Electronic device

Abstract

To add position information at the time of imaging a subject to image data of the subject generated by an electronic apparatus having neither a position information addition setting function nor a positioning function.SOLUTION: An electronic device capable of communicating with an external device that can be set to a first setting for adding position information or a second setting for not adding position information includes a generation unit that generates data, a reception unit that receives information from the external device, a storage unit that stores the position information received from the external device by the reception unit, and a control unit that adds the position information to the data generated by the generation unit. If the location information is added to the data and the external device is set to the second setting, a command instructing not adding the location information to the data is received from the external device by the receiver, and the location information stored in the storage is not added to the data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Incorporation by Reference

[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-144083, filed on July 31, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Technical Field]

[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic device and a program. [Background technology]

[0003] An information and communication system that communicates location information (location data) between a camera and a mobile phone is known (Patent Document 1). Conventional information and communication systems are not sufficient in providing detailed control according to the device status. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-252212 Summary of the Invention

[0005] The electronic device according to a first aspect of the invention disclosed in the present application is an electronic device capable of communicating with an external device that can be set to a first setting that assigns location information or a second setting that does not assign the location information, and includes a generation unit that generates data, a receiving unit that receives information from the external device, a memory unit that stores the location information received from the external device by the receiving unit, and a control unit that assigns the location information to the data generated by the generation unit, wherein if the external device is in the first setting, the control unit receives the location information from the external device via the receiving unit and stores it in the memory unit, and assigns the location information to the data, and if the external device is in the second setting, the control unit receives a command from the external device instructing the receiving unit not to assign the location information to the data, and does not assign the location information stored in the memory unit to the data.

[0006] The electronic device according to a second aspect of the invention disclosed in the present application is an electronic device that transmits location information to an external device that assigns the location information to data, and includes an acquisition unit that acquires the location information and a transmission unit that transmits information to the external device, and when the external device is set not to assign the location information to the data, the transmission unit transmits a command to the external device instructing it not to assign the location information received from the electronic device to the data.

[0007] The electronic device according to a third aspect of the invention disclosed in the present application is an electronic device that transmits location information to an external device that assigns the location information to data, and includes an acquisition unit that acquires the location information and a transmission unit that transmits information to the external device, and the transmission unit transmits invalid location information to the external device when the external device is set not to assign the location information to the data.

[0008] An electronic device according to a fourth aspect of the invention disclosed in the present application comprises a generation unit that generates data, a receiving unit that receives information from an external device, a memory unit that stores location information received by the receiving unit from the external device, and a control unit that assigns the location information to the data generated by the generation unit, wherein when the receiving unit receives an instruction instructing not to assign the location information to the data, the control unit does not assign the location information stored in the memory unit to the data.

[0009] An electronic device according to a fifth aspect of the invention disclosed in the present application comprises a generation unit that generates data, a receiving unit that receives information from an external device, a memory unit that stores location information received by the receiving unit from the external device, and a control unit that assigns the location information to data generated by the generation unit, wherein if invalid location information is received by the receiving unit from the external device, the control unit does not assign the location information stored in the memory unit to the data.

[0010] A program representing a sixth aspect of the invention disclosed in the present application causes a processor of an electronic device that transmits location information to an external device that assigns the location information to data to execute an acquisition process for acquiring the location information, and a transmission process for transmitting to the external device, if the external device is set not to assign the location information to the data, a command instructing the external device not to assign the location information received from the electronic device to the data.

[0011] A program representing a seventh aspect of the invention disclosed in the present application causes a processor of an electronic device that transmits location information to an external device that assigns the location information to data to execute an acquisition process that acquires the location information, and a transmission process that transmits invalid location information to the external device if the external device is set not to assign the location information to the data. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of adding and invalidating location information. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the cache memory of the digital camera. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a smartphone. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a digital camera. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the communication system. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a connection sequence in a communication system. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a scanning and connection process of a smartphone. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure for data processing (step S612) of the digital camera shown in FIG. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of an image file generation processing procedure of a digital camera. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of a procedure for updating a cache memory. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of a procedure for updating a cache memory. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of subsequent deletion of location information. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a setting change time transmission process performed by a smartphone. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for a process of deleting location information after the fact by a digital camera. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a procedure of a location information assignment process according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, electronic devices and programs according to the present embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the following embodiments, a smartphone will be used as an example of the electronic device, and a digital camera (image capture device) will be used as an example of an external electronic device (hereinafter, external device) that can communicate with the electronic device. Note that the electronic device is not limited to a smartphone, and may be a mobile phone, game console, tablet, or autonomously mobile drone or robot, as long as it can communicate with the external device and acquire location information.

[0014] Furthermore, the external device is not limited to a digital camera, but may also be a digital video camera, game console, tablet, drone, or robot, as long as it can communicate with the electronic device and generate data associated with location information from the electronic device. Furthermore, the external device may not be able to obtain location information through internal processing, or, like the electronic device, may be able to obtain location information but may be set to disable the acquisition of location information. [Example]

[0015] <Examples of adding and disabling location information> 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of assigning and invalidating location information. (A) shows assigning location information P from a smartphone 101 to a digital camera 102, and (B) shows invalidating location information from the smartphone 101 to the digital camera 102. For example, a user is assumed to photograph a subject with the digital camera 102 while carrying the smartphone 101. The location information P is information that identifies the location of the smartphone 101 by, for example, latitude and longitude.

[0016] The setting screen 111 displays a slider 113 in a location information assignment setting item 112. The slider 113 is an interface that can be moved left and right by a user operation. When the slider 113 is positioned at the right end, it means that location information is assigned (ON), and when it is positioned at the left end, it means that location information is not assigned (OFF). Furthermore, the digital camera 102 does not have a function for setting whether or not to assign location information P.

[0017] In (A), the location information assignment setting is "ON" in the smartphone 101. Therefore, the smartphone 101 acquires location information P, for example, by satellite positioning, and sequentially transmits it to the digital camera 102. The digital camera 102 stacks the sequentially received location information P in a cache memory. The digital camera 102 captures an image of a subject and generates image data 121 of the subject.

[0018] Then, the digital camera 102 reads the latest location information P from the cache memory, assigns the read location information P to the image data 121, and generates an image file 122. The location information P is stored in the image file 122 as, for example, Exif (Exchangeable image file) information. This allows the digital camera 102 to associate the location information P of the shooting location when the image data 121 was generated with the image data 121, even if it does not have a satellite positioning function.

[0019] In (B), the smartphone 101 is in a state where its location information assignment setting has been changed from "ON" to "OFF." In this case, the smartphone 101 does not transmit the location information P, but instead transmits to the digital camera 102, for example, invalidation data that invalidates the location information P transmitted to the digital camera 102.

