JP2004153346A - Method for setting address in intercommunicating system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a construction work and setting of an IP address efficiently by suppressing the congestion of a network. <P>SOLUTION: A controller 1 of a house information disk A reads a set value from dip switches DS1, DS2 of an operating unit 3 at starting or a resetting, stores the set values as identifying coding (numeric value information) in a storage unit 2, and transforms this 16-bit numeric value information into a self-IP address. Thus, intrinsic numeric value information single-mindedly set to each terminal is transformed to an intrinsic IP address, and set. Consequently, only the intrinsic numeric value may be set to each terminal. The construction work is simplified as compared with the case that both the numeric value information and the IP address are set as in a conventional example described in a patent publication 1. Alternatively, in this embodiment, since an address aligning unit G is not required, the congestion of the network is suppressed, and hence the IP address can be efficiently set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an address setting method for setting an IP address for each terminal in a local communication system for transmitting video and audio multimedia data in packets between the terminals through an IP network constituted by a plurality of terminals installed on the premises. It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, in apartment buildings such as condominiums, it is composed of a lobby intercom and surveillance camera installed at the common entrance, a housing information panel installed at each dwelling unit, and images captured by the surveillance camera and lobby intercom and each housing information panel An in-house communication system (house information panel system) for transmitting multimedia data such as a call voice during a call is provided. As a protocol for such multimedia communication, so-called VoIP (Voice over IP), ITU-T Recommendation H.264 has been adopted. For example, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) standardized by H.323 or IETF is used.
[0003]
Here, H. A conventional private communication system using H.323 will be briefly described. This private communication system includes at least a plurality of terminals to which a unique IP address is set and a gatekeeper device. The gate keeper device uses a certain range on the IP network (for example, a local LAN) as a management area, and identifies all the terminals existing in the management area with the IP address of each terminal and each terminal in addition to the IP address. An address conversion function of storing an identification code for performing a call establishment request function for determining whether or not a call establishment request from any terminal to another terminal can be performed. It provides a band control function for adjusting a band to be used. Here, as the identification code, unique information assigned to each terminal (for example, the room number of the dwelling unit where the house information panel is installed) or the like is used, and includes the IP address and the identification code corresponding to each terminal. The address conversion information is registered in a database provided in the gate keeper. The gate keeper device realizes each of the above functions by mounting a dedicated program on a general-purpose computer. A detailed configuration is well known in the related art, and thus illustration and description thereof are omitted.
[0004]
When communicating between terminals, the calling terminal first prepares a connection with the gatekeeper device to obtain the IP address of the partner terminal and check whether a sufficient bandwidth for communication can be secured. Exchange messages. The gate keeper device converts the identification code of the other terminal specified by the calling terminal by the address conversion function into the IP address of the other terminal with reference to the database, and performs communication between the two terminals by the band control function. To confirm whether a sufficient band for the operation can be secured. Then, if a sufficient band can be secured, that effect and the IP address of the partner terminal are notified to the calling terminal.
[0005]
The calling terminal transmits a call establishment request message to the IP address of the other terminal obtained from the gatekeeper device. In response to the call establishment request message, the admission control function of the gate keeper determines whether or not the call can be established. When the call establishment is approved, the call control message is exchanged between the calling terminal and the partner terminal to establish the call. You.
[0006]
When a call is established, a TCP / IP connection for negotiation is generated between the two terminals, and a message for negotiation is exchanged using this connection, which is necessary for communication such as audio and video coding and transfer methods. What matters. When the negotiation is completed, transmission of audio and video multimedia data (packet transmission) is started between both terminals.
[0007]
In such a private communication system, the IP address of each terminal is set by dip switches DS1 to DS4 provided in each terminal as shown in FIG. 8, or as shown in FIG. When the information panel A) is activated or reset, the information panel A is allocated in response to a request from each terminal by an address allocating device G including a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server.
[0008]
However, in the former address setting method, it is necessary to operate a DIP switch of each terminal to set an IP address, which requires a lot of work, and in the latter address setting method, a large number of terminals assign addresses simultaneously to an address assigning device. When the request is transmitted, there is a possibility that the network becomes congested and communication becomes impossible.
[0009]
On the other hand, conventionally, there has been proposed a method in which terminal-specific information such as an identification code is transmitted to an address assignment device, and the address assignment device sets the IP address of each terminal using the unique information ( Patent Document 1).
[0010]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-156846 A (page 3-4, FIG. 1)
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, although the construction work can be simplified as compared with a method in which an IP address is set to each terminal by operating a dip switch, the address assigning device is not used when starting or resetting. Thus, the point that address allocation requests from a large number of terminals are concentrated and the network is congested has not been improved.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an address setting method in a private communication system capable of simplifying a construction work, and efficiently setting an IP address while suppressing network congestion. It is in.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a private communication system that transmits video and audio multimedia data between the terminals through an IP network composed of a plurality of terminals installed on the premises. An address setting method for setting an IP address in a terminal, wherein unique numerical information uniquely set for each terminal is converted into a unique IP address in each terminal and set.
[0014]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an IP address of all terminals and the numerical information are stored, and an address conversion function for converting the numerical information into an IP address is provided. The private communication system is provided with a gatekeeper device having a reception admission control function for determining whether a call establishment request is permitted or not and a band control function for adjusting a band used by each terminal for communication. Each terminal has its own IP address and the numerical information. When registering in the gate keeper device, the gate keeper device determines whether or not at least one of the IP address and the numerical information overlaps among a plurality of terminals, and reports the determination result. .
[0015]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the gatekeeper device notifies a plurality of terminals determined that at least one of the IP address and the numerical information is duplicated of the determination result, The plurality of terminals that have received the notification report the determination result.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an on-premises communication system for transmitting video and audio multimedia data between said terminals through an IP network constituted by a plurality of terminals installed on the premises. An address setting method for setting an IP address in a terminal, comprising: a private communication system including an address allocating device for allocating an IP address in response to an allocation request from a terminal connected to the IP network, wherein the terminal is uniquely set for each terminal. The waiting time for each terminal is set from unique numerical information, and an assignment request is transmitted to the address assignment device after the waiting time has elapsed since the terminal was started.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a house information panel system will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the house information panel system, and a private communication system that transmits packets of multimedia data using an IP network. In general, the technical idea of the present invention is applicable.
[0018]
(Embodiment 1)
The indoor communication system (house information panel system) of the present embodiment includes a house information panel A installed at each dwelling unit of the apartment house, a lobby intercom B installed at a common entrance of the apartment house, as shown in FIG. A surveillance camera C, which is also installed at the communal entrance and captures images of visitors, and a gatekeeper D are provided as terminals, and these terminals are cascaded via a concentrator (hub E or switching hub F) by a transmission line composed of twisted pair cables. It is configured as a connected star LAN (for example, 10Base-T or 100Base-TX). However, it is also possible to use a bus-type LAN such as HomePNA.
[0019]
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the house information panel A has a control unit 1 which uses a CPU as a main component and performs packet / unpacketization and overall control of multimedia data, and own room number which is unique numerical information. And a storage unit 2 for storing an IP address of the gate keeper device D and various video data (described later) in addition to the IP address and the IP address, and a user operating the terminal to input a room number and other information of a call destination. An operation unit 3, a network interface unit 4 for connecting to a network (LAN) to perform packet transmission, a video input unit 5 having a television camera or the like for inputting a video or the like of a speaker, a liquid crystal display or the like A video output unit 6 having a display device for displaying various images and characters, and converting an analog video signal input from the video input unit 5 into a digital video signal. A video processing unit 7 that converts a digital video signal into an analog video signal and outputs the analog video signal to a video output unit 6, an audio input unit 8 that receives an analog audio signal through a microphone, and an audio output of an analog audio signal through a speaker An audio output unit 9 for converting an analog audio signal input from the audio input unit 8 into a digital audio signal, and converting a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal and outputting the analog audio signal to the audio output unit 9 10 is provided. The lobby intercom B has almost the same configuration as the house information panel A, and the surveillance camera C has almost the same structure as the house information panel A except for the audio input unit 8, the audio output unit 9, and the audio processing unit 10. It has a configuration.
[0020]
On the other hand, the gate keeper device D is realized by mounting a dedicated program on a general-purpose computer, and as shown in FIG. 4, includes a CPU 11 having an address conversion function, an acceptability control function, and a band control function. A storage unit 12 that stores its own IP address and various video data (described later) and has a database in which numerical information (room numbers) of all terminals and IP addresses are associated, and an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. An operation unit 13 having a network interface unit 14 for performing packet transmission by connecting to a network (LAN); an image output unit 15 having a display device such as a liquid crystal display and displaying various images and characters; The digital video signal supplied from the control unit 11 is converted into an analog video signal, And a video processing unit 16 for outputting the force unit 15.
[0021]
Here, the procedure for performing communication between terminals such as the housing information panel A and the lobby intercom B has been described in the prior art, and therefore will be omitted, and the address setting method which is the gist of the present invention, that is, an IP address is set for each terminal A setting method will be described.
[0022]
Taking the house information panel A as an example, dip switches DS1 and DS2 for setting a room number, which is numerical information unique to each house information panel A, as identification codes are provided on the operation unit 3 (FIG. 1 (a)). )reference). These dip switches DS1 and DS2 are manually set at the time of construction. For example, in a house information panel A installed in room 101, as shown in FIG. The switch DS1 is set to “00000001”, and the dip switch DS2 for the lower 8 bits is set to “00000001”.
[0023]
The control unit 1 of the house information panel A reads the set values from the dip switches DS1 and DS2 of the operation unit 3 at the time of starting or resetting, stores the set values in the storage unit 2 as an identification code (numerical information), and stores the 16-bit data. Is converted to its own IP address. Specifically, a private address is used for the IP address used in the private network, and the upper 16 bits are generally fixed to the private address value “192.168.”. By assigning the unique numerical information to the lower 16 bits, a 32-bit IP address can be set (see FIG. 1C). For example, the IP address of the house information panel A installed in room 101 is “192.168.1.1”.
[0024]
By converting the unique numerical information uniquely set for each terminal into a unique IP address at each terminal and setting it, only the unique numerical information needs to be set at each terminal. The construction work can be simplified as compared with the case where both the numerical information and the IP address are set as in the conventional example described in No. 1. Further, in the present embodiment, since the address allocating device G is unnecessary, the IP address can be set efficiently by suppressing network congestion.
[0025]
By the way, when the IP address is set as described above, the terminal transmits its own IP address and numerical information to the gate keeper device D, and the control unit 11 of the gate keeper device D stores all terminal information in the database of the storage unit 12. The IP address and the numerical information are registered in association with each other. However, the same numerical information may be incorrectly set in a plurality of terminals due to a setting error or the like at the time of construction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when registering an IP address or the like from the terminal to the gate key D, The gate keeper device D determines whether at least one of the IP address and the numerical information is duplicated between a plurality of terminals, and notifies the determination result.
[0026]
With reference to FIG. 5, the procedure of the above-described determination and notification will be specifically described. For example, if the same room number (101) is incorrectly set in the two house information panels A1 and A2, the IP address is also set to the same value “192.168.1.1”. become. First, when the house information panel A1 transmits its own numerical information “101” and its IP address “192.168.1.1” to the gate keeper device D, the numerical information and the IP address received by the control unit 11 of the gate keeper device D are transmitted. It is determined whether or not it overlaps with the numerical information and the IP address already registered in the database of the storage unit 12. If there is no overlap between the numerical information and the IP address of the house information panel A1 in the database, the control unit 11 registers the numerical information and the IP address in the database, and returns the determination result to the house information panel A1.
[0027]
Next, when the house information panel A2 transmits its own numerical information “101” and the IP address “192.168.1.1” to the gatekeeper device D, the numerical information and the IP address received by the controller 11 of the gatekeeper device D are also received. At this time, since "101" and "192.168.1.1" have already been registered as the numerical information and the IP address of the house information panel A1, the result of the determination that there is an overlap is obtained. Will be done. When the determination result indicating that there is an overlap is thus obtained, the control unit 11 of the gate keeper apparatus D determines the determination result, for example, a numerical message (room number) and an IP address that are duplicated with a warning message “address duplicate terminal exists”. The address and the address are displayed on the video output unit 15 by the video processing unit 16 based on the character information and the like read from the storage unit 12, and the determination result is transmitted to the overlapping IP address. Then, the two house information panels A1 and A2, to which the same IP address is set, both receive the determination result from the gate keeper device D, and the determination results received by the control unit 1 of both house information panels A1 and A2. For example, character information and the like stored in the storage unit 2 are read out from the warning message “Address is duplicated”, the overlapping numerical information (room number) and the IP address, and the video output unit 7 6 is displayed.
[0028]
As described above, when each terminal registers its own IP address and numerical information in the gate keeper device D, the gate keeper device D determines whether at least one of the IP address and the numerical information is duplicated among a plurality of terminals. By discriminating and discriminating the result of the discrimination, it is possible to detect and correct the duplication of the IP address and the numerical information among a plurality of terminals at an early stage. Further, the gatekeeper device D notifies the plurality of terminals determined that at least one of the IP address and the numerical information is duplicated to the plurality of terminals, and the plurality of terminals receiving the determination result perform the determination. Since the result is reported, the duplication of the IP address and the numerical information can be reported to the worker through the terminal.
[0029]
(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, when the IP address of each terminal is set by the address assignment device G including the DHCP server, the waiting time for each terminal is set from unique numerical information uniquely set for each terminal, It is characterized in that an allocation request is transmitted to the address allocation device G after the waiting time elapses after activation. However, the configuration other than the address assignment device G is the same as that of the first embodiment, so that the illustration and description are omitted.
[0030]
The address allocating apparatus G is realized by mounting software dedicated to a DHCP server on a general-purpose computer. As shown in FIG. 7, a control unit 21 including a CPU for allocating addresses and performing overall control is provided. A storage unit 22 for storing an IP address and an IP address to be assigned to each terminal, an operation unit 23 having an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a network interface unit 24 for connecting to a network (LAN) and transmitting packets. It has.
[0031]
Next, an address setting method according to the present embodiment will be described. For example, two housing information panels A1 and A2 whose room numbers are set to “101” and “201” as shown in FIG. 6 will be described as an example. First, when the system is started, the control units 1 of all the housing information panels A1 and A2 read the set values (room numbers) from the dip switches DS1 and DS2 of the operation unit 3 and store them in the storage unit 2 as numerical information. The product of this numerical information and a constant value (for example, 10 [ms]) is set as the waiting time. For example, 101 × 10 = 1010 [ms] and 201 × 10 = 2010 [ms] are set as the waiting times for the two house information panels A1 and A2, respectively.
[0032]
Therefore, the control unit 1 of one house information panel A1 transmits an IP address assignment request to the address assignment apparatus G after a lapse of its own waiting time (1010 [ms]) from the time of activation. Then, the control unit 21 of the address allocating apparatus G that has received the allocation request selects an appropriate IP address that has not been allocated yet from among the IP addresses stored in the storage unit 22 and returns it to the house information panel A1. Then, the control unit 1 of the house information panel A1 stores the IP address returned from the address allocating device G as its own IP address in the storage unit 2, and the setting of the IP address is completed. Similarly, the control unit 1 of the other house information panel A2 transmits an IP address assignment request to the address assignment device G after a lapse of its own waiting time (2010 [ms]) from the time of activation, and The returned IP address is stored in the storage unit 2 as its own IP address, and the setting of the IP address is completed.
[0033]
In this way, the waiting time is set for each terminal from the unique numerical information uniquely set for each terminal, and the terminal transmits an allocation request to the address allocating device G after the waiting time has elapsed since the terminal was started. Therefore, even when all the terminals are activated at the same time, the timing of transmitting the assignment request from each terminal can be shifted by the waiting time. Therefore, an allocation request is not transmitted from a large number of terminals to the address allocation device G at the same time, and the IP address can be set efficiently while suppressing network congestion.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
The invention according to claim 1 is an address for setting an IP address to each terminal in a private communication system for transmitting video and audio multimedia data between the terminals through an IP network constituted by a plurality of terminals installed on the premises. The setting method is characterized in that unique numeric information uniquely set for each terminal is converted into a unique IP address at each terminal and set, and only unique numeric information is set to each terminal. The construction work can be simplified as compared with a conventional example in which both numerical information and an IP address are set, and an IP address can be set efficiently by suppressing network congestion because an address allocating device is unnecessary.
