U.S. patent application number 14/201546 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-03 for wireless communication apparatus capable of wireless communication with public wireless network and wireless communication apparatus, and image communication apparatus capable of wireless communication with wireless communication apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to SHIGEO YOSHIDA.
Application Number | 20140184722 14/201546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18762321 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140184722 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YOSHIDA; SHIGEO |
July 3, 2014 |
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION APPARATUS CAPABLE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
WITH PUBLIC WIRELESS NETWORK AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION APPARATUS,
AND IMAGE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS CAPABLE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
Abstract
The invention provides an image communication apparatus in which
an image input unit for entering image and a portable communication
unit capable of wireless connection with a public wireless network
are constructed in separate manner and are rendered capable of
mutual wireless communication.
Inventors: |
YOSHIDA; SHIGEO; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
18762321 |
Appl. No.: |
14/201546 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11627054 |
Jan 25, 2007 |
8731611 |
|
|
14201546 |
|
|
|
|
09945802 |
Sep 5, 2001 |
7366468 |
|
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11627054 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/14.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 2101/00 20130101;
H04N 1/00307 20130101; H04N 2201/0041 20130101; H04N 7/141
20130101; H04N 2201/0084 20130101; H04N 2201/0055 20130101; H04W
88/06 20130101; H04W 88/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/14.02 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/14 20060101
H04N007/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 12, 2000 |
JP |
2000-276928 |
Claims
1. A communication apparatus comprising: a memory constructed to
store data of an image; and a transmitting unit constructed to
wirelessly transmit the data of the image stored by the memory to a
first communication apparatus which is different from the
communication apparatus, wherein, in a case where the data of the
plurality of images are transmitted by the transmitting unit to the
first communication apparatus and it is instructed in the first
communication apparatus to transmit the data of the selected image,
the transmitting unit transmits data of an image corresponding to
the data of the selected image to the first communication apparatus
such that the first communication apparatus can transmit the data
of the image corresponding to the data of the selected image to a
second communication apparatus through a base station, the second
communication apparatus being different from first communication
apparatus and different from the communication apparatus.
2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
transmitting unit wirelessly transmits the data of the image
directly to the first communication apparatus.
3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
communication method to be used when the transmitting unit
transmits the data of the image to the first communication
apparatus and a communication method to be used when the first
communication apparatus transits the data of the image
corresponding to the data of the selected image to the base station
are mutually different from each other.
4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising an imaging unit constructed to perform an imaging
process, wherein the memory stores the data of the image obtained
by the imaging process of the imaging unit, and wherein the
transmitting unit transmits the data of the image obtained by the
imaging process of the imaging unit to the first communication
apparatus.
5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
data of the image corresponding to the data of the selected image
is larger in size than the data of the selected image.
6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a converting unit constructed to convert the data of the
image into the data of the image having a size corresponding to the
second communication apparatus, wherein the transmitting unit
transmits the data of the image converted by the converting unit to
the first communication apparatus such that the first communication
apparatus can transmit the data of the image converted by the
converting unit to the second communication apparatus.
7. A control method of controlling a communication apparatus, the
method comprising: storing data of an image; and wirelessly
transmitting the stored data of the image to a first communication
apparatus which is different from the communication apparatus,
wherein, in a case where the data of the plurality of images are
transmitted to the first communication apparatus and it is
instructed in the first communication apparatus to transmit the
data of the selected image, data of an image corresponding to the
data of the selected image is transmitted to the first
communication apparatus such that the first communication apparatus
can transmit the data of the image corresponding to the data of the
selected image to a second communication apparatus through a base
station, the second communication apparatus being different from
first communication apparatus and different from the communication
apparatus.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
computer program for executing data processing to carry out a
control method of controlling a communication apparatus, the method
comprising: storing data of an image; and wirelessly transmitting
the stored data of the image to a first communication apparatus
which is different from the communication apparatus, wherein, in a
case where the data of the plurality of images are transmitted to
the first communication apparatus and it is instructed in the first
communication apparatus to transmit the data of the selected image,
data of an image corresponding to the data of the selected image is
transmitted to the first communication apparatus such that the
first communication apparatus can transmit the data of the image
corresponding to the data of the selected image to a second
communication apparatus through a base station, the second
communication apparatus being different from first communication
apparatus and different from the communication apparatus.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
11/627,054 filed Jan. 25, 2007, pending, which was a divisional of
application Ser. No. 09/945,802, filed Sep. 5, 2001, issued as U.S.
Pat. No. 7,366,468 on Apr. 29, 2008, and claims benefit of those
application under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120, and benefit of Japanese
Patent Application No. 276928/2000, filed Sep. 12, 2000 under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119. The entirety of each of these applications is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a wireless communication
apparatus capable of wireless communication with a public wireless
network and wireless communication with an image communication
apparatus, and an image communication apparatus capable of wireless
communication with a wireless communication apparatus.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Portable communication apparatus has recently become
remarkably popular owing to progress in semiconductor technology,
etc. Also, communication by telephone is shifting from calling to a
number, to calling to a person.
[0006] Also, most portable wireless communication apparatus now has
a character mail function and a simplified web browsing function,
in addition to voice communication. In consideration of the further
improvement in the communication ability of portable wireless
communication apparatus of the next generation, it is anticipated
that the image taking function and the communication function for
such image will play an important role.
[0007] It has already been tried to digitize and transmit an image
taken with a camera, and its practical value is increasing by the
improvement in the communication speed and by the higher image
quality in the digital camera.
[0008] In fact the digital camera is recently showing remarkable
progress in its performance and has become capable of taking an
image with an image quality close to that of a conventional camera
utilizing the silver halide-based photographic film for the
printout of so-called L-size. Therefore, in comparison with the
time and work required for taking an image with the conventional
camera, developing the film and printing the image with a minilab
or the like and digitizing and transmitting thus obtained image, it
will be far more efficient to transmit the image with a digital
camera and a portable wireless communication apparatus.
[0009] Also, such image communication with the digital camera and
the portable wireless communication apparatus matches the recent
trend of the modern society toward diversification of the
communication needs and toward multimedia.
[0010] However, in order to replace the conventional image
communication utilizing digitization of an image obtained with a
conventional camera by the digital camera and the electronic mail
function, it is necessary to be able to transfer the image data to
be transmitted from the digital camera to the personal computer and
to transmit thus transferred image data to a desired address by
means of the image transmitting function of the personal
computer.
[0011] In the communication in such form, however, it is necessary
to connect the digital camera and the personal computer with a
cable and to operate the personal computer, which not only
interferes with the convenience of the user but also makes it
difficult promptly to transmit the image taken with the digital
camera. It has therefore been difficult to execute communication
exploiting the prompt operability of the digital camera.
[0012] It has also been proposed to incorporate the digital camera
function in the portable wireless communication apparatus for
achieving the image communication without the mentioned cabling,
but such configuration limits the development in the performance of
the digital camera despite the rapid progress in the function of
the digital camera itself, and, in such integrated configuration,
the digital camera has to be carried even in a case where portable
wireless communication apparatus alone is utilized without the
digital camera function, leading to a limitation on the dimension,
weight or usable time of the equipment.
[0013] In short, the conventional configuration of utilizing the
digital camera and the personal computer for image communication is
associated with a drawback that the taken image cannot be
immediately transmitted, whereas the conventional integrated
configuration consisting of the digital camera and the portable
wireless communication apparatus is associated with a drawback of
poor portability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide an image
communication apparatus capable of immediately transmitting the
taken image and excellent in portability.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to improve the
operability of an image input device for immediately transmitting
the taken image.
[0016] Still another object of the present invention is, in
enabling immediate transmission of the taken image, to enable
transmission of an image matching the recipient and to enable
transmission of a suitable image to the recipient.
[0017] Still another object of the present invention is to enable
immediate transmission of the taken image and to enable
transmission with a specified addressee only.
[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention is provided
a printer apparatus including a reception device adapted to
wirelessly receive an inquiry signal which is transmitted by a
wireless communication apparatus in order to search surrounding
devices, and a transmission device adapted to transmit a response
signal to the inquiry signal received by the reception device. The
response signal includes information indicating that the printer is
a specified printer which is pre-registered in the wireless
communication apparatus and information indicating that the printer
is operating in a printing process. Moreover, the transmission
device does not transmit the response signal in a case where the
printer apparatus in operating in a printing process.
[0019] Still other objects and features of the present invention
will become fully apparent from the following detailed description
which is to be taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of an image
communication system 1000 constituting a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an
image input unit 100 in the first embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
camera unit 150 provided in the image input unit 100 of the first
embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
portable communication unit 300 in the first embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a view showing the data flow in the image input
unit 100 of the first embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a view showing the data flow in the portable
communication unit 300 of the first embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a view showing the data flow sequence in case of
image transmission in the first embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an image transmitting
operation of the image input unit 100 in the first embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an image transmitting
operation of the portable communication unit 300 in the first
embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a view showing the data flow sequence in case of
image reception in the first embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an image receiving operation
of the portable communication unit 300 in the first embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an image receiving operation
of the image input unit 100 in the first embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a view showing the data flow sequence in case of
image transmission in a second embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a view showing the data flow in case of image
transmission in the second embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an image transmission
control operation of the portable communication unit 300 in the
second embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 16 is a view showing the configuration of an image
communication system 2000 in a third embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0036] FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the process of an image
input unit in the image communication system 2000.
DESCRIPTION
First Embodiment
[0037] FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of the configuration of
an image communication system 1000 constituting a first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0038] The image communication system 1000 is composed of an image
communication apparatus IC1, a base station 500, an ISDN
(integrated service digital network) 600, an access point 700, an
internet network 800, and a receiving terminal 900.
[0039] The image communication apparatus ICI is provided with an
image input unit 100 and a portable communication unit 300.
[0040] The image input unit 100 is provided with a digital camera
function and a wireless image communicating function. Also, the
image input unit 100 may be used singly, namely detached from the
portable communication unit 300.
[0041] The image input unit 100 and the portable communication unit
300 are both provided with wireless communication means and are
capable of mutual communication. In the present embodiment, as such
wireless communication means, there is employed the Bluetooth
standard for executing transmission in the 2.4 GHz band by the
frequency diffusion method.
[0042] The portable communication unit 300 is usable also as an
ordinary wireless telephone (for example for conversational
communication only) and is also capable of image communication with
the image input unit 100 in a distant location. Thus the portable
communication unit 300 is provided with wireless communication
means different from that used between the image input unit 100 and
the portable communication unit 300 and capable of accessing a
public network. In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned
wireless communication means for access to the public network
employs a wireless communication method utilizing the PHS (personal
handyphone system), but the wireless communication method in the
present invention is not limited thereto.
[0043] Also, the image input unit 100 constitutes an example of the
image input means for image input, provided with the wireless
communication function. Moreover, the portable communication unit
300 constitutes an example of the portable communication means
capable of wireless connection with the public wireless network.
Furthermore, the image input means and the portable communication
means are mutually separable.
[0044] The base station 500 communicates with the portable
communication unit 300 by the PHS method and also converts the
data, received from the image communication apparatus IC1 by the
PHS method, into data for the ISDN (wired network) 600.
[0045] The access point 700 is an access point for the internet
provider, and the internet communication can be achieved through
the access point 700. Also, the access point 700 communicates with
the receiving terminal 900 through the internet network 800.
[0046] In the image communication system 1000 of the
above-described configuration, information can be transmitted to
all the terminals connected to the internet in the world, by an
internet protocol such as POP3/SMTP (post office protocol version
3/simple mail transfer protocol).
(Image Input Unit 100)
[0047] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the
configuration of the image input unit 100 in the above-explained
embodiment.
[0048] The image input unit 100 is provided with a camera unit 150,
a main CPU unit MC1, a sub CPU unit SC1, and a Bluetooth module
148.
[0049] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the
configuration of the camera unit 150 provided in the image input
unit 100.
[0050] In the camera unit 150, a CPU 151 controls the camera unit
150 according to a program stored in a memory (not shown), and a
CPU 152 controls the entire camera unit 150 according to a program
stored in a memory (not shown) and is composed of a composite IC
having a memory controller and a serial interface.
[0051] A CCD 153 converts optical (image) information into a charge
and outputs thus converted charge as an electrical signal. In the
present embodiment, the size of the image formed by the CCD 153 is
assumed to be 1280 pixels in the horizontal direction by 960 pixels
in the vertical direction.
[0052] A CDS/AGC (correlated double sampling/auto gain control)
circuit 154 executes sampling on the electrical signal transmitted
from the CCD 153, thereby controlling the amplitude of the
signal.
[0053] An A/D converter converts an analog image signal into a
digital signal. A signal processing circuit 156 applies correction
for example for white balance on the converted digital data, then
executes color space conversion from the color space of the CCD
into RGB data, and outputs the image data thus subjected to the
color space conversion.
[0054] A vertical driver 157 converts the voltage amplitude thereby
generating a signal for driving the CCD 153, and a timing generator
158 generates a timing signal necessary for the CCD 153 for image
formation. A lens 159 transmits and refracts light thereby
concentrating the light onto the charge-accumulating surface of the
CCD 153.
[0055] A control line 160 is used for communication between the CPU
152 and the CPU 151 controlling the entire camera unit 150. A
control line 161 is used by the CPU 151, controlling the camera
unit 150, for controlling the image processing IC (signal
processing circuit) 156, in which an internal register executes
reading and writing operations through the control line 161.
[0056] A pixel signal line 162 is used for transmitting the image
signal, in analog value, from the CCD 153 to the CDS/AGC circuit
154.
[0057] A pixel signal line 163 is used for transmitting the image
signal, subjected to amplitude control by the CDS/AGC circuit 154,
to the AD converter 155. A signal line 164 is used for transmitting
the signal, digitized by the AD converter 155, to the signal
processing circuit 156. The signal line 164 is composed of 10 data
buses.
[0058] An image bus 165 is used for transmitting the image signal,
converted into YUV format by image processing in the image
processing circuit 156, to the CPU 152. The image bus 165 is
composed of 8 data buses.
[0059] A signal line 166 is used for transmitting the timing
signal, used by the CCD 153 as the basis for image formation, from
the timing generator 158 to the CCD 153. A signal line 167 is used
for transmitting the timing signal (requiring voltage conversion),
to the CCD 153 through the vertical driver 157.
[0060] A signal line 168 is used for transmitting the clock signal
used as the basis of sampling of the pixel signal, and a signal
line 169 is used for transmitting horizontal and vertical
synchronization signals, generated by the CPU 152, to the timing
generator 158. A signal line 170 is used for transmitting a clock
signal, generated by the CPU 152 and used as the basis of timing in
controlling the entire camera unit 150, to the timing generator
158, and a signal line 171 is used for transmitting a sample-hold
timing signal to be given to the CDS/AGC circuit 154.
[0061] In the following there will be explained the signal flow
among the blocks constituting the camera unit 150.
[0062] The IC (CPU) 152 controlling the entire camera unit 150
enters the clock signal into the timing generator 158 through the
signal line 170, and the CPU 152 enters the horizontal and vertical
synchronization signals into the timing generator 158 through the
signal line 169.
[0063] In synchronization with thus-entered signals, the timing
generator 158 supplies the CCD 153 with the timing signal through
the signal line 166, also the vertical driver 157 with the timing
signal through the signal line 167, the CDS/AGC circuit 154 with
the timing signal through the signal line 171 and the AD converter
with the timing signal through the signal line 168.
[0064] In synchronization with these timing signals, the CCD 153
outputs the taken image signal as an analog signal composed of 1280
dots in the horizontal direction by 960 dots in the vertical
direction. The outputted image signal is sent through the signal
line 162 to the CDS/AGC circuit 154 which executes sampling, noise
elimination and gain control. The AD converter 155 converts thus
processed signal into a 10-bit digital signal and outputs such
digital signal to the image processing IC 156 through the signal
line 164.
[0065] Receiving the digitally converted signal, the image
processing IC 156 executes image processing such as white balancing
and AE (auto exposure control) on the received signal under the
control of the camera microcomputer (CPU) 151, and outputs the
thus-processed signal in the 8-bit YUV format to the CPU 152.
[0066] The lens 159 is a 3.times. zoom lens of which the zoom
position can be manually moved. When converted into a lens for a
camera for a 35 mm film, the lens 159 has a focal length within a
range of 34.about.103 mm. With a Hall element, the lens 159
transmits the lens position to the CPU 151 for various types of
image processing.
[0067] Again referring to FIG. 2, the sub-CPU unit SC1 communicates
with the main CPU 129 of the main CPU unit MC1, thereby exchanging
commands and data. The communication is executed by parallel signal
transfer through a signal line 119 which is composed of 13 signal
lines (8 data buses, an address signal line, an I/O READ signal
line, an I/O WRITE signal line, a chip select signal line, and an
interrupt signal line).
[0068] The sub-CPU unit SC1 is further provided with a reset
request signal line 120 for outputting a signal for resetting the
main CPU 129, and a reset request signal line 121 for outputting a
signal for resetting the camera microcomputer (CPU 151) for
controlling the camera unit 150.
[0069] Also, the sub-CPU SC1 executes serial transfer of commands
and display data through signal lines 103 (SC signal line, RD
signal line, SDA signal line and SCL signal line) for displaying
various information on an LCD display 102, thereby controlling the
display thereon. It also executes on/off control of a back light,
provided in the LCD display 102, by a back light ON signal.
[0070] The sub-CPU SC1 is also connected with a RTC 104, for
generating information on date and time, through an I2C-bus 105
thereby obtaining date and time information.
[0071] Furthermore, the sub-CPU SC1 can receive information from a
key unit 113, having various switches and a keyboard (key matrix
switches).
[0072] A mode switch 107 is used by the user for selecting the
state of the image input unit 100. More specifically, the image
input unit 100 can identify one of three modes, namely a power off
state, an image producing state and an image input state (camera in
use). Consequently a signal line 108 has three switch input
terminals.
[0073] A shutter switch 109 is a two-step switch capable of
identifying a half-depressed state and a fully-depressed state.
Consequently a signal line 110 has two switch input terminals.
[0074] A jog dial 111 is used by the user for selecting one of the
items displayed on the image of the LCD display 102. The user
rotates the dial to shift a cursor on a desired item and pushes in
the dial to determine the selected item.
[0075] The jog dial 111 can also be inclined to the left and to the
right, for example respectively to proceed to a next image and to
return to a preceding image. Therefore, a signal line 112 has five
switch input terminals in total, including two terminals for
identifying the rotating direction of the dial, one terminal for
identifying the push-in operation of the dial and two terminals for
identifying the inclination to the left or to the right.
