JP2012174044A - Communication apparatus, control method thereof and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable communication of data with other communication apparatuses by a simple and intuitive operation.SOLUTION: A communication apparatus includes input means for receiving input from a user, determination means for determining whether to transmit data to other communication apparatuses or to receive data from the other communication apparatuses based on trajectory direction of input by the user through the input means, and communication means for communicating data with the other communication apparatus according to determination of the determination means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for determining whether to transmit or receive data.

  TransferJet (trademark) that enables communication by bringing an antenna called a coupler closer to within a few centimeters has been proposed. Since TransferJet has a short communication distance and can communicate with each other by touching the devices, the user can communicate between the communication devices with an intuitive operation.

  On the other hand, when data is communicated, the data transmission side and the data reception side are determined by pressing the physical or software transmission button or reception button of both communication devices. It was.

“TransferJet White Paper” http: // www. transferjet. org / ja / tj / transferjet_whitepaper_J. pdf

JP 2007-221355 A

  However, when communicating data using TransferJet, in addition to the operation of touching communication devices, it is necessary to press the physical or software transmission button or reception button of both communication devices. Data could not be communicated with simple and intuitive operation.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to enable data to be communicated with other communication devices by a simple and intuitive operation.

  The communication device of the present invention transmits data to another communication device based on an input unit that receives an input from a user and a locus direction of an input by the user via the input unit, or the other communication A determination unit configured to determine whether to receive data from the device; and a communication unit configured to communicate data with the other communication device according to the determination by the determination unit.

  According to the present invention, data can be communicated with other communication devices by a simple and intuitive operation.

The figure which shows a network structure. Hardware configuration diagram. Software functional block diagram. The flowchart which a camera implement | achieves. The figure which shows a user's finger | toe movement. The figure which shows the area | region of a display.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a communication system according to the present embodiment. Reference numerals 101 and 102 denote digital cameras (hereinafter simply referred to as cameras) as communication apparatuses having a wireless communication function. In this embodiment, TransferJet (trademark) is used for wireless communication. In TransferJet, communication devices can communicate with each other using an induced electric field by arranging antennas called couplers facing each other. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an antenna 205 (described later) of the camera 101 and an antenna of the camera 102 are arranged to face each other.

  Note that the communication device is not limited to a camera but may be a device such as a printer, a video camera, a dongle, or a storage.

  FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the camera 101. Note that the camera 102 also has the same hardware configuration as the camera 101.

  The control unit 201 is configured by a CPU or MPU, and controls the entire camera 101 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 202. The storage unit 202 includes a ROM and a RAM, and stores various information such as a program executed by the control unit 201 and communication parameters. Various operations to be described later are performed by the control unit 201 executing a program stored in the storage unit 202. The storage unit 202 stores not only memories such as ROM and RAM, but also flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, nonvolatile memory cards, DVDs, and the like. A medium may be used. Note that various operations described later are also executed by reading the computer stored in these storage media.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes a touch panel display (hereinafter simply referred to as a display), which displays various information. Further, the display 203 also operates as an input unit that accepts various operations from the user. Reference numeral 204 denotes a communication unit that performs communication by an induced electric field via an antenna 205 called a coupler. Reference numeral 206 denotes an image capturing unit that performs image capturing in accordance with a user instruction, and stores captured image data (image data) in the storage unit 202.

  In the following description, the control unit (not shown) of the camera 102 is denoted by 251, the storage unit 252, the display 253, the communication unit 254, the antenna 255, and the imaging unit 256.

  FIG. 3 shows software function blocks realized by the control unit 201 of the camera 101 reading out a program stored in the storage unit 202. Note that at least a part of the software functional blocks shown in FIG. 3 may be realized by hardware.

  A display control unit 301 controls the display 203. The display control unit 301 determines a user input to the display 203, and collects and analyzes user finger trajectory information. Here, the trajectory information includes information on the position of the start point where the user's finger started touching the display 203 and information on the position of the end point where the user's finger has moved away from the display 203.

  Reference numeral 302 denotes a power supply unit that controls power supply of the communication unit 204. Power can be saved by supplying power to the communication unit 204 only when the power supply unit 302 is necessary. Reference numeral 303 denotes a connection unit that uses the communication unit 204 to connect to another communication device. A transmission unit 304 transmits image data using the communication unit 204. A reception unit 305 receives image data using the communication unit 204.

