JP2001245372A - Remote supervisory system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote supervisory system that can easily change the configuration of a device to be controlled and a supervisory control server to simplify the configuration of the supervisory control server. SOLUTION: An in-premises LAN adopting the TCP/IP interconnects the supervisory control server SA1 and client terminals C1 and C2, an in-device LAN adopting the TCP/IP interconnects the supervisory control server SA1 and devices to be controlled such as a supervisory camera 10 and a video switcher 20 via E/S converters 11 and 21, the supervisory control sever SA1 receives a control instruction from the client terminals C1 and C2 to the devices to be controlled via the in-premises LAN, outputs the control instruction to the E/S converters 11 and 21 corresponding to the devices to be controlled being control objects by this control instruction, and the E/S converters 11 and 21 receiving the instruction convent the control instruction into a control command understood by the devices to be controlled to which the E/S converters 11 and 21 are connected in series and output the command to the devices to be controlled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system for remotely controlling various controlled devices including a monitoring camera through a server machine connected to a network from a client terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, as shown in FIG. 2, a conventional remote surveillance system mainly comprises controlled devices such as a surveillance camera 10, a video switcher (VSW) 20, and an RS-232C. Such as serial connection and DIO
A monitoring and control server SA that receives and controls the status / alarm of the controlled device,
Client terminals C1 and C2, which are connected to this server via a LAN and in which an operator issues a control instruction for the above-mentioned controlled device or requests acquisition of controlled device information, the client terminals C1 and C2 make requests to the controlled device. Can be performed from a remote location.

However, in such a conventional remote monitoring system, since the connection between the client terminal and the monitoring control server is made by an IP (Internet Protocol) connection, the connection destination can be arbitrarily changed and the client terminal can be added or replaced. However, between the monitoring control server and the controlled device, there are many parts where each controlled device depends on the connection port of the monitoring control server SA and the driver software, so that the controlled device can be easily added or replaced. In addition, when a failure occurs in the monitoring control server SA or at the time of maintenance, it is not possible to quickly install a replacement monitoring control server SA.

Further, the monitoring control server SA needs to execute / manage both an IP connection protocol with a client terminal and a unique communication protocol with a controlled device, and has a complicated configuration.

[0005]

In the conventional remote monitoring system, between the monitoring control server and the controlled device, each controlled device largely depends on the connection port of the monitoring control server and the driver software, so that it can be easily controlled. The problem that the configuration of the control device or the monitoring control server cannot be changed, or the monitoring control server executes both the IP connection protocol with the client terminal and the unique communication protocol with the controlled device /
There is a problem that the monitoring and control server needs to be managed and has a complicated configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is possible to easily change the configuration of a controlled device and a monitoring control server, and to simplify the configuration of the monitoring control server. It is intended to provide a simple remote monitoring system.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a remote monitoring system for remotely controlling a controlled device through a server connected to a network from a client terminal. Provided between the server and the controlled device, a first network that relays a control request from the client terminal to the controlled device to the server by a first communication protocol, and is provided by a second communication protocol. ,
The server comprises a second network for relaying a control command to a control device based on a control request received via the first network.

In the remote monitoring system having the above configuration, the server is configured to accommodate the two networks independently of each other, receives a control request for a controlled device from a client terminal through the first network, Control of surveillance cameras and other controlled devices is performed through this network.

Therefore, according to the remote monitoring system having the above configuration, the server has a configuration in which only two networks are accommodated, and a simplified connection port and dedicated driver are not required for each controlled device as in the related art. Configuration, and the controlled equipment can be easily added or replaced.
Even if a server fails, two replacement servers
By connecting between two networks, continuous operation of the system can be performed quickly.

The present invention also provides a remote monitoring system for remotely controlling a controlled device through a server connected to a network from a client terminal, wherein the remote monitoring system is provided between the server and the client terminal. A first network for relaying a control request from the terminal to the controlled device to the server, and a control provided between the server and the controlled device and received by the server via the first network by a second communication protocol A second network for relaying the control command to the control device based on the request, and a control command received from the server by the second communication protocol through the second network and converted into a third communication protocol to be controlled. And a protocol conversion means for outputting to a device.