[0076] The sub-CPU SC1 is further connected with a battery 122
through a R.times.D serial communication line 126 for receiving
information on the remaining battery energy and on the battery
(voltage, temperature, etc.) at charging and executes processing
according to thus received information. The battery 122 supplies
various units with electric power through a DC-DC converter
124.
[0077] The sub-CPU SC1 further executes power management by
controlling the output (on/off state) of the DC-DC converter 124
through an output terminal 125. It also receives a signal from an
attachment/detachment detection switch 123 cooperating with a knob
provided on a cover for the battery 122, and executes a power-off
process in case the battery 122 is about to be extracted, thereby
preventing loss of the data stored in the memory.
[0078] The sub-CPU SC1 monitors the battery voltage by receiving
the output voltage of the battery 122 through a signal line 128 at
an A/D converter input terminal, and executes a protective process
in case of detecting an abnormality such as an excessive charging
or an excessive discharge.
[0079] A main CPU MC1 has two serial ports. A signal line 138
connected to a serial port 0 is used in case of communicating with
the camera unit 150. The serial port 0 is also used by a CPU chip
129 for sending instructions such as exposure conditions, use of
flash light, photographing mode, timing of photographing, etc., to
the camera unit 150.
[0080] A signal line 134 connected to a serial port 2 is used in
data communication with the Bluetooth module 148.
[0081] A parallel interface 119 is used for connecting the sub-CPU
101 and the main CPU 129.
[0082] The main CPU 129 is a CPU chip used for executing the
protocols ordinarily used in the image capturing, adjustment of
image data amount, output to display, communication with the camera
microcomputer, communication with the sub CPU 101, communication
with the Bluetooth module 148, communication with the external host
computer and in the Bluetooth module 148.
[0083] For executing these processes, the CPU chip 129 is provided
with a serial port, a camera unit interface, a display interface, a
memory interface, a parallel interface, a general purpose I/O
(GPIO), an operation unit, a cache memory, a DMA controller, an
interrupt controller, a timer and a compression/decompression
engine.
[0084] An EDO DRAM 130 is a memory used as the work area for the
operating system and the application software.
[0085] The present embodiment employs two units of EDO DRAM 130.
The EDO DRAM 130 also supports a self-refreshing mode and shifts to
a low power consumption state under the control by the memory
controller of the CPU 129.
[0086] A flash ROM 131 is provided with a NOR type memory and is
connected as a hardware interface in a similar manner as in the
ordinary SRAM.
[0087] The flash ROM 131 is used for storing the image taken by the
camera unit, recording the data obtained from the received mails
and by the FTP communication and also recording various
parameters.
[0088] A mask ROM 132 is a memory used for storing the operating
system and the programs of the application software. When the power
supply to the CPU 129 is turned on or when the resetting is
executed, the ROM 132 is selected and the boot strap codes are
executed.
[0089] Crystal oscillators 146, 147 are used for generating
frequencies to be used in the CPU 129. The crystal oscillator 146
is used for the entire system control and the NTSC encoding, and
the crystal oscillator 147 is used for signal input from the camera
unit 150.
[0090] A camera unit interface 139 is used for storing the image
signal, transmitted from the camera unit 150, in the CPU 129. The
image signal is transmitted after the image processing such as the
color space conversion, image interpolation, auto exposure control,
auto white balancing, auto focusing control, etc., by the image
processor on the raw data of the CCD and is subjected to 4:2:2
formatting. Therefore, there is required a sampling frequency equal
to twice of the frequency of the raw CCD data.
[0091] A signal line 140 is used for transmitting a horizontal
synchronization signal HD and a vertical synchronization signal VD.
These signals are transmitted from the main CPU 129 to the image
processing TG provided in the camera unit 150 for achieving
synchronized storage of the image data.
[0092] A display interface 141 is used for transmitting an NTSC
signal, outputted from the CPU 129, to an external connector 142
and an LCD controller 145. The LCD controller 145 executes, in
cooperation with a voltage-converting device 144, conversion of the
NTSC signal into a signal for display on a color LCD 143.
[0093] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the
configuration of the portable communication unit 300 in the present
embodiment.
[0094] A sub-CPU SC3 executes communication with a main CPU 329 of
a main CPU MC3, thereby exchanging commands and data. The
communication is executed by parallel transfer through a signal
line 319, composed of 13 signal lines (8 data BSU lines, an address
signal line, an I/O READ signal line, an I/O WRITE signal line, a
chip select signal line, and an INTERRUPT signal line).
[0095] The sub-CPU SC3 is provided with a reset request signal line
320 for outputting a signal for resetting the main CPU 329, and is
also connected with an RTC 304, for generating date and time
information, through an I2C-bus 305 thereby obtaining date and time
information. Furthermore, the sub-CPU SC1 can receive information
from a key unit 313, having various switches and a keyboard.
[0096] A mode switch 307 is used by the user for selecting the
state of the portable communication unit 300. More specifically,
the portable communication unit 300 can identify either a power off
state or a communication state.
[0097] A jog dial 311 is used by the user for selecting one of the
items displayed on the image. The user rotates the dial to shift a
cursor on a desired item and pushes in the dial to determine the
selected item. This input device (jog dial 311) is used, for
example, in selecting a desired address from a telephone book.
[0098] A key unit 313 of key matrix type is used for entering
telephone numbers and various characters.
[0099] The key matrix switch 313 is composed of 8.times.2 keys,
which are scanned by 8 output terminals 314 and two input terminals
315.
[0100] The sub-CPU SC3 is further connected with a battery 322
through a R.times.D serial communication line 326 for receiving
information on the remaining battery energy and on the battery
(voltage, temperature etc.) at the charging and executes processing
according to thus received information. The battery 322 supplies
various units with electric power through a DC-DC converter
324.
[0101] The sub-CPU SC3 further executes power management by
controlling the output (on/off state) of the DC-DC converter 324
through an output terminal 325. It also receives a signal from an
attachment/detachment detection switch 323 cooperating with a knob
provided on a cover for the battery 322, and executes a power-off
process in case the battery 322 is about to be extracted, thereby
preventing loss of the data stored in the memory.
