Imaging device, camera-mounted drone, mode control method, and program

1. An imaging device comprising:

a control unit configured to execute switching processing on a communication mode between a picture transfer protocol (PTP) mode that is a first communication mode according to a PTP, and a mass storage class (MSC) mode that is a second communication mode according to an MSC, wherein

the control unit

verifies a communication status in the MSC mode, and

executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where it is determined that a mode switching condition that is pre-defined is satisfied,

wherein

the mode switching condition is a movement confirmation that a pre-defined movement indicating start of image capturing has been detected, and

the control unit executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the movement of the imaging device confirmation is performed.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the mode switching condition is a communication status confirmation that communication processing by the MSC mode has not been executed for a specified time (Tth 1 ) or longer after switching from the PTP mode to the MSC mode, and

the control unit executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the communication status confirmation is performed.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the mode switching condition is a communication status confirmation that communication processing by the MSC mode has not been executed for a specified time (Tth 2 ) or longer after most recent communication in the MSC mode, and

the control unit executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the communication status confirmation is performed.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the control unit executes the movement confirmation by inputting gyroscope detection information of the imaging device.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the PTP mode is an image capture mode for executing image capturing by inputting an imaging control signal according to a PTP protocol, from a host device connected with the imaging device, and

the MSC mode is an image transfer mode in which the host device accesses a storage unit of the imaging device to acquire a captured image.

6. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the imaging device is a component of a camera-mounted drone, and

the control unit executes processing for switching communication with a drone-main-body control device from the PTP mode to the MSC mode.

7. The imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein

the imaging device inputs an imaging control command from the drone-main-body control device, to execute image capturing in the PTP mode, and

executes transfer processing on a captured image to the drone-main-body control device in the MSC mode.

8. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the control unit, in a case where it is detected that the mode switching condition is satisfied, stops MSC mode communication with a host device connected via a communication unit, and

performs response transmission of device information indicating that a device is capable of PTP communication in response to reception of a device information acquisition request accompanying PTP connection from the host device.

9. A camera-mounted drone comprising:

a drone-main-body control device configured to execute flight control of a drone and imaging control for a camera connected via a communication unit; and

a camera configured to execute image capturing in response to an input command from the drone-main-body control device, wherein

the camera has a camera control unit configured to execute switching processing on a communication mode between a PTP mode that is a first communication mode according to a picture transfer protocol (PTP), and an MSC mode that is a second communication mode according to a mass storage class (MSC), and

the camera control unit verifies a communication status in the MSC mode, and

executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where it is determined that a mode switching condition that is pre-defined is satisfied,

wherein

the mode switching condition is a movement confirmation that a pre-defined movement of the camera indicating start of image capturing has been detected, and

the camera control unit executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the movement confirmation is performed.

10. The camera-mounted drone according to claim 9 , wherein

the mode switching condition is a communication status confirmation that communication processing by the MSC mode has not been executed for a specified time (Tth 1 ) or longer after switching from the PTP mode to the MSC mode, and

the camera control unit executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the communication status confirmation is performed.

11. The camera-mounted drone according to claim 9 , wherein

the mode switching condition is a communication status confirmation that communication processing by the MSC mode has not been executed for a specified time (Tth 2 ) or longer after most recent communication in the MSC mode, and

the camera control unit executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the communication status confirmation is performed.

12. The camera-mounted drone according to claim 9 , wherein

the drone-main-body control device executes the movement confirmation by inputting gyroscope detection information of the camera.

13. The camera-mounted drone according to claim 9 , wherein the PTP mode is an image capture mode for executing image capturing by inputting an imaging control signal according to a PTP protocol, from a host device connected with the camera, and

the MSC mode is an image transfer mode in which the host device accesses a storage unit of the camera to acquire a captured image.

14. A mode control method to be executed in an imaging device, the method comprising:

verifying, with a control unit, a communication status in a mass storage class (MSC) mode; and

executing, with the control unit, switching processing from the MSC mode to a picture transfer protocol (PTP) mode in a case where it is determined that a pre-defined mode switching condition is satisfied,

wherein

the pre-defined mode switching condition is a movement confirmation that a pre-defined movement of the imaging device indicating start of image capturing has been detected, and

the control unit executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the movement confirmation is performed.

15. The mode control method according to claim 14 , wherein

the pre-defined mode switching condition is a communication status confirmation that communication processing by the MSC mode has not been executed for a specified time (Tth 1 ) or longer after switching from the PTP mode to the MSC mode, and

the control unit executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the communication status confirmation is performed.

16. The mode control method according to claim 14 , wherein

the pre-defined mode switching condition is a communication status confirmation that communication processing by the MSC mode has not been executed for a specified time (Tth 2 ) or longer after most recent communication in the MSC mode, and

the control unit executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the communication status confirmation is performed.

17. A mode control method to be executed in a camera-mounted drone,

the method comprising:

executing, with a drone-main-body control device, flight control of a drone and imaging control for a camera connected via a communication unit; and

executing, with the drone-main-body control device, image capturing in response the camera, wherein

the camera verifies a communication status in a mass storage class (MSC) mode,

executes switching processing from the MSC mode to a picture transfer protocol (PTP) mode in a case where it is determined that a pre-defined mode switching condition is satisfied,

the pre-defined mode switching condition is a movement confirmation that a pre-defined movement of the camera indicating start of image capturing has been detected, and

the camera executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the movement confirmation is performed.

18. The mode control method according to claim 17 , wherein

the pre-defined mode switching condition is a communication status confirmation that communication processing by the MSC mode has not been executed for a specified time (Tth 1 ) or longer after switching from the PTP mode to the MSC mode, and

the drone-main-body control device executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the communication status confirmation is performed.

19. The mode control method according to claim 17 , wherein

the pre-defined mode switching condition is a communication status confirmation that communication processing by the MSC mode has not been executed for a specified time (Tth 2 ) or longer after most recent communication in the MSC mode, and

the drone-main-body control device executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the communication status confirmation is performed.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a program that, when executed by an electronic processor, causes the electronic processor to perform a set of operations comprising:

verifying a communication status in a mass storage class (MSC) mode; and

switching processing from the MSC mode to a picture transfer protocol (PTP) mode in a case where it is determined that a pre-defined mode switching condition is satisfied,

wherein

the pre-defined mode switching condition is movement confirmation that a pre-defined movement of an imaging device indicating start of image capturing has been detected, and

the electronic processor executes switching processing from the MSC mode to the PTP mode in a case where the movement confirmation is performed.