394 interface, an HDMI
• FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the memory card 200.
• the memory card 200 includes a card controller 201, a wireless communication unit 202, and a memory unit 203.
• the card controller 201 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. Control of the wireless communication unit 202 of the memory card 200, communication of the memory card 200 with an external apparatus on a wireless communication network, and operation of the memory card 200 as a storage medium for the digital camera 100, and the like are realized by the card controller 201 performing control.
• the wireless communication unit 202 has the wireless communication function that is compliant with a wireless communication standard such as IEEE 802. llx or Bluetooth (registered trademark) , and realizes communication with an external apparatus on the
• the communication unit 202 has a wireless LAN communication function that is compliant with the IEEE 802. lla/b/g/n standards.
• the memory unit 203 includes a nonvolatile memory of, for example, a NAND type, and stores data such as still images, moving images, and sounds that are written via the card controller 201.
• the memory card 200 is assumed to store files in compliance with a predetermined file system, such as the Design rule for Camera File (DCF) system, for functioning as a storage medium of the digital camera 100.
• DCF Design rule for Camera File
• the memory card 200 has two operation modes.
• One is a memory mode for storing data in the memory unit 203, and the other one is an input/output (10) mode for performing communication using the wireless communication unit 202.
• the card controller 201 performs control such that each of these two modes is activated or inactivated.
• the digital camera 100 can transmit, to the card controller 201, commands for performing control such that each of the memory mode and the 10 mode is activated or deactivated.
• the card controller 201 sets the respective modes of the memory card 200 to be activated or deactivated.
• the card controller 201 can cause, by connecting the memory card 200 to a wireless LAN network, the memory card 200 to communicate with an external apparatus on the basis of a plurality of communication protocols.
• the memory card 200 can use device-to-device communication that is compliant with the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)
• DLNA Digital Living Network Alliance
• DLNA guideline
• the user when he or she inserts the memory card 200 into the digital camera 100, can add the digital camera 100 to a DLNA network, enabling the digital camera to wirelessly transmit captured image data to a media player such as a TV, and the media player to playback the captured image data.
• the memory card 200 can perform device-to-device communication using the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) .
• PTP Picture Transfer Protocol
• the digital camera 100 can wirelessly communicate
• the digital camera 100 in the present embodiment has an application that uses the above- described communication function of the memory card 200.
• the digital camera 100 has an application that uses a DLNA communication function of the memory card 200 to connect the digital camera 100 to a TV.
• the digital camera 100 has an application that uses a PTP communication function of the memory card 200 to connect the digital camera 100 to another digital camera, a portable terminal such as a cellular phone or a so-called tablet device, a PC, a web server, and the like.
• the memory card 200 that is connected to the digital camera 100 does not
• the communication protocol with which the memory card 200 is compatible may be, for example, either or both PTP and DLNA.
• the digital camera 100 can query as to.
• This query can be made while the 10 mode of the memory card 200 is active.
• the digital camera 100 identifies the communication protocol (s) with which the memory card 200 is compatible. If the 10 mode is deactivated, the digital camera 100 cannot recognize with which communication protocol the memory card 200 is compatible.
• FIGS. 3A to 3C Display examples of the communication menu screen displayed by the digital camera 100 and used for wireless communication using the memory card 200 are described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C.
• the communication menu screens of FIGS. 3A to 3C are each used for a user to select an external apparatus that is the communication partner, and to cause the digital camera 100 to start communicating with the selected external apparatus. If a predetermined user operation is performed on the digital camera 100, the digital camera 100 displays one of the communication menu screens on the display unit 105.
• the communication menu screen varies according to the type of communication protocol with which the memory card 200 is compatible. Specifically, the communication menu screen includes, as options of communication partners, at least one icon that
• the digital camera 100 has to identify in advance the communication protocol with which the memory card 200 is compatible in order to display an appropriate communication menu screen. Communication protocol identifying processing will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 4.
• FIG. 3A shows an example of the
• the communication menu screen of FIG. 3A displays icons indicating types of devices which can communicate using PTP. Specifically, icons that indicate a digital camera, a portable
• FIG. 3B shows an example of the
• the communication menu screen of FIG. 3B displays an icon that indicates a TV, which is a device which can communicate using DLNA. By selecting this icon, the user can start processing for communicating with the TV.
• FIG. 3C shows an example of the
• FIG. 3C displays the icons indicating types of devices which can communicate using PTP and the icon indicating the device which can communicate using PTP and the icon indicating the device which can
• icons that indicate a digital camera, a portable terminal, a PC, a web server, and a TV are displayed. By selecting one of the icons, the user can start processing for communicating with a desired destination . [0039] Accordingly, by identifying a communication protocol with which the memory card 200 is compatible in advance (before starting actual communication) , the digital camera 100 can actively display the
• the digital camera 100 may decide an
• the digital camera 100 may be any digital camera 100.
• the communication menu screen does not include an icon indicating an external apparatus that is compatible with a communication protocol with which an application of the digital camera 100 is not compatible, among the communication protocols with which the memory card 200 is compatible.
• the display of the communication menu screen is as illustrated in FIG. 3A even if the memory card 200 is compatible with both PTP and DLNA.
• the digital camera 100 is not limited to having the configuration in which one of the communication menu screens of FIGS. 3A to 3C is displayed, and may have any configuration in which the display is performed according to the communication protocol with which the memory card 200 is compatible.
• FIGS. 4A and 4B are flowcharts illustrating processing for initializing the memory card 200 performed by the digital camera 100.
• the digital camera 100 initializes the memory card 200 at the time of, for example, starting the digital camera 100, in order to store and read image data in and from the memory card 200.
• the memory card initialization processing of the present embodiment includes communication protocol identifying processing. Processing in steps of the flowchart is realized by the control unit 101 controlling the units of the digital camera 100, unless otherwise noted.
• step S401 the digital camera 100 turns on power supply to the memory card 200.
• step S402 the digital camera 100 starts supplying a clock to the memory card 200 in order to issue a command for controlling the memory card 200.
• step S403 the digital camera 100 issues a command for initializing the 10 mode and performs 10 mode initialization processing, in order to activate the 10 mode in which communication using the wireless communication unit 202 of the memory card 200 can be performed.
• step S404 the digital camera 100 issues a command for initializing the memory mode and performs memory mode initialization processing, in order to activate the memory mode in which storage and reading of image data using the memory unit 203 of the memory card 200 can be performed.
• step S405 the digital camera 100 determines whether or not the 10 mode has properly been activated by the 10 mode initialization processing performed in step S403. If the IO mode has not been activated, the digital camera 100 stores, in step S406, the fact that the IO mode is not available for the currently inserted memory card 200.
• step S407 the digital camera 100 stores, in step S407, the fact that the IO mode is available for the currently
• step S408 the digital camera 100 obtains, from the memory card 200, communication protocol information indicating with which communication protocol the memory card 200 is compatible.
• step S409 the digital camera 100 determines whether or not the memory mode has properly been activated by the memory mode initialization processing performed in step S404. If the memory mode has not been activated, the digital camera 100 stores, in step S410, the failure of the memory mode
• step S411 the digital camera 100 stores, in step S411, the success of the memory mode initialization with respect to the currently inserted memory card 200.
• step S412 the digital camera 100 checks whether or not the 10 mode is available for the memory card 200. If the 10 mode is available, the digital camera 100 issues, in step S413, a command for
• step S414 supplying the clock to the memory card 200 is stopped.
• step S415 the digital camera 100 stores the fact that the IO mode has been deactivated.
• step S416 the digital, camera 100 determines whether or not the memory mode
• step S405 initialization performed in step S405 was successful. If the memory mode initialization was successful, the digital camera 100 can, in step S417, store and read image data or the like with respect to the memory card 200. On the other hand, if the memory mode
• the digital camera 100 performs control, in step S418, such that so the digital camera 100 does not store and read image data or the like with respect to the memory card 200.
• step S419 the digital camera 100 determines whether or not the 10 mode is available. If the 10 mode is available, the memory card
• step S420 the digital camera 100 turns off power supply to the memory card 200 and the memory card initialization processing ends.