[0102] The sub-CPU SC3 monitors the battery voltage by receiving
the output voltage of the battery 322 through a signal line 328 at
an A/D converter input terminal, and executes a protective process
in case of detecting an abnormality such as an excessive charging
or an excessive discharge.
[0103] A main CPU MC3 has two serial ports. A signal line 337
connected to a serial port 1 is used for communication with a
Bluetooth module 350.
[0104] A signal line 334 connected to a serial port 2 is used in
data communication with a PHS module 348.
[0105] A parallel interface 319 is used for connecting the sub-CPU
301 and the main CPU 329.
[0106] The main CPU 329 is a CPU chip used for executing the
protocols ordinarily used in the output to the display,
communication with the sub-CPU 301, communication with the
Bluetooth module 350 and in the Bluetooth module 148. For executing
these processes, the CPU chip 329 is provided with a serial port, a
camera unit interface, a display interface, a memory interface, a
parallel interface, a general purpose I/O (GPIO), an operation
unit, a DMA controller, an interrupt controller and a timer.
[0107] An EDO DRAM 330 is a memory used as the work area for the
operating system and the application software. For the sake of
making the portable communication unit 300 compact, the EDO DRAM
330 does not have a memory capacity matching the display of a
large-scale image.
[0108] A flash ROM 331 is provided with a NOR type memory and is
connected as a hardware interface in a similar manner as in the
ordinary SRAM.
[0109] The flash ROM 331 is used for storing the image transferred
from the image input unit 100 and the data obtained from the
received mails and also recording various parameters.
[0110] A mask ROM 332 is a memory used for storing the operating
system and the programs of the application software. When the power
supply to the CPU 129 is turned on or when the resetting is
executed, the ROM 332 is selected and the boot strap codes are
executed.
[0111] A crystal oscillator 347 is used for generating frequencies
to be used in the CPU 329. The crystal oscillator 347 is used for
the entire system control.
[0112] A display interface 341 transmits the signal from the CPU
329 to an LCD controller 345.
[0113] The LCD controller 345 executes, in cooperation with a
voltage conversion device 344, conversion of the NTSC signal into a
signal for display by a color LCD 343.
[0114] In the following there will be explained the data flow in
the image input unit 100 of the present embodiment.
[0115] FIG. 5 shows the data flow in the image input unit 100,
wherein image input device 101B corresponds to the camera unit 150
in FIG. 2.
[0116] Memory device 102B corresponds to the EDO DRAM 130 and the
flash ROM 131 in FIG. 2, and stores the image taken by the camera
unit 150.
[0117] Image conversion device 105B executes conversion to be
executed by the CPU 129 shown in FIG. 2, and converts the input
image size (for example 1280.times.960 dots) into an arbitrary size
(for example 320.times.24 dots). Such conversion can be achieved by
a known method, such as simple skipping, interpolation by averaging
or image encoding.
[0118] First wireless communication device 106B corresponds to the
Bluetooth unit 148 shown in FIG. 2. Control device 107B corresponds
to the CPU 129 shown in FIG. 2 and controls the above-mentioned
devices 101B, 102B, 105B and 106B.
[0119] Display device 103B is used for displaying the taken image
and for selecting the image to be transmitted.
[0120] Selection device 104B is used for selecting the image of
which the image size is to be changed.
[0121] In the following there will be explained the data flow in
the portable communication unit 300 in the present embodiment.
[0122] First, wireless communication unit 301B is used for wireless
communication between the image input unit 100 and the portable
communication unit 300 and corresponds to the Bluetooth unit 350 in
FIG. 4.
[0123] Memory device 302B corresponds to the EDO DRAM 330 and the
flash ROM 331 shown in FIG. 2, and is used for storing the image
transferred from the image input unit 100 and the data transferred
from other terminals. Display device 303B is used for displaying
the image obtained by communication and displaying e-mails. Second
wireless communication unit 304B is used for wireless communication
between the portable communication unit 300 and a base station 500
and corresponds to the PHS module 348 in FIG. 4.
[0124] Control device 305B corresponds to the CPU 329 shown in FIG.
4 and controls the above-mentioned devices (301B to 304B) and input
device 306B.
[0125] The input device 306B is used for entering the address of
designation and for making various selections.
[0126] In the following there will be explained the sequence of
data flow in case of image transmission in the above-described
embodiment.
[0127] FIG. 7 is a view showing the sequence of data flow in case
of image transmission in the above-described embodiment.
[0128] From the image input unit 100 to the portable communication
unit 300, there is transferred a copy (selecting image) of a
reduction image (with a reduced number of pixels) prepared in
advance so as to reduce the image size (t11).
[0129] Then the portable communication unit 300 selects an image to
be transmitted, in case there are plural transferred reduction
images, utilizing such reduction images, also confirms the images
to be transmitted and the layout thereof utilizing such transferred
reduction images, further enters the main text of e-mail, selects
and enters the address. Then connection is made to a mail server
through the base station 500 (t12).
[0130] Then the mail server informs the portable communication unit
300 of the completion of preparation for the transmission of the
mail text of the mail (t13), and the portable communication unit
300 informs the image input unit 100 of the information on the
destination of transmission and the completion of preparation for
the transmission (t14).
[0131] Based on the information on the destination provided by the
portable communication unit 300, the image input unit 100 judges
the kind of the transmitter (for example judging a printer or a
computer)), and an image matching the information on the
destination is transferred to the portable communication unit 300
by Bluetooth communication utilizing the Bluetooth module 350. In
this manner the image input unit 100 executes transmission to the
base station 500 through the portable communication unit 300. The
transfer of the image matching the kind of the destination means,
for example, the transfer of a high definition image (image of a
high resolution) in a case where the destination is a printer, or
the transfer of an image of medium resolution in case the
destination is an ordinary computer (t15). In either case, the
portable communication unit 300 can at first execute a process of
storing the reduction image transferred in the step t11, and can
execute image communication without storing a larger image (image
of a higher resolution). Then, upon completion of the image
communication, an end command reaches from the mail server to the
portable communication unit 300 (t16), whereupon the image
communication in the image input unit 100 is terminated (t17).
[0132] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of image
transmission by the image input unit 100 in the above-described
embodiment.
[0133] At first the image input unit 100 displays, on the LCD 143,
a reduction image of the taken and stored image. The user selects
the image to be transmitted utilizing the jog dial 111 and the key
unit 113 (S2), and thus selected image is subjected to a change in
the number of pixels and a change in the encoding method to produce
a copy of the aforementioned image, reduced in data amount for
transfer to the portable communication unit 300 (S3).
