JP2006115024A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera for efficiently transferring image data stored therein to a prescribed storage means. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera 100 includes: a data storage section for storing the image data; a setting information storage device 118 for storing the image data and information for indicating whether the image data are transferred to the prescribed storage means in association with each other; an access point detection control section for detecting an access point of a connectable wireless LAN; and a transfer control section 106 for referring to the setting information storage device 118 on the basis of a detection notice of the access point from the access point detection control section and transferring the image data that are not transferred and stored in the image data storage section 114 to an external image data storage section 154. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera having a wireless communication function.

  As the resolution of a digital camera increases, the volume of image data captured by the digital camera increases, and a large-capacity nonvolatile memory, recording medium, and the like are required. However, large-capacity non-volatile memories, recording media, and the like have a high unit price, and if a plurality of recording media are carried as spares, portability deteriorates.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for storing data recorded on a card-type recording medium in a recording device of a home personal computer connected to the Internet from an installation terminal or a mobile communication terminal installed on the street. Has been. Thereby, data of a digital camera or the like can be easily stored on the computer on the go.
JP 2002-112154 A

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, in order to store a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone in a recording device of a personal computer at home, the recording medium is extracted from the digital camera and moved. It was necessary to perform processing such as inserting into the adapter of the mobile communication terminal and operating the operation key of the mobile communication terminal, which was troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for efficiently transferring image data stored in a digital camera to a predetermined storage unit.

  According to the present invention, a digital camera having a wireless communication function and capable of transferring image data, the image data storing means for storing the image data, the image data, and the image data being transferred to the predetermined storage means Transfer state storage means for storing information indicating whether completed or untransferred in association with each other, detection means for detecting a connectable wireless LAN access point, and detection notification of the access point from the detection means, And a transfer control means for transferring untransferred image data stored in the image data storage means to the predetermined storage means with reference to the transfer status storage means. The

  Here, the image data storage means and the transfer state storage means can be configured integrally, and the image data itself can be associated with information indicating whether the image data has been transferred or not transferred. . It is also possible to store identification information such as the number of image data in association with information indicating whether transfer has been completed.

  In this way, image data can be taken without worrying about the capacity of the image data storage means of the digital camera. Here, the digital camera can have storage means for storing identification information for communicating with a predetermined access point, and the detection means can be, for example, an access point with the same identification information or an access permitted. Only the access point can be detected.

  The digital camera according to the present invention may further include a setting accepting unit that sets on / off of the function of the detecting unit.

  Here, when the function of the detection means is set to OFF, the power of the digital camera can also be turned OFF. Even when the function of the detection unit is set to ON, the detection unit does not always detect the access point, but turns on the power every fixed period, and performs the detection process of the access point every fixed period. You can also do it. In addition, power is supplied to the detection unit in a system different from the main body of the digital camera, and the function of the detection unit is set to OFF even when a wireless LAN access point to which the detection unit can be connected is detected. In this case, it is possible not to notify the transfer control means of detection.

  In this way, the function of the detection means can be set on / off as necessary, so that it is possible to prevent the image data transfer process from being performed when it is unnecessary. Power consumption can be reduced.

  In the digital camera of the present invention, the transfer control unit detects whether or not untransferred image data is stored in the image data storage unit, and when the untransferred image data is not stored, The function of the detection means can be set off.

  In this way, when there is no image data to be transferred, the image data transfer process is not performed, and the power consumption of the digital camera 100 can be suppressed.

  In the digital camera of the present invention, the detection unit continues the process of detecting the access point while the transfer control unit transfers image data, and the transfer control is performed when the access point cannot be detected. When the transfer control unit receives the transfer disable notification from the detection unit, the transfer control unit can end the transfer.

  As a result, for example, when the user of the digital camera transfers image data while moving, and if the user moves out of the access point range during the transfer, the transfer can be terminated. Since the process can be completed, the transferred image data can be grasped.

  The digital camera of the present invention further includes a writing unit that stores information indicating that the transferred image data has been transferred to the transfer state storage unit in association with the transferred image data when the transfer control unit ends the transfer. be able to.

  In this way, the transfer process can be performed efficiently without the same image data being transferred again.

  The digital camera of the present invention includes an erasability information storage unit that stores image data and information indicating whether or not the image data can be erased after being transferred to the predetermined storage unit. Erasing means for erasing image data from the image data storage means, wherein the erasing means stores image data that has been transferred and is erasable in the image data storage means. The image data that has been transferred and can be deleted can be deleted.

  Here, the image data storage means and the erasability information storage means can be configured integrally, and information indicating whether or not the image data can be erased can be stored in association with the image data itself. Also, identification information such as the number of image data can be stored in association with information indicating whether or not erasure is possible.

  In this way, since the image data can be erased as appropriate, the free space of the image data storage means can be maintained.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, image data stored in a digital camera can be efficiently transferred to a predetermined storage means.

  In this embodiment, the digital camera has a wireless communication function and can transmit and receive data to and from other terminals via a wireless LAN. According to the digital camera in the present embodiment, when the user presets the address of a transfer destination terminal to which image data stored in the digital camera is transferred, the image data is automatically transferred to the terminal. Can do. As a result, the image data can be taken without worrying about the storage capacity of the image data of the digital camera.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment.
The digital camera 100 includes a photographing processing unit 102, a data writing / erasing processing unit 104, a transfer control unit 106, an instruction receiving unit 108, an access point detection control unit 110, a transmission / reception unit 112, an image data storage unit 114, and an index generation unit 116. A setting information storage unit 118 and a notification unit 120.

  Each component of the digital camera 100 is centered on an arbitrary computer CPU, memory, a program for realizing the components shown in the figure loaded in the memory, a storage unit such as a hard disk for storing the program, and a network connection interface. Realized by any combination of hardware and software. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that there are various modifications to the implementation method and apparatus. Each drawing described in the embodiment shows a block of functional units, not a configuration of hardware units. In FIG. 1, the configuration of parts not related to the essence of the present invention is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the digital camera 100 is connected to the user terminal 152 via the network 150. Here, the network 150 is a wireless LAN. The transmission / reception unit 112 of the digital camera 100 connects to the network 150 via a wireless LAN access point 160. Here, a configuration in which the user terminal 152 is directly connected to the network 150 is shown, but the user terminal 152 may be connected to the network 150 via another wired / wireless network or the like.

  In the digital camera 100, a photographing processing unit 102 photographs a subject with an image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) and acquires image data. The data writing / erasing processing unit 104 stores the image data acquired by the imaging processing unit 102 in the image data storage unit 114.

  The setting information storage unit 118 stores various setting information. For example, the setting information storage unit 118 stores an address of an external terminal to which the image data stored in the image data storage unit 114 is transferred. Here, the address can be an e-mail address, a domain name of a predetermined server, or the like. In the present embodiment, the setting information storage unit 118 stores the email address of the user of the user terminal 152 as the transfer destination address. Further, in the present embodiment, the setting information storage unit 118 associates and stores image data and information indicating whether the image data has been transferred or not transferred, image data, It also has a function of an erasability information storage unit that stores information indicating whether or not the image data can be erased after being transferred.

  The instruction receiving unit 108 receives an instruction from the user. For example, the instruction receiving unit 108 receives an instruction to shoot a subject from the user. In addition, the instruction receiving unit 108 issues an instruction to read out, erase, and write image data stored in the image data storage unit 114, and write and erase instructions for setting information to the setting information storage unit 118. Accept. The data write / erase processing unit 104 writes or deletes data in the image data storage unit 114 or the setting information storage unit 118 based on a user instruction received by the instruction reception unit 108.