• step S408 the digital camera 100 can display the
• step S413 the 10 mode is deactivated and in the following step S414, supplying the clock to the memory card is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to suppress occurrence of the situation in which,' due to the clock supply, power of the digital camera 100 is wasted despite wireless communication not actually being performed.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating communication menu screen processing performed by the digital camera 100.
• step S501 the digital camera 100
• step S502 determines whether or not the 10 mode of the memory card 200 is available. If the 10 mode is not available, the communication menu screen is not displayed, and the processing of the present flowchart ends. If the 10 mode is available, the processing advances to step S502.
• step S502 the digital camera 100
• step S503 if the compatible communication protocol is only DLNA, the processing advances to step S504, and if the compatible
• step S503 the digital camera 100
• step S504 the digital camera 100 displays the communication menu screen for DLNA communication as illustrated in FIG. 3B.
• step S505 the digital camera 100 displays the communication menu screen for both PTP communication and DLNA communication as illustrated in FIG. 3C.
• step S506 the digital camera 100
• step S507 the digital camera 100 determines, in step S507, whether or not a communication menu
• step S506 If the communication start instruction has been given in step S506, the processing advances to step S508.
• step S508 the digital camera 100 restarts supplying a clock to the memory card 200.
• step S509 the digital camera 100 performs processing for reinitializing the 10 mode of the memory card 200.
• step S510 the digital camera 100 stores the fact that the 10 mode of the memory card 200 is operating (activated) .
• step S511 the digital camera 100 instructs the memory card 200 to operate with the communication protocol that corresponds to the icon (the communication partner) that is selected on the communication menu screen.
• step S512 the digital camera 100 uses the wireless communication unit 202 of the memory card 200 to perform processing for transferring data to the selected communication party. Upon completion of the data transfer processing, the digital camera 100 performs, in step S513, processing for deactivating the 10 mode of the memory card 200. In step S514, the digital camera 100 stores the fact that the IO mode of the memory card 200 is not operating (deactivated) . In step S515, the digital camera 100 stops supplying the clock to the memory card 200 and the processing of the present flowchart ends.
• the digital camera 100 supplies a clock to the memory card 200 and activates the 10 mode thereof only when actually performing communication. Therefore, it is possible to identify the communication protocol with which the memory card 200 is compatible, and to select the communication partner that is compatible with the identified
• the communication protocol identifying processing was included in the memory card initialization processing.
• the communication protocol identifying processing may be performed at any timing before the communication menu screen is displayed.
• the digital camera 100 may perform the communication protocol identifying processing at the time at which the memory card 200 is inserted, at the time of transition into the playback mode, at the time of transition into the communication menu screen, or the like.
• the communication protocol identifying processing is performed at the time of transition into the communication menu screen. In this case, processing in steps S402, S403, and S405 to S408 in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and processing in steps S412 to S414 are performed at the timing of steps S501 and S502 of FIG. 5.
• step S413 the 10 mode is deactivated in step S413, and then supplying the clock is stopped in step S414.
• steps S509 to S510 and S513 to S514 of FIG . 5 may be omitted.
• transition into the 10 mode is not performed, if the user has instructed in advance using the menu or the like a setting in which communication is not performed, such as when a communication function using the memory card 200 has been set to off.
• a setting in which communication is not performed such as when a communication function using the memory card 200 has been set to off.
• the digital camera 100 performs processing for identify a communication protocol with which the memory card 200 is compatible prior to the timing at which the communication menu screen is displayed. Then, upon completion of the communication protocol identifying processing, the digital camera 100 deactivates the 10 mode of the memory card 200, and stops supplying the clock to the memory card 200.
• aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out and executes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the above-described
• embodiment ( s ) and by a method, the steps of which are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the above-described embodiment ( s ) .
• the program is provided to the computer for example via a network or from a recording medium of various types serving as the memory device (e.g., computer-readable medium) .

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• 2012
  • 2012-09-03 JP JP2012193570A patent/JP6097507B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
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  • 2013-08-13 US US14/409,579 patent/US9294633B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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