[0020] The invalidation data is, for example, a command to discard the location information P. When the digital camera 102 receives the command to discard the location information P, it clears its cache memory. The digital camera 102 captures an image of a subject and generates image data 121 of the subject. Then, even if the digital camera 102 attempts to read the latest location information P from the cache memory, it is unable to read the location information P because the cache memory has been cleared. Therefore, the digital camera 102 generates an image file 123 without being able to assign the location information P to the image data 121. When a setting to not assign the location information P is made in the smartphone 101, the location information P is no longer assigned to the image data 121.

[0021] As a result, it is possible to assign or not assign location information P to image data 121 captured by the digital camera 102 simply by setting the smartphone 101. In other words, since there is no need to set the digital camera 102 to assign location information P, the user does not need to perform complicated settings on the digital camera 102, and the convenience of the digital camera 102 can be improved.

[0022] Although the above description has been given using an example of a discard command for the location information P and clearing the cache memory in which the location information P is stacked as an example of invalidation data, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the smartphone 101 may transmit invalid location information PX to the digital camera 102 as another example of invalidation data, and the digital camera 102 may stack the invalid location information PX in its cache memory.

[0023] The invalid location information PX may be, for example, an impossible latitude and longitude value. As a result, the digital camera 102 reads the invalid location information PX from the cache memory as the latest location information, assigns the read invalid location information PX to the image data 121, and generates the image file 123.

[0024] <Example of cache memory contents> 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the cache memory of the digital camera 102. (A) shows an example of the contents stored in the cache memory 200 in the digital camera 102 when the location information assignment setting is ON, similar to FIG. 1(A). (B1) and (B2) show an example of the contents stored in the cache memory 200 in the digital camera 102 when the location information assignment setting is switched from ON to OFF, similar to FIG. 1(B).

[0025] The digital camera 102 associates a time 201 with a position 202 and records them as a record in the cache memory 200. The position 202 is the position of the smartphone 101 at the time 201. In this example, since the user carries the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102, the position 202 corresponds to the position of the digital camera 102.

[0026] In (A), the smartphone 101 transmits the time 201 values ​​T1 to Tn (n is an integer of 2 or more) along with the position 202 indicated by the position information P to the digital camera 102. Here, the smaller the n, the earlier the value, and the time T1 and position P1 for n=1 are the oldest values.

[0027] The time 201 may be the time when the smartphone 101 acquires location information by satellite positioning, or may be the transmission time when the location information P is transmitted to the digital camera 102. This makes it possible to assign accurate location information P of the smartphone 101 at the time of acquiring the location information to data generated by the digital camera 102 at the time of acquiring the location information. Furthermore, if the time 201 is not transmitted from the smartphone 101, the time 201 may be the time when the digital camera 102 receives the location information P. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of data transmitted from the smartphone 101.

[0028] (B1) shows an example of the contents stored in the cache memory 200 when the invalidation data is a command to discard the location information P and the location information P is discarded by the command. When the digital camera 102 receives the command to discard the location information P from the smartphone 101, it discards the time 201 and the location 202.

[0029] (B2) shows an example of the contents stored in the cache memory 200 when the invalid position information PX is recorded when the invalid data is invalid position information PX. When the digital camera 102 receives the invalid position information PX from the smartphone 101, it records the time Tn in time 201 and records the invalid position information PX in position 202.

[0030] The digital camera 102 always reads the position 202 from the cache memory 200, regardless of whether the setting for adding the position information P on the smartphone 101 is ON or OFF. Therefore, if the cache memory 200 is in the state (A), the digital camera 102 reads the position information Pn, if it is in the state (B1), it cannot read anything, and if it is in the state (B2), it reads invalid position information PX. This eliminates the need for the digital camera 102 to set up the addition of the position information P, thereby improving the convenience of the digital camera 102.

[0031] <Example of hardware configuration for Smartphone 101> 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the smartphone 101. The smartphone 101 has a processor 301, a storage device 302, an operation device 303, a display device 304, an imaging unit 305, a satellite signal receiver 306, a first communication interface (IF) 307, a second communication IF 308, and a third communication IF 309. These are communicatively connected via a bus 310.

[0032] The processor 301 controls the smartphone 101. The processor 301 executes programs. The processor 301 generates location information P, for example, based on received satellite signals. The storage device 302 serves as a working area for the processor 301. The storage device 302 is a non-transitory or temporary recording medium that stores various programs and data. Examples of the storage device 302 include a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and a flash memory.

[0033] The operation device 303 accepts data input. Examples of the operation device 303 include buttons and a touch panel. The display device 304 displays information on a display screen. The display device 304 displays the setting screen 111. The imaging unit 305 includes a lens and an imaging element for capturing an image of a subject and outputting an image signal. The satellite signal receiver 306 receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning satellites.

[0034] The first communication IF 307 is a communication module that can connect to the Internet via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) router, such as Wi-Fi. When the digital camera 102 functions as an access point in software, such as a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode, the first communication IF 307 is connected to the digital camera 102.

[0035] The second communication IF 308 is a communication module for performing communication at a lower speed than the first communication IF 307, such as BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark, omitted below) Low Energy). The third communication IF 309 is a communication module that can connect to the Internet via a wireless base station, such as 4G or LTE (Long Term Evolution).

[0036] <Example of hardware configuration of digital camera 102> 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the digital camera 102. The digital camera 102 is an imaging device capable of taking still images and moving images.

[0037] The digital camera 102 has a processor 401, a storage device 402, a drive unit 403, an optical system 404, an image sensor 405, an AFE (Analog Front End) 406, an LSI (Large Scale Integration) 407, an operation device 408, a sensor 409, a display device 140, a first communication IF 411, a second communication IF 412, and a bus 413. The processor 401, the storage device 402, the drive unit 403, the LSI 407, the operation device 408, the sensor 409, the display device 140, the first communication IF 411, and the second communication IF 412 are connected to the bus 413.

[0038] The processor 401 controls the digital camera 102. The processor 401 executes programs. The storage device 402 serves as a working area for the processor 401. The storage device 402 is a non-transitory or temporary recording medium that stores various programs and data. Examples of the storage device 402 include a ROM, a RAM, a HDD, and a flash memory. The cache memory 200 shown in FIG. 2 is included in the storage device 402. A plurality of storage devices 402 may be implemented in the digital camera 102, and at least one of them may be detachable from the digital camera 102.

[0039] The drive unit 403 drives and controls the optical system 404. The drive unit 403 has a drive circuit 403a and a drive source 403b. The drive circuit 403a controls the drive source 403b in accordance with instructions from the processor 401. The drive source 403b is, for example, a motor, and, under the control of the drive circuit 403a, moves a zoom lens 441b and a focusing lens 441c in the optical system 404 in the optical axis direction and controls the opening and closing of the diaphragm 442.