[0035]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an IP address of all terminals and the numerical information are stored, and an address conversion function for converting the numerical information into an IP address is provided. The private communication system is provided with a gatekeeper device having a reception admission control function for determining whether a call establishment request is permitted or not and a band control function for adjusting a band used by each terminal for communication. Each terminal has its own IP address and the numerical information. When registering in the gate keeper device, characterized in that a plurality of terminals determine whether or not at least one of the IP address or the numerical information is duplicated in the gate keeper device and inform the determination result, It is possible to early detect and correct the occurrence of duplication of IP addresses and numerical information among a plurality of terminals.
[0036]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the gatekeeper device notifies a plurality of terminals determined that at least one of the IP address and the numerical information is duplicated of the determination result, Characteristically, the plurality of terminals that have received the notification report the determination result, and the duplication of the IP address and the numerical information can be reported to the worker or the like through the terminals.
[0037]
The invention according to claim 4 is an address for setting an IP address to each terminal in a local communication system for transmitting video and audio multimedia data between the terminals through an IP network constituted by a plurality of terminals installed on the premises. A setting method, comprising: a private communication system including an address allocating device for allocating an IP address in response to an allocation request from a terminal connected to the IP network, wherein each terminal is configured from unique numerical information uniquely set for each terminal. Setting a waiting time for each terminal, transmitting an assignment request to the address allocating device after the waiting time has elapsed since the terminal started, and setting only unique numerical information to each terminal is sufficient. The construction work can be simplified as compared with the conventional example in which both information and an IP address are set, and all terminals can be simultaneously operated. Efficiently IP address while suppressing network congestion because even when moving from the respective terminals can be shifted when to send an allocation request can be set.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an address setting method according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a private communication system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing terminals of a housing information panel, a lobby intercom, and a surveillance camera in the above.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the gate keeper device in the above.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for determining address duplication in the above.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an address setting method according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an address assignment device in the above.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional address setting method.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another conventional address setting method.
[Explanation of symbols]
A Housing information panel B Lobby intercom C Surveillance camera D Gatekeeper device

Claims (4)

An address setting method for setting an IP address to each terminal in a local communication system for packet-transmitting multimedia data of video and audio between said terminals through an IP network constituted by a plurality of terminals installed on the premises, comprising: An address setting method in a private communication system, wherein unique numerical information uniquely set for each terminal is converted into a unique IP address at each terminal and set. An address conversion function of storing the IP addresses of all the terminals and the numerical information, and converting the numerical information into an IP address; an admission control function for determining whether a call establishment request from any terminal to another terminal is permitted; A gatekeeper device having a band control function of adjusting a band used by each terminal for communication is provided in the private communication system, and when each terminal registers its own IP address and the numerical information in the gatekeeper device, a plurality of terminals communicate with each other. 2. The address setting method in a private communication system according to claim 1, wherein the gate keeper device determines whether at least one of the IP address and the numerical information is duplicated, and notifies a result of the determination. A gatekeeper device notifies the plurality of terminals that have been determined that at least one of the IP address and the numerical information are duplicated from the gatekeeper device and notifies the plurality of terminals of the notification result of the determination result. 3. An address setting method in a private communication system according to claim 2, wherein the notification is performed. An address setting method for setting an IP address for each terminal in a local communication system for packet transmitting video and audio multimedia data between the terminals through an IP network configured by a plurality of terminals installed on the premises, The private communication system is provided with an address assignment device that assigns an IP address in response to an assignment request from a terminal connected to the IP network, and sets a waiting time for each terminal from unique numerical information uniquely set for each terminal. Transmitting an allocation request to an address allocation device after the waiting time has elapsed since the terminal was started up.

Images