  The camera 102 also has the same software function blocks as the camera 101. In the following description, the display control unit (not shown) of the camera 102 is denoted by reference numeral 351, the power source unit 352, the connection unit 353, the transmission unit 354, and the reception unit 355. It should be noted that in the above description, a portion described in association with the hardware of the camera 101 is assumed to be associated with the same type of hardware that the camera 102 has.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart realized when the control unit 201 of the camera 101 reads out a program stored in the storage unit 202 when a thumbnail image of a captured image is displayed on the display 203. In addition, the control unit 251 of the camera 102 also realizes the same flowchart by reading the program stored in the storage unit 252. At this time, an icon (folder icon) representing a folder for saving images is displayed on the display 253 of the camera 102.

  In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the camera 101 is the image data transmission side and the image data is transferred to the camera 102 which is the image data reception side. As an initial state, the communication unit 204 of the camera 101 and the communication unit 254 of the camera 102 are turned off, and communication with the cameras 101 and 102 is not possible. In addition, it is assumed that image data captured by the user via the imaging unit 206 is stored in the storage unit 202 of the camera 101 in advance.

  In the camera 101, the display control unit 301 determines whether or not the user's finger is touched on the display 203 (S401). Similarly, in the camera 102, the display control unit 351 determines whether or not the user's finger is touched on the display 253 (S401). If it is determined that the user's finger is touched, the process proceeds to S402.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the user first touches the thumbnail image displayed on the display 203 of the camera 101 with a finger. Here, the point touched by the user is the starting point of the locus of the user's finger. Thereafter, the user moves his / her finger in the direction of the antenna 205 of the camera 101 while tracing the display 203. Then, the finger is moved to the folder icon displayed on the display 253 of the camera 102 through the antenna 205 of the camera 101 and the antenna 255 of the camera 102 in this order.

  Among the above-described movements of the user's finger, the display control unit 301 of the camera 101 starts from the starting point (point A) at which the user's finger starts touching the display 203 and ends at the point (point at which the user's finger leaves the display 203). Trajectory information until B) is acquired (S402). Further, the display control unit 351 of the camera 102 acquires trajectory information from the start point (point C) at which the user's finger starts touching the display 253 of the camera 102 until the user's finger leaves (end point D) (S402). .

  Next, the display control unit 301 analyzes the acquired trajectory information and determines whether the finger movement direction (trajectory direction) is outward, inward, or neither direction. Here, as shown in FIG. 6A, the display control unit 301 determines that the moving direction is outward when there is a start point in a predetermined center region and an end point in a predetermined outer peripheral region. . As is clear from the figure, the central region is a region inside the outer peripheral region. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the start point is in the predetermined outer peripheral area and the end point is in the predetermined central area, it is determined that the moving direction is inward. If neither of these conditions is satisfied, it is determined that neither direction is present.

  If it is determined in S403 that the moving direction is outward, the process proceeds to S404. If it is determined that the moving direction is inward, the process proceeds to S409. If it is determined that neither direction is present, the process proceeds to S401. Return.

  Here, since the start point A is in the predetermined center region and the end point B is in the predetermined outer peripheral region, the display control unit 301 of the camera 101 determines that the moving direction is outward (S403). Then, the power supply unit 302 starts supplying power to the communication unit 204 (S404). When power supply is started, the connection unit 303 transmits a connection request using the communication unit 204 for a predetermined period, and tries to connect to the camera 102 (S405). In response to the transmitted connection request, the connection unit 303 determines whether a connection response has been received from the camera 102 (S406). Here, when the connection response cannot be received after a lapse of a predetermined time after the connection unit 303 starts transmitting the connection request, the power supply unit 302 stops the power supply of the communication unit 204 and returns to S401. As described above, when the communication unit 204 is not used, power supply can be stopped to save power.

  Here, the connection response is received from the camera 102, and the transmission unit 304 transmits image data corresponding to the thumbnail image indicated by the start point A to the camera 102 (S407). When the transmission of the image data is completed, the power supply unit 302 stops the power supply of the communication unit 204 (S408) and returns to S401. As described above, when the communication unit 204 is not used, power supply can be stopped to save power.

  On the other hand, since the start point C is in the predetermined outer peripheral region and the end point D is in the predetermined central region, the display control unit 351 of the camera 102 determines that the moving direction is inward (S403). Then, the power supply unit 352 starts supplying power to the communication unit 254 (S409). When the power supply is started, the connection unit 353 waits for reception of a connection request via the communication unit 254 for a predetermined period (S410). And when a connection request is received, in response to this, the connection part 353 transmits a connection response (S411). If the connection request is not received even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the connection unit 353 starts to receive the connection request, the power supply unit 352 stops the power supply to the communication unit 254 and returns to S401. .

