Wireless communication apparatus and imaging apparatus

• US 20040053637A1
• Filed: 07/29/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Iida, Takayuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• 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 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00193 to a portable storage medium, e.g. a read-writable compact disk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2183 the stored images being distributed among a plurality of different locations, e.g. among a plurality of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2187 with image input from a plurality of different locations or from a non-central location, e.g. from one or more users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

When image data obtained by an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera are sent via a wireless communication system, power consumption by a wireless communication apparatus installed in the imaging apparatus is reduced as much as possible. First communication means receives base station information from a base station in a mobile phone communication network, and judgment means judges whether or not a coverage area of the wireless communication equipment exists in a coverage area of the base station, based on the base station information. If a result of the judgment is affirmative, second communication means that carries out data communication is activated, and the image data obtained by photography are sent to the wireless communication equipment.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus having wireless communication means for carrying out data communication with wireless communication equipment, the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

judgment means for making a judgment as to whether or not the wireless communication means is within a coverage area of the wireless communication equipment; and

operation control means for activating the wireless communication means only in the case where a result of the judgment by the judgment means is affirmative.

2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising lighting means whose state of lighting changes in accordance with a communication state between the wireless communication means and the wireless communication equipment.

3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, the judgment means further comprising:

mobile phone communication means for carrying out data communication via a mobile phone communication network, wherein

the mobile phone communication means receives base station information representing a base station of the mobile phone communication network that carries out the data communication with the mobile phone communication means and the judgment means judges whether or not the wireless communication means is within the coverage area of the wireless communication equipment by judging whether or not the base station represented by the base station information has a coverage area including the coverage area of the wireless communication equipment.

4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, the judgment means further comprising:

mobile phone communication means for carrying out data communication via a mobile phone communication network, wherein

the mobile phone communication means receives base station information representing a base station of the mobile phone communication network that carries out the data communication with the mobile phone communication means, and the judgment means judges whether or not the wireless communication means is within the coverage area of the wireless communication equipment by judging whether or not the base station represented by the base station information has a coverage area including the coverage area of the wireless communication equipment of a specific characteristic.

5. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, the judgment means further comprising:

GPS reception means for receiving GPS information from GPS satellites, wherein

the judgment means judges whether or not the wireless communication means is within the coverage area of the wireless communication equipment, based on the GPS information.

6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, the judgment means further comprising:

GPS reception means for receiving GPS information from GPS satellites, wherein

the judgment means judges whether or not the wireless communication means is within the coverage area of the wireless communication equipment of a specific characteristic, based on the GPS information.

7. An imaging apparatus comprising:

the wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1;

image capturing means for obtaining image data;

authentication information storage means for storing authentication information that is necessary for the data communication with the wireless communication equipment via the wireless;

image storage means for storing the image data obtained by the imaging means; and

control means for causing the judgment means to judge whether or not the wireless communication means is within the coverage area of the wireless communication equipment in the case where the image data are stored in the image storage means, and for controlling the wireless communication means so as to send the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means to the wireless communication equipment by carrying out the data communication with the wireless communication equipment when the operation control means activates the wireless communication means, and so as to send the image data in the image storage means to the wireless communication equipment after the wireless communication equipment authenticates the imaging apparatus according to the authentication information.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control is also means for prohibiting roaming in the case where the wireless communication means has been moved to a coverage area of other wireless communication equipment that is not authenticated by the authentication information but enables roaming with the wireless communication equipment that is authenticated by the authentication information, during the data communication with the wireless communication equipment that is authenticated.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation control means inactivates the wireless communication means after the image data that were store in the image storage means have been sent.

10. An imaging apparatus comprising;

image capturing means for obtaining image data;

wireless communication means for carrying out data communication with wireless communication equipment via a wireless;

authentication information storage means for storing authentication information that is necessary for the data communication with the wireless communication equipment via the wireless;

image storage means for storing the image data obtained by the imaging means;

instruction means for receiving a transfer instruction regarding the image data stored in the image storage means; and

control means for controlling the wireless communication means so as to send the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means to the wireless communication equipment by carrying out the data communication with the wireless communication equipment in the case where the transfer instruction is received by the instruction means in a state where the image data are stored in the image storage means, and so as to send the image data stored in the image storage means to the wireless communication equipment after the wireless communication equipment authenticates the imaging apparatus according to the authentication information.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising:

search means for carrying out a search for pieces of the wireless communication equipment that are communicable with the wireless communication means, in response to an external instruction input;

display means for displaying a list of the pieces of the wireless communication equipment as a result of the search carried out by the search means; and

selection means for receiving selection of a desired one of the pieces of the wireless communication equipment from the result of the search, wherein

the control means controls the wireless communication means so as to send the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage means to the selected piece of the wireless communication equipment by carrying out the data communication with the selected piece of the wireless communication equipment in the case where the desired piece of the wireless communication equipment has been selected from the search result and the transfer instruction is received by the instruction means in a state where the image data are stored in the image storage means, and so as to send the image data stored in the image storage means to the selected piece of the wireless communication equipment after the selected piece of the wireless communication equipment authenticates the imaging apparatus according to the authentication information.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the search means searches for pieces of wireless communication equipment including wireless communication equipment that enables roaming with the wireless communication equipment authenticated by the authentication information, in addition the wireless communication equipment authenticated by the authentication information, and wherein

the display means displays the types of a plurality of pieces of wireless communication equipment in the case where the wireless communication means is communicable with the plurality of pieces of wireless communication equipment including the wireless communication equipment authenticated by the authentication information and/or the pieces of wireless communication equipment searched for by the search means.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the display means displays a communication charge for the pieces of wireless communication equipment searched for by the search means.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, the search means further comprising mobile phone communication means for carrying out data communication via a mobile phone communication network, wherein

the mobile phone communication means receives base station information representing a base station of the mobile phone communication network via which the data communication with the mobile phone communication means is carried out, and the search means searches for the pieces of the wireless communication equipment that are communicable with the wireless communication means, based on the base station information.

15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11, the search means further comprising GPS reception means for receiving GPS information from GPS satellites, wherein

the search mean searches for the pieces of the wireless communication equipment that are communicable with the wireless communication means, based on the GPS information.