Information processing terminal and terminal selection system

• US 8,243,145 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Tsuchiya, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): MOE, AUNG SOE
• Application Number:
  US12/396,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20090225172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.99, 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/207.2, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/211.4, 348/211.5, 348/211.6, 235/375, 235/462.02, 235/462.09, 235/462.08, 235/462.11, 235/462.24, 725/105, 455/556.1, 455/41.1, 455/566, 709/217, 709/227, 358/1.15, 340/10.51, 340/10.52, 340/4.32
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0027 Adapting to communicate with plural different types of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0044 Connecting to a plurality of different apparatus; Using a plurality of different connectors connection via a network H04N2201/0039
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

An image capturing apparatus which performs connection setting to a desired processing apparatus among more than one processing apparatus connected to a network comprises a control unit which instructs each of the processing apparatuses so as to perform identification display for identifying the processing apparatus, and an imaging unit which image the identification displays performed by the processing apparatuses based on the instructions. The control unit specifies the desired processing apparatus to perform connection setting on the basis of data acquired by imaging the identification display by means of the imaging unit.

Claims

1. An information processing terminal which performs connection setting to a desired processing apparatus among one or more processing apparatuses connected to a network, comprising:

an identification display instruction unit which instructs, via the network, each of the processing apparatuses to perform identification displays for identifying each of the processing apparatuses;

an imaging unit which image the identification displays performed by the processing apparatuses based on the instructions from the identification display instruction unit; and

a selection unit which specifies the desired processing apparatus on the basis of data obtained by the imaging of the identification displays by the imaging unit to perform connection setting.

2. The terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

an identification display generation unit which generates identification display data for the identification display performed by each of the processing apparatuses; and

an association unit which associates the identification display data with the identification display corresponding to each of the identification display data, wherein

the selection unit selects the processing apparatus corresponding to the identification display data associated with the identification displays imaged by the imaging unit to perform the connection setting.

3. The terminal according to claim 2, wherein:

when performing the instruction,

the identification display instruction unit transmits the identification display data generated from the identification display generation unit to each of the processing apparatuses.

4. The terminal according to claim 3, wherein:

when a prescribed time passes after transmitting

the identification display data in a time division manner for each processing apparatus, and also after elapse of a prescribed time from the processing apparatus, which transmitted the identification display data, has performed the identification display,

the identification display instruction unit transmits the identification display data to processing apparatuses which have not transmitted the identification display data yet.

5. The terminal according to claim 2, further comprising:

an acquisition unit which acquires the identification display data from each of the processing apparatuses, wherein

the association unit associates at least one of the identification display data among the identification display data generated from the identification display generation unit and the identification display data acquired from the acquisition unit with the identification display corresponding to each of the identification display data.

6. The terminal according to claim 5, further comprising:

a display function information acquisition unit which acquires display function information, showing a display function of a display unit included by each of the processing apparatuses, from each of the processing apparatuses via the prescribed network, wherein

the identification display generation unit generates identification display data corresponding to each of the processing apparatuses on the basis of the display function information acquired by means of the display function acquisition unit.

7. The terminal according to claim 6, wherein

the identification display generation unit refers to the display function information acquired by means of the display function information acquisition unit to generate only identification display data to be transmitted to processing apparatuses each provided with prescribed display functions.

8. The terminal according to claim 5, wherein

the identification display generation unit generates the identification display data so that all the processing apparatuses perform identification displays differing from one another.

9. The terminal according to claim 5, wherein

the identification display generation unit generates the identification display data on the basis of address information on the network of each of the processing apparatuses.

10. The terminal according to claim 5, further comprising:

a detection unit which detects the identification display data transmitted from equipment other than the information processing terminal from communication data on the network, wherein

the identification display generation unit generates the identification display data which differs from the identification display data detected by the detection unit.

11. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein

the identification display instruction unit specifies at least any one of timing so that the processing apparatuses starts an identification display, a time so that the processing apparatus continues the identification display and the number of times so that the processing apparatus repeats the identification display and performs the instruction.

12. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein

the identification display is at least any one of a flushing pattern of light, a prescribed video, and a two-dimensional code.

13. A terminal selection system in which a first information processing terminal connected to a network selects a desired second information processing terminal among more than one second information processing terminal connected to the network to perform connection setting, comprising:

the first information processing terminal comprising;

an identification display instruction unit which instructs each of the second information processing terminals via the network so as to perform an identification display for identifying each of the second information processing terminals;

an imaging unit which image the identification displays performed by the second information processing terminals based on the instructions from the identification display instruction unit; and

a selection unit which specifies the desired second information processing terminal to perform connection setting on the basis of data obtained through imaging the identification displays by the imaging unit; and

the terminal selection system comprising;

the second information processing terminal, comprising;

an instruction acquisition unit which acquires the instructions from the first information processing terminal via the network; and

a display unit which performs the identification displays when the instruction acquisition unit acquires the instructions.