  Here, the connection request from the camera 101 is received, and the receiving unit 355 receives the image data from the camera 101 (S412). The received image data is stored in the storage location corresponding to the folder icon by the storage unit 252. When the reception of the image data is completed, the power supply unit 352 stops the power supply of the communication unit 254 (S413), and returns to S401.

  As described above, when the finger movement direction in the display is outward, it operates as the data transmission side, and when the finger movement direction in the display is inward, it operates as the data reception side. Operate. Also, image data corresponding to the thumbnail image displayed at the point where the user starts touching in the display is transmitted. Accordingly, the user can transmit desired image data from the camera 101 to the camera 102 with a simple and intuitive operation.

  In the above-described embodiment, the moving direction is determined to be outward when the start point is in the predetermined center region and the end point is in the predetermined outer peripheral region. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the start point is on a predetermined thumbnail image and the end point is within a predetermined outer peripheral area, it may be determined that the moving direction is outward. Thereby, even when the thumbnail image of the image to be transmitted is not within the predetermined central area, the image data can be transmitted.

  Further, when the start point is within a predetermined outer peripheral area and the end point is a folder icon, it may be determined that the moving direction is inward. As a result, the image data can be received even when the folder icon indicating the storage location of the image data is not within the predetermined central area.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the predetermined outer peripheral area may be limited to the side (antenna direction outer peripheral area) to which the antenna 205 is attached. Thereby, data transmission is performed when the user moves his / her finger in the surface direction or the side direction (antenna side) of the housing to which the antenna 205 is attached. Data is received when the user moves his / her finger from the antenna side. Thereby, it is possible to reduce erroneous operations while maintaining simple and intuitive operability.

  Also, before sending data in S407, an inquiry is made to the user as to whether or not to allow data transmission, and if the user permits data transmission, the data is sent. Good. As a result, the possibility of erroneous data transmission can be reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the side that transmits data transmits a connection request, and the side that receives data transmits a connection response. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the data transmission side may transmit a connection response, and the data reception side may transmit a connection request.

  Moreover, although image data was demonstrated in the above-mentioned embodiment, it is not restricted to this, It can apply about various data, such as moving image data, document data, and music data. In addition, in the case of these data, an icon corresponding to the data is displayed instead of the thumbnail image, and data corresponding to the icon displayed in the portion where the touch by the user is started is communicated. Thereby, the user can transmit desired data from the camera 101 to the camera 102 with various simple data by a simple and intuitive operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Camera 102 Camera 201 Control part 202 Storage part 203 Touch-panel display 204 Communication part 205 Antenna 206 Imaging part

Claims (10)

A communication device,
Input means for receiving input from the user;
A determination unit for determining whether to transmit data to another communication device or to receive data from the other communication device based on a trajectory direction of an input by a user via the input unit;
Communication means for communicating data with the other communication device according to the determination by the determination means;
A communication apparatus comprising: When the trajectory direction is a direction toward the outer periphery of the input unit, the determination unit determines to transmit data to the other communication device;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits data to the other communication apparatus. An antenna for communicating with the other communication device;
If the trajectory direction is a direction toward the surface or side to which the antenna is attached, the determination unit determines to transmit data to the other communication device;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits data to the other communication apparatus. The input means further displays an icon indicating predetermined data,
When the determination unit determines that the start point of the input by the user via the input unit is a position where an icon indicating the predetermined data is displayed, the communication unit is connected to the other communication device. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined data is transmitted to the communication apparatus. If the trajectory direction is a direction from the outer periphery of the input unit toward the inside, the determination unit determines to receive data from the other communication device;
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit receives data from the other communication device. An antenna for communicating with the other communication device;
If the trajectory direction is a direction from the surface or side to which the antenna is attached to the inside, the determination unit determines to receive data from the other communication device;
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit receives data from the other communication device. The input means further displays an icon indicating a location for storing data received by the communication means,
When the determination unit determines that the end point of input by the user via the input unit is a position where an icon indicating the place is displayed, the communication unit receives data from the other communication device. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus receives the information. And further comprising supply means for supplying power to the communication means,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit starts supplying power to the communication unit in response to an input from the input unit. A method of controlling a communication device having an input unit that receives input from a user,
A determination step of determining whether to transmit data to another communication device or to receive data from the other communication device based on a trajectory direction of an input by a user via the input unit;
In accordance with the determination, a communication step of communicating data with the other communication device;
A control method characterized by comprising:   The program for operating a computer as a communication apparatus of Claims 1 thru | or 8.

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