[0134] Then there is monitored whether a command for transmission
is given from the user (S4), and, in response to such command, the
aforementioned copy image of reduced data amount is transferred to
the portable communication unit 300 (S5). In case of transmitting
plural images, the sequence returns from step S4 to S2 for
selecting another image to be transmitted.
[0135] Then there is monitored whether the destination information
is transferred from the portable communication unit 300 (S6). Such
information means that the portable communication unit 300 has
executed the preparation of the e-mail utilizing the image to be
transmitted and the selection of the destination and has completed
the connection with the communication server.
[0136] Then the data amount of the image to be transferred is
changed according to the destination information obtained in step
S6, and the image is transmitted through the portable communication
unit 300 to the base station 500 (S7). For example, in case the
original image has a size of 1280.times.960 dots, such image is
directly transmitted if the destination is a printer but the image
is transmitted after a change of the image size to 640.times.480
dots if the destination is a computer. Also, the transmission is
made after a change of the image size to 320.times.240 dots if the
destination is a portable communication device.
[0137] The aforementioned change of the image size is executed by
the image size conversion means 105B on the image stored in the
memory means 102B. Such conversion enables efficient communication
matching the destination of transmission.
[0138] Then there is monitored whether a communication end command
has arrived from the portable communication unit 300 (S8), and the
sequence is terminated when the communication end command arrives
(S9).
[0139] In the above-described sequence, the communication from the
image input unit 100 to the portable communication unit 300 is
executed by the Bluetooth communication utilizing the Bluetooth
modules 148 and 350, and the communication from the portable
communication unit 300 to the base station 500 is executed by the
PHS communication by the PHS module.
[0140] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an image transmitting
operation of the portable communication unit 300 in the
above-described embodiment.
[0141] The portable communication unit 300 monitors whether a
reduction image has been transferred from the image input unit 100
(S22), and, if transferred, it prepares an e-mail or a web page
utilizing the thus-transferred image (S23).
[0142] Then there is selected the destination of transmission
(S24), utilizing the telephone list or the past communication
record provided in the portable communication unit 300.
[0143] Then connection is made with a server such as the mail
server for transmission (S25), and there is monitored whether the
transmission is possible (S26). If the transmission is possible,
the reduction image is erased (S26a) and the destination
information and the instruction for image transmission are
transferred to the image input unit 100 (S27). In the image
transmitting operation, the image data of a large amount are
transmitted from the image input unit 100, but the portable
communication unit 300 does not store the image data but merely
executes a relaying operation in such transmitting operation (S28),
whereby the capacity of the memory provided therein can be reduced.
Then there is monitored whether the communication with the server
has been completed (S29), and, if completed, there is transferred a
command for terminating the communication to the image input unit
100 (S30), whereupon the sequence is terminated (S31).
[0144] In the following there will be explained the data flow at
the image reception in the above-described embodiment.
[0145] FIG. 10 shows the data flow at the image reception in the
above-described embodiment.
[0146] At first the portable communication unit 300 receives a
request for reception from the base station 500 including the mail
server 500 (t21), and refuses the mail reception itself in a case
where the reception is not possible because of an empty memory
capacity in the portable communication unit 300 (t22). If the empty
memory capacity of the portable communication unit 300 is not
limited but the communication state with the image input unit 100
is not satisfactory, the e-mail is received in the portions other
than the image and the sequence is terminated, and, if the empty
memory capacity and the communication state with the image input
state 100 are satisfactory, all the data are received (t22).
[0147] Then there is given an instruction for starting the
reception from the mail server to the image input unit 100 (t23),
and, in the case of an error or termination of the communication,
an instruction for ending the communication from the image input
unit 100 to the portable communication unit 300 (t24). Then the end
of communication is instructed from the portable communication unit
to the mail server (t25).
[0148] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an image receiving operation
in the portable communication unit 300 in the above-described
embodiment.
[0149] Upon receiving a request for reception from the base station
500, the portable communication unit 300 discriminates whether
there is a memory capable of storing the reception data (S42), and,
if even the character data cannot be stored because of the
deficient empty memory capacity, there is informed a rejection for
the reception request and the receiving operation is terminated
(S48).
[0150] On the other hand, if there is a memory capable of storing
the reception data (S42), there is checked the state of the
Bluetooth communication with the image input unit 100 (S43), and,
if the communication state is unsatisfactory, an instruction to
start the reception only on the character portion is given to the
server (S50) and the received data are stored (S51). The receiving
operation from the server is executed solely by the portable
communication unit 300 in the steps S50 and S51 and the image input
unit 100 does not execute the reception.
[0151] On the other hand, if the communication state with the image
input unit 100 is satisfactory (S43), an instruction to start the
reception is given to the server (S44), and the image data received
from the server are relayed and transferred to the image input unit
(S45).
[0152] Then the completion of the communication with the server
(S46) is awaited, and, upon completion of the communication, an
instruction for terminating the communication is sent to the image
input unit 100 and to the server (S47).
[0153] FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the image receiving
operation of the image input unit 100 in the above-described
embodiment.
[0154] Upon receiving a request for reception through the portable
communication unit 300, the image input unit 100 discriminates
whether there is a memory capable of storing the reception data
(S62), and, if even the character data cannot be stored because of
the deficient empty memory capacity, there is informed a rejection
for the reception request to the portable communication unit 300
and the receiving operation is terminated (S65).
[0155] On the other hand, if there is a memory capable of storing
the reception data (S62), the image data are received from the
server through the portable communication unit 300 (S63). Then the
completion of the communication with the server (S64) is awaited,
and, upon completion of the communication, the sequence is
terminated (S65).
[0156] The portable communication unit 300 only receives the
character data in a case where the communication state between the
portable communication unit 300 and the image input unit 100 is not
satisfactory, but it is also possible to receive also the image
data of a limited data amount from the server in addition to the
character data.
[0157] In the image communication apparatus IC1, the image input
unit 100 such as a digital camera and the portable communication
unit 300 are formed as separate casings, and are mutually connected
by wireless communication means which is different from the
wireless communication means to be used in the communication of the
portable communication unit 300 with the public communication
network. Consequently the image input unit 100 need not be carried
in a case where the image taking function is not required, whereby
excellent portability can be ensured, and the configuration of the
image input unit 100 can be modified according to the technological
progress of the image input unit 100 and that of the wireless
communication means connecting the portable communication unit 300
and the base station 500, whereby the system can flexibly adapt to
various application software.
[0158] Furthermore, since the image input unit 100 such as a
digital camera and the portable communication unit 300 are
connectable by the wireless communication means, there can be
achieved transmission and reception in abrupt (and prompt) manner
even in the course of an image taking operation. The use of two
wireless communication means is disadvantageous in consideration of
the cost of the apparatus, but such drawback in cost can be reduced
by employing, as the wireless communication means for connecting
the image input unit 100 and the portable communication unit 300, a
short-distance communication system based on the frequency
diffusion method that can be constructed inexpensively such as
Bluetooth.
[0159] Moreover, the image communication apparatus IC1 can be
constructed inexpensively since the aforementioned controls are
realized by the CPU, memory, display means, selection means etc.
ordinarily provided in the image input unit 100 and the portable
communication unit 300.
[0160] Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiment, it is difficult to
store the image taken with the image input element of several
million pixels in the portable communication unit 300 since the
capacity of the image memory mounted therein is limited in order to
reduce the dimension and weight the equipment. It is therefore
rendered possible to transmit, at first, plural reduction images
(thumbnail images) of limited data amount from the image input unit
100 to the portable communication unit 300, then to select the
image to be transmitted in the portable communication unit and to
instruct the start of transmission of such image from the portable
communication unit to the image input unit, thereby achieving
communication from the image input unit 100 to the base station 500
through the portable communication unit 300.
[0161] The plural reduction images (thumbnail images) of limited
data amount from the image input unit 100 to the portable
communication unit 300 are transmitted merely for selecting the
image to be transmitted, so that such thumbnail images may have a
low resolution. After the image to be transmitted is once selected,
the portable communication unit 300 merely relays such transmitted
image and is not required to store all the image at a time. Also
the selection of the image to be transmitted is to be made in the
portable communication unit 300.
[0162] Also in the image communication apparatus IC1, in the case
of executing the image receiving operation, the mode of reception
is varied according to the state of the wireless communication
means (first wireless communication means) between the image input
unit 100 and the portable communication unit 300, whereby there can
be achieved such control as to reduce the data amount of the
received image or to suspend the reception if the wireless
communication between the image input unit 100 and the portable
communication unit 300 is difficult owing for example to a long
distance or noises.
[0163] Also, in the image communication apparatus IC1, the image
input unit 100 executes transmission with the data amount of the
transmitted image varied according to the type of the destination.
For example the data amount of the image is reduced in case the
destination of web server or e-mail because the image only needs to
be viewed on a display, but the image is transmitted with a larger
number of pixels in case transmission to an internet printer in
order to enable clearer image output. The data amount of the image
can be varied for example by a reduction in the number of pixels or
by a change in the image encoding method. The wireless
communication means (second wireless communication means) between
the portable communication unit 300 connectable to the public
network and the base station 500 is expected to become faster in
the future but is still often slower than the first wireless
communication means between the image input unit 100 and the
portable communication unit 300. Also, the communication with an
unnecessary number of pixels is undesirable in consideration of the
communication cost. Thus there can be obtained an advantage of
achieving communication with an appropriate number of pixels to the
appropriate destination.
[0164] Furthermore, there can be improved the operability in the
image communication by the image input unit and the portable
communication unit because the reduction image is transmitted from
the image input unit to the portable communication unit and is
utilized for confirming or selecting the image.
Second Embodiment
[0165] The second embodiment is similar in the hardware
configuration to the foregoing first embodiment, but is different
in the entire control method.
[0166] In the second embodiment, the image input unit 100 executes
selection of the destination of transmission. Therefore, prior to
the transmission, the portable communication unit 300 sends plural
destination addresses to the image input unit 100. Then the image
input unit 100 selects one of thus sent plural destination
addresses, and, as soon as the mail server of the destination
becomes ready, transmits the image to the mail server through the
portable communication unit 300.
[0167] In the first embodiment, after the image to be transmitted
is selected by the image input unit 100, the destination is
selected by the portable communication unit 300, so that the user
has to operate both the image input unit 100 and the portable
communication unit 300. On the other hand, the second embodiment
provides an advantage of completing the transmitting operation
solely by the image input unit 100 since the selection of the
destination is also executed in the image input unit 100.
[0168] In sending the address information to the image input unit
100, it is not necessary to send all the address information
included in the telephone list. It is more efficient to send only
the necessary addresses such as those associated with the e-mail
addresses.
[0169] FIG. 13 shows the data flow in the image transmitting
operation in the second embodiment.
[0170] At first the image input unit 100 sends an acquisition
request for the destination address information to the portable
communication unit 300 (t31). Then the portable communication unit
300 transfers the necessary address information to the image input
unit 100 (t32). Then the image input unit 100 prepares an e-mail of
an image size matching the destination and sends a relaying request
to the portable communication unit 300 (t33).
[0171] The portable communication unit 300 sends a request for
transmitting the image data to the server (t34), and, when a
permission for transmission is given from the server to the
portable communication unit 300 (t35), it sends an instruction to
start the transmission of the image data to the image input unit
100 (t36). Thus the image input unit 100 transmits the image data
to the server through the portable communication unit 300
(t37).
[0172] Such control (including relaying) allows the image data to
be transmitted without increasing the memory capacity of the
portable communication unit 300.
[0173] After the completion of transmission, the portable
communication unit 300 acquires status information from the server
(t38), and the portable communication unit 300 transfers the status
to the image input unit 100, whereupon the sequence is
terminated.
[0174] FIG. 14 shows an image transmitting operation in the image
input unit 100 of the second embodiment.
[0175] The image input unit 100 sends a request for acquiring
address information group, for obtaining the address information
for selecting the destination, to the portable communication unit
300 (S82), and acquires the address information therefrom (S83).
Then the destination is selected by the user (S84), and an e-mail
is prepared with a variation of the type (resolution) of the
attached image according to thus selected destination (S85).
[0176] Then the prepared image mail is transferred to the server
through the portable communication unit 300 (with relaying by the
portable communication unit 300) (S86) and the sequence waits until
an end instruction arrives (S87), and the sequence is terminated
when the end instruction arrives (S88).
