Communication Apparatus Wireless Transmission Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image capturing apparatuses with wireless communication functions often unnecessarily consume power by automatically transmitting images, even when not required, especially in interval shooting modes where activation and shutdown are frequent, leading to incomplete data transmission.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus is designed to control wireless communication by determining the necessity of automatic image transmission based on activation factors, such as interval shooting modes, and uses Bluetooth Low Energy and NFC for efficient power management, allowing manual or automatic transmission only when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the image capturing apparatus automatically transmits images upon activation, then data transmission is performed without user intervention, but unnecessary power consumption occurs and transmission may be incomplete in interval shooting modes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic image transmissionVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the automatic transmission function conditional rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts whether automatic transmission occurs based on real-time detection of activation factors (e.g., interval shooting mode, manual shooting mode). This allows the system to adapt its behavior to current operational context, enabling automatic transmission only when appropriate while suppressing it during interval shooting to conserve power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of transmission activation from a static always-on state to a conditional state based on detected parameters. The control unit monitors operational parameters (shooting mode, activation context) and changes the transmission parameter accordingly - enabling automatic transmission when parameters indicate user intent (manual mode) and disabling it when parameters indicate automated operation (interval mode), thus optimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the image capturing apparatus establishes wireless communication connection upon activation, then image transmission can start immediately, but electric power is consumed unnecessarily when transmission is not needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission start speedVSAvoidunnecessary power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the control unit evaluate activation factors and determine transmission necessity before actually initiating wireless communication or image transmission. This preliminary assessment prevents the system from establishing unnecessary wireless connections and starting transmission in scenarios like interval shooting, thereby avoiding energy loss while maintaining readiness to transmit quickly when genuinely needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Extent of automation

If automatic transmission is always enabled, then data transmission occurs without user intervention, but transmission may be incomplete when the apparatus is shortly shut down in interval shooting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic transmissionVSAvoidtransmission completion
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the control unit continuously monitor the shooting mode and activation context to determine whether automatic transmission should proceed. This feedback mechanism ensures that transmission decisions are based on current operational state, preventing incomplete transmissions during interval shooting while maintaining reliable automatic transmission during manual modes where user intent is clear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3506620B1Communication apparatus, method for controlling the communication apparatus and computer program
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 CANON KK
  • EP3506620B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3506620B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3506620B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

A communication apparatus that includes communication means for communicating with an external apparatus records connection information for connecting to the external apparatus using the communication means, and subjects, upon activation of the communication apparatus, the communication means to communication connection to the external apparatus based on the connection information. The communication apparatus inhibits the communication connection to the external apparatus based on an activation factor, which is a factor in the activation of the communication apparatus.