Data transmission system and apparatus for copying or backup

A control method for an information processing apparatus which includes communication means for communicating with an image sensing apparatus, acquires a data file stored/held in the image sensing apparatus, and writes the data file in a predetermined writable storage medium, characterized by comprising:

• a copying initialization step of transmitting a status command indicating that copying can be performed to the image sensing apparatus when a communicable state with the image sensing apparatus is established through the communication means and the writable storage medium is set;
• and
• a copying intermediate processing step of transmitting a progress of copying as a status command every time a response command is received from the image sensing apparatus after the status command is transmitted in the copying initialization step,
• the copying intermediate processing step comprising
• a copying step of, when the response command includes information indicating that a predetermined copy button which the image sensing means includes is pressed, regarding the image sensing apparatus as a mass storage device, reading out all data files in the mass storage device, and starting write of the data files in the writable storage medium,
• a step of transmitting a status command indicating that transfer is being performed to the image sensing means with respect to a response command received during copying processing in the copying step, and
• a step of transmitting a status command indicating completion of copying to the image sensing apparatus with respect to a response command received after completion of copying processing in the copying step.

A computer program for an information processing apparatus which includes communication means for communicating with an image sensing apparatus, acquires a data file stored/held in the image sensing apparatus, and writes the data file in a predetermined writable storage medium, characterized by functioning as:

• first determination means for determining whether a communicable state with the image sensing apparatus is established through the communication means;
• second determination means for determining whether the writable storage medium is set;
• copying initialization means for transmitting a status command indicating that copying can be performed to the image sensing apparatus when both the first determination means and the second determination means determine affirmation;
• and
• copying intermediate processing means for transmitting a progress of copying as a status command every time a response command is received from the image sensing apparatus after the status command is transmitted by the copying initialization means,
• the copying intermediate processing means comprising
• copying means for, when the response command includes information indicating that a predetermined copy button which the image sensing means includes is pressed, regarding the image sensing apparatus as a mass storage device, reading out all data files in the mass storage device, and starting write of the data files in the writable storage medium,
• means for transmitting a status command indicating that transfer is being performed to the image sensing means with respect to a response command received during copying processing by the copying means, and
• means for transmitting a status command indicating completion of copying to the image sensing apparatus with respect to a response command received after completion of copying processing by the copying means.

An image sensing apparatus which includes image sensing means, storage means for storing a data file obtained by image sensing, communication means for communicating with an external device, an instruction unit which instructs a start of copying, and a display unit which displays a copying state, characterized by comprising:

• function shifting means for causing said storage means to function as a mass storage class device for the external device when communication with the external device can be performed through said communication means;
• response data transmission means for generating and transmitting a state of the image sensing apparatus as response data upon reception of a status command from the external device through said communication means;
• and
• display control means for controlling a display state of said display unit in accordance with the status command,
• wherein said response data transmission means generates and transmits response data indicating that said instruction unit is designated, when a copying instruction is issued by said instruction unit while a status command from the external device indicates that copying can be performed.

A control method for an image sensing apparatus which includes image sensing means, storage means for storing a data file obtained by image sensing, communication means for communicating with an external device, an instruction unit which instructs a start of copying, and a display unit which displays a copying state, characterized by comprising:

• a function shifting step of causing the storage means to function as a mass storage class device for the external device when communication with the external device can be performed through the communication means;
• a response data transmission step of generating and transmitting a state of the image sensing apparatus as response data upon reception of a status command from the external device through the communication means;
• and
• a display control step of controlling a display state of the display unit in accordance with the status command,
• wherein in the response data transmission step, response data indicating that the instruction unit is designated is generated and transmitted, when a copying instruction is issued by the instruction unit, while a status command from the external device indicates that copying can be performed.

A data transmission system comprising an image sensing apparatus and an information processing apparatus which reads out a data file stored/held in said image sensing apparatus and copies the data file in a predetermined storage medium, characterized in that

• said information processing apparatus includes
• copying initialization means for transmitting a status command indicating that copying can be performed to the image sensing apparatus when a communicable state with the image sensing apparatus is established through said communication means and the writable storage medium is set, and
• copying intermediate processing means for transmitting a progress of copying as a status command every time a response command is received from the image sensing apparatus after the status command is transmitted by said copying initialization means,
• said copying intermediate processing means includes
• copying means for, when the response command includes information indicating that a predetermined copy button which said image sensing means includes is pressed, regarding the image sensing apparatus as a mass storage device, reading out all data files in the mass storage device, and starting write of the data files in the writable storage medium,
• means for transmitting a status command indicating that transfer is being performed to said image sensing means with respect to a response command received during copying processing by said copying means, and
• means for transmitting a status command indicating completion of copying to the image sensing apparatus with respect to a response command received after completion of copying processing by said copying means,
• said image sensing apparatus includes image sensing means, storage means for storing a data file obtained by image sensing, an instruction unit which instructs a start of copying, and a display unit which displays a copying state, and further includes
• function shifting means for causing said storage means to function as a mass storage class device for said information processing apparatus when communication with the external device can be performed through said communication means;
• response data transmission means for generating and transmitting a state of the image sensing apparatus as response data upon reception of a status command from said information processing apparatus through said communication means, and
• display control means for controlling a display state of said display unit in accordance with the status command, and
• said response data transmission means generates and transmits response data indicating that said instruction unit is designated, when a copying instruction is issued by said instruction unit while a status command from said information processing apparatus indicates that copying can be performed.

An information playing back apparatus which can connect to an information processing apparatus through a communication line, characterized by comprising:

• reception means for receiving a status command from the information processing apparatus;
• notification means for performing predetermined notification in accordance with reception of a status command by said reception means, which indicates that copying can be performed;
• first transmission means for, when a user performs operation for transmitting data to be recorded on a recording medium in the information playing back apparatus to the information processing apparatus after the predetermined notification is performed by said notification means, transmitting a command indicating a content of the operation to the information processing apparatus;
• second transmission means for transmitting data to be recorded on the recording medium to the information processing apparatus in accordance with reception of a status command by said reception means, which is issued by the information processing apparatus in response to the command indicating the content of the operation and instructs readout of data to be recorded on the recording medium;
• and
• changing means for changing a content of notification by said notification means in accordance with reception of a status command indicating completion of recording by said reception means.

A control method for an information playing back apparatus which can connect to an information processing apparatus through a communication line, characterized by comprising:

• a notification step of performing predetermined notification in accordance with reception of a status command indicating that copying can be performed from the information processing apparatus;
• a first transmission step of, when a user performs operation for transmitting data to be recorded on a recording medium in the information playing back apparatus to the information processing apparatus after the predetermined notification is performed, transmitting a command indicating a content of the operation to the information processing apparatus;
• a second transmission step of transmitting data to be recorded on the recording medium to the information processing apparatus in accordance with reception of a status command which is issued by the information processing apparatus in response to the command indicating the content of the operation and instructs readout of data to be recorded on the recording medium;
• and
• a notification content changing step of changing the predetermined notification in accordance with reception of a status command indicating completion of recording from the information processing apparatus.