  The access point detection control unit 110 detects a wireless LAN access point to which the digital camera 100 can be properly connected. For example, the setting information storage unit 118 can store an ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier) for communicating with a predetermined access point. The access point detection control unit 110 refers to the setting information storage unit 118, Only when the ESSID of the detected access point matches the ESSID stored in the setting information storage unit 118, it can be determined that the access point can be connected. Further, the access point detection control unit 110 can detect a free spot where the wireless LAN can be used free of charge by setting the setting information storage unit 118. By doing so, it is possible to prevent unauthorized access without the user's knowledge. When detecting an access point that can be properly connected, the access point detection control unit 110 notifies the transfer control unit 106 to that effect.

  In the present embodiment, access point detection control section 110 can accept an on / off setting of the access point detection function. The access point detection control unit 110 detects an access point and notifies the transfer control unit 106 only when the access point detection function is turned on. The on / off setting of the access point detection function can also be performed according to a user instruction. For example, when untransferred image data is not stored in the image data storage unit 114, the transfer control unit 106 detects the access point. Control to turn off the access point detection function of the control unit 110 can be performed. When the access point detection function is turned off, the access point detection control unit 110 can prevent the transfer control unit 106 from being notified even if an access point is detected. In this way, when there is no image data to be transferred, it is not necessary to perform a process for determining whether or not to transfer the image data, so that the power consumption of the digital camera 100 can be reduced.

  Further, even when the access point detection control unit 110 detects a wireless LAN access point, the access point detection control unit 110 can notify the transfer control unit 106 only when there is a radio wave state of a predetermined level or higher. As a result, the image transfer process can be performed only when the image data can be transmitted at high speed, so that the power consumption of the digital camera 100 can be suppressed.

  When the transfer control unit 106 receives notification from the access point detection control unit 110 that a connectable wireless LAN access point has been detected, the transfer control unit 106 displays the image data stored in the image data storage unit 114 as the setting information storage unit 118. Is transferred to an external terminal based on the transfer destination address stored in. In the present embodiment, the transfer control unit 106 transfers the image data stored in the image data storage unit 114 to the user terminal 152. The user terminal 152 stores the image data transferred from the digital camera 100 in the image data storage unit 154.

  The setting information storage unit 118 stores the number of image data, information indicating whether the image data has been transferred or not transferred to an external terminal, and whether the image data can be deleted from the image data storage unit 114 after transfer processing. Are stored in association with each other. The transfer control unit 106 refers to the setting information storage unit 118 and transfers untransferred image data to the user terminal 152.

  Further, the data writing / erasing processing unit 104 refers to the setting information storage unit 118 and deletes from the image data storage unit 114 the image data set to be erasable after the transfer among the transferred image data. In the setting information storage unit 118, for example, setting information indicating whether all transferred image data is to be deleted or not to be deleted can be stored as an initial setting. The user can individually input setting information when each image data is photographed, if different from the initial setting for each image data.

  The index generation unit 116 generates an index of image data that the transfer control unit 106 transfers to the user terminal 152. The transfer control unit 106 can transfer the index together with the image data. The index can include, for example, the shooting date / time, management number, thumbnail image, and the like of each image data. The index can be html format data. As a result, the user terminal 152 can easily manage the image data.

  The notification unit 120 can be, for example, a display unit or an audio output unit, and notifies the user.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the setting information storage unit 118. The setting information storage unit 118 includes a data NO column, an erasability / non-permission column, and a transfer status column. The number of image data is stored in the data NO column. Here, the setting information storage unit 118 stores information related to the image data stored in the image data storage unit 114. In the erasability column, information regarding whether or not erasure is possible from the image data storage unit 114 after the transfer of the image data is stored. The transfer status column stores information indicating whether the image data has been transferred or not transferred.

  FIG. 2A shows a state in which image data information of data NO “001”, “006”, “014”, “015”, and “016” is stored. Here, the image data with the data numbers “001” and “006” have already been transferred to other terminals, but cannot be deleted, and are stored in the image data storage unit 114 even after transfer. .

  When transfer processing is performed in the state shown in FIG. 2A, the image data of data NOs “014”, “015”, and “016” that have not been transferred are transferred. The data write / erase processing unit 104 receives information about the image data transferred from the transfer control unit 106 and rewrites the transfer state of the corresponding image data in the setting information storage unit 118. FIG. 2B shows a state after rewriting. Here, the transfer state corresponding to the data numbers “014”, “015”, and “016” is “completed”.

  Subsequently, the data write / erase processing unit 104 refers to the setting information storage unit 118 and deletes image data that can be deleted from the image data storage unit 114 among the transferred image data. Next, the data write / erase processing unit 104 erases the information of the corresponding image data in the setting information storage unit 118. FIG. 2C shows a state after erasure. Since the image data having the data numbers “014” and “015” have been deleted from the image data storage unit 114, they are also deleted from the setting information storage unit 118.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of image data transfer in the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment.
When the access point detection control unit 110 detects a connectable wireless LAN access point (YES in S100), the access point detection control unit 110 refers to the setting information storage unit 118 to determine whether the setting of the access point detection function is on. Judgment is made (S102). When the setting of the access point detection function is on (YES in S102), the access point detection control unit 110 notifies the transfer control unit 106, and the transfer control unit 106 starts the following transfer control process. To do.

  First, the transfer control unit 106 refers to the setting information storage unit 118 and determines whether there is untransferred image data in the image data storage unit 114 (S104). When there is untransferred image data in the image data storage unit 114 (YES in S104), the transfer control unit 106 determines whether to transfer the untransferred image data (S106). Whether or not to perform the transfer can be determined based on the user's instruction by, for example, notifying the user. Further, the transfer control unit 106 can determine whether or not to transfer based on the number (capacity) of untransferred image data stored in the image data storage unit 114. Information relating to how much untransferred image data is transferred when there is untransferred image data can be stored in advance in the setting information storage unit 118. In this case, the transfer control unit 106 refers to the setting information storage unit 118 and determines whether to transfer image data.

  When it is determined that the transfer is to be performed (YES in S106), the transfer control unit 106 reads the untransferred image data from the image data storage unit 114 and transfers it to a predetermined transfer destination set in the setting information storage unit 118 (S108). ). At this time, the index generation unit 116 can create an index of the transferred image data, and the transfer control unit 106 can also generate the index together with the image data. While the transfer control unit 106 is transferring untransferred image data (NO in S110), the access point detection control unit 110 monitors whether an access point is detected (S128).

  When the transfer control unit 106 finishes transferring the untransferred image data (YES in S110), the transfer control unit 106 notifies the data writing / erasing processing unit 104, and the data writing / erasing processing unit 104 Information indicating “already transferred” is recorded in association with the number of the corresponding image data in the information storage unit 118 (S112). In step S128, when the access point is not detected during the transfer (NO in S128), the transfer process is terminated and the process proceeds to step S112 to perform the same process.

  Subsequently, based on the notification from the transfer control unit 106, the data write / erase processing unit 104 refers to the setting information storage unit 118 and determines whether there is erasable image data in the image data storage unit 114. (S114). If there is erasable image data (YES in S114), the data writing / erasing processing unit 104 erases the image data from the image data storage unit 114 (S116). If there is no erasable image data in step S114 (NO in S114), the erasure process in step S116 is omitted and the process proceeds to the next step. Subsequently, the transfer control unit 106 refers to the setting information storage unit 118 and determines whether there is untransferred image data in the image data storage unit 114 (S118).

  When there is no untransferred image data (NO in S118), the transfer control unit 106 determines whether or not the capacity of the image data storage unit 114 is greater than or equal to a certain level (S120). When the capacity of the image data storage unit 114 is greater than or equal to a certain value (YES in S120), the notification unit 120 notifies the user that the capacity is greater than or equal to a certain value based on an instruction from the transfer control unit 106 (S122). The notification unit 120 displays, for example, “Image data of a predetermined capacity or more is recorded. Do you want to delete it?”, And allows the user to select “Yes” or “No”.

