Patent Abstract:
An electronic device comprises a plurality of memory components, a connector, a receiver, and a communication component. The connector is configured to operatively connect the electronic device to an external device. The external device is capable of individually recognizing the memory components one at a time or simultaneously recognizing only a few of the memory components. The receiver is configured to receive a select instruction that specifies which of the memory components will be recognized by the external device. The communication component is configured to automatically communicate with the external device to permit the external device to automatically recognize at least one of the memory components as a predefined memory component. The communication component is further configured to communicate with the external device when the receiver receives the select instruction to permit the external device to recognize at least one memory components according to the select instruction.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-278120, filed on Dec. 8, 2009. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-278120 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electronic device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electronic device that allows connection with an external device. 
     2. Background Information 
     Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-202234 discloses a USB switching device that controls the switching of a USB communication path. This USB switching device switches between a digital still camera (DSC)-printer connection state and a DSC-storage device connection state, on the basis of a switching signal from a storage device. 
     SUMMARY 
     It has been discovered that if the user tries to make a USB connection between a DSC and an external device, e.g., a printer or a storage device, using the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-202234 above, the operation remains problematic. 
     In view of the state of the known technology, one object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device in which connection to an external device can be accomplished by a relatively simple operation. 
     In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, an electronic device is provided comprising a plurality of memory components, a connector, a receiver, and a communication component. The connector is configured to operatively connect the electronic device to a first external device. The first external device is capable of individually recognizing the plurality of memory components one at a time or simultaneously recognizing only a few of the plurality of memory components. The receiver is configured to receive a select instruction that specifies which of the memory components will be recognized by the first external device. The communication component is configured to automatically communicate with the first external device to permit the first external device to automatically recognize at least one of the memory components as a predefined memory component. The communication component is further configured to communicate with the first external device when the receiver receives the select instruction to permit the first external device to recognize at least one memory component according to the select instruction. 
     These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system including a digital video camera and an external device; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the digital video camera; 
         FIG. 3  is a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of initial communication; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating the startup operation of application software; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating the decision operation of a memory medium; 
         FIG. 6A  is a diagram of a screen displayed on a liquid crystal monitor during initial communication, and  FIG. 6B  is a diagram of a screen displayed on a liquid crystal monitor after completion of initial communication; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of a medium selection screen; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating the startup operation of application software pertaining to a modification example; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating the decision operation of a memory medium pertaining to a modification example; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating the startup operation of application software pertaining to another modification example; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating the decision operation of a memory medium pertaining to another modification example; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram of a medium selection screen pertaining to a modification example; and 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram of a medium selection screen pertaining to a modification example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiment 1 
     Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     An example of applying the present invention to a digital video camera will now be described through reference to the drawings. 
     1-1. Overview 
     The digital video camera  100  pertaining to this embodiment has a USB (universal serial bus)  290 . The digital video camera  100  can be connected via the USB  290  to various kinds of external device, such as a personal computer or a DVD (digital versatile disc) recorder. 
     The user can connect the digital video camera  100  with a personal computer, a DVD recorder, or another such external device by a relatively simple operation. 
     1-2. Configuration 
     1-2-1. Configuration of Entire System 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the digital video camera  100  pertaining to this embodiment is connected via the USB  290  to an external device to configure an entire system. With this system, the external device can access a HDD (hard disk drive)  320  and/or a memory card  240  within the digital video camera  100 . 
     1-2-2. Configuration of Digital Video Camera 
     The electrical configuration of the digital video camera  100  pertaining to this embodiment will be described through reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the digital video camera  100 . The digital video camera  100  uses a CCD image sensor  180  to capture an image of a subject formed by an optical system composed of a zoom lens  110 , etc. The image data produced by the CCD image sensor  180  is subjected to various processing by an image processor  190  and stored in the HDD  320  and/or the memory card  240 . The image data stored in the HDD  320  and/or the memory card  240  can be displayed on a liquid crystal monitor  270 . The configuration of the digital video camera  100  will now be described in detail. 
     The optical system of the digital video camera  100  includes the zoom lens  110 , an Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS)  140 , and a focus lens  170 . The zoom lens  110  can enlarge or reduce a subject image by moving along the optical axis of the optical system. The focus lens  170  adjusts the focus of the subject image by moving along the optical axis of the optical system. 
     The OIS  140  has an internal correction lens that can move within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The OIS  140  stabilizes the subject image by driving the correction lens in a direction that cancels out shake of the digital video camera  100 . 
     A zoom motor  130  drives the zoom lens  110 . The zoom motor  130  may be a pulse motor, a DC motor, a linear motor, a servo motor, or the like. The zoom motor  130  may drive the zoom lens  110  via a cam mechanism, a ball screw, or another such mechanism. A detector  120  detects the position where the zoom lens  110  is located on the optical axis. The detector  120  outputs a signal related to the position of the zoom lens by means of a brush or other such switch according to the amount of movement of the zoom lens  110  in the optical axis direction. 
     An OIS actuator  150  drives and moves the correcting lens inside the OIS  140  within a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis. The OIS actuator  150  can be a plane coil, an ultrasonic motor, or the like. A detector  160  detects the amount of movement of the correcting lens inside the OIS  140 . 
     The CCD image sensor  180  produces image data by capturing a subject image formed by the optical system composed of the zoom lens  110 , etc. The CCD image sensor  180  performs exposure, transfer, electronic shuttering, and various other such operations. 
     The image processor  190  subjects the image data produced by the CCD image sensor  180  to various processing and thereby produce image data for display on the liquid crystal monitor  270 , or produces image data to be re-stored in the HDD  320  and/or the memory card  240 . For example, the image processor  190  subjects the image data produced by the CCD image sensor  180  to gamma correction, white balance correction, scratch correction, and various other such processing. The image processor  190  also compresses the image data produced by the CCD image sensor  180 , using a compression format that conforms to the MPEG2 standard, the H.246 standard, or the like. The image processor  190  can be a DSP, a microprocessor, or the like. 
     A controller  210  is a control unit that controls the entire digital video camera  100 . The controller  210  can be a semiconductor element or the like. The controller  210  may be constituted by hardware alone, or a combination of hardware and software. In this embodiment, the controller  210  is a microprocessor. The controller  210  reads and executes control programs held in an internal memory  280 , and thereby operates as a communication component  210   a , a determination component  210   b , a data controlling component  210   c , etc., to control, for example, the liquid crystal monitor  270  and other devices in the digital video camera  100 . The operation of the communication component  210   a , the determination component  210   b , and the data controlling component  210   c  will be described in detail below. 
     A memory  200  functions as a working memory for the image processor  190  and the controller  210 . The memory  200  is a DRAM, a ferroelectric memory, or the like, for example. 
     The liquid crystal monitor  270  is able to display an image corresponding to the image data produced by the CCD image sensor  180 , an image corresponding to the image data read out from the HDD  320  and/or the memory card  240 , etc. In another embodiment, an organic EL display, a plasma display, or another such display capable of displaying images can be used in place of the liquid crystal monitor  270 . 
     A gyro sensor  220  has a piezoelectric element or another such vibrating material. The gyro sensor  220  obtains angular velocity information by converting the Coriolis force exerted on the vibrating material, which is vibrated at a specific frequency, into voltage. The controller  210  obtains angular velocity information from the gyro sensor  220 . The controller  210  corrects any effect of shaking of the user&#39;s hand by driving the correcting lens inside the OIS  140  in the direction of canceling out the shake indicated by the angular velocity information. 
     The memory card  240  can be inserted into and removed from a card slot  230 . The card slot  230  can be mechanically and electrically connected to the memory card  240 . The memory card  240  includes an internal flash memory, ferroelectric memory, etc. The memory card  240  is a storage medium that records video data and so forth captured by the digital video camera  100 . 
     The internal memory  280  can be a flash memory, ferroelectric memory, or the like. The internal memory  280  holds control programs and so forth for controlling the entire digital video camera  100 . 
     A manipulation member  250  is an operating interface that receives image capture commands and other various commands from the user. A zoom lever  260  receives zoom ratio change commands from the user. 
     The USB  290  is an interface for connecting the digital video camera  100  with a personal computer or other such external device. For example, the USB  290  and the USB of a personal computer or other such external device can be connected via a USB cable. The digital video camera  100  can send and receive data to and from an external device, and can receive power supply from an external device, via the USB  290 . 
     An AC adapter connection terminal  300  is an interface for connecting the digital video camera  100  to an AC adapter. The digital video camera  100  can receive power supply from an AC adapter via the AC adapter connection terminal  300 . 
     A battery  310  is a chargeable battery for supplying power to the digital video camera  100 . 
     The HDD  320  is a storage medium that is incorporated into the main body of the digital video camera  100 . The HDD  320  is a storage medium that records video data and/or the like captured by the digital video camera  100 . 
     1-2-3. Correspondence to Elements of the Embodiments 
     The memory card  240  and the HDD  320  are examples of memory components of the present invention. A DVD recorder is one example of a first external device. A personal computer is an example of a second external device. The USB  290  is one example of a connector. The manipulation member  250  is one example of a receiver. The communication component  210   a  of the controller  210  is an example of a communication component. The determination component  210   b  of the controller  210  is one example of a determination component. The data controlling component  210   c  of the controller  210  is one example of a data controlling component  210   c . The liquid crystal monitor  270  is one example of a display component. The CCD image sensor  180  is one example of an imaging element. 
     1-3. Operation 
     The various operations of the digital video camera  100  pertaining to this embodiment will be described through reference to the drawings. 
     1-3-1. Initial Communication Between External Device and Digital Video Camera 
     The initial communication between the digital video camera  100  and a personal computer, DVD recorder, or other such external device will be described through reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of the initial communication. 
     The user can connect the digital video camera  100  to an external device via the USB  290 . Once an external device is connected to the USB  290 , the communication component  210   a  of the digital video camera  100  notifies the external device that a USB connection has been made (S 100 ). 
     Upon receipt of a notification that a USB connection has been made, the external device requests device information about the digital video camera  100  from the communication component  210   a  (S 110 ). The device information here is information related to the name of the device, the number and types of storage media included in the device, and so on. 
     Upon receipt of the request for device information, the communication component  210   a  responds to the external device with the requested device information (S 120 ). Upon receipt of this response, the external device notifies the communication component  210   a  that the device information has been properly received, that is, that the digital video camera  100  has been properly recognized (S 130 ). 
     After the notification of the proper receipt of device information, the external device requests detailed information about one or more of all the storage media included in the digital video camera  100  from the communication component  210   a  (S 140 ). The detailed information about a storage medium here is information related to the capacity of the storage medium, the number of blocks of the storage medium, and so on. A personal computer requests detailed information about all the storage media included in the digital video camera  100 . A DVD recorder, on the other hand, requests detailed information about only a predetermined storage medium (default storage medium) out of all the storage media included in the digital video camera  100 . 
     Upon receipt of a request for detailed information about a storage medium or media, the communication component  210   a  responds to the external device with the requested detailed information (S 150 ). As a result, a personal computer becomes in a state in which it recognizes all the storage media included in the digital video camera  100 . On the other hand, a DVD recorder becomes in a state in which it recognizes only a predetermined storage medium out of all the storage media included in the digital video camera  100 . 
     With the above operation, the initial communication between the external device and the digital video camera  100  is completed. This completion of initial communication establishes communication between the digital video camera  100  and the external device via the USB  290 . More specifically, completion of initial communication establishes communication between the digital video camera  100  and a personal computer in a state in which both of the two storage media (the memory card  240  and the HDD  320 ) of the digital video camera  100  are recognized. Meanwhile, completion of initial communication establishes communication between the digital video camera  100  and a DVD recorder in a state in which one of the two storage media (the memory card  240  and the HDD  320 ) of the digital video camera  100  is recognized. 