[0177] FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an image transmission
control operation in the portable communication unit 300 of the
second embodiment.
[0178] When the portable communication unit 300 receives the
request for acquiring the address information from the image input
unit 100 (S102), it transfers the address information to the image
input unit 100 (S103). Then, after the preparation of the e-mail in
the image input unit 100, the portable communication unit executes
connection to the server in response to an instruction for
connection from the image input unit 100 thereby preparing for the
e-mail transmission (S104).
[0179] Then the portable communication unit 300 transfers the image
transmitted from the image input unit 100 and matching the
destination in the image size (resolution), to the server (S105).
In this operation, instead of storing all the image transmitted
from the image input unit 100 and transmitting thus stored image to
the server, the portable communication unit 300 transmits the image
from the image input unit 100 by merely relaying, so that there is
not required a memory capacity for the transmission.
[0180] Then the sequence awaits the completion of the communication
with the server (S106) and is terminated when the communication is
completed (S107).
[0181] The foregoing second embodiment can improve the convenience
of the user, since the image input unit 100 executes selection on
the plural address information transferred from the portable
communication unit 300 and utilizes thus selected address
information as the address of destination.
[0182] More specifically, the image input unit 100, being provided
with an image displaying function, can select the image, but is
normally not provided with the designation address information.
Also since the image input unit 100 and the portable communication
unit 300 are connected by the wireless communication means, the
freedom is increased with respect to the physical arrangement of
the devices, but it is inconvenient to operate both devices. Also,
the portable communication unit 300 is normally provided with an
address book for transmitting and receiving calls and e-mails. It
is therefore rendered possible to improve the convenience of the
user by transferring the address information from the portable
communication unit 300 to the image input unit 100 and selecting
the address information therein.
Third Embodiment
[0183] In the foregoing first and second embodiments, the size of
the image to be communicated through the portable communication
unit and the base station is varied according to the type of the
image input unit and the destination.
[0184] In the third embodiment, the image size is varied according
to the type of the destination to be communicated directly with the
image input unit by the Bluetooth communication.
[0185] FIG. 16 is a view showing an example of the configuration of
an image communication system 2000 constituting a third embodiment
of the present invention.
[0186] An image communication apparatus IC16 (image input unit
16100, portable communication unit 16300), a base station 16500, an
ISDN network 16600, an access point 16700, an internet network
16800 and a receiving terminal 16900 constituting the image
communication system 2000 are similar to those constituting the
image communication system 1000 shown in FIG. 1 and will not,
therefore, be explained further.
[0187] A printer 16301 is capable of direct communication with the
image input unit 16100 by Bluetooth communication. A personal
computer 16302 is capable of direct communication with the image
input unit 16100 by Bluetooth communication.
[0188] FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the process of the image
input unit in the image communication system 2000.
[0189] At first when the image input unit 16100 executes selection
of the image to be transferred, designation of the destination and
instruction for transfer, a main CPU 129 of the image input unit
16100 identifies the type of the destination (S1701, S1702, S1703).
In the third embodiment, the designation of the destination and the
identification of the type are achieved by transmitting an inquiry
by the Bluetooth communication utilizing the Bluetooth module 148,
then displaying the responding devices on the display unit of the
image input unit and making designation among such devices. Also,
the response to the inquiry includes information indicating the
type of the responding device (portable communication unit, printer
or PC in the third embodiment). Thus, once the destination is
designated, the type of the designated device can be automatically
identified.
[0190] In a case where the destination of transfer is the portable
communication unit, there is executed a process similar to that in
the first and second embodiments. Also, in a case where the
destination of transfer is the printer 16301, a high definition
image (image of high resolution) is transferred through the
Bluetooth module 148 (S1706), and where the destination of transfer
is the PC 16032, a medium definition image is transferred through
the Bluetooth module 148 (S1707). If the destination of transfer is
a device not shown in FIG. 16 and the optimum image size is not
known, there is given a display for causing the user to select the
image size, and, when the image size is selected by the user
(S1704), an image of the selected size is transferred (S1705).
[0191] As explained in the foregoing, the third embodiment allows
transfer of the image with a size matching the destination, in a
case of image transfer from the image input unit. If the size
optimum for the destination is not clear, the size can be selected
by the user.
Fourth Embodiment
[0192] In the foregoing embodiment, the image input unit can
communicate with the portable communication unit, printer and PC,
but, in the fourth embodiment, the image input unit can communicate
only with the printer.
[0193] In this case, the Bluetooth modules of the image input unit
and the printer are so set as to be capable of communication one
the other. Thus, when the image input unit transmits an inquiry and
if the response signal thereto includes information indicating a
specified printer (for example information specifying the
manufacture of the device or indicating the registration in advance
in the image input unit), there is formed a piconet of Bluetooth
communication only with the printer having transmitted the
aforementioned signal, thereby enabling image transmission.
[0194] In this manner the image input unit can communicate only
with a specified printer, regardless of other devices with the
Bluetooth modules, thereby avoiding the error of mistaking the
destination of the image. It is also possible to dispense with the
toil of selecting the destination of image transfer.
[0195] Furthermore, in a case where the image input unit can
communicate only with the specified printer and if such printer is
in the course of printing the image transferred from the image
input unit or has started the printing process though the printing
operation itself has not been started, or in a case where the image
input unit can communicate only with the specified printer which
can also communicate with other devices and if such printer is in
the course of printing the image transferred from another device or
has started the printing process though the printing operation
itself has not been started, the response signal to the inquiry
from the image input unit may include information indicating that
the printing operation is in progress, whereby the user can be
helped to avoid a misunderstanding that might result in an
erroneous operation even if the printed image is different from the
image transmitted from the image input unit.
[0196] Also, in order to avoid such misunderstanding, it is also
possible simply not to respond to the inquiry while the printer is
executing the printing operation or is in the course of the
printing process.
[0197] The present invention can provide an image communication
apparatus of excellent portability, capable of immediately
transmitting the taken image, and the operability of the image
input device can be improved since the taken image can be
immediately transmitted.
[0198] Moreover, an appropriate image can be transmitted to the
destination since an image matching the destination can be
transmitted in immediate transmission of the taken image, and the
taken image can be transmitted immediately, since the communication
can be made only with the specified partner.
* * * * *