Patent ID: 8046517

Claim:
A camera, comprising: a single connection port, adapted to be selectively connected to either a USB port provided in a printer or a USB port provided in a personal computer by way of a USB cable; a controller, operable to cause the camera to perform as a host in a case where the single connection port is connected to the USB port of the printer by way of the USB cable, and to cause the camera to perform as a device in a case where the single connection port is connected to the USB port of the personal computer by way of the USB cable; a host communications processor configured to process communication with the personal computer; a device communications processor configured to process communication with the printer; and a host/device switcher having the single connection port and configured to switch the host communications processor and the device communications processor, wherein the controller causes the host/device switcher to switch to the host communications processor in the case where the single connection port is connected to the USB port of the personal computer by way of the USB cable and to switch to the device communications processor in the case where the single connection port is connected to the USB port of the printer by way of the USB cable.