JP4966211B2 - Multiplexing control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a multiplexing control system applied to control, for example, a program automatic transmission apparatus.

  In recent years, many of the old analog broadcasting facilities have been digitized, and this trend is certain to continue to develop. Against this background, facilities for controlling various broadcasting devices have also been digitized. This type of automatic program transmission control equipment is formed by connecting controlled devices such as a recorder that stores video materials and a switcher that switches a plