Information processing system, content output apparatus, and method and program of controlling an information processing apparatus by a content output apparatus

Abstract

In an information processing system including an information processing apparatus and a content output apparatus which are connected to each other, the content output apparatus is configured to include a function identification file creation unit adapted to, in accordance with a button operation by a user, create a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a predetermined function, and a file storage unit adapted to store the function identification file in a storage unit, and the information processing apparatus is configured to include a detector adapted to detect a connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and a controller adapted to, after detecting the connection of the content output apparatus, start an application program to execute the function depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file in the storage unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a general configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an HDD video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a personal computer;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a processing sequence of writing content data supplied from an HDD video camera on a DVD disk;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a graphical user interface (GUI) screen of an HDD video camera;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a file system of an HDD video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a launcher menu screen according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing a general configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an HDD video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a various kinds contents recorded on an HDD;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a pre-process performed by an HDD video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a content type selection screen;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a part of a processing sequence of writing content data supplied from an HDD video camera in an optimum manner depending on the content type according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a following part of the processing sequence of writing content data supplied from an HDD video camera in an optimum manner depending on the content type according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a graphical user interface (GUI) screen of an HDD video camera;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of content of a camera identification file;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a file system of an HDD video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a launcher menu screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An information processing system including an information processing apparatus and a content output apparatus which are connected to each other, the content output apparatus including: function identification file creation means for, in accordance with a button operation by a user, creating a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a predetermined function; andfile storage means for storing the function identification file in storage means,the information processing apparatus including: detection means for detecting a connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus; andcontrol means for, after detecting the connection of the content output apparatus, starting an application program to execute the function depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file stored in the storage means.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the content output apparatus creates the function identification file in accordance with a command, issued by a user by operating a button, to record an image captured via an imaging unit on a recoding medium.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the file storage means stores the function identification file directly under a root directory.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein when the connection between the information processing apparatus and the content output apparatus is released, the file storage means deletes the function identification file from the storage means.

5. A content output apparatus connectable with an information processing apparatus, comprising: function identification file creation means for, after the content output apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus, creating a predetermined function identification file in accordance with a button operation performed by a user to cause the information processing apparatus to start a predetermined application program to execute a predetermined function depending on whether the predetermined function identification file exists in the content output apparatus; andfile storage means for storing the function identification file in storage means.

6. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus by a content output apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: after the content output apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus, creating a predetermined function identification file in accordance with a button operation performed by a user to cause the information processing apparatus to start a predetermined application program to execute a predetermined function depending on whether the predetermined function identification file exists in the content output apparatus;storing the function identification file in storage means; andwhen the connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus is detected, starting the application program depending on whether the function identification file exists in the storage means.

7. A program of controlling an information processing apparatus by a content output apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: after the content output apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus, creating a predetermined function identification file in accordance with a button operation performed by a user to cause the information processing apparatus to start a predetermined application program to execute a predetermined function depending on whether the predetermined function identification file exists in the content output apparatus;storing the function identification file in storage means; andwhen the connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus is detected, starting the application program depending on whether the function identification file exists in the storage means.

8. An information processing system including an information processing apparatus and a content output apparatus which are connected to each other, the content output apparatus including: function identification file creation means for creating a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to record, on a recording medium, content data stored in the content output apparatus;type identification file creation means for, if a content type of content data to be recorded on the recording medium is selected, creating a type identification file in which type information indicating the content type is described; andfile storage means for storing the function identification file and the type identification file in storage means,the information processing apparatus including: detection means for detecting a connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus; andcontrol means for, after detecting the connection of the content output apparatus, starting an application program to record the content data on the recording medium depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file stored in the storage means, and recording on the recording medium the content data stored in the content output apparatus in accordance with the type information described in the type information file.

9. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the control means records the content data stored in the content output apparatus on a recording medium of a type corresponding to the content type.

10. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the content output apparatus creates the function identification file and the type identification file, in accordance with a command issued by a user by operating a button to record an image captured via an imaging unit on the recording medium.

11. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the file storage means stores the function identification file and the type identification file directly under a root directory.

12. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein when the connection between the information processing apparatus and the content output apparatus is released, the file storage means deletes the function identification file and/or the type identification file from the storage means.

13. A content output apparatus connectable with an information processing apparatus, comprising: function identification file creation means for creating a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to start an application program to record, on a recording medium, content data stored in the content output apparatus;type identification file creation means for, if a content type of content data to be recorded on the recording medium is selected, creating a type identification file in which type information indicating the content type is described; andfile storage means for storing the function identification file and the type identification file in storage means.

14. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus by a content output apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: creating a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to start an application program to record, on a recording medium, content data stored in the content output apparatus;if a content type of content data to be recorded on the recording medium is selected, creating a type identification file in which type information indicating the content type is described;storing the function identification file and the type identification file in storage means;, andif the connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus is detected, starting an application program to record the content data on the recording medium depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file stored in the storage means, and recording on the recording medium the content data stored in the content output apparatus in accordance with the type information described in the type information file.

15. A program of controlling an information processing apparatus by a content output apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: creating a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to start an application program to record, on a recording medium, content data stored in the content output apparatus;if a content type of content data to be recorded on the recording medium is selected, creating a type identification file in which type information indicating the content type is described;storing the function identification file and the type identification file in storage means; andif the connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus is detected, starting an application program to record the content data on the recording medium depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file stored in the storage means, and recording on the recording medium the content data stored in the content output apparatus in accordance with the type information described in the type information file.

16. An information processing system including an information processing apparatus and a content output apparatus which are connected to each other, the content output apparatus including: a function identification file creation unit adapted to, in accordance with a button operation by a user, create a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a predetermined function; anda file storage unit adapted to store the function identification file in a storage unit,the information processing apparatus including: a detector adapted to detect a connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus; anda controller adapted to, after detecting the connection of the content output apparatus, start an application program to execute the function depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file stored in the storage unit.

17. A content output apparatus connectable with an information processing apparatus, comprising: a function identification file creation unit adapted to, after the content output apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus, create a predetermined function identification file in accordance with a button operation performed by a user to cause the information processing apparatus to start a predetermined application program to execute a predetermined function depending on whether the predetermined function identification file exists in the content output apparatus; and a file storage unit adapted to store the function identification file in a storage unit.

18. An information processing system including an information processing apparatus and a content output apparatus which are connected to each other, the content output apparatus including: a function identification file creation unit adapted to create a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to record, on a recording medium, content data stored in the content output apparatus;a type identification file creation unit adapted to, if a content type of content data to be recorded on the recording medium is selected, create a type identification file in which type information indicating the content type is described; anda file storage unit adapted to store the function identification file and the type identification file in the storage unit,the information processing apparatus including: a detector adapted to detect a connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus; anda controller adapted to, after detecting the connection of the content output apparatus, start an application program to record the content data on the recording medium depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file stored in the storage unit, and recording on the recording medium the content data stored in the content output apparatus in accordance with the type information described in the type information file.

19. A content output apparatus connectable with an information processing apparatus, comprising: a function identification file creation unit adapted to create a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to start an application program to record, on a recording medium, content data stored in the content output apparatus;a type identification file creation unit adapted to, if a content type of content data to be recorded on the recording medium is selected, create a type identification file in which type information indicating the content type is described; anda file storage unit adapted to store the function identification file and the type identification file in a storage unit.