Electronic apparatus, an imaging apparatus, a display control method for the same and a program which allows a computer to execute the method

• US 20080320395A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yuasa, Hiromichi
• Application Number:
  US11/999,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20080320395A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/735
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00291 with receiver circuitry television receiver circuitry per se H04N5/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00297 with a television signal recorder, e.g. for recording facsimile images on a VCR motion video recording combined with still video recording in a still video camera H04N1/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic apparatus is disclosed. The electronic apparatus may include a plurality of terminals that output a predetermined item of information; a connecting appliance selecting means for selecting a type of another electronic apparatus to be a target for connection among other electronic apparatuses having a terminal connectable to at least a single terminal among the plurality of the terminals through a predetermined communication means; a connecting terminal selecting means for selecting a combination of terminals used for connection from combinations of terminals provided on the electronic apparatus and terminals provided on the selected type of another electronic apparatus; and a setting detail deciding means for deciding setting details of output to the another electronic apparatus in accordance with the type of the selected another electronic apparatus and the combination of the terminals.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a plurality of terminals that output a predetermined item of information;

a connecting appliance selecting means for selecting a type of another electronic apparatus to be a target for connection among other electronic apparatuses having a terminal connectable to at least a single terminal among the plurality of the terminals through a predetermined communication means;

a connecting terminal selecting means for selecting a combination of terminals used for connection from combinations of terminals provided on the electronic apparatus and terminals provided on the selected type of another electronic apparatus; and

a setting detail deciding means for deciding setting details of output to the another electronic apparatus in accordance with the type of the selected another electronic apparatus and the combination of the terminals.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display means for displaying various screens; and

a display control means for displaying a connecting device selection screen for selecting the another electronic apparatus on the display means and for displaying a connecting terminal selection screen for selecting a combination of terminals provided on the electronic apparatus and terminals provided on the selected type of another electronic apparatus on the display means,

wherein the connecting appliance selecting means selects a type of another electronic apparatus to be a target for connection among other electronic apparatuses displayed on the connecting device selection screen, and

the connecting terminal selecting means selects a combination of terminals used for connection from combinations of terminals displayed on the connecting terminal selection screen.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control means allows the display means to display a connection instruction screen that displays the appearance of terminals for the selected combination and the appearance of a communication means connectable to these terminals to encourage connection of these terminals to the communication means.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display control means allows the display means to display a connection state confirm screen that encourages confirmation of a connection state between the electronic apparatus and the selected another electronic apparatus connected through the terminals and the communication means displayed on the connection instruction screen.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein on the connection instruction screen, the appearance of the electronic apparatus and the appearance of the selected another electronic apparatus are displayed as well as the appearance of the terminals and the appearance of the communication means.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control means allows the display means to display a setting detail display screen that displays the setting details decided by the setting detail deciding means to allow a user to confirm the setting details.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display means is a touch panel that displays select buttons for guiding a user to a predetermined screen on various screens.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display control means displays a hint screen that displays hint information to be information about details displayed on the touch panel based on pressing a select button displayed on the touch panel.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display control means displays a guide screen that displays a select button for the purpose of at least manipulation to guide a user to the connecting device selection screen on the touch panel.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein on a start screen of the touch panel, a guide button is displayed that is a select button to go to the guide screen.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein on the connecting terminal selection screen, descriptions relating to terminals provided on the electronic apparatus and terminals provided on the selected type of another electronic apparatus are displayed.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined item of information is video information or audio information.

13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a detecting means for detecting an event that a communication means is connected to at least a single terminal among the plurality of the terminals,

wherein the display control means allows the display means to display the connecting device selection screen when the connection of a communication means is detected by the detecting means.

14. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a plurality of terminals to which a predetermined item of information is input;

a connecting appliance selecting means for selecting a type of another electronic apparatus to be a target for connection among other electronic apparatuses having a terminal connectable to at least a single terminal among the plurality of the terminals through a predetermined communication means;

a connecting terminal selecting means for selecting a combination of terminals used for connection from combinations of terminals provided on the electronic apparatus and terminals provided on the selected type of another electronic apparatus; and

a setting detail deciding means for deciding setting details of input from the another electronic apparatus in accordance with the type of the selected another electronic apparatus and the combination of the terminals.

15. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a plurality of terminals that output a predetermined item of information;

a connecting appliance selecting means for selecting a type of another electronic apparatus to be a target for connection among other electronic apparatuses having a terminal connectable to at least a single terminal among the plurality of the terminals through a predetermined communication means;

a connecting terminal selecting means for selecting a combination of terminals used for connection from combinations of terminals provided on the imaging apparatus and terminals provided on the selected type of another electronic apparatus; and

a setting detail deciding means for deciding setting details of output to the another electronic apparatus in accordance with the type of the selected another electronic apparatus and the combination of the terminals.

16. A display control method for use in an electronic apparatus having a plurality of terminals that output a predetermined item of information, the method comprising:

selecting a type of another electronic apparatus to be a target for connection among other electronic apparatuses having a terminal connectable to at least a single terminal among the plurality of the terminals through a predetermined communication means;

selecting a combination of terminals used for connection from combinations of terminals provided on the electronic apparatus and terminals provided on the selected type of another electronic apparatus; and

deciding setting details of output to the another electronic apparatus in accordance with the type of the selected another electronic apparatus and the combination of the terminals.

17. A program which allows a computer to execute a method in an electronic apparatus having a plurality of terminals that output a predetermined item of information, the method comprising:

selecting a type of another electronic apparatus to be a target for connection among other electronic apparatuses having a terminal connectable to at least a single terminal among the plurality of the terminals through a predetermined communication means;

selecting a combination of terminals used for connection from combinations of terminals provided on the electronic apparatus and terminals provided on the selected type of another electronic apparatus; and

deciding setting details of output to the another electronic apparatus in accordance with the type of the selected another electronic apparatus and the combination of the terminals.

18. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a plurality of terminals that output a predetermined item of information;

a connecting appliance selecting unit configured to select a type of another electronic apparatus to be a target for connection among other electronic apparatuses having a terminal connectable to at least a single terminal among the plurality of the terminals through a predetermined communication unit;

a connecting terminal selecting unit configured to select a combination of terminals used for connection from combinations of terminals provided on the electronic apparatus and terminals provided on the selected type of another electronic apparatus; and

a setting detail deciding unit configured to decide setting details of output to the another electronic apparatus in accordance with the type of the selected another electronic apparatus and the combination of the terminals.

19. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a plurality of terminals to which a predetermined item of information is input;

a connecting appliance selecting unit configured to select a type of another electronic apparatus to be a target for connection among other electronic apparatuses having a terminal connectable to at least a single terminal among the plurality of the terminals through a predetermined communication unit;

a connecting terminal selecting unit configured to select a combination of terminals used for connection from combinations of terminals provided on the electronic apparatus and terminals provided on the selected type of another electronic apparatus; and

a setting detail deciding unit configured to decide setting details of input from the another electronic apparatus in accordance with the type of the selected another electronic apparatus and the combination of the terminals.