JP2009010670A - Command processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a command processor that allows simple setting of a protocol suitable for a protocol adopted by an external controller. <P>SOLUTION: An RS485 driver 22j executes communication processing according to a valid protocol in-between an external controller operated by an operator. A main microcomputer 22h executes processing according to a command received from the external controller through the RS485 driver 22j. An I/O microcomputer 22h selects each of a plurality of protocols in time-division mode when predetermined conditions are satisfied. Identification information for identifying the selected protocol is outputted toward the operator by the I/O microcomputer 22h. The I/O microcomputer 22h receives signals corresponding to operations by the operator from the external controller. The I/O microcomputer 22h validates a protocol corresponding to identification information outputted toward the operator at the time when receiving signals corresponding to operations by the operator in order to use it for communication processing in-between the external controller. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a command processing device, and more particularly to a command processing device that is applied to a surveillance camera and executes processing according to a command transmitted from an external controller.

An example of this type of device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. According to this background art, a plurality of remote heads are connected to the operation unit, and each remote head is remotely controlled by the operation unit. As a protocol for data communication, TCP / IP or a protocol conforming thereto is adopted.
JP 2001-313929 A [H04N 7/18, H04B 3/54, H04N 5/222, 5/232]

  However, when a remote head that is not assumed by the operation unit (for example, a remote head made by a different manufacturer) is connected to the operation unit, a troublesome work for adapting the protocol of the remote head to the operation unit is required. Patent Document 1 does not disclose any measures against such a problem.

  Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a command processing apparatus that can easily set a protocol that conforms to a protocol adopted by an external controller.

  A command processing device according to the first aspect of the present invention (22: reference numeral corresponding to the embodiment; hereinafter the same) is a communication means for executing communication processing according to an effective protocol with an external controller (14) operated by an operator. (22j), processing means (22h) for executing processing according to the command received from the external controller through the communication means, and each of M (M: an integer of 2 or more) protocols in a time-sharing manner when the predetermined condition is satisfied Selection means for selection (S31, S39), output means for outputting identification information for identifying the protocol selected by the selection means to the operator (S33), accepting a signal corresponding to the operation of the operator from an external controller The protocol corresponding to the identification information output by the output means at the reception time by the means (S35) and the reception means is enabled for the communication processing with the external controller. Enabling provided with a means (S49).

  The communication means executes communication processing according to an effective protocol with an external controller operated by an operator. The processing according to the command received from the external controller through the communication means is executed by the processing means. The selection means selects each of M (M: an integer of 2 or more) protocols in a time-sharing manner when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The identification information for identifying the protocol selected by the selection unit is output to the operator by the output unit. The accepting unit accepts a signal corresponding to the operation of the operator from the external controller. The validation means validates the protocol corresponding to the identification information output by the output means at the reception time by the reception means for communication processing with the external controller.

  Therefore, the protocol corresponding to the identification information output toward the operator is changed in a time division manner. When the operator operates the external controller while the identification information for identifying the desired protocol is output, the desired protocol is validated for communication processing with the external controller. As a result, a protocol that conforms to the protocol adopted by the controller can be easily set in the command processing device.

  The command processing device according to the invention of claim 2 is dependent on claim 1, and further comprises a first switch (DIP-SW1) for designating any one of N (N: an integer of 2 or more) protocols, The N protocols include a specific protocol that is one of the M protocols, and the predetermined condition includes a protocol condition that the first switch specifies a specific protocol.

  The command processing device according to the invention of claim 3 is dependent on claim 2 and further includes a second switch (DIP-SW2) for designating a self address, and the default condition is that the self address designated by the second switch is a specific value. It further includes an address condition that indicates.

  A command processing device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is dependent on any one of the first to third aspects, and the reception unit receives a signal through the communication unit.

