Communication control apparatus and method for controlling the same

• US 9,294,633 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Aoyama, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSSELMAN, JOEL W
• Application Number:
  US14/409,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20150146019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/14.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• 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 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00933 Timing control or synchronising H04N1/00928, H04N1/00931, H04N1/00954 and H04N1/0096 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

There is provided a communication control apparatus comprising connection means for connecting a storage medium that has a memory function for reading and writing data, and a wireless communication function for communicating with an external apparatus. Control means supplies a clock to the storage medium at a predetermined timing and controls the wireless communication function of the storage medium. Obtaining means obtains, after the storage medium is supplied with the clock by the control means, communication protocol information on a communication protocol with which the wireless communication function is compatible from the storage medium. Display means performs display according to the communication protocol information obtained by the obtaining means. The control means stops supplying the clock to the storage medium after the communication protocol information has been obtained by the obtaining means.

Claims

1. A communication control apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a connector configured to connect a storage medium that has a memory function for reading and writing data, and a wireless communication function for communicating with an external apparatus;

a control unit configured to supply a clock to the storage medium at a predetermined timing and control the wireless communication function of the storage medium;

an obtaining unit configured to obtain, after the storage medium is supplied with the clock by the control unit, communication protocol information on a communication protocol with which the wireless communication function is compatible from the storage medium; and

a display unit configured to perform display according to the communication protocol information obtained by the obtaining unit,

wherein the control unit stops supplying the clock to the storage medium after the communication protocol information has been obtained by the obtaining unit,

wherein, when start of communication using the wireless communication function is instructed, the control unit restarts supplying a clock to the storage medium, and activates the wireless communication function if the wireless communication function has been deactivated, and

wherein the control unit, the obtaining unit, and the display unit are implemented using the one or more processors.

2. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit further deactivates the wireless communication function of the storage medium after the communication protocol information has been obtained by the obtaining unit.

3. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the display unit displays a menu screen for selecting an external apparatus that serves as a communication partner, the menu screen including, as an option of a communication partner, an icon that indicates an external apparatus compatible with the communication protocol indicated by the obtained communication protocol information.

4. The communication control apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the display unit displays the menu screen that does not include an icon that indicates an external apparatus compatible with a communication protocol with which the communication control apparatus is not compatible, among communication protocols indicated by the obtained communication protocol information.

5. The communication control apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein, if the wireless communication function of the storage medium is compatible with a plurality of communication protocols, the display unit decides an arrangement of the icons on the menu screen according to a priority order of the plurality of communication protocols.

6. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the storage medium is an SD memory card and the wireless communication function is a wireless LAN.

7. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the wireless communication function of the storage medium is compatible with at least one of Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), as the communication protocol.

8. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein an operation mode of the storage medium includes a memory mode and an input/output mode, and

the control unit stops supplying the clock by deactivating the input/output mode.

9. The communication control apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the control unit activates the memory mode and the input/output mode at the predetermined timing.

10. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the predetermined timing is at least one of a timing at which the storage medium is connected to the connector, a timing at which the communication control apparatus transits into a playback mode, or a timing at which the storage medium is initialized.

11. A method for controlling a communication control apparatus including a connector configured to connect a storage medium that has a memory function for reading and writing data, and a wireless communication function for communicating with an external apparatus, the method comprising:

supplying a clock to the storage medium at a predetermined timing and controlling the wireless communication function of the storage medium;

obtaining, after the storage medium is supplied with the clock in the supplying, communication protocol information on a communication protocol with which the wireless communication function is compatible from the storage medium;

performing display according to the communication protocol information obtained in the obtaining;

stopping supply of the clock to the storage medium after the communication protocol information has been obtained in the obtaining; and

when start of communication using the wireless communication function is instructed, restarting supplying a clock to the storage medium, and activating the wireless communication function if the wireless communication function has been deactivated.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which a program is stored, the program causing a computer to execute a method for controlling a communication control apparatus including a connector configured to connect a storage medium that has a memory function for reading and writing data, and a wireless communication function for communicating with an external apparatus, the method comprising:

supplying a clock to the storage medium at a predetermined timing and controlling the wireless communication function of the storage medium;

obtaining, after the storage medium is supplied with the clock in the supplying, communication protocol information on a communication protocol with which the wireless communication function is compatible from the storage medium;

performing display according to the communication protocol information obtained in the obtaining;

stopping supply of the clock to the storage medium after the communication protocol information has been obtained in the obtaining; and

when start of communication using the wireless communication function is instructed, restarting supplying a clock to the storage medium, and activating the wireless communication function if the wireless communication function has been deactivated.

13. A communication control apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a connector configured to connect a storage medium that has a memory function for reading and writing data, and a wireless communication function for communicating with an external apparatus;

a control unit configured to supply a clock to the storage medium at a predetermined timing and control the wireless communication function of the storage medium;

an obtaining unit configured to obtain, after the storage medium is supplied with the clock by the control unit, communication protocol information on a communication protocol with which the wireless communication function is compatible from the storage medium; and

a display unit configured to perform display according to the communication protocol information obtained by the obtaining unit,

wherein the display unit displays a menu screen for selecting an external apparatus that serves as a communication partner, the menu screen including, as an option of a communication partner, an icon that indicates an external apparatus compatible with the communication protocol indicated by the obtained communication protocol information,

wherein the control unit stops supplying the clock to the storage medium after the communication protocol information has been obtained by the obtaining unit, and

wherein the control unit, the obtaining unit, and the display unit are implemented using the one or more processors.

14. The communication control apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein the display unit displays the menu screen that does not include an icon that indicates an external apparatus compatible with a communication protocol with which the communication control apparatus is not compatible, among communication protocols indicated by the obtained communication protocol information.

15. The communication control apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein, if the wireless communication function of the storage medium is compatible with a plurality of communication protocols, the display unit decides an arrangement of the icons on the menu screen according to a priority order of the plurality of communication protocols.

16. The communication control apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein the storage medium is an SD memory card and the wireless communication function is a wireless LAN.

17. A method for controlling a communication control apparatus including a connector configured to connect a storage medium that has a memory function for reading and writing data, and a wireless communication function for communicating with an external apparatus, the method comprising:

supplying a clock to the storage medium at a predetermined timing and controlling the wireless communication function of the storage medium;

obtaining, after the storage medium is supplied with the clock in the supplying, communication protocol information on a communication protocol with which the wireless communication function is compatible from the storage medium; and

performing display according to the communication protocol information obtained in the obtaining, wherein the performing includes displaying a menu screen for selecting an external apparatus that serves as a communication partner, the menu screen including, as an option of a communication partner, an icon that indicates an external apparatus compatible with the communication protocol indicated by the obtained communication protocol information; and

stopping supply of the clock to the storage medium after the communication protocol information has been obtained in the obtaining.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which a program is stored, the program causing a computer to execute a method for controlling a communication control apparatus including a connector configured to connect a storage medium that has a memory function for reading and writing data, and a wireless communication function for communicating with an external apparatus, the method comprising:

supplying a clock to the storage medium at a predetermined timing and controlling the wireless communication function of the storage medium;

obtaining, after the storage medium is supplied with the clock in the supplying, communication protocol information on a communication protocol with which the wireless communication function is compatible from the storage medium; and

performing display according to the communication protocol information obtained in the obtaining, wherein the performing includes displaying a menu screen for selecting an external apparatus that serves as a communication partner, the menu screen including, as an option of a communication partner, an icon that indicates an external apparatus compatible with the communication protocol indicated by the obtained communication protocol information; and

stopping supply of the clock to the storage medium after the communication protocol information has been obtained in the obtaining.