  Subsequently, when an instruction from the user is received in response to the notification to the user (YES in S124), the process is executed based on the received instruction. The processing is, for example, erasure of transferred image data. On the other hand, for example, when an instruction from the user is not received for a certain time or more in response to the notification to the user (NO in S124), the setting of the access point detection function is turned off (S126), and the process is terminated. If there is no untransferred image data in the image data storage unit 114 in step S104 (NO in S104), and if the capacity of the image data storage unit 114 is not more than a certain value in step S120 (NO in 120), the process proceeds to step S126. Then, the setting of the access point detection function is turned off (S126), and the process is terminated.

  If the setting of the access point detection function is not turned on in step S102 (NO in S102), if it is determined in step S106 that transfer is not performed (NO in S106), or untransferred image data in step S118. If there is any (YES in S118), the process is terminated.

  After the above process, when the access point detection control unit 110 detects a connectable access point (YES in S100), the same process is repeated. Even if the setting of the access point detection function is turned off in step S126, the setting of the access point detection function may be turned on when the processing for acquiring new image data is performed by the imaging processing unit 102. it can. This processing can be performed based on a user instruction or can be performed automatically.

  As described above, according to the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, the image data stored in the image data storage unit 114 is transferred to an external device such as the image data storage unit 154 of the user terminal 152 to store the image data. Since the image data can be appropriately deleted from the unit 114, the image data can be taken without worrying about the capacity of the image data storage unit 114.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. The embodiments are exemplifications, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. .

  Note that information indicating whether the image data has been transferred to an external terminal or not transferred and information indicating whether the image data can be deleted from the image data storage unit 114 after the transfer processing of the image data are included in the image data storage unit 114. It is also possible to store the image data in direct association with each other. In this case, the transfer control unit 106 can select the image data to be transferred or the image data to be deleted with reference to the image data storage unit 114.

  In the above embodiment, the digital camera 100 includes the index generation unit 116. However, the index generation unit can also be provided in the user terminal 152, and an image transmitted from the digital camera 100 on the user terminal 152 side. An index of data can also be generated.

It is a block diagram which shows the network structure containing the digital camera in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the setting information storage part in embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of image data transfer in the digital camera according to the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Digital camera 102 Image pick-up processing part 104 Data writing / erasing process part 106 Transfer control part 108 Instruction reception part 110 Access point detection control part 112 Transmission / reception part 114 Image data storage part 116 Index generation part 118 Setting information storage part 120 Notification part 150 Network 152 User terminal 154 Image data storage unit 150 Network 160 Access point

Claims (6)

A digital camera having a wireless communication function and capable of transferring image data,
Image data storage means for storing image data;
Transfer state storage means for storing image data in association with information indicating whether the image data has been transferred or not transferred to a predetermined storage means;
Detecting means for detecting a connectable wireless LAN access point;
Transfer control means for transferring untransferred image data stored in the image data storage means to the predetermined storage means with reference to the transfer state storage means based on the detection notification of the access point from the detection means When,
A digital camera characterized by including: The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein
A digital camera characterized by further comprising setting accepting means for setting on / off of the function of the detecting means. The digital camera according to claim 2,
The transfer control means detects whether or not untransferred image data is stored in the image data storage means, and turns off the function of the detection means when untransferred image data is not stored. A digital camera characterized by setting. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The detection means continues the process of detecting the access point while the transfer control means is transferring image data. When the access point cannot be detected, a notification of transfer failure is sent to the transfer control means. Done
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the transfer control unit terminates the transfer upon receiving the transfer disable notification from the detection unit. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
When the transfer control unit finishes transferring, the digital camera further includes a writing unit that stores the transferred image data in association with information indicating that the image data has been transferred to the transfer state storage unit . The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Erasability information storage means for storing image data and information indicating whether or not the image data can be erased after being transferred to the predetermined storage means;
Erasing means for erasing image data from the image data storage means;
Further including
The erasing unit detects whether the image data storage unit stores image data that has been transferred and can be deleted, and deletes the image data that has been transferred and can be deleted. A featured digital camera.

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