Abstract:
An image capture device includes a first memory, a second memory and an icon changing unit. The first memory stores a plurality of icons. The second memory stores an icon representing the image capture device of which the second memory is a part. The icon is read by an external electronic device through an address space. The address space is accessed by the external electronic device though a serial bus. The icon changing unit changes the icon stored in the second memory to a selected icon that is selected from the plurality of icons stored in the first memory.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to icons of electronic devices such as digital video cameras, digital cameras and the like. 
   2. Related Background Art 
   A remote control system for remotely controlling a conventional 1394 device  800  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 8 . The 1394 device  800  is an apparatus having a digital interface  801  conforming to IEEE Std 1394-1995, and a memory  802  for storing information within a register space  803  stipulated by ISO/IEC 13213:1994. 
   The register space  803  is divided into a CSR architecture register  8031 , a bus-dependent register  8032 , a configuration ROM  8033  and a unit space  8034 . These areas can be accessed by other 1394 devices so long as the areas are not limited by the 1394 device  800 . Further, the information existing in each area can be read out by other 1394 devices so long as the information is not limited by the 1394 device  800 . 
   An icon X, which serves as an icon representing the 1394 device  800 , is stored in a predetermined area of the unit space  8034 . A controller  820  for remotely controlling the 1394 device  800  can read out the icon X from the unit space  8034  and display it as an icon representing the 1394 device  800 . 
   However, in the conventional 1394 device  800 , the icon X in the unit space  8034  cannot be changed to another icon. Thus, if the controller  820  displays icons of two 1394 devices  800 , two icons having the same design are displayed, and, thus, a problem will occur in that it is hard for an observer to see the relationship between the icons and the respective 1394 devices. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described drawbacks. 
   Another object of the present invention is to permit the user to change an icon representing an electronic device and held by the device to an icon selected by the user. 
   According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device having an address space which can be accessed by another electronic device, the electronic device comprising a first memory, storing icons, a second memory, storing an icon representing the electronic device and being provided from that electronic device to the external electronic device via the address space, and an icon changing unit which changes the icon stored in the second memory to a selected icon that is selected from the plurality of icons stored in the first memory. 
   According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an icon changing method for changing an icon in an electronic device having an address space which can be accessed by another electronic device, the method comprising the steps of selecting an icon from a plurality of icons stored in a first memory, and changing an icon stored in a second memory to the selected icon, the icon stored in the second memory representing the first electronic device and being provided from the first electronic device to the external electronic device via the address space. 
   According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device having an address space which can be addressed by another electronic device, the electronic device comprising a memory which stores an icon representing the electronic device and being provided from that electronic device to the external electronic device via the address space, an icon generating unit which generates a new icon from still image data selected by a user, and an icon changing unit which changes the icon stored in the memory to the new icon. 
   According to a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an icon changing method for changing an icon in an electric device having an address space which can be accessed by another electronic device, the method comprising the steps of generating a new icon from still image data selected by a user, and changing an icon stored in a memory to the new icon, the stored icon in the memory representing the first electronic device and being provided from the first electronic device to the external electronic device via the address space. 
   According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device having an address space which can be addressed by another electronic device, the electronic device comprising a memory which stores an icon representing the electronic device and being provided from that electronic device to the external electronic device via the address space, an icon generating unit which generates a new icon from still image data captured by the electronic device, and an icon changing unit which changes the icon stored in the memory to the new icon. 
   According to a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an icon changing method for changing an icon in an electric device having an address space which can be accessed by another electronic device, the method comprising the steps of generating a new icon from still image data captured by the first electronic device, and changing an icon stored in memory to the new icon, the icon stored in the memory representing the first electronic device and being provided from the first electronic device to the external electronic device via the address space. 
   The other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view schematically showing a 1394 device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of icon changing processing A; 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of icon changing processing B; 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of icon changing processing C; 
       FIG. 5  is a view showing an example of a remote control system according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a view showing another example of a remote control system according to that embodiment; 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing a further example of a remote control system according to that embodiment; and 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing a conventional remote control system for remotely controlling a 1394 device. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention will now be explained in connection with preferred embodiments thereof with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . 
   First of all, a summary of a 1394 device  100  as an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be given with reference to  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, while for the purpose of concreteness the 1394 device will be described as an image photo-taking apparatus such as a digital video camera, a digital camera or the like, the 1394 device may be another kind of device. 