[0040] The optical system 404 includes a plurality of lenses (a lens 441a, a zooming lens 441b, and a focusing lens 441c) arranged in the optical axis direction, and an aperture 442. The optical system 404 collects subject light and outputs the collected light to the image sensor 405.

[0041] The image sensor 405 receives subject light from the optical system 404 and converts it into an electrical signal. The image sensor 405 may be, for example, an XY address type solid-state image sensor (for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) sensor) or a progressive scan type solid-state image sensor (for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device)).

[0042] A plurality of light receiving elements (pixels) are arranged in a matrix on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 405. A plurality of types of color filters, each of which transmits light of a different color component, are arranged in a predetermined color array (for example, a Bayer array) on the pixels of the image sensor 405. Therefore, each pixel of the image sensor 405 outputs an analog electrical signal corresponding to each color component through color separation by the color filter.

[0043] The AFE 406 is an analog front-end circuit that performs signal processing on an analog electrical signal from the image sensor 405. The AFE 406 sequentially performs gain adjustment of the electrical signal, analog signal processing (correlated double sampling, black level correction, etc.), A / D conversion processing, and digital signal processing (defective pixel correction, etc.) to generate RAW image data and output it to the LSI 407. The drive unit 403, optical system 404, image sensor 405, and AFE 406 described above constitute an image sensor 420.

[0044] The LSI 407 is an integrated circuit that executes specific processes such as image processing such as color interpolation, white balance adjustment, edge enhancement, gamma correction, and gradation conversion, as well as encoding, decoding, and compression / expansion processes, on the RAW image data from the AFE 406. Specifically, the LSI 407 may be realized by a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

[0045] The operation device 408 is used to input commands and data. Examples of the operation device 408 include various buttons including a release button, switches, dials, and a touch panel. The sensor 409 is a device that detects information, and includes, for example, an AF (Automatic Focus) sensor, an AE (Automatic Exposure) sensor, a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a temperature sensor. The display device 140 displays the image data 121 and the setting screen 111. The display device 140 includes a rear monitor on the rear of the digital camera 102 and an electronic viewfinder.

[0046] The first communication IF 411 is a communication module capable of communicating with the smartphone 101 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode, for example. The second communication IF 412 is a communication module for performing communication at a lower speed than that of the first communication IF 411, such as BLE.

[0047] <Example of functional configuration of a communication system> 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a communication system 500. The communication system 500 includes a smartphone 101 and a digital camera 102. First, the configuration of the smartphone 101 will be described.

[0048] [Smartphone 101 configuration example] The smartphone 101 includes a first transmission unit 511, a first reception unit 512, a first storage unit 513, an acquisition unit 514, and a setting unit 515. The first transmission unit 511 transmits location information P and revocation data to the digital camera 102. Specifically, for example, the first transmission unit 511 transmits the location information P and revocation data to the digital camera 102 via BLE or a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode.

[0049] Transmission via BLE can reduce power consumption. Furthermore, transmission via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode can achieve high-speed data transfer directly to the digital camera 102. The first transmission unit 511 may transmit the acquisition time or transmission time of the location information P to the digital camera 102. Specifically, the first transmission unit 511 is realized by, for example, the first communication IF 307 or the second communication IF 308 shown in FIG. 3 .

[0050] The first receiving unit 512 receives data from the digital camera 102. The data from the digital camera 102 is, for example, an image file or a video file from the digital camera 102. Specifically, the first receiving unit 512 receives data from the digital camera 102 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode. Receiving data via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode makes it possible to receive large amounts of data directly from the digital camera 102. Specifically, the first receiving unit 512 is realized by, for example, the first communication IF 307 shown in FIG. 3.

[0051] The first storage unit 513 stores the data received by the first receiving unit 512. Specifically, the first storage unit 513 is realized by, for example, the storage device 302 shown in FIG.

[0052] The acquisition unit 514 acquires the location information P. Specifically, for example, the latitude and longitude are measured using satellite signals from four positioning satellites received by the satellite signal receiver 306, thereby acquiring the measured latitude and longitude as the location information P. Every time the acquisition unit 514 acquires the location information P, the location information P is transmitted from the first transmission unit 511. Specifically, the acquisition unit 514 is realized by, for example, causing the processor 301 to execute a program stored in the storage device 302.

[0053] The setting unit 515 sets either a setting (first setting) in which location information P is added to data generated by the digital camera 102, or a setting (second setting) in which location information P is not added. Specifically, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, in (A), sliding the slider 113 to the right end results in the first setting, i.e., the location information addition setting is ON, and in (B), sliding the slider 113 to the left end results in the second setting, i.e., the location information addition setting is OFF.

[0054] In the case of the first setting (location information assignment setting ON), the acquisition unit 514 repeatedly acquires the location information P, and the first transmission unit 511 transmits the location information P successively acquired by the acquisition unit 514 to the digital camera 102. In the case of the second setting (location information assignment setting OFF), the setting unit 515 sets invalidation data in the first transmission unit 511, and the first transmission unit 511 transmits the set invalidation data to the first transmission unit 511.

[0055] Furthermore, if communication with the digital camera 102 is not possible in the first setting (location information assignment setting ON), the setting unit 515 changes the setting from the first setting (location information assignment setting ON) to the second setting (location information assignment setting OFF). A case in which communication is not possible occurs, for example, when there is no connection with the digital camera 102, or when the connection with the digital camera 102 is cut off due to a communication failure. As a result, in a state in which communication is not possible, the first transmission unit 511 will not transmit the location information P.

[0056] Thereafter, when communication becomes possible, the setting unit 515 changes the second setting (location information assignment setting OFF) to the first setting (location information assignment setting ON). As a result, the acquisition unit 514 repeatedly acquires the location information P again, and the first transmission unit 511 transmits the location information P successively acquired by the acquisition unit 514 to the digital camera 102.

[0057] Furthermore, if communication with the digital camera 102 is not possible, the smartphone 101 may notify the user of this by voice or on a display screen, thereby enabling the user to confirm that the first setting (location information assignment setting ON) has been automatically changed to the second setting (location information assignment setting OFF).

[0058] Furthermore, if communication with the digital camera 102 is not possible, the setting unit 515 may invalidate the user's setting operations for the first setting and the second setting. Specifically, for example, the smartphone 101 may hide the location information assignment setting item 112 itself on the setting screen 111 of FIG. 1, or may display the location information assignment setting item 112 but make the slider 113 inoperable.

[0059] By hiding the location information assignment setting item 112 itself, the user's intention in the assignment setting during a communication outage is not reflected. Also, by making the slider 113 inoperable, the user's intention in the assignment setting during a communication outage is not reflected, and the user can confirm whether the current assignment setting is the first setting (location information assignment setting ON) or the second setting (location information assignment setting OFF).

[0060] Furthermore, if communication with the digital camera 102 is previously connected but is cut off due to a communication failure or if the connection is terminated, the setting unit 515 may invalidate the user's setting operation of the first setting (location information assignment setting ON) and the second setting (location information assignment setting OFF) and change the first setting (location information assignment setting ON) to the second setting (location information assignment setting OFF). This makes it possible to reduce power consumption due to transmission of location information P contrary to the user's intention after reconnection. Specifically, the setting unit 515 is realized, for example, by causing the processor 301 to execute a program stored in the storage device 302.

[0061] [Configuration example of digital camera 102] The digital camera 102 includes a second receiving unit 521, a second storage unit 522, a second transmitting unit 523, a generating unit 524, and a control unit 525. The second receiving unit 521 receives information from the smartphone 101. The information from the smartphone 101 is, for example, location information acquired by the smartphone 101 or invalidation data set by the smartphone 101 (a command to discard location information P or invalid location information PX). Specifically, the second receiving unit 521 receives information from the smartphone 101 via a Wi-Fi connection in BLE or ad hoc mode. Specifically, the second receiving unit 521 is realized by, for example, the first communication IF 411 or the second communication IF 412 shown in FIG. 4.

[0062] The second storage unit 522 stores information received by the second receiving unit 521. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the second storage unit 522 stores the location information P and the acquisition time of the location information P as the location 202 and the time 201. The second storage unit 522 also stores the data generated by the generating unit 524. Specifically, the second storage unit 522 is realized by the storage device 402 shown in FIG. 4, for example.

[0063] The second transmission unit 523 transmits information stored in the second storage unit 522 to the smartphone 101. Specifically, for example, the second transmission unit 523 transmits data generated by the generation unit 524 and stored in the second storage unit 522. More specifically, for example, the second transmission unit 523 transmits image files 122, 123 and video files stored in the second storage unit 522 to the smartphone 101 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode. Transmission via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode enables direct high-speed transfer of large amounts of data. Specifically, the second transmission unit 523 is realized, for example, by the first communication IF 411 shown in FIG. 4.

[0064] The generation unit 524 generates data. Specifically, for example, the generation unit 524 has an imaging unit 420, and generates image data 121 based on an image signal from the imaging unit 420. The generation unit 524 then generates image files 122 and 123 from the image data 121, or generates a video file in which a series of image data 121 are arranged in chronological order.

[0065] The control unit 525 controls the cache memory 200. Specifically, for example, when the second receiving unit 521 receives the position information P, the control unit 525 stacks the position information P in the cache memory 200 as shown in Fig. 2(A). As a result, the control unit 525 reads out the position information P that was stacked last.

[0066] When an acquisition time is received, the control unit 525 also stacks it in the cache memory 200 together with the position information P. As a result, the control unit 525 reads out the acquisition time that was last stacked together with the position information P. Note that the control unit 525 may accumulate a certain amount of records (combinations of time 201 and position 202) in the cache memory 200, and erase the oldest records when the certain amount is exceeded. This makes it possible to limit the capacity of the cache memory 200 to a certain amount or less.

[0067] Furthermore, when a certain time (for example, two hours) has passed since the location information P was stacked, the control unit 525 deletes the location information P from the cache memory 200. Specifically, for example, the control unit 525 sets the time 201 as the starting point of calculation and deletes the record of the location 202 when a certain time has passed since the time 201.

[0068] If a long time has passed since the stuck state, it is considered that the user is no longer at that location 202. On the other hand, there are cases where the user moves away from the digital camera 102 while still holding the smartphone 101, and communication between the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102 is cut off. In this case, if the user returns to the location of the digital camera 102 within a certain time, the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102 are reconnected. Therefore, in consideration of user convenience, it is preferable that the digital camera 102 retain the location information P in the cache memory 200 for a certain time, and delete the location information P from the cache memory 200 after the certain time has elapsed.

[0069] Furthermore, when the data generated by the generation unit 524 is stored in the second storage unit 522, the control unit 525 reads out the position information P that was last stacked in the cache memory 200 and assigns it to the data. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 1(A), the control unit 525 generates an image file 122 by assigning the position information P to the generated image data 121.

[0070] This allows the digital camera 102 to associate the location information P with the image data 121, even if the digital camera 102 does not have a satellite signal receiver 306 like the smartphone 101. Therefore, by referring to the image file 122, it becomes possible to identify where the image data 121 was captured.

[0071] When invalidation data is received by the second receiving unit 521, the control unit 525 controls the cache memory 200 according to the type of invalidation data. Specifically, for example, when the invalidation data is a command to discard the position information P, the control unit 525 clears the cache memory 200 as shown in FIG. 2(B1).

[0072] As a result, from then on, even if the control unit 525 attempts to read the cache memory 200, there is no record, and therefore the control unit 525 is unable to read the location information P. Therefore, even if the digital camera 102 does not have a "setting not to assign location information P," location information P is inevitably not assigned to data from the generation unit 524.

[0073] Furthermore, if the invalidation data is invalid position information PX, the control unit 525 stacks the invalid position information PX in the cache memory 200, as shown in FIG. 2(B2). As a result, thereafter, when the control unit 525 goes to read the cache memory 200, the invalid position information PX is read.

[0074] Therefore, even if the digital camera 102 does not have a setting for not assigning location information P, invalid location information PX is assigned to the data from the generation unit 524. Because this invalid location information PX indicates a location that does not actually exist, even if invalid location information PX is assigned to data, it will not be mistakenly recognized as "data generated at the location indicated by that location information P."

[0075] Furthermore, when the second receiving unit 521 is unable to receive information from the smartphone 101, the control unit 525 may discard the location information stored in the cache memory 200 in the second storage unit 522. Specifically, for example, after a BLE connection with the smartphone 101 is established, if the connection is cut off due to a communication failure or the smartphone 101 moving out of the communication range, the control unit 525 discards the location information P that has been accumulated in the cache memory 200 up to that point.

[0076] As a result, location information is not assigned to the image data 121 generated during the disconnection. Since the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102 may be in different positions during the disconnection, discarding the location information P at the time of disconnection can prevent erroneous assignment of the location information P. Furthermore, after reconnection, the latest location information P received from the smartphone 101 is newly recorded in the cache memory 200, making it possible to assign the location information P to the image data 121.

[0077] <Example of connection sequence in communication system 500> Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a connection sequence in the communication system 500. Fig. 6 explains an example of a sequence in which the digital camera 102 and the smartphone 101 are connected to be able to communicate with each other using BLE. In Fig. 6, the digital camera 102 is an advertiser (also called a broadcaster) that broadcasts advertising packets, and the smartphone 101 is a scanner (also called an observer) that scans the advertising packets.

[0078] The smartphone 101 starts scanning for advertisement packets in response to a pre-set or user operation input (step S601). The digital camera 102 also starts advertising in response to a pre-set or user operation input (step S602). As a result, the digital camera 102 repeatedly distributes a connectable advertisement packet ADV_IND at regular intervals (step S602). The advertisement packet ADV_IND includes identification information specifying that the digital camera 102 is requesting location information P.

[0079] In the active scan method, when the smartphone 101 receives the advertisement packet ADV_IND, it sends a scan request SCAN_REQ to the digital camera 102 (step S604), and when the digital camera 102 receives the scan request SCAN_REQ, it returns a scan response SCAN_RSP to the smartphone 101 (step S605).

[0080] In the case of the passive scanning method, steps S604 and S605 are not executed. In the case of the passive scanning method, the digital camera 102 broadcasts an advertisement packet ADV_DIRECT_IND that specifies that connection is possible but scanning is not possible in step S603.

[0081] Thereafter, the smartphone 101 executes a BLE connection request confirmation (step S606). Specifically, for example, the smartphone 101 confirms whether the received advertisement packet ADV_IND includes identification information specifying that the digital camera 102 requests the location information P. If the identification information is included, the digital camera 102 transmits a connection request CONNECT_REQ to the digital camera 102 that distributed the advertisement packet ADV_IND (step S607).

[0082] Then, the smartphone 101 determines itself as the master (step S608), and the digital camera 102, which has received the connection request CONNECT_REQ, determines itself as the slave (step S609). As a result, a BLE connection is established between the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102.

[0083] After that, the smartphone 101 checks the location information assignment setting (step S610). Specifically, for example, if the location information assignment setting is "ON", the smartphone 101 can acquire and transmit location information P to the slave (digital camera 102), and if the location information assignment setting is "OFF", the smartphone 101 can transmit revocation data to the slave (digital camera 102).

[0084] Then, the smartphone 101 transmits data (location information P or revocation data) to the slave digital camera 102 (step S611) according to the confirmation result of the location information assignment setting confirmation (step S610). The digital camera 102 executes data processing as shown in Fig. 1 based on the received data (step S612). A detailed example of the processing procedure of the data processing (step S612) will be described later with reference to Fig. 8.

[0085] <Smartphone 101 scanning and connection process example> FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of scanning and connection processing of the smartphone 101. The flowchart in FIG. 7 shows an example of processing of an application program executed by the processor 301 when scanning is started in step S601 in FIG. 6. The processor of the smartphone 101 can execute this application program in the background or foreground. Note that, when running in the foreground, this application program must be explicitly started. Also, when running in the foreground, the location information sending setting can be manually turned ON / OFF.

[0086] If the smartphone 101 receives the advertising packet in step S603 (step S701: Yes) and is determined to be the master (step S702: Yes), a connection is established with the digital camera 102. In this case, the smartphone 101 checks whether the setting for assigning location information P is ON or OFF (step S703).

[0087] If it is ON (step S703: ON), the smartphone 101 sequentially acquires location information using the acquisition unit 514 and sequentially transmits the acquired location information to the digital camera 102 (step S705). In this case, the smartphone 101 may also transmit the acquisition time of the location information P together with the location information P.

[0088] In addition, if the location information P acquired this time is the same as or different from the location information P acquired last time, but the difference is within an acceptable range, the smartphone 101 may set an empty packet that does not include the location information P acquired this time using the setting unit 515 and send it to the digital camera 102.

[0089] This allows the amount of data to be transmitted to be reduced. Furthermore, when the digital camera 102 receives an empty packet, it does not execute stacking processing because there is no position information P to be stacked in the cache memory 200. This allows the power consumption of the digital camera 102 to be reduced.

[0090] On the other hand, if it is OFF in step S703 (step S703: OFF), the smartphone 101 sets invalidation data to invalidate the transmitted location information P using the setting unit 515 (step S706) and transmits the invalidation data to the digital camera 102 (step S707).

[0091] Furthermore, if the smartphone 101 receives the advertising packet in step S603 (step S701: Yes) and has not been determined as the master (step S702: No), a connection has not been established with the digital camera 102. In this case, the process proceeds to step S701.

[0092] Furthermore, if the smartphone 101 has not received the advertising packet in step S603 (step S701: No), the smartphone 101 is outside the communication range of the advertising packet from the digital camera 102. In this case, the smartphone 101 sets the location information assignment setting to a setting disabled state (step S708) and returns to step S701.

[0093] Specifically, for example, the smartphone 101 displays the location information assignment setting item 112 (including the slider 113) in a state in which it cannot be operated by the user, or hides the slider 113. This makes it possible to refuse to accept the user's intention to assign or not assign location information P. In particular, by displaying it in an inoperable state, the user can visually confirm whether the current location information assignment setting is ON or OFF.

[0094] <Example of data processing for digital camera 102> Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure for data processing (step S612) of the digital camera 102 shown in Fig. 6. The flowchart in Fig. 8 shows an example of the processing procedure of firmware executed by the processor 401 of the digital camera 102. In step S611, the digital camera 102 waits to receive data (position information P or revocation data) transmitted from the smartphone 101 (step S801: No).

[0095] If the data is received (step S801: Yes), the digital camera 102 identifies the type of the received data (step S802). If the received data is position information P or invalid position information PX (step S802: position information, invalid position information), the digital camera 102 stacks the received data (position information P or invalid position information PX) in the cache memory 200 (step S803), as shown in FIG. 2(A) or (B2), and ends data processing (step S612).

[0096] Furthermore, if the received data includes an acquisition time, the digital camera 102 stacks the data together with the position information P or invalid position information PX in the cache memory 200. This allows the digital camera 102 to manage the position information P in association with the acquisition time.

[0097] Furthermore, if the received data does not include the acquisition time, the digital camera 102 may store the reception time of the received data in the cache memory 200 instead of the acquisition time. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of data transferred from the smartphone 101 to the digital camera 102.

[0098] On the other hand, if the received data is a command to discard the location information P (step S802: discard command), the digital camera 102 clears the cache memory 200 (step S804), as shown in FIG. 2(B1), and ends the data processing (step S612).

[0099] <Example of image file generation process for digital camera 102> 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the image file generation processing procedure of the digital camera 102. Note that the digital camera 102 reads the location information P stacked in the cache memory 200 without considering whether it is actual location information or invalid location information PX. Therefore, the "location information P" shown in FIG. 9 includes not only actual location information P but also invalid location information PX.

[0100] The digital camera 102 waits for the release button to be pressed manually or using the self-timer (step S901: No). If pressing of the release button is detected (step S901: Yes), the digital camera 102 captures an image of a subject using the imaging unit 420, outputs an image signal, and generates image data 121 using the LSI 407 (step S902). The digital camera 102 then attempts to read the latest position information P from the cache memory 200 (step S903).

[0101] If the location information P is read (step S904: Yes), the digital camera 102 assigns the location information P to the image data 121 (step S905), and generates an image file 122 as shown in FIG. 1(A), and records it in the storage device 402 (step S906).

[0102] On the other hand, if the location information P is not read (step S904: No), that is, if the cache memory 200 is empty as shown in FIG. 2(B1), the digital camera 102 generates an image file 123 that does not include the location information P, as shown in FIG. 1(B), and records it in the storage device 402 (step S906).

[0103] <Example of updating cache memory 200> 10 is a flowchart showing an example 1 of the update processing procedure for the cache memory 200. First, the digital camera 102 waits for the timing to update the cache memory 200 (step S1001: No). The update timing is, for example, a periodically set update time or the timing when an update instruction is issued by a user operation. If it is the update timing (step S1001: Yes), the digital camera 102 acquires the current time from the clock in the digital camera 102 (step S1001).

[0104] To correct the current time of the clock in the digital camera 102, the digital camera 102 may perform time adjustment so that the current time of the clock in the digital camera 102 matches the acquired time, based on the acquired time transmitted from the smartphone 101 along with the location information P. This synchronizes the clock in the digital camera 102 with the clock in the smartphone 101.

[0105] When the digital camera 102 acquires the current time (step S1001), it erases from the cache memory 200 any location information P that is a predetermined time (for example, the above-mentioned two hours) before the current time (step S1002). As a result, any location information P that is not yet a predetermined time after the acquisition time of the latest location information P is held in the cache memory 200.

[0106] 11 is a flowchart showing an example 2 of the update processing procedure for the cache memory 200. The execution of the flowchart in FIG. 11 is triggered by the establishment of a BLE connection between the digital camera 102 and the smartphone 101 in FIG. 6. The digital camera 102 determines whether the smartphone 101 with which it is connected has been changed (step S1101). If it has not been changed (step S1101: No), the digital camera 102 ends the update processing. If it has been changed (step S1101: Yes), the digital camera 102 clears the cache memory 200 (step S1102).

[0107] In this way, the location information P of the smartphone 101 that was the connection partner before the change is no longer necessary for the digital camera 102 after the change of connection partner. Therefore, the digital camera 102 erases all of the information without waiting for the above-mentioned predetermined time to elapse. On the other hand, if there is no change in the connection partner, it is possible that the user moves away from the digital camera 102 while still holding the smartphone 101, causing communication to be temporarily disconnected, and then the user returns to the location of the digital camera 102. Therefore, the digital camera 102 does not clear the cache memory 200 as in step S1102, but updates the cache memory 200 as shown in FIG. 10.

[0108] As described above, according to the first embodiment, by setting the location information assignment setting (ON or OFF) in the smartphone 101, it is possible to assign the location information P at the time of capturing an image of a subject to image data 121 of the subject generated by the digital camera 102 that does not have a function for setting the assignment of the location information P and a positioning function. By managing the location information P by the location information assignment setting in the smartphone 101 without implementing a function for setting the assignment of the location information P in the digital camera 102, it is possible to eliminate cumbersome operations on both the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102 and improve usability. Furthermore, because the location information P at the time of capturing an image can be acquired from the smartphone 101 even if the digital camera 102 does not have a function for measuring the location information P, it is possible to reduce the weight, size, and cost of the digital camera 102. [Example]

[0109] The second embodiment is an example in which the digital camera 102 subsequently deletes the location information P from the image file 122. In the second embodiment, the subsequent deletion of the location information P will be mainly described, and therefore the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment will be used for the common parts, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0110] 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of subsequent deletion of location information P. The digital camera 102 and smartphone 101 are connected via BLE, and the location information assignment setting of the smartphone 101 is set to ON. As a result, it is assumed that the digital camera 102 has acquired the latest location information P before time t0. It is assumed that communication between the digital camera 102 and smartphone 101 is disconnected at time t0 due to a communication failure or the smartphone 101 moving out of the communication range.

[0111] After time t0, the latest location information in the cache memory 200 of the digital camera 102 is set to P. Also, the digital camera 102 resumes distribution of advertising packets at time t0. After time t0, the digital camera 102 reads the cache memory 200 every time image data 121 is generated, even if the digital camera 102 is disconnected, regardless of whether the location information assignment setting of the smartphone 101 is on or off.

[0112] At time t1, the location information assignment setting of the smartphone 101 is changed from ON to OFF. The smartphone 101 records time t1 as the setting change time in the storage device 302. At time t2, the digital camera 102 captures an image of a subject, assigns the latest location information P in the cache memory 200 to the image data 121, and generates an image file 122.

[0113] At time t3, a BLE connection is established between the digital camera 102 and the smartphone 101. At this time, the smartphone 101 transmits time t1, which is the setting change time, to the digital camera 102. In addition, because the location information assignment setting is OFF, the smartphone 101 transmits revocation data to the digital camera 102.

[0114] When the digital camera 102 receives the setting change time t1, it deletes the location information P that was added after the setting change time t1 from the image file that was created while the digital camera 102 was disconnected. The location of the digital camera 102 at time t2 is not necessarily the location indicated by the location information P. Meanwhile, while the digital camera 102 is disconnected, it cannot receive information from the smartphone 101.

[0115] Therefore, the digital camera 102 deletes the location information P afterwards. This makes it possible to prevent erroneous assignment of the location information P. Furthermore, the digital camera 102 receives the invalidation data at time t3. As a result, the location information P is not assigned to image data 121 generated by photography after time t3.

[0116] <Example of sending setting change time> 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a setting change time transmission processing procedure by the smartphone 101. The flowchart in Fig. 13 shows an example of processing of an application program executed by the processor 301 when the location information assignment setting confirmation is executed in step S610 in Fig. 6.

[0117] The smartphone 101 determines whether or not a BLE connection is in progress with the digital camera 102 (step S1301). If a BLE connection is in progress (step S1301: Yes), the smartphone 101 performs the determination in step S1301 again. If a BLE connection is not in progress (step S1301: No), the BLE connection between the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102 has been disconnected.

[0118] After that, the smartphone 101 determines whether the location information assignment setting has been changed from ON to OFF (step S1302). If it has not been changed (step S1302: No), the process returns to step S1301. On the other hand, if it has been changed (step S1302: Yes), the smartphone 101 records the time the setting was changed in the storage device 302 (step S1303).

[0119] After recording the setting change time, the smartphone 101 waits for reconnection with the digital camera 102 (step S1304: No). If reconnection is established (step S1304: Yes), the smartphone 101 reads the setting change time from the storage device 302 and transmits it to the digital camera 102 (step S1305).