  The protocol setting program according to the invention of claim 5 includes a communication means (22j) for executing communication processing according to an effective protocol with an external controller (14) operated by an operator, and a command received from the external controller through the communication means. Selection step of selecting each of M (M: integer greater than or equal to 2) protocols in a time-sharing manner when a predetermined condition is satisfied by a command processing device (22) comprising processing means (22h) for executing processing according to (S31, S39), an output step (S33) for outputting identification information for identifying the protocol selected in the selection step to the operator, and a reception step for receiving a signal corresponding to the operation of the operator from the external controller (S35) And the protocol corresponding to the identification information output by the output step at the reception time by the reception step with the external controller For performing the activation step (S49) to enable for the communication processing, a protocol setting program.

  The protocol setting method according to the invention of claim 6 includes a communication means (22j) for executing communication processing according to an effective protocol with an external controller (14) operated by an operator, and a command received from the external controller through the communication means. A protocol setting method executed by a command processing device (22) having processing means (22h) for executing processing according to the above, each of M (M: integer greater than or equal to 2) protocols when a predetermined condition is satisfied Selecting step (S31, S39) in a time-sharing manner, an output step (S33) for outputting identification information for identifying the protocol selected in the selection step to the operator, and a signal corresponding to the operation of the operator The reception step (S35) received from the external controller and the identification information output by the output step at the reception time by the reception step. Comprising Enabling step (S49) to enable for communication processing protocol with an external controller.

  According to the present invention, the protocol corresponding to the identification information output to the operator is changed in a time division manner. When the operator operates the external controller while the identification information for identifying the desired protocol is output, the desired protocol is validated for communication processing with the external controller. As a result, a protocol that conforms to the protocol adopted by the controller can be easily set in the command processing device.

  The above object, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a monitoring camera system 10 of this embodiment includes a video display device 12 and an external controller 14, and dome type monitoring cameras 16, 18, 20 and 22. The video display device 12 is connected to the monitoring cameras 16 to 22 by video cables V1 to V4, and the external controller 14 is connected to the monitoring cameras 16 to 22 by RS485 cable CBL. Monitoring camera 16 corresponds to channel CH1, monitoring camera 18 corresponds to channel CH2, monitoring camera 20 corresponds to channel CH3, and monitoring camera 22 corresponds to channel CH4.

  When the operator operates a key input device 14a provided in the external controller 14 to input a desired surveillance camera address and a desired command, the CPU 14 transmits a code describing the input address and command to RS485. Command the driver 14c. The code is transmitted to the surveillance cameras 16 to 22 through the RS485 cable CBL. Each of the monitoring cameras 16 to 22 performs an operation according to the command described in the received code when the address described in the received code matches the self address.

  If the desired monitoring camera is the monitoring camera 20 and the desired command is a tilt command, the orientation of the monitoring camera 20 in the vertical direction is changed. If the desired surveillance camera is the surveillance camera 18 and the desired command is a zoom command, the zoom magnification of the surveillance camera 18 is changed.

  The monitoring video signals output from the monitoring cameras 16 to 22 are given to the video display device 12 via the video cables V1 to V4, and the 4-channel monitoring video is multi-displayed on the monitor screen. While the monitoring cameras 16 to 22 are arranged at a position far from the external controller 14, the video display device 12 is arranged in the vicinity of the external controller 14. Therefore, the operator of the external controller 14 operates the key input device 14a while watching the monitoring video output from the video display device 12.

  The surveillance camera 16 is configured as shown in FIG. The video cable V1 is connected to the terminal 16m, and the RS485 cable CBL is connected to the terminal 16k. The I / O unit 16e is housed in a pedestal 16b, and the camera unit 16c and the main board 16d are housed in a dome-shaped case 16a. The camera unit 16c periodically creates a video signal representing a surveillance area, that is, a surveillance video signal, and applies the created surveillance video signal to the terminal 16m.

  The code given to the terminal 16k via the RS485 cable CBL is input to the I / O microcomputer 16i via the RS485 driver 16j. When the address described in the input code matches the self address, the I / O microcomputer 16i requests the main microcomputer 16h to execute processing according to the command described in the input code. The main microcomputer 16h executes the requested process by controlling itself or the camera microcomputer 16f. If the command described in the input code is a tilt command, the vertical direction of the camera unit 16c is changed by driving a tilt motor (not shown). If the command described in the input code is a zoom command, the zoom magnification is changed by moving a zoom lens (not shown).

  The monitoring camera 16 and the external controller 14 are manufactured by the same manufacturer (for example, manufactured by Company A), and the I / O microcomputer 16i executes communication processing with the external controller 14 according to a protocol according to the standard of Company A. A communication control program conforming to the company A protocol is stored in the flash memory 16g and executed by the I / O microcomputer 16i.

  The monitoring cameras 18 and 20 are also manufactured by Company A and have the same configuration as the monitoring camera 16. For this reason, the description regarding the structure of the monitoring cameras 18 and 20 is abbreviate | omitted.

  The surveillance camera 22 is manufactured by another manufacturer (manufactured by Company D) and is configured as shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 3, since the surveillance camera 22 is almost the same as the surveillance camera 16, the same alphabet is used for the same configuration (for example, 22j is used for the configuration corresponding to 16j), and a redundant description is given. Omitted.

  As a difference from the monitoring camera 16, DIP-SW1 and DIP-SW2 and a COAX driver 22n connected to the terminal 22m are added to the I / O unit 22e.

  Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, DIP-SW1 is a 6-bit switch, and DIP-SW2 is an 8-bit switch. The protocol is specified using the third and fourth bits of DIP-SW1. The address (self address) of the monitoring camera 22 is designated in the range of “0” to “255” using the DIP-SW2.

  When the third bit of DIP-SW1 is set to “1”, “COAX” which is a protocol using the terminal 22m and the COAX driver 22n is designated. When the third and fourth bits of DIP-SW1 are set to “0” and “1”, respectively, “protocol α” according to the standard of company D is specified out of the protocols using terminal 22k and RS485 driver 22j. The When both the third bit and the fourth bit of DIP-SW1 are set to “0”, “protocol β” according to the standard of Company D is specified among protocols using the terminal 22k and the RS485 driver 22j.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the flash memory 22g stores three communication control programs that respectively conform to “COAX”, “protocol α”, and “protocol β”. The flash memory 22g additionally stores three communication control programs that respectively conform to the A company protocol, the B company protocol, and the C company protocol. Further, a table TBL for managing the protocols of Company A to Company C and the protocol β of Company D is prepared in the flash memory 22g.

  The table TBL is configured as shown in FIG. According to FIG. 5, the protocol information of company A is described in the column of index number “0”, and the protocol information of company B is described in the column of index number “1”. Further, the protocol information of company C is described in the column of index number “2”, and the protocol information of company D (information of protocol β) is described in the column of index number “3”.

  When the monitoring camera 22 is turned on while the monitoring camera 22 is connected to the external controller 14 via the RS485 cable CBL, the states of the DIP-SW1 and DIP-SW2 are referred to. If the third and fourth bits of DIP-SW1 are set to “0” and “1”, respectively, and the address set by DIP-SW2 indicates “255”, the key input device by the operator The following protocol selection process is executed on condition that some code based on the operation 14a is input through the RS485 cable CBL.

  First, the index numbers “0” to “3” of the table TBL are selected every 5 seconds in a time division manner. A character signal indicating a protocol assigned to the selected index number is superimposed on the monitoring video signal created by the camera unit 22c. As a result, protocol information corresponding to the superimposed character signal is output from the video display device 12 in the manner shown in FIG. 6 (FIG. 6 shows a display example when the index number “0” is selected).

  When any code based on the operation of the key input device 14a by the operator is input again through the RS485 cable CBL, the protocol selected at this time is adopted (validated) for communication processing with the external controller 14. . Since the external controller 14 is manufactured by Company A, when the operator operates the key input device 14a when the protocol information shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, a protocol suitable for the external controller 14 is validated.

  When the surveillance camera 22 is connected to another external controller (not shown) that adopts “COAX”, the power of the surveillance camera 22 is turned on with the third bit of the DIP-SW1 set to “1”. You just have to put it in.

  When the surveillance camera 22 is connected to another external controller (not shown) that adopts the “protocol α”, the third and fourth bits of the DIP-SW1 are set to “0” and “1”, respectively. The monitoring camera 22 may be turned on in the set state.

  Furthermore, when the surveillance camera 22 is connected to another external controller (not shown) that adopts the “protocol β”, both the third and fourth bits of the DIP-SW1 are set to “0”. In this state, the monitoring camera 22 may be turned on. “Protocol β” assumes addressing in the range of “0” to “127”, and the address of the monitoring camera 22 is determined with reference to the first to seventh bits of DIP-SW2.

  The I / O microcomputer 22i executes the protocol setting task shown in FIGS. 7 to 8 in response to power-on. A control program corresponding to this task is stored in the flash memory 22g. At the start of this task, a protocol setting mode, which will be described later, is turned off.

  First, the setting of the third bit of DIP-SW1 is determined in step S1, and the setting of the fourth bit of DIP-SW2 is determined in step S3. If the third bit of DIP-SW1 indicates “1”, “COAX” is adopted for communication processing in step S3. If the third and fourth bits of DIP-SW1 indicate “0” and “1”, respectively, “protocol α” is adopted for communication processing in step S7. When the process of step S3 or S7 is completed, the protocol setting task is terminated.

  If both the third and fourth bits of DIP-SW1 indicate “0”, the address value designated by DIP-SW2 is determined in step S9. If the designated address indicates a numerical value different from “255”, the process proceeds from step S9 to step S19, and “protocol β” is employed for communication processing. When the process of step S19 is completed, the protocol setting task is terminated. On the other hand, if the designated address indicates “255”, the process proceeds from step S9 to step S11 to determine whether or not any code (operation signal) has been received from the RS485 driver 16k.

  If “NO” here, the process proceeds to a step S15 as it is, whereas if “YES”, the protocol setting mode is set to an ON state in a step S13, and then, the process proceeds to a step S15. In step S15, it is determined whether or not the initial operation of the camera unit 22c executed under the control of the main microcomputer 22h is completed. If “NO” here, the process returns to the step S11, while if “YES”, it is determined in a step S17 whether or not the protocol setting mode is in the ON state. If the protocol setting mode is in the OFF state, the protocol setting task is terminated through the process of step S19. If the protocol setting mode is ON, the protocol setting task is terminated after executing the protocol selection process in step S21.

  The protocol selection process in step S21 is executed according to a subroutine shown in FIG. First, in step S31, the variable i is set to “0”. In step S33, a corresponding request is given to the main microcomputer 22h in order to multiplex the character signal representing the protocol assigned to the index number “i” in the table TBL to the monitoring video signal. As a result, the corresponding protocol information is output from the video display device 12 as shown in FIG.

  In step S35, it is determined whether or not any code (operation signal) has been received from the RS485 driver 16k. In step S37, it is determined whether or not 5 seconds have elapsed since the latest processing in step S33. If any code is received before the elapse of 5 seconds, the process proceeds to step S49, and the protocol assigned to the index number “i” is adopted for communication processing. When the process of step S49 is completed, the process returns to the upper layer routine.

  If 5 seconds elapse before receiving any code, the variable i is incremented in step S39, and it is determined in step S41 whether or not the variable i has reached “4”. If “NO” here, the process returns to the step S33 as it is, whereas if “YES”, it is determined in a step S43 whether or not five minutes have elapsed since the process of the step S31. If “NO” here, the variable i is returned to “0” in a step S45 and then returns to the step S33, while if “YES”, the variable i is set to “3” in a step S47 and then the process proceeds to a step S49.

  As can be seen from the above description, the RS485 driver 22j executes communication processing according to the valid protocol with the external controller 14 operated by the operator. Processing according to the command received from the external controller 14 through the RS485 driver 22j is executed by the main microcomputer 22h. When the predetermined condition is satisfied, the I / O microcomputer 22h selects each of M (M: an integer of 2 or more) protocols in a time-sharing manner (S31, S39). Identification information for identifying the selected protocol is output to the operator by the I / O microcomputer 22h (S33). The I / O microcomputer 22h receives a signal corresponding to the operation of the operator from the external controller 14 (S35). The I / O microcomputer 22h validates the protocol corresponding to the identification information output to the operator at the reception time of the signal corresponding to the operation of the operator for the communication processing with the external controller 14 ( S49).

  Therefore, the protocol corresponding to the identification information output toward the operator is changed in a time division manner. When the operator operates the external controller 14 while the identification information for identifying the desired protocol is output, the desired protocol is validated for communication processing with the external controller 14. As a result, a protocol compatible with the protocol adopted by the external controller 14 can be easily set in the monitoring camera 22.

  In this embodiment, a surveillance camera is assumed as the command processing device, but it goes without saying that the surveillance camera is not limited to the surveillance camera as long as it is a device that processes a command given from an external controller.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the surveillance camera applied to the FIG. 1 Example. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of another surveillance camera applied to the FIG. 1 Example. (A) is an illustrative view showing an example of the appearance of the DIP-SW1 applied to the embodiment in FIG. 3, and (B) is an illustrative view showing an example of the appearance of the DIP-SW2 applied to the embodiment in FIG. is there. FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing one example of a table referred to by the embodiment in FIG. 3; It is an illustration figure which shows an example of the OSD image | video displayed on the video display apparatus applied to FIG. 1 Example. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing operation of the I / O microcomputer applied to the embodiment in FIG. 3; FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another portion of the processing operation of the I / O microcomputer applied to the embodiment in FIG. 3;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Surveillance camera system 12 ... Video display apparatus 14 ... External controller 16-22 ... Surveillance camera 22i ... I / O microcomputer 22j ... RS485 driver

Claims (6)

Communication means for executing communication processing according to an effective protocol with an external controller operated by an operator;
Processing means for executing processing according to a command received from the external controller through the communication means;
A selection means for selecting each of M (M: an integer greater than or equal to 2) protocols in a time-sharing manner when a predetermined condition is satisfied;
Output means for outputting identification information for identifying the protocol selected by the selection means to the operator;
Accepting means for accepting a signal corresponding to the operation of the operator from the external controller, and a protocol corresponding to the identification information output by the output means at the acceptance time by the accepting means for communication processing with the external controller A command processing device comprising validation means for validation. A first switch that specifies any one of N (N: an integer greater than or equal to 2) protocols;
The N protocols include a specific protocol that is one of the M protocols;
The command processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes a protocol condition that the first switch specifies the specific protocol. A second switch for designating a self-address;
The command processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition further includes an address condition that a self-address designated by the second switch indicates a specific value.   The command processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit receives the signal through the communication unit. In a command processing apparatus comprising a communication means for executing communication processing according to an effective protocol with an external controller operated by an operator, and a processing means for executing processing according to a command received from the external controller through the communication means,
A selection step of selecting each of M (M: an integer greater than or equal to 2) protocols in a time-sharing manner when a predetermined condition is satisfied;
An output step of outputting identification information for identifying the protocol selected in the selection step to the operator;
A reception step of receiving a signal corresponding to the operation of the operator from the external controller, and a protocol corresponding to the identification information output by the output step at the reception time of the reception step for communication processing with the external controller A protocol setting program for executing an enabling step for enabling. Executed by a command processing device comprising communication means for executing communication processing according to an effective protocol with an external controller operated by an operator, and processing means for executing processing according to a command received from the external controller through the communication means. A protocol setting method,
A selection step of selecting each of M (M: an integer greater than or equal to 2) protocols in a time-sharing manner when a predetermined condition is satisfied;
An output step of outputting identification information for identifying the protocol selected in the selection step to the operator;
A reception step of receiving a signal corresponding to the operation of the operator from the external controller, and a protocol corresponding to the identification information output by the output step at the reception time of the reception step for communication processing with the external controller A protocol setting method comprising an enabling step of enabling.

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