   A digital interface  101  is a digital interface conforming to IEEE Std 1394-1995 and IEEE Std 1394a-2000. The IEEE Std 1394-1995 is a standard regarding a serial bus, while IEEE Std 1394a-2000 is an expansion standard of the IEEE Std 1394-1995. 
   A memory  102  is a memory for storing information within a register space  103  stipulated in ISO/IEC 13213:1994. The register space  103  is an address space assigned to the 1394 device  100  and is divided into a CRS architecture register  1031 , a bus-independent register  1032 , a configuration ROM  1033  and a unit space  1034 . These areas can be accessed by other 1394 devices so long as the areas are not limited by the 1394 device  100 . Further, the information existing in each area can be read out by other 1394 devices so long as the information is not limited by the 1394 device  100 . 
   An icon X, to serve as an icon representing the 1394 device  100 , is stored in a predetermined area of the unit space  1034 . A controller for remotely controlling the 1394 device  100  can read out the icon X and display this icon as a representation of the 1394 device  100 . 
   An icon memory  104  is a memory for storing a plurality of icons. An icon generation unit  105  serves to generate a new icon from still image data selected by the user or still image data photo-taken by the user. 
   A camera unit  106  serves to generate the still image data from an optical image of a photographic subject in accordance with a photo-taking instruction from the user. A record reproduction unit  107  has a function of recording the still image data generated by the camera unit  106  into removable media  108  and a function of reproducing still image data corresponding to a thumbnail image selected by the user from the removable media  108 . The removable media  108  may be such types as a memory card or a photo-magnetic disk. 
   A display unit  109  has a function of displaying the still image data generated in the camera unit  106  and a function of displaying the thumbnail image or the still image data reproduced from the removable media  108 . 
   A control unit  110  has a microcomputer and a memory. A control program for controlling various functions of the 1394 device  100  is stored in the memory of the control unit  110 . A control program for controlling processing procedures shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4  is also stored in the memory of the control unit  110 . 
   An operation unit  111  serves to inform the control unit  110  of the user&#39;s instruction. In the operation unit  111 , an operation regarding photo-taking, an operation regarding reproduction, an operation for changing the icon representing the 1394 device  100  and held by the 1394 device  100  and the like can be performed. Further, in the operation unit  111 , an operation for turning ON or OFF an icon changing mode A, an icon changing mode B or an icon changing mode C can also be performed. 
   Next, a processing procedure of icon changing processing which can be executed by the 1394 device  100  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2 . Icon changing processing A is processing for changing the icon representing the 1394 device  100  and held by the 1394 device  100  to an icon selected from a plurality of icons in the icon memory  104 . Incidentally, the icon changing processing A shown in  FIG. 2  is processing executed when the icon changing mode A is turned ON. 
   Step S 201 : The control unit  110  reads out N (N is integral number equal to or greater than 1) icons stored in the icon memory  104  and indicates the read-out N icons on the display unit  109  by list. 
   Step S 202 : The control unit  110  inquires of the user whether or not the icon X in the memory space  1034  may be changed to an icon A as the icon selected by the user. If icon X is to be changed to icon A, the control unit  110  goes to step S 203 . On the other hand, if icon X is not to be changed to icon A, the control unit  110  is returned to step S 201 . 
   Step S 203 : The control unit  110  reads out icon A from the icon memory  104  and changes icon X in the unit space  1034  to an icon C. By such changing, the icon representing the 1394 device  100  becomes icon A, and, as shown in  FIG. 5 , icon A is displayed on the controller  120  for remotely controlling the 1394 device  100 . 
   By the processing procedure shown in  FIG. 2 , since the 1394 device  100  can change the icon representing the 1394 device  100  to the icon selected by the user, visual distinction of the 1394 device  100  can be facilitated. As a result, the inconvenient difficulty in understanding the correspondence relationship between the icon and the 1394 device, can be mitigated or eliminated. 
   Next, a processing procedure of icon changing processing B which can be executed by the 1394 device  100  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . Icon changing processing B is processing for changing the icon representing the 1394 device  100  and held by the 1394 device  100  to a new icon generated from still image data selected by the user. Incidentally, the icon changing processing B shown in  FIG. 3  is processing executed when the icon changing mode B is turned ON. 
   Step S 301 : The record reproduction unit  107  reads out N (N is an integer equal to or greater than 1) thumbnail images of the still image data from the removable media  105 . The control unit  110  indicates the N thumbnail images read out by the record reproduction unit  107  on the display unit  109  by list. The user manipulates the operation unit  111  to select a thumbnail image corresponding to desired still image data. 
   Step S 302 : The record reproduction unit  107  reads out still image data corresponding to the thumbnail image selected by the user from the removable media  105  and supplies the read-out still image data to the icon generation unit  105 . 
   The icon generation unit  105  generates an icon B as a new icon from the still image data. 
   Step S 303 : The control unit  110  inquires of the user whether or not icon X in the memory space  1034  is to be changed to icon B. If icon X is to be changed to the icon B, the control unit  110  goes to step S 304 . On the other hand, if icon X is not being changed to icon B, the control unit  110  is returned to step S 301 . 
   Step S 304 : The control unit  110  changes the icon X in the memory space  1034  to icon B. As a result, the icon representing the 1394 device  100  becomes icon B, and, as shown in  FIG. 6 , icon B is displayed on the controller  120  for remotely controlling the 1394 device  100 . 
   Step S 305 : The control unit  110  registers icon B generated by the icon generation unit  105  in the icon memory  104 . 
   By the processing procedure shown in  FIG. 3 , since the 1394 device  100  can generate the new icon B from the still image data selected by the user and register the generated icon B in the icon memory  104 , the number of distinguishable icons representing the 1394 device  100  can easily be increased. Further, at the same time when icon B is registered in the icon memory  104 , the icon in the unit space  1034  can be changed to icon B. 
   Next, a processing procedure of icon changing processing C which can be executed by the 1394 device  100  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 4 . Icon changing processing C is processing for changing the icon representing the 1394 device  100  and held by the 1394 device  100  to a new icon generated from still image data photo-taken by the user. Incidentally, the icon changing processing C shown in  FIG. 4  is processing to be executed when the icon changing mode C is turned ON. 
   Step S 401 : The user manipulates the operation unit  111  to photo-take a desired photographic subject. The camera unit  106  generates still image data of the photographic subject photo-taken by the user and supplies the generated still image data to the icon generation unit  105 . The icon generation unit  105  generates an icon C as a new icon from the still image data generated in the camera unit  106 . 
   Step S 402 : The control unit  110  inquires of the user whether or not the icon X in the memory space  1034  is to be changed to icon C. If icon X is to be changed to icon C, the control unit  110  goes to step S 403 . On the other hand, if icon X is not changed to icon C, the control unit  110  is returned to step S 401 . 
   Step S 403 : The control unit  110  changes the icon X in the memory space  1034  to icon C. By such changing, the icon representing the 1394 device  100  becomes icon C, and, as shown in  FIG. 7 , icon C is displayed on the controller  120  for remotely controlling the 1394 device  100 . 
   Step S 404 : The control unit  110  registers the icon C generated by the icon generation unit  105  in the icon memory  104 . 
   By the processing procedure shown in  FIG. 4 , since the 1394 device  100  can generate the new icon C from the still image data photo-taken by the user and register the generated icon C in the icon memory  104 , the number of distinguishable icons representing the 1394 device  100  can easily be increased. 
   Further, at the same time when icon C is registered in the icon memory  104 , the icon in the unit space  1034  can be changed to icon C. 
   As mentioned above, according to the 1394 device  100  of the illustrated embodiment, since the icon representing the 1394 device  100  can be changed to an icon selected by the user, visual distinction of the 1394 device  100  in a display of icons can be facilitated, thus avoiding the difficulty and inconvenience of being unable to recognize the correspondence relationship between the icon and the 1394 device. 
   Further, according to the 1394 device  100  of the illustrated embodiment, since the new icon B can be generated from the still image data selected by the user and the generated icon B can be registered in the icon memory  104 , the number of types of distinguishable icons representing the 1394 device  100  can easily be increased. Further, at the same time when icon B is registered in the icon memory  104 , the icon in the unit space  1034  can be changed to icon B. 
   Further, according to the 1394 device  100  of the illustrated embodiment, since the new icon C can be generated from the still image data photo-taken by the user and the generated icon C can be registered in the icon memory  104 , the number of kinds of icons representing the 1394 device  100  can easily be increased. Further, at the same time when icon C is registered in the icon memory  104 , the icon in the unit space  1034  can be changed to icon C. 
   The above-described preferred embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, and are not to be construed to limit the scope of the present invention. 
   The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims, and is not limited to the specific descriptions in this specification. Furthermore, all modifications and changes belonging to equivalents of the claims are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.