     This initial communication is automatically begun once an external device is connected to the USB  290 . Therefore, the above-mentioned communication is automatically established once the user connects an external device to the USB  290  of the digital video camera  100 . 
     The operation after completion of initial communication will now be described. 
     1-3-2. Startup Operation of Application Software in External Device 
     The operation of the external device after the completion of initial communication between the external device and the digital video camera  100  will be described through reference to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating the startup operation of application software in an external device. The external device is in a state in which it is connected to the digital video camera  100  via the USB  290 . Here, a personal computer and a DVD recorder will be used as examples of external devices. 
     First, the operation of the personal computer will be described. Application software and resident software corresponding to the digital video camera  100  have been installed in this personal computer ahead of time. Resident software is software that causes the personal computer to execute processing for monitoring the connection of a device to the personal computer. Resident software is automatically started up once a device is connected to the personal computer. Application software is software that causes the personal computer to execute processing such as the editing of moving pictures and/or still pictures outputted from the digital video camera  100  to the personal computer. 
     The resident software (more precisely, the controller of the personal computer that executes resident software, the same shall apply hereinafter) executes initial communication with the device connected to the personal computer (S 200 ). If the device connected to the personal computer is the digital video camera  100 , the initial communication shown in  FIG. 3  is executed. 
     Upon completion of this initial communication (S 200 ), the resident software in the personal computer determines whether or not the device connected to the personal computer is a target device (S 210 ). The “target device” here is a device that has been recognized ahead of time by the resident software to be a device to which the resident software can start up the application software. The resident software recognizes the digital video camera  100  as a target device ahead of time. 
     If the device is determined not to be a target device, the resident software ends the operation. 
     On the other hand, if the device is determined to be a target device, the resident software sends the digital video camera  100  a medium selection screen switch-off command (S 220 ). The “medium selection screen switch-off command” here is a command to switch off the medium selection screen (discussed below) from the liquid crystal monitor  270 . Upon sending of a medium selection screen switch-off command to the digital video camera  100 , the resident software starts up the application software (S 230 ). 
     Next, the operation of the DVD recorder will be described. The controller of the DVD recorder automatically executes the initial communication shown in  FIG. 3  once the digital video camera  100  is connected to the DVD recorder. Upon completion of the initial communication (S 300 ), the DVD recorder immediately starts up the application software (S 310 ). This application software is software that causes the DVD recorder to execute moving picture and/or still picture recording, reproduction, or other such processing. 
     1-3-3. Operation of Determining Storage Media of Digital Video Camera 
     The operation of the digital video camera  100  after completion of initial communication between the external device and the digital video camera  100  will be described through reference to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating the decision operation of the storage media of the digital video camera  100 . The processing in  FIG. 5  performed by the digital video camera  100  is executed in parallel with the processing in  FIG. 4  performed by the external device. The decision operation of the storage media of the digital video camera  100  is automatically executed once an external device is connected to the USB  290 . 
     Upon completion of the initial communication (S 400 ) shown in  FIG. 3 , the determination component  210   b  of the controller  210  determines whether or not a medium selection screen switch-off command has been received from the external device (S 410 ). During initial communication, the controller  210  displays the screen of  FIG. 6A  on the liquid crystal monitor  270 . After completion of the initial communication, the controller  210  instructs the liquid crystal monitor  270  to display the screen illustrated in  FIG. 6B . The screen displays the medium selection screen illustrated in  FIGS. 7 ,  12  and  13 , which is generated when the controller  210  received information from the internal memory  280 . 
