JP2005049926A - Device equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide device equipment capable of switching a communication mode automatically according to host equipment connected thereto. <P>SOLUTION: When a digital camera 100 is USB-connected to the host equipment, the communication mode is determined immediately after the connection based on a command supplied from the host equipment so as to be automatically set to the communication mode corresponding to the host equipment. By this manner, a change of the communication mode is prevented from being forgot and prevented from being executed erroneously so as to be set surely to the communication mode corresponding to the host equipment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device device, and more particularly to a device device capable of providing a function corresponding to a host device by switching a communication mode according to the connected host device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a digital camera and a personal computer (PC) are connected using a USB, and image data recorded in the digital camera is taken into the PC. In recent years, a digital camera and a printer are directly connected using USB, and image data is directly output from the digital camera to the printer for printing (so-called PictBridge).
[0003]
By the way, the command format differs between when the digital camera is connected to the PC and when connected to the printer, and when the digital camera is connected to the PC or printer, the communication mode of the camera is changed to the communication mode corresponding to the connected device. It is necessary to match. For example, when connecting a digital camera to a PC, the communication mode of the camera must be set to PC mode, and when connecting to a printer, the communication mode must be set to direct print mode. Conventionally, the switching of the communication mode of the digital camera has been manually performed by the user through a setup menu or a mode switch (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
Patent Document 2 proposes that a plurality of cameras can be controlled by connecting cameras having different command formats and communication methods to a PC or the like via a video signal / control signal switching device. .
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-305777 [0006]
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-66059
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the user manually switches the communication mode as in a conventional digital camera, there is a drawback that it is easy to make a mistake or forget to change. In addition, when setting the communication mode of the camera using the setup menu, there is a drawback in that it takes time to switch the communication mode.
[0008]
On the other hand, in the method of connecting to a PC or the like via a video signal / control signal switching device as in Patent Document 2, a separate video signal / control signal switching device must be prepared, resulting in a large system. There is.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device device that can automatically switch a communication mode in accordance with a host device to be connected.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 sets the host device connected through the communication means by setting the communication mode according to the host device, thereby connecting the host device. In the device device capable of providing a function according to the device, a determination unit that determines a communication mode according to the host device based on a command given from the host device immediately after being connected via the communication unit, and the determination There is provided a device device comprising switching means for automatically switching a communication mode based on a determination result of the means.
[0011]
According to the present invention, when the device device is connected to the host device via the communication unit, the determination unit determines the communication mode corresponding to the connected host device based on the command given from the host device immediately after the connection. . Then, based on the determination result of the determination unit, the communication mode of the device device is automatically switched by the switching unit. As described above, according to the present invention, the communication mode of the device device can be automatically set to a mode corresponding to the host device simply by connecting the device device to the host device. As a result, it is possible to reliably set the communication mode corresponding to the host device without forgetting to change the communication mode or making a mistake, and the operability is improved.
[0012]
In order to achieve the object, the device according to claim 2 is a PC mode in which the device device is a digital camera and is connected to a personal computer as the host device to provide a function as a removable disk; 2. The device apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a direct print mode connected to a printer as a host apparatus and providing a function of outputting an image for printing to the printer.
[0013]
According to the present invention, when a digital camera is connected to a personal computer, the mode of the digital camera is set to the PC mode based on a command given from the personal computer immediately after the connection. When the digital camera is connected to the printer, the digital camera mode is set to the direct print mode based on a command given from the printer immediately after the connection.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a device device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram when a digital camera 100 as a device device is connected to a PC 200 or a printer 300 as a host device. As shown in the figure, the digital camera 100 is connected to a PC 200 or a printer 300 with a USB cable 400.
[0016]
The digital camera 100 connected to the PC 200 provides the PC 200 with a function as a removable disk (Storage Server function). The digital camera 100 connected to the printer 300 is recorded on a memory card with respect to the printer 300. A function (Print Client function) is provided to output a printed image and perform printing.
[0017]
By the way, when the digital camera 100 is connected to the PC 200 and when connected to the printer 300, the command format is different, and the digital camera 100 needs to be set to a communication mode that matches the host device to which it is connected. That is, when the digital camera 100 is connected to the PC 200, the “PC mode” that supports communication with the PC 200 is set. When the digital camera 100 is connected to the printer 300, the “direct print mode” that supports communication with the printer 300 is set. Must be set. The digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment automatically switches the communication mode according to the connection destination host device.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera 100. As shown in the figure, a finder eyepiece 102, a mode switch 104, a cross key 106, a MENU / OK button 108, a BACK button 110, a display button 112, and a liquid crystal monitor 114 are provided on the back of the digital camera 100. A shutter button 118 is provided on the upper surface. Although not shown, a USB connector, a power supply terminal, and a video terminal are provided on the left side surface.
[0019]
The mode switch 104 functions as a button for instructing mode switching, and the camera mode is set to “shooting mode” or “reproduction mode” by sliding the mode switch 104.
[0020]
The cross button 106 functions as a button for inputting instructions in four directions, up, down, left, and right, and is used to select a menu item displayed on the menu screen. The upper and lower buttons function as zoom buttons during shooting, and the left and right buttons function as frame advance / return buttons during playback.
[0021]
The MENU / OK button 108 functions as a button for inputting a menu screen display instruction, a selection item determination instruction, and the like, and the BACK button 110 is a button for instructing operation stop or returning to the previous operation state. Function as. The display button 112 functions as a button for instructing switching of display / non-display of the through image on the liquid crystal monitor 114.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital camera 100. As shown in the figure, this digital camera 100 is an imaging system that forms a subject image on a light receiving surface, photoelectrically converts it and outputs it as an image signal, and processes such as white balance correction and gamma correction. And a signal processing unit 122 that performs the above and an A / D converter 124 that converts an analog image signal into digital image data.
[0023]
Further, as an input system, an operation unit 126 including operation means such as the mode switch 104, the cross key 106, the MENU / OK button 108, the BACK button 110, the display button 112, the shutter button 118, and the like described above, and an input from the operation unit 126 And an I / O 128 that is a port for converting the received signal, and as an image conversion system, a compression / decompression unit that performs compression control of image data using a technique typified by JPEG, and performs processing for expanding / decompressing compressed data 130 and a card interface 136 for converting data for recording or reading image data on a removable memory card 132.
[0024]
The display system includes a liquid crystal monitor 114, a D / A converter 140 that converts an image or the like into a signal for display on the liquid crystal monitor 114, and a VRAM or the like that temporarily stores an image or information to be displayed. A frame memory 142 and an OSD 144 for on-screen display of characters, icons, etc., and as a communication means, a USB connector 146 to which a USB cable 400 is connected, and a host device connected via the USB connector 146 And a USB controller 148 for performing bidirectional communication of data including image data.
[0025]
In addition, as a control unit, the entire digital camera is controlled, and a central processing unit (CPU) 150 that controls image signal sampling control, image recording control, communication control, display control, and the like, and a communication mode described later. A system memory 152 including a ROM storing various operation programs including switching programs and various constants, a RAM serving as a work area when the program is executed, and a non-volatile memory storing various constants and information regarding the operation of the digital camera 100 154.
[0026]
The digital camera 100 shifts its operation mode to the communication mode with the USB connection to the host device as a trigger. As a communication mode, “PC mode” connected to the PC 200 and recognized as a removable disk (mass storage device) from the PC 200 as described above, and connected to the printer 300 and recorded on the memory card 132 with respect to the printer 300. A “direct print mode” for printing the image being printed is automatically switched according to the connected host device. Data transmission / reception is performed in accordance with a predetermined command format under the set communication mode. The switching of the communication mode will be described later in detail.
[0027]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the PC 200. As shown in the figure, the PC 200 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 212 that mainly controls the operation of each component, a main memory 214 that stores a program and serves as a work area when the program is executed, A hard disk device 216 for storing an operating system (OS), device drivers of device devices connected to the PC 200, various application software, user images, etc., a CD-ROM drive 218, and a display memory for temporarily storing display data 220, a monitor device 230 for displaying images and characters by image data, character data, and the like from the display memory 220, a keyboard 240, a pointing device 250 as a position input device, and a state of the pointing device 250 are detected and monitored. On device 230 Between the pointing device controller 260 that outputs signals such as the position of the mouse pointer and the state of the pointing device 250 to the CPU 212, the USB connector 272 to which the USB cable 400 is connected, and the device device connected via the USB connector 272 The USB controller 148 for performing bidirectional communication of data including image data, and a bus 280 for connecting the above components.
[0028]
The PC 200 uses the USB connection to the digital camera 100 as a trigger, shifts its operation mode to the communication mode, and recognizes the digital camera 100 from the PC 200 as a removable disk (mass storage device). That is, it requests the digital camera 100 connected via USB to function as a storage server, notifies that the function as a storage client can be provided, and establishes a connection.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer 300. As shown in the figure, the printer 300 includes an operation unit 302 including a power switch, an I / O 304 that is a port for converting a signal input through the operation unit 302, and a USB connector to which a USB cable 400 is connected. A USB controller 308 for communicating data including image data between the device 306 and a device connected via the USB connector 306; and a central processing unit (CPU) 310 that performs overall control of each unit of the printer 300; A system memory 312 including a ROM in which programs for operating the CPU 310 and various constants are written, and a RAM serving as a work area when the CPU 310 executes processing; a storage unit 314 for temporarily storing received image data; And a print engine 316.
[0030]
The printer 300 uses the USB connection to the digital camera 100 as a trigger, shifts its operation mode to the communication mode, and provides the digital camera 100 with a direct printing function. That is, it requests the digital camera 100 connected by USB to function as a print client, notifies that the function as a print server can be provided, and establishes a connection.
[0031]
Next, automatic switching of communication modes when the digital camera 100 is connected to a host device will be described.
[0032]
As described above, the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment includes “PC mode” and “direct print mode” as communication modes with a host device connected via the USB cable 400. When connected to the PC 200, the communication mode is automatically set to “PC mode” as shown in FIG. 6A, and when connected to the printer 300, the communication mode is set to “Direct” as shown in FIG. The print mode is automatically set.
[0033]
Hereinafter, the procedure for switching the communication mode of the digital camera 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0034]
When the digital camera 100 is connected to the host device by the USB cable 400 (step S10), the operation mode of the digital camera 100 shifts to the communication mode using the connection as a trigger.
[0035]
On the other hand, the host device transmits a command for establishing a connection with the digital camera 100 under the function requested by the host device. For example, when the host device is the PC 200, a command for causing the digital camera 100 to function as a removable disk ("PC mode" command) is transmitted, and when the printer 300 is used, the digital camera 100 is caused to function as a print client. Command (“direct print mode” command).
[0036]
The digital camera 100 receives a command transmitted from the host device immediately after connection with the host device (step S12), and determines a communication mode to be set. That is, the received command is sequentially interpreted in both the “PC mode” and the “direct print mode”, and it is determined which mode is compatible with the command format. Then, the communication mode is set to the mode in which the format error does not occur, and the connection is established.
[0037]
First, it is determined whether or not the received command is a “PC mode” command (step S14). That is, it is determined whether the received command can be interpreted as a “PC mode” command (whether an error occurs in the command format). If the received command is a “PC mode” command as a result of this determination, the CPU 150 of the digital camera 100 sets the communication mode to “PC mode” and establishes a connection with the PC 200. Then, the PC 200 is caused to function as a removable disk (step S16).
[0038]
On the other hand, if it is determined that the received command is not a “PC mode” command, it is then determined whether or not the received command is a “direct print mode” command (step S18). That is, it is determined whether the received command can be interpreted as a “direct print mode” command (whether an error occurs in the command format). If the received command is a “direct print mode” command, the CPU 150 of the digital camera 100 sets the communication mode to “direct print mode” and establishes a connection with the printer 300. Then, the printer 300 is caused to function as a print client (step S20).
[0039]
The digital camera 100 connected to the PC 200 is recognized as a removable disk, and the PC 200 can read and write data including image data with respect to the memory card 132 attached to the digital camera 100.
[0040]
On the other hand, the digital camera 100 connected to the printer 300 has the direct print function enabled, and the image data can be directly output from the digital camera 100 to the printer for printing. With this direct print function, the digital camera 100 can, for example, print an image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 114, print a plurality of images selected on the liquid crystal monitor 114, automatically print a DPOF-designated image, In addition to index printing and printing of all images, it is possible to perform partial printing of images specified by clipping on the LCD monitor 114, printing multiple images of the same image, printing with a date added, printing with a specified image size, etc. become.
[0041]
As described above, according to the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, when a USB connection is established with a host device, the communication mode is automatically switched according to a command sent from the host device immediately after the connection. As a result, it is possible to always set the optimal communication mode without forgetting to change the communication mode or causing a change error. In addition, the user does not need to switch the communication mode when connecting to the host device, and the operability is improved.
[0042]
In this embodiment, the device device and the host device are connected using the USB interface as the communication means. However, the device device and the host device are connected using another communication interface, for example, a communication interface such as IEEE1394. And may be connected.
[0043]
Further, in this embodiment, the case where a digital camera as a device device and a PC or printer as a host device are connected has been described as an example. However, the present invention is a case where another device device and a host device are connected. It can be similarly applied to.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the communication mode of the device device can be automatically set to a mode corresponding to the host device simply by connecting the device device to the host device. It is possible to reliably set the communication mode corresponding to the host device without causing a mistake in changing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a system configuration diagram when a digital camera as a device is connected to a PC or printer as a host device. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital camera. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the PC. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of switching the communication mode. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the communication mode switching procedure of the digital camera. Explanation of]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Digital camera, 114 ... Liquid crystal monitor, 120 ... Imaging part, 122 ... Signal processing part, 126 ... Operation part, 132 ... Memory card, 146 ... USB connector, 148 ... USB controller, 150 ... Central processing unit (CPU), 152 ... System memory, 154 ... Non-volatile memory, 200 ... Personal computer (PC), 212 ... Central processing unit (CPU), 214 ... Main memory, 216 ... Hard disk device, 300 ... Printer, 306 ... USB connector, 308 ... USB Controller 310 ... Central processing unit (CPU) 312 ... System memory 314 ... Storage unit 316 ... Print engine 400 ... USB cable

Claims (2)

In a device device that can provide a function corresponding to the host device by connecting to the host device connected via the communication means by setting the communication mode according to the host device and connecting.
A determination unit that determines a communication mode according to the host device based on a command given from the host device immediately after being connected via the communication unit;
Switching means for automatically switching the communication mode based on the determination result of the determination means;
Device equipment characterized by comprising: The device device is a digital camera, is connected to a personal computer as the host device, is connected to a PC mode that provides a function as a removable disk, and is connected to a printer as the host device. The device apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a direct print mode that provides a function of outputting an image.

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