Digital camera controlling communication by multiple function units

• US 6,353,868 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Itou, Masamichi, Takayama, Nobutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ray, Gopal C.
• Application Number:
  US09/614,547
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 710/105, 710/104, 710/106, 710/11, 710/62, 710/101, 710/129, 348/220, 709/238, 370/463, 370/912, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 710/313
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052

Abstract

An electronic equipment for communications with other nodes via a serial bus interface. The electronic equipment has a plurality of functions, and stores a plurality piece of information representative of the plurality of functions. The communication system selectively reads the stored information and realizes the function corresponding to the read information. Accordingly, communications suitable for each function can be executed via the serial bus interface. An interface control device used with an electronic equipment having a plurality of functions stores a plurality piece of information representative of the plurality of functions. The communication system selectively reads the stored information and realizes the function corresponding to the read information. Accordingly, the electronic equipment can perform communications suitable for each function.

Claims

1. An electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising:

(a) a selector adapted to select one of the function units; and

(b) a controller adapted to control the selected function unit,

wherein the controller resets the digital interface after the selector selects one of the function units.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit having a function for sensing and recording a moving image, and the second function unit having a function for sensing and recording a still image.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the digital interface is comfortable to IEEE 1394 standards.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

5. An electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising:

(a) a selector adapted to select one of the function units; and

(b) a controller adapted to control a communication protocol used by the selected function unit,

wherein the controller resets the digital interface after the selector selects one of the function units.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a moving image, and the second function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a still image.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the digital interface is comfortable to IEEE 1394 standards.

8. A device according to claim 5, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

9. An electronic device including function and a digital interface, comprising:

(a) a changer adapted to change one of the function units to another function unit; and

(b) a controller adapted to control the changed function unit,

wherein the controller resets the digital interface after the changer changes one of the function units to the another function unit.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit having a function for sensing and recording a moving image, and the second function unit having a function for sensing and recording a still image.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein the digital interface is comfortable to IEEE 1394 standards.

12. A device according to claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

13. An electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising:

(a) a changer adapted to change one of the function units to another function unit; and

(b) a controller adapted to control a communication protocol used by the changed function unit,

wherein the controller resets the digital interface after the changer changes one of the function uits to another function unit.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a moving image, and the second function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a still image.

15. A device according to claim 13, wherein the digital interface is comfortable to IEEE 1394 standards.

16. A device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

17. An electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising:

(a) a selector adapted to select a device mode; and

(b) a controller adapted to control a function unit corresponding to the selected device mode,

wherein the controller resets the digital interface after the selector selects a device mode.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit having a function for sensing and recording a moving image and the second function unit having a function for sensing and recording a still image.

19. A device according to claim 17, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

20. A device according to claim 17, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

21. An electronic device function units and a digital inteface, comprising:

(a) a selector adapted to select a device mode; and

(b) a controller adapted to control a communication protocol used by a function unit corresponding to the selected device mode,

wherein the controller resets the digital interface after the selector selects the device mode.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a moving image, and the second function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a still image.

23. A device according to claim 21, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

24. A device according to claim 21, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

25. An electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising:

(a) a changer adapted to change a device mode to another device mode, and

(b) a controller adapted to control a function unit corresponding to the changed device mode,

wherein the controller resets the digital interface after the changer changes the device mode to the another device mode.

26. A device according to claim 25, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second unit, the first function unit having a function for sensing and recording a moving image, and the second function unit having a function for sensing and recording a still image.

27. A device according to claim 25, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

28. A device according to claim 25, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

29. An electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising:

(a) a changer adapted to change a device mode to another device mode; and

(b) a controller adapted to control a communication protocol used by a function unit corresponding to the changed device mode,

wherein the controller resets the digital interface after the changer changes the device mode to the another device mode.

30. A device according to claim 29, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a moving image, and the second function using a communication protocol for communicating a still image.

31. A device according to claim 29, wherein the digital interface is comformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

32. A device according to claim 29, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

33. A method for controlling an electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting one of the function units;

(b) controlling the selected function unit; and

(c) resetting the digital interface after the selecting step selects one of the function units.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit having a function for sensing and recording a moving image, and the second function unit having a function for sensing and recording a still image.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

37. A method for controlling an electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting one of the function units;

(b) controlling a communication protocol used by the selected function unit; and

(c) resetting the digital interface after the selecting step selects one of the function units.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a moving image, and the second function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a still image.

39. A method according to claim 37, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

40. A method according to claim 37, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

41. A method for controlling an electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising the steps of:

(a) changing one of the function units to another function unit;

(b) controlling the changed function unit; and

(c) resetting the digital interface after the changing step changes one of the function units to another function unit.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit having a function for sensing and recording a moving image, and the second function unit having a function for sensing and recording a still image.

43. A method according to claim 41, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

44. A method according to claim 41, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

45. A method for controlling an electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising the steps of:

(a) changing one of the function units to another function unit;

(b) controlling a communication protocol used by the changed function unit; and

(c) resetting the digital interface after the changing step changes one of the function units to another function unit.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a moving image, and the second function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a still image.

47. A method according to claim 45, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

48. A method according to claim 45, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

49. A method for controlling an electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting device mode;

(b) controlling a function unit corresponding to the selected device mode; and

(c) resetting the digital interface after the selecting step selects a device mode.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit having a function for sensing a recording a moving image, and the second function unit having a function for sensing and recording a still image.

51. A method according to claim 49, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

52. A method according to claim 49, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

53. A method for controlling an electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a device mode;

(b) controlling a communication protocol of a function unit corresponding to the selected device mode; and

(c) resetting the digital interface after the selecting step selects a device mode.

54. A method according to claim 53, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a moving image, and the second function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a still image.

55. A method according to claim 53, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

56. A method according to claim 53, wherein the element device is a digital camera.

57. A method for controlling an electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising the steps of:

(a) changing a device mode to another device mode;

(b) controlling a function unit corresponding to the changed device mode; and

(c) resetting the digital interface after the changing step changes the devices mode to the another device mode.

58. A method according to claim 57, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit having a function for sensing and recording a moving image, and the second function unit having a function for sensing and recording a still image.

59. A method according to claim 57, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

60. A method according to claim 57, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.

61. A method for controlling an electronic device including function units and a digital interface, comprising the steps of:

(a) changing a device mode to another device mode;

(b) controlling a communication protocol used by a function unit corresponding to the changed device mode; and

(c) resetting the digital interface after the changing step changes the device mode to another device mode.

62. A method according to claim 61, wherein the function units include a first function unit and a second function unit, the first function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a moving image, and the second function unit using a communication protocol for communicating a still image.

63. A method according to claim 61, wherein the digital interface is conformable to IEEE 1394 standards.

64. A method according to claim 61, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera.