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

An image transmission apparatus, comprising:

• a transmission-side wireless communication unit configured to transmit 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 radar detection unit 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 data amount reduction unit configured to reduce the amount of image data,
• wherein the transmission-side wireless communication unit stops image data communication using a first communication channel within a first time from a first point in time at which the radar detection unit detects the radio waves of the radar in the first communication channel while the image data communication using the first communication channel is performed, the first communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is necessary,
• wherein the transmission-side wireless communication unit starts image data communication using a second communication channel within the first time from the first point in time, the second communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is not necessary,
• wherein the data amount reduction unit reduces the amount of image data so that a total communication time of the image data to be communicated by the transmission-side wireless communication unit from the first point in time to a second point in time at which the image data communication using the first communication channel is stopped falls within a second time, and
• wherein the transmission-side wireless communication unit performs the image data communication in which the amount of data is reduced by the data amount reduction unit using the first communication channel from the first point in time to the second point in time.

An image transmission method, comprising:

• a first step of transmitting 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 first time from a first point in time at which the radio waves of the radar are detected in the first communication channel in the second step while the image data communication using the first communication channel is performed, the first communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is necessary;
• a fourth step of starting image data communication using a second communication channel within the first time from the first point in time, the second communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is not necessary;
• a fifth step of reducing the amount of image data so that a total communication time of the image data to be communicated from the first point in time to a second point in time at which the image data communication using the first communication channel is stopped falls within a second time;
• and
• a sixth step of performing the image data communication in which the amount of data is reduced in the fifth step using the first communication channel from the first point in time to the second point in time.

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

• a first step of transmitting 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 first time from a first point in time at which the radio waves of the radar are detected in the first communication channel in the second step while the image data communication using the first communication channel is performed, the first communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is necessary;
• a fourth step of starting image data communication using a second communication channel within the first time from the first point in time, the second communication channel being a communication channel in which detection of the radar is not necessary;
• a fifth step of reducing the amount of image data so that a total communication time of the image data to be communicated from the first point in time to a second point in time at which the image data communication using the first communication channel is stopped falls within a second time;
• and
• a sixth step of performing the image data communication in which the amount of data is reduced in the fifth step using the first communication channel from the first point in time to the second point in time.