[0120] <Example of post-location information deletion process> 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for the subsequent location information deletion process by the digital camera 102. When reconnecting with the smartphone 101, the digital camera 102 waits to receive the setting change time (step S1401: No). If the setting change time is received (step S1401: Yes), the digital camera 102 identifies, from the storage device 402, image files 122 whose capture times are after the setting change time (step S1402). Then, the digital camera 102 deletes the location information P from the identified image files 122 (step S1403). This ends the subsequent location information deletion process.

[0121] As described above, since the digital camera 102 does not have a function for setting and assigning location information P and a positioning function, when communication with the smartphone 101 is disconnected, the digital camera 102 cannot turn off the assignment of location information P and instead reads the location information P before the disconnection. However, according to the second embodiment, by receiving the setting change time when the location information assignment setting was changed from ON to OFF after reconnection, the digital camera 102 can identify the time when the location information assignment setting was changed from ON to OFF on the smartphone 101 during the disconnection. Therefore, even if the location information P received before the disconnection is assigned to image data 121 generated during the disconnection, the digital camera 102 can delete the information after the fact. This can reduce the occurrence of erroneous assignment of location information P.

[0122] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the digital camera 102 is not equipped with a function for setting and assigning location information P and a positioning function, as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the function for setting and assigning location information P can be managed by the location information assignment setting in the smartphone 101 without being installed in the digital camera 102, which eliminates the need for complicated operations on both the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102 and improves usability. Furthermore, even if the digital camera 102 does not have a function for positioning the location information P, the location information P at the time of shooting can be acquired from the smartphone 101, which allows the digital camera 102 to be made lighter, smaller, and less expensive. [Example]

[0123] Example 3 illustrates an example of location information assignment processing when switching from a BLE connection to a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode and transferring image files 122 and 123 from a digital camera 102 to a smartphone 101. In Example 3, BLE is used as an example of a first communication method for transmitting location information P, and a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode is used as a second communication method for transferring image files 122 and 123. However, the first communication method may be a communication method other than BLE, such as Bluetooth, as long as it is slower than the second communication method. Similarly, the second communication method may be a communication method other than a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode, such as WiFi Direct (registered trademark, omitted below), as long as it is faster than the first communication method. Note that Example 3 will mainly describe this example of location information assignment processing, and therefore, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts as in Examples 1 and 2, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0124] <Location information assignment processing sequence> Fig. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a location information assignment process procedure according to the third embodiment. In Fig. 15, it is assumed that the digital camera 102 and the smartphone 101 are already connected via BLE. Also, it is assumed that the location information assignment setting of the smartphone 101 is ON. Every time the smartphone 101 acquires location information using the acquisition unit 514 (step S1501), it transfers the acquired location information to the digital camera 102 via BLE communication (step S1502).

[0125] Each time location information P is transferred to the digital camera 102 (step S1502), the digital camera 102 stacks the information in the cache memory 200 (step S1503). After that, the digital camera 102 receives a WiFi connection instruction in ad hoc mode (step S1504). The WiFi connection instruction (step S1504) is received, for example, by an explicit operation from the user.

[0126] Furthermore, the digital camera 102 may receive a WiFi connection instruction (step S1504) triggered by the completion of generation of the image file 122 by photographing a subject. The digital camera 102 may receive a WiFi connection instruction (step S1504) triggered by the completion of generation of the image file 122 by photographing a subject, by displaying a screen on the rear monitor that prompts a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode, and may receive a WiFi connection instruction (step S1504) through an explicit operation from the user.

[0127] When the digital camera 102 receives the WiFi connection instruction (step S1504), it transmits a BLE disconnection request (TERMINATE packet) to the smartphone 101 (step S1505). As a result, the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102 disconnect the BLE connection (step S1506). In this way, by disconnecting the BLE connection prior to establishing a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode, it is possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption by the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102.

[0128] Thereafter, the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102 establish a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode (step S1507).

[0129] Even after establishing a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode (step S1507), the smartphone 101 transfers the acquired location information to the digital camera 102 via the Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode (step S1509) every time the smartphone 101 acquires location information using the acquisition unit 514 (step S1508). Every time location information P is transferred to the digital camera 102 (step S1509), the digital camera 102 stacks the information in the cache memory 200 (step S1510).

[0130] Thereafter, the digital camera 102 receives an instruction to transfer the image file via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode (step S1511). Specifically, for example, the image file 122 to be transferred is designated by a user operation, and the digital camera 102 receives an instruction to transfer the image file 122. The transfer instruction (step S1511) is received, for example, by an explicit operation from the user.

[0131] The digital camera 102 may also receive a transfer instruction (step S1511) triggered by the accumulation of a predetermined amount or more of image files 122 in the storage device 402. The digital camera 102 may also receive a transfer instruction (step S1511) triggered by the accumulation of a predetermined amount or more of image files 122 in the storage device 402, by displaying on the rear monitor a screen for prompting file transfer via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode and the specification of the image files 122 to be transferred, and may receive the specification of the image files 122 and the transfer instruction (step S1511) through an explicit operation from the user.

[0132] When the digital camera 102 receives the transfer instruction (step S1511), it transfers the image file 122 (step S1512). When the transfer of the image file 122 (step S1512) is completed, the smartphone 101 acquires the location information P using the acquisition unit 514 (step S1513) and transfers the acquired location information P to the digital camera 102 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode (step S1514).

[0133] Each time location information P is transferred (step S1514), the digital camera 102 stacks it in the cache memory 200 (step S1515). When the transfer of location information P (step S1514) is completed, the digital camera 102 transfers the next image file 122 to the smartphone 101 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode (step S1512).

[0134] In this way, the smartphone 101 and digital camera 102 repeatedly execute steps S1512 to S1515 to transfer the image files 122 on a file-by-file basis, but transfer may also be performed on a size-by-size basis rather than on a file-by-file basis. When transferred on a file-by-file basis, the size of each image file 122 varies, which causes variations in the interval at which the position information P is transferred from the smartphone 101. However, when transferred on a size-by-size basis, it is possible to suppress variations in the interval at which the position information P is transferred from the smartphone 101. Furthermore, when transferred on a size-by-size basis, the smaller the size unit, the more frequently the position information P can be transferred from the smartphone 101.

[0135] Furthermore, when a user takes a picture with the digital camera 102 while riding in a moving object such as a car or a train and transfers the image file 122 from the digital camera 102 to the smartphone 101, the location information P cannot be acquired until the transfer of the image file 122 is complete, resulting in a discrepancy in the location information P. For this reason, the digital camera 102 may stop the transfer of the image file 122 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode (step S1512) if the moving speed of the moving object is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed.

[0136] Specifically, for example, the smartphone 101 calculates the moving speed of the moving object based on the continuously acquired position information P and the acquired time intervals. The smartphone 101 transfers the calculated moving speed together with the position information P or instead of the position information P to the digital camera 102 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode (step S1514).

[0137] In this case, the digital camera 102 receives the moving speed and stops transferring the image file if the moving speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed. This allows the smartphone 101 to transfer the location information P to the digital camera 102 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode without waiting for the transfer of the image file to be completed. In this case, the digital camera 102 resumes transferring the image file 122 if the received moving speed becomes less than the predetermined speed.

[0138] In addition, instead of transmitting the moving speed of the moving body to the digital camera 102, the smartphone 101 may transmit an instruction to stop transferring image files to the digital camera 102 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode together with the location information P or instead of the location information P when the moving speed of the moving body is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed (step S1514).

[0139] In this case, the digital camera 102 receives the instruction to stop the transfer of the image file 122 and stops the transfer of the image file 122. This allows the smartphone 101 to transfer the location information P to the digital camera 102 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode without waiting for the transfer of the image file 122 to be completed.

[0140] In this case, if the calculated moving speed becomes less than a predetermined speed, the smartphone 101 transmits an instruction to resume transfer of the image file 122 to the digital camera 102. Then, upon receiving the instruction to resume transfer, the digital camera 102 resumes the transfer of the image file 122.

[0141] Furthermore, in both of the above-described two examples of transfer stop control, the stop and restart of the transfer of the image file 122 are controlled, but the faster the moving speed of the mobile object, the smaller the size unit may be.

[0142] Specifically, for example, the smartphone 101 calculates the moving speed of the moving object based on the continuously acquired position information P and the time intervals at which the position information P was acquired. The smartphone 101 transfers the calculated moving speed together with the position information P or instead of the position information P to the digital camera 102 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode (step S1514).

[0143] In this case, the digital camera 102 receives the moving speed and reduces the size unit if the moving speed increases from the previously received moving speed, and increases the size unit if the moving speed decreases from the previously received moving speed. This allows the digital camera 102 to control the transfer frequency of the position information P in accordance with changes in the moving speed of the moving object.

[0144] In addition, instead of transmitting the moving speed of the moving object to the digital camera 102, the smartphone 101 may transmit a size reduction instruction by size unit if the moving speed increases from the previously calculated moving speed, or a size enlargement instruction by size unit if the moving speed decreases from the previously calculated moving speed, together with or instead of the location information P to the digital camera 102 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode (step S1514).

[0145] In this case, when the digital camera 102 receives an instruction to reduce the size unit, it reduces the size unit and transfers the image file in the reduced size unit to the smartphone 101 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode, and when it receives an instruction to enlarge the size unit, it enlarges the size unit and transfers the image file 122 in the enlarged size unit to the smartphone 101 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode. This allows the smartphone 101 to control the transfer frequency of the location information P in accordance with changes in the movement speed of the mobile object.

[0146] In addition, in the above explanation, the location information assignment setting of the smartphone 101 is ON, but if the location information assignment setting is switched from ON to OFF, the smartphone 101 sends invalidation data to the digital camera 102 instead of the location information P (steps S1502, S1508, S1513).

[0147] In this case, as in the first embodiment, if the invalidation data is a command to discard the location information P, the digital camera 102 discards the location information P in the cache memory 200, as shown in Fig. 2(B1). Therefore, the location information P is not assigned to the transferred image file 123, as shown in Fig. 1(B).

[0148] Furthermore, if the invalidation data is invalid position information PX, the digital camera 102 stacks the invalid position information PX in the cache memory 200, as shown in Fig. 2(B2). Therefore, the transferred image file 123 is assigned invalid position information PX, as shown in Fig. 1(B).

[0149] As described above, according to the third embodiment, while an image file is being transferred from the digital camera 102 to the smartphone 101 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode, the smartphone 101 can transfer the location information P and revocation data to the digital camera 102 via a Wi-Fi connection in ad hoc mode. Therefore, by disconnecting the BLE connection that is not used for transferring the location information P or the revocation data, unauthorized power consumption of the smartphone 101 and the digital camera 102 can be suppressed.

[0150] In the above-described first to third embodiments, an example has been described in which the smartphone 101 transmits revocation data to the digital camera 102. However, the smartphone 101 may transmit a command (hereinafter, a non-assignment command) to the digital camera to instruct not to assign the position information P to the data. When the digital camera 102 receives the non-assignment command, it executes one of two types of data processing.

[0151] In one case, the digital camera 102 recognizes the non-assignment instruction command as a command to discard the position information P described above, and performs data processing to clear the cache memory 200, as shown in FIG. 2(B).

[0152] The other is data processing in which the digital camera 102 does not recognize the non-assignment instruction command as an instruction to discard the above-mentioned position information P, and does not assign the latest (time Tn) position information Pn to the image data 121. In other words, when the digital camera 102 receives the non-assignment instruction command, it stops reading the latest (time Tn) position information Pn from the cache memory 200 thereafter. This makes it possible to reduce the load caused by reading the position information P.

[0153] After that, when the smartphone 101 changes from the second setting (location information assignment setting OFF) to the first setting (location information assignment setting ON), the digital camera 102 receives the location information P from the smartphone 101. Upon receiving this new location information P, the digital camera 102 cancels the suspension of reading the location information Pn from the cache memory 200. In this way, by suspending the process of reading the location information P from the cache memory 200 during the period when the smartphone 101 has the second setting (location information assignment setting OFF), it is possible to reduce the processing load on the digital camera 102 and suppress unnecessary power consumption.

[0154] The present invention is not limited to the above-described contents, and may be implemented by any combination thereof. Furthermore, other embodiments conceivable within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention are also included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0155] 101 smartphone, 102 digital camera, 121 image data, 122, 123 image file, 200 cache memory, 420 imaging unit, 511 first transmission unit, 512 first reception unit, 513 first storage unit, 514 acquisition unit, 515 setting unit, 521 second reception unit, 522 second storage unit, 523 second transmission unit, 524 generation unit, 525 control unit

Claims

[Claim 1] An electronic device capable of communicating with an external device that can be set to a first setting that assigns location information or a second setting that does not assign the location information, a generation unit that generates data; a receiving unit that receives information from an external device; a storage unit that stores the location information received from the external device by the receiving unit; a control unit that assigns the location information to the data generated by the generation unit, If the external device is in the first setting, the control unit receives the location information from the external device using the receiving unit, stores it in the memory unit, and assigns the location information to the data; if the external device is in the second setting, the control unit receives a command from the external device using the receiving unit instructing not to assign the location information to the data, and does not assign the location information stored in the memory unit to the data.

Images