     If it is determined that a medium selection screen switch-off command has been received, the controller  210  executes step S 420 . If a medium selection screen (discussed below) is being displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  270 , the controller  210  controls the liquid crystal monitor  270  so as to switch off the medium selection screen (S 420 ). On the other hand, if a medium selection screen is not being displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  270 , the controller  210  does nothing (S 420 ). The liquid crystal monitor  270  displays the screen of  FIG. 6B  at the point when step S 420  comes to an end. 
     Meanwhile, if it is determined that no medium selection screen switch-off command has been received, the controller  210  controls the liquid crystal monitor  270  so that the medium selection screen of  FIG. 7  is displayed (S 430 ). The medium selection screen is a screen that allows the user to input a select instruction and thereby allows the user to select which of the two storage media (the memory card  240  and the HDD  320 ) of the digital video camera  100  is to be recognized by the external device. The select instruction is an instruction with which the user shows the digital video camera  100  which of the plurality of memory components are to be recognized by the external device. In other words, the medium selection screen prompts the user to select either the memory card  240  or the HDD  320  as the storage medium to be recognized by the external device. That is, the medium selection screen asks the user to select either the memory card  240  or the HDD  320  as the storage medium that the external device is to recognize. 
     After step S 430 , the controller  210  determines whether or not the user has selected a storage medium on the medium selection screen (S 440 ). The user can select a storage medium on the medium selection screen by manipulating the manipulation member  250 . The manipulation member  250  is a member that receives the select instruction from the user. The manipulation member  250  may be a button, or may be a touch panel provided to the liquid crystal monitor  270 . In short, the manipulation member  250  may be any interface with which the controller  210  can be made to recognize the selection of a storage medium by the user. If it is determined that no storage medium has been selected, the controller  210  again performs the determination of step S 410 . On the other hand, if it is determined that a storage medium has been selected, the controller  210  determines which storage medium was selected by the user (S 450 ). 
     If it is determined that the HDD  320  was selected, the digital video camera  100  and the external device again perform the initial communication of  FIG. 3  (S 460 ). At that time, if the DVD recorder is connected to the USB  290 , the communication component  210   a  sends the DVD recorder detailed information about the HDD  320  in step S 150 , which is included in the initial communication. Therefore, when the initial communication (S 460 ) is complete, the DVD recorder becomes in a state in which the HDD  320  of the digital video camera  100  has been mounted (recognized) (S 470 ). 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that the memory card  240  was selected, the digital video camera  100  and the external device again perform the initial communication of  FIG. 3  (S 480 ). At that time, if the DVD recorder is connected to the USB  290 , the communication component  210   a  sends the DVD recorder detailed information about the memory card  240  in step S 150 , which is included in the initial communication. Therefore, when the initial communication (S 480 ) is complete, the DVD recorder becomes in a state in which the memory card  240  of the digital video camera  100  has been mounted (recognized) (S 490 ). 
     The digital video camera  100  receives a medium selection screen switch-off command only when the digital video camera  100  is connected to a personal computer. That is, a medium selection screen switch-off command is a signal that causes the digital video camera  100  to recognize the type of external device (whether it is a personal computer or a DVD recorder) connected to the digital video camera  100 . Therefore, the above-mentioned step S 410  is a step of determining the type of external device connected to the digital video camera  100 . 
     1-4. Data Controlling Component 
     The external device such as, for example, a personal computer or a DVD recorder, can read data from the memory card  240  and/or the HDD  320 , whichever the external device is currently recognizing. The data controlling component  210   c  stores the image data recorded by the user in the memory card  240  and/or the HDD  320 . The data controlling component  210  send the external device the data (including the image data) stored in the memory card  240  and/or the HDD  320  according to a command sent from the external device. 
     1-5. Features of Digital Video Camera 
     Once a DVD recorder is connected to the digital video camera  100 , the digital video camera  100  automatically executes initial communication and causes the DVD recorder to recognize the default storage medium. The DVD recorder is a type of external device capable of simultaneously recognizing only some of the plurality of storage media of the digital video camera  100 . Therefore, communication between the DVD recorder and the digital video camera  100  can be established in plug-and-play fashion, without requiring the user to go through a complicated operation. 
     Also, once a DVD recorder is connected to the digital video camera  100 , the digital video camera  100  automatically displays a medium selection screen on the liquid crystal monitor  270  upon completion of the initial communication. The medium selection screen is a screen that receives an instruction from the user with which the storage medium to be recognized by the DVD recorder is selected from among the two storage media (the memory card  240  and the HDD  320 ) of the digital video camera  100 . When the digital video camera  100  is instructed via the medium selection screen to change the storage medium, it executes initial communication again, and causes the DVD recorder to recognize the storage medium indicated by this instruction. Consequently, the user can easily have the DVD recorder recognize a storage medium other than the default storage medium. 
     Also, once a DVD recorder is connected to the digital video camera  100 , the digital video camera  100  automatically executes initial communication to cause the DVD recorder to recognize the default storage medium, and automatically causes the liquid crystal monitor  270  to display the medium selection screen after completion of initial communication. Consequently, if the usage frequency of the default storage medium by the user is generally greater than the usage frequency of other storage media, in most cases the storage medium desired by the user will be recognized by the DVD recorder in plug-and-play fashion. Furthermore, if necessary, the user can select a storage medium other than the default storage medium with the medium selection screen. The default storage medium may be set to one with a storage capacity that is greater than that of other storage media, or may be set to one with a data read speed that is greater than that of other storage media, or may be set to one determined to be suitable on the basis of survey results, or can be set to any other storage medium. 
     Also, the medium selection screen is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  270 , which allows the user to visually understand the choices of the storage medium to be recognized by the external device. As a result, changing the storage medium to be recognized by the external device can be accomplished easily and intuitively. 
     Also, once a personal computer is connected to the digital video camera  100 , the digital video camera  100  automatically executes initial communication. A personal computer is a type of external device capable of simultaneously recognizing all of the plurality of storage media included in the digital video camera  100 . As a result, regardless of whether the user connects a personal computer or a DVD recorder to the digital video camera  100 , communication between the digital video camera  100  and the external device can be automatically established in plug-and-play fashion. Consequently, the user can start communication between the digital video camera  100  and the external device automatically, merely by connecting the two, without going to the trouble of making a selection, etc. 
     Also, once a DVD recorder is connected to the digital video camera  100 , the digital video camera  100  automatically displays a medium selection screen on the liquid crystal monitor  270 , but when a personal computer is connected to the digital video camera  100 , either a medium selection screen is not displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  270 , or, if a medium selection screen is already being displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  270 , it is switched off. The digital video camera  100  executes the different processing according to the type of external device which is connected to the digital video camera  100 , so that the user does not need to do any unnecessary operations. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Embodiment 1 was described above as an embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to or by these. Other embodiments of the present invention will be described in this section. 
     In Embodiment 1, a digital video camera was used as an example of an electronic device pertaining to the present invention, but the present invention can also be applied to other electronic devices having a plurality of storage media. 
     Also, in Embodiment 1, a hard disk drive and a memory card were given as examples of a plurality of storage media (or memory components), but the present invention is not necessarily limited to these examples. The present invention can be applied to an electronic device equipped with a flash memory, a hard disk drive, and a memory card, an electronic device equipped with two memory cards, or other various electronic devices having a plurality of media. In other words, in Embodiment 1 there were two storage media that the DVD recorder could recognize, and there was one default storage medium. In other embodiments, however, there may be three or more storage media that the DVD recorder can recognize. In this case, there may be two or more default storage media. 
     Also, in Embodiment 1 a medium selection screen switch-off command was sent from the personal computer to the digital video camera  100 , but the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a situation. For instance, instead of a medium selection screen switch-off command, any command can be sent that can notify to the effect that an external device is able to simultaneously recognize all of the storage media of the digital video camera  100 . 
     Also, in Embodiment 1 the USB  290  was given as an example of a connector, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. Any connector that allows bidirectional communication between the digital video camera  100  and an external device may be used. 
     Also, in Embodiment 1 a medium selection screen was automatically displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  270  once the DVD recorder was connected to the USB  290 , but a medium selection screen does not necessarily have to be displayed in plug-and-play fashion. For example, the user may use the manipulation member  250  to direct that a medium selection screen be displayed at the desired timing. 
     Also, in Embodiment 1 a medium selection screen switch-off command was sent from the personal computer to the digital video camera  100  in order for the digital video camera  100  to recognize the type of external device connected to the digital video camera  100 . However, the digital video camera  100  can recognize the type of external device connected to the digital video camera  100  in some other way. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , both the personal computer and the DVD recorder may send the digital video camera  100  signals that allow the respective types to be identified. In this case, the processing of  FIG. 5  can be modified to the processing of  FIG. 9 , for example. More specifically, in step S 410 , the processing is ended when a specific signal has been sent from the personal computer and the processing moves to step S 430  when a specific signal has been sent from the DVD recorder. If a determination of “no” is made in step S 440 , the processing returns to step S 440 , rather than going to step S 410 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 10 , only the DVD recorder may send a specific signal to the digital video camera  100 . In this case, the processing of  FIG. 5  can be modified to the processing of  FIG. 11 , for example. More specifically, if a determination of “no” is made in step S 410 , step S 410  is repeated. Furthermore, if a determination of “no” is made in step S 440 , the processing returns to step S 440 , rather than going to step S 410 . 
     As described above, if a specific signal is sent from the personal computer and/or the recorder, the determination component  210   b  is able to determine the type of external device connected to the digital video camera  100 . 
     Also, the medium selection screen is not limited to the example shown in  FIG. 7 , and may instead be as shown in  FIG. 12  or  13 , for example. That is, the medium selection screen need not be a screen on which all of the storage media included in the digital video camera  100  are given as options as shown in  FIG. 7 , and may instead be a screen on which the currently selected storage medium option is omitted as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , and only options for the storage media not currently selected are given. 
     The screen in  FIG. 12  is a screen that receives an instruction to change the storage medium to be recognized by the DVD recorder from the HDD  320  to the memory card  240  when the HDD  320  has been connected to the USB  290 . If the user wants to select the HDD  320 , he or she can make the selection to do nothing, but if the user wants to select the memory card  240 , he or she can make the selection to press the icon for the memory card  240 . Similarly, the screen in FIG.  13  is a screen that receives an instruction to change the storage medium to be recognized by the DVD recorder from the memory card  240  to the HDD  320  when the memory card  240  has been connected to the USB  290 . If the user wants to select the memory card  240 , he or she can make the selection to do nothing, but if the user wants to select the HDD  320 , he or she can make the selection to press the icon for the HDD  320 . That is, the medium selection screens shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  are screens that allow the user to select which of the two storage media (the memory card  240  and the HDD  320 ) of the digital video camera  100  is to be recognized by the external device. 
     Also, in Embodiment 1, a DVD recorder was given as an example of an external device (first external device) of a type capable of simultaneously recognizing only some of the plurality of storage media of the digital video camera  100 , and a personal computer was given as an example of an external device (second external device) of a type capable of simultaneously recognizing all of the plurality of storage media of the digital video camera  100 . However, the present invention is not limited to or by these examples. For instance, when USB connection is assumed, any device equipped with an OS (operating system) that can simultaneously recognize a plurality of logical units can be used as the second external device. Meanwhile, a device in which such an OS is not installed, and which is designed to be able to recognize only one logical unit at a time, can be used as the first external device. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention can be applied to a digital video camera, a digital still camera, or other such electronic devices. 
     GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS 
     In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms “including,” “having,” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member,” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiments, the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of an electronic device. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the above embodiments should be interpreted relative to an electronic device. 
     Moreover, the term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section, or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Thus, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6