In the remote monitoring system having the above-described configuration, the server is configured to accommodate two networks independently of each other, and receives a control request for a controlled device from a client terminal through the first network. The request is output to the protocol conversion means via the second network, and the protocol conversion means converts the request input from the server into a control command according to a third communication protocol that can be understood by the controlled device, and outputs the command to monitor the request. It controls controlled devices such as cameras.

Therefore, according to the remote monitoring system having the above configuration, the server has a configuration in which only two networks are accommodated, and a simplified connection port and dedicated driver are not required for each controlled device as in the related art. Configuration, and the controlled equipment can be easily added or replaced.
Even if a server fails, two replacement servers
By connecting between two networks, continuous operation of the system can be performed quickly.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a remote monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. However, in FIG. 1, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 showing the configuration of the conventional remote monitoring system are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The remote monitoring system comprises controlled devices such as a monitoring camera 10 and a video switcher (VSW) 20, E / S converters 11 and 21 as protocol conversion means, a monitoring control server SA1, and client terminals C1 and C2. And

The monitoring control server SA1 is the center of the remote monitoring system, and has client terminals C1 and C1.
2 to control the surveillance camera 10 and the video switcher 20 through the E / S converters 11 and 21.

Each of the client terminals C1 and C2 is a man-machine interface such as a personal computer, for example, and has a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol).
Local LAN using rotocol / Internet Protocol)
Monitoring control server SA1 through (first network)
To be housed.

Then, the client terminals C1 and C2
By an operation of the operator, for example, a control instruction such as a shooting direction and a shooting angle of view of the monitoring camera 10 and a switching control instruction of the video switcher 20 are received, and the received instruction content is transmitted to the monitoring control server SA1 via the private LAN.
Notify.

The surveillance camera 10 is, for example, a CCD (Charge)
An electronic camera using a (Coupled Device) is installed toward the monitoring target area, and a video signal obtained by shooting is output to the video switcher 20.

The monitoring camera 10 has an E / S (to be described later).
It includes a drive mechanism that operates in response to a control signal from the converter 11 and changes a shooting direction by high-speed turning, a zooming mechanism that changes a shooting angle of view, and a processing circuit that corrects a shot video signal.

E / S (Ethernet / Serial) converter 11
Is connected to a monitoring control server SA1 to be described later through an in-device LAN (second network) using TCP / IP, and a control protocol (third protocol)
Is connected to the monitoring camera 10 through a serial connection such as RS-232C.

The E / S converter 11 is connected to the device LA.
An instruction from the surveillance control server SA1 by TCP / IP is received through N, converted into a control command that can be understood by the surveillance camera 10, and output to the surveillance camera 10 through the serial connection.

That is, the E / S converter 11 is connected to the L
Monitoring control server SA1 by TCP / IP via AN
Is converted into the above-mentioned control protocol for controlling the monitoring camera 10.

The video switcher 20 includes the surveillance camera 10
, And video signals from other video switchers and surveillance cameras (not shown).
An input video signal is selectively output to the monitor 30 according to a control signal from the S converter 21.

E / S (Ethernet / Serial) converter 21
Is connected to the monitor control server SA1 through the in-device LAN, and is connected to the video switcher 20 through a serial connection such as RS-232C using a control protocol (third protocol).

The E / S converter 21 is connected to the LA in the device.
An instruction from the supervisory control server SA1 by TCP / IP is received through N, converted into a control command that can be understood by the video switcher 20, and output to the video switcher 20 through the serial connection.

Next, the operation of the remote monitoring system having the above configuration will be described. Here, the monitoring camera 10 and the video switcher 20 are connected through the client terminal C1.
The case where the control is performed will be described as an example. First, when the operator issues an instruction to control the monitoring camera 10 such as changing the shooting direction through the client terminal C1, the local LA between the client terminal C1 and the monitoring control server SA1.
A communication link by TCP / IP through N is established,
Through the communication link, the above instruction is transmitted to the client terminal C.
1 notifies the monitoring control server SA1.

On the other hand, the monitoring control server SA1
When the instruction is received from the client terminal C1 via the local LAN, it is determined that the controlled device to be controlled by the instruction is the monitoring camera 10, and the monitoring camera 10
A communication link by TCP / IP is established between the E / S converter 11 and the corresponding E / S converter 11 and the above instruction is notified to the E / S converter 11 through this communication link.

On the other hand, the E / S converter 11 converts the instruction received from the surveillance control server SA1 through the in-device LAN into a control command that can be understood by the surveillance camera 10, and connects the surveillance camera 10 through a serial connection. Output to

Thus, the surveillance camera 10 drives and controls its own driving mechanism in accordance with the variable shooting direction indicated by the control command input from the E / S converter 11 so that an image can be taken in a direction desired by the operator. .

On the other hand, the operator operates the client terminal C1.
For example, when an instruction to switch a video signal to be output to the monitor 30 is issued, a TCP / IP communication link is established between the client terminal C1 and the monitoring control server SA1 via the private LAN, and the instruction is transmitted through this communication link. Monitoring control server SA from client terminal C1
1 is notified.

On the other hand, the monitoring control server SA1
When the above instruction is received from the client terminal C1 via the local LAN, it is determined that the controlled device to be controlled by this instruction is the video switcher 20, and the E / S converter 21 corresponding to the video switcher 20 is determined. Establishes a communication link by TCP / IP through the in-device LAN, and notifies the E / S converter 21 of the above instruction through this communication link.

On the other hand, the E / S converter 21 converts the above-mentioned instruction received from the monitoring control server SA1 through the in-device LAN into a control command that can be understood by the video switcher 20, and converts the instruction into a video switcher 20 through a serial connection. Output to

As a result, the video switcher 20
The video signal to be output to the monitor 30 is switched according to an instruction to switch the video signal to be output to the monitor 30 indicated by the control command input from the / S converter 21.

As described above, in the remote monitoring system having the above configuration, the monitoring control server SA1 and the client terminal C
E / S converter 1 for performing protocol conversion as well as connecting between LAN 1 and C2 via a private LAN by TCP / IP
Surveillance control server SA1 and surveillance camera 1 via 1, 21
0 and the video switcher 20 are connected via an in-device LAN using TCP / IP.

That is, the monitoring control server SA 1
Two LAs of local LAN and internal LAN by P / IP
By simply providing an interface for accommodating N independently of each other, it is possible to receive control requests for controlled devices from the client terminals C1 and C2 and control the controlled devices such as the monitoring camera 10 and the video switcher 20. it can.

Therefore, according to the remote monitoring system having the above-described configuration, the local LAN and the internal LAN are connected by TCP / IP. A dedicated driver is not required, so that the configuration can be simplified. In addition, a controlled device can be easily added or replaced, and even if a failure occurs in the monitoring control server SA1, a substitute server is connected to the local LAN. By connecting to the in-device LAN, continuous operation of the system can be performed quickly.

The monitoring control server SA1 is connected to the local LAN connected to the client terminals C1 and C2, and the E / S
Since the in-device LAN connected to the controlled device via the converters 11 and 21 is accommodated independently, control instructions are not exchanged on the same LAN, and real-time control of the controlled device is improved. Suitable for maintaining.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the control of the controlled device from the client terminal has been described. However, the controlled device can also report its own status to the client terminal.

In the above-described embodiment, the connection between the E / S converters 11 and 21 and the controlled device has been described as a serial connection. However, various connections such as a contact connection such as DIO (Digital Input Output) are used. The connection using the control protocol may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the controlled device is controlled via the E / S converters 11 and 21. However, if the controlled device 100 can be controlled by IP (see FIG. 1). , E / S converters 11 and 21 are unnecessary, and the monitoring control server SA1 communicates with the controlled device 1 via the device LAN.
00 can be controlled. It goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the server is configured to accommodate the two networks independently of each other, and receives the control request of the controlled device from the client terminal through the first network. Upon reception, control of controlled devices such as surveillance cameras is performed through the second network.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the server has a configuration in which only two networks are accommodated, and has a simplified configuration which does not require a connection port and a dedicated driver for each controlled device as in the related art. In addition to being able to easily add or replace controlled devices, even in the event of a server failure, by connecting a replacement server between the two networks, the system can be continuously operated quickly. A possible remote monitoring system can be provided.

In the present invention, the server is configured to accommodate two networks independently of each other,
A control request for a controlled device is received from a client terminal through the network of (1), and the control request is output to the protocol conversion unit through the second network, and the protocol conversion unit can understand the request input from the server by the controlled device. The control command is converted into a control command according to a third communication protocol and output to control a controlled device such as a monitoring camera.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the server is configured to accommodate only two networks, and has a simplified configuration that does not require a connection port and a dedicated driver for each controlled device as in the related art. In addition to being able to easily add or replace controlled devices, even in the event of a server failure, by connecting a replacement server between the two networks, the system can be continuously operated quickly. A possible remote monitoring system can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a remote monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional remote monitoring system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 surveillance camera 11, 21 E / S converter 20 video switcher (VSW) 30 monitor 100 controlled device C1, C2 client terminal SA monitoring control server

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/232 H04N 7/18 E 7/18 H04L 11/00 310Z (72) Inventor Shuichi Yamaguchi Hino, Tokyo 3-1, 1-1 Asahigaoka, Toshiba Hino Plant Toshiba Corporation (72) Inventor Naoko Sato 3-1, 1-1 Asahigaoka, Asanogaoka, Hino City, Tokyo Inside 72 Company Toshiba Hino Plant, Inventor Kenji Kiminoyama Hino Tokyo 3-1, 1-1 Asahigaoka, Toshiba Hino Plant (72) Inventor Masayuki Taguchi 1-1-1, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Inside the head office of Toshiba Corporation (72) Inventor Masaki Yamamoto Hino, Tokyo (72) Inventor Mineo Kobayashi 3-chome Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo No. 1 Toshiba Communication Systems Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiko Happa 1-1-1, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 5B089 GA11 GA21 HA06 HB02 JB10 KA09 KB04 KF05 KH01 5C022 AA03 AA05 AB65 AC00 AC01 AC75 CA08 5C054 CF05 CG05 CH02 DA09 EA03 FE21 FF03 HA02 HA19 5K033 AA04 BA08 CB01 CB02 CB08 CB14 DA01 DB18 DB20 EA07 5K048 AA06 AA08 BA10 BA21 DC04 EA14 GB05 EB02 EB02 EB02

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A remote monitoring system for remotely controlling a controlled device via a server connected to a network from a client terminal, wherein the remote monitoring system is provided between the server and the client terminal.
A first network for relaying a control request from the client terminal to the controlled device to the server by a first communication protocol, and a first network provided between the server and the controlled device, A second network for relaying a control command to the control device based on the control request received by the server via the first network. 2. A remote monitoring system for remotely controlling a controlled device via a server connected to a network from a client terminal, wherein the remote monitoring system is provided between the server and the client terminal.
A first network for relaying a control request from the client terminal to the controlled device to the server by a first communication protocol, and a first network provided between the server and the controlled device, A second network that relays a control command to the control device based on a control request received by the server via the first network; and the server by the second communication protocol via the second network. And a protocol conversion means for converting a control command received from the control device into a third communication protocol and outputting the third communication protocol to the controlled device. 3. The first communication protocol and the second communication protocol are both IP (Internet Protocol).
The remote monitoring system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein