Image communication system, image reception apparatus, image transmission apparatus, image reception method, image transmission method, and recording medium

An image reception apparatus, comprising:

• a reception-side wireless communication unit configured to receive image data by radio waves and capable of simultaneously using up to two communication channels, the image data being generated in synchronization with an imaging clock and transmitted in the order in which the image data is generated;
• a radar detection circuit configured to execute a detection process on radio waves of radar in a communication channel that has a possibility of being used for image data communication by the reception-side wireless communication unit;
• and
• a channel use confirmation unit of a processor configured to execute channel use confirmation for confirming that the communication channel is usable by continuously monitoring the detection process by the radar detection circuit for a predetermined time,
• wherein the reception-side wireless communication unit stops image data communication using a first communication channel within a predetermined period from a point in time at which the radar detection circuit has detected the radio waves of the radar in the first communication channel while the image data communication using the first communication channel is performed,
• wherein the channel use confirmation unit executes the channel use confirmation of a third communication channel, the first communication channel and the third communication channel being communication channels in which detection of the radar is necessary, the third communication channel being different from the first communication channel,
• wherein the reception-side wireless communication unit starts image data communication using a second communication channel within the predetermined period from the point in time at which the radio waves of the radar have been detected, the second communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is not necessary,
• wherein the reception-side wireless communication unit stops the image data communication using the second communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed, and
• wherein the reception-side wireless communication unit starts image data communication using the third communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed.

An image transmission apparatus, comprising:

• a transmission-side wireless communication unit configured to transmit image data by radio waves and capable of simultaneously using up to two communication channels, the image data being generated in synchronization with an imaging clock and transmitted in the order in which the image data is generated;
• a radar detection circuit configured to execute a detection process on radio waves of radar in a communication channel that has a possibility of being used for image data communication by the transmission-side wireless communication unit;
• and
• a channel use confirmation unit of a processor configured to execute channel use confirmation for confirming that the communication channel is usable by continuously monitoring the detection process by the radar detection circuit for a predetermined time,
• wherein the transmission-side wireless communication unit stops image data communication using a first communication channel within a predetermined period from a point in time at which the radar detection circuit has detected the radio waves of the radar in the first communication channel while the image data communication using the first communication channel is performed,
• wherein the channel use confirmation unit executes the channel use confirmation of a third communication channel, the first communication channel and the third communication channel being communication channels in which detection of the radar is necessary, the third communication channel being different from the first communication channel,
• wherein the transmission-side wireless communication unit starts image data communication using a second communication channel within the predetermined period from the point in time at which the radio waves of the radar have been detected, the second communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is not necessary,
• wherein the transmission-side wireless communication unit stops the image data communication using the second communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed, and
• wherein the transmission-side wireless communication unit starts image data communication using the third communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed.

An image reception method, comprising:

• a first step of receiving, by a wireless communication unit capable of simultaneously using up to two communication channels, image data by radio waves, the image data being generated in synchronization with an imaging clock and transmitted in the order in which the image data is generated;
• a second step of executing a detection process on radio waves of radar in a communication channel that has a possibility of being used for image data communication in the first step;
• a third step of stopping image data communication using a first communication channel within a predetermined period from a point in time at which the radio waves of the radar have been detected in the first communication channel in the second step while the image data communication using the first communication channel is performed;
• a fourth step of executing channel use confirmation for confirming that the communication channel is usable by continuously executing the detection process for a predetermined time in the second step, the channel use confirmation being executed using a third communication channel, the first communication channel and the third communication channel being communication channels in which detection of the radar is necessary, the third communication channel being different from the first communication channel;
• a fifth step of starting image data communication using a second communication channel within the predetermined period from the point in time at which the radio waves of the radar have been detected, the second communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is not necessary;
• a sixth step of stopping the image data communication using the second communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed;
• and
• a seventh step of starting image data communication using the third communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed.

An image transmission method, comprising:

• a first step of transmitting, by a wireless communication unit capable of simultaneously using up to two communication channels, image data by radio waves, the image data being generated in synchronization with an imaging clock and transmitted in the order in which the image data is generated;
• a second step of executing a detection process on radio waves of radar in a communication channel that has a possibility of being used for image data communication in the first step;
• a third step of stopping image data communication using a first communication channel within a predetermined period from a point in time at which the radio waves of the radar have been detected in the first communication channel in the second step while the image data communication using the first communication channel is performed;
• a fourth step of executing channel use confirmation for confirming that the communication channel is usable by continuously executing the detection process for a predetermined time in the second step, the channel use confirmation being executed using a third communication channel, the first communication channel and the third communication channel being communication channels in which detection of the radar is necessary, the third communication channel being different from the first communication channel;
• a fifth step of starting image data communication using a second communication channel within the predetermined period from the point in time at which the radio waves of the radar have been detected, the second communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is not necessary;f
• a sixth step of stopping the image data communication using the second communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed;
• and
• a seventh step of starting image data communication using the third communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed.

A non-transitory recording medium saving a program for causing a computer of an image reception apparatus to execute:

• a first step of receiving, by a wireless communication unit capable of simultaneously using up to two communication channels, image data by radio waves, the image data being generated in synchronization with an imaging clock and transmitted in the order in which the image data is generated;
• a second step of executing a detection process on radio waves of radar in a communication channel that has a possibility of being used for image data communication in the first step;
• a third step of stopping image data communication using a first communication channel within a predetermined period from a point in time at which the radio waves of the radar have been detected in the first communication channel in the second step while the image data communication using the first communication channel is performed;
• a fourth step of executing channel use confirmation for confirming that the communication channel is usable by continuously executing the detection process for a predetermined time in the second step, the channel use confirmation being executed using a third communication channel, the first communication channel and the third communication channel being communication channels in which detection of the radar is necessary, the third communication channel being different from the first communication channel;
• a fifth step of starting image data communication using a second communication channel within the predetermined period from the point in time at which the radio waves of the radar have been detected, the second communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is not necessary;
• a sixth step of stopping the image data communication using the second communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed;
• and
• a seventh step of starting image data communication using the third communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed.

A non-transitory recording medium saving a program for causing a computer of an image transmission apparatus to execute:

• a first step of transmitting, by a wireless communication unit capable of simultaneously using up to two communication channels, image data by radio waves, the image data being generated in synchronization with an imaging clock and transmitted in the order in which the image data is generated;
• a second step of executing a detection process on radio waves of radar in a communication channel that has a possibility of being used for image data communication in the first step;
• a third step of stopping image data communication using a first communication channel within a predetermined period from a point in time at which the radio waves of the radar have been detected in the first communication channel in the second step while the image data communication using the first communication channel is performed;
• a fourth step of executing channel use confirmation for confirming that the communication channel is usable by continuously executing the detection process for a predetermined time in the second step, the channel use confirmation being executed using a third communication channel, the first communication channel and the third communication channel being communication channels in which detection of the radar is necessary, the third communication channel being different from the first communication channel;
• a fifth step of starting image data communication using a second communication channel within the predetermined period from the point in time at which the radio waves of the radar have been detected, the second communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is not necessary;
• a sixth step of stopping the image data communication using the second communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed;
• and
• a seventh step of starting image data communication using the third communication channel after the channel use confirmation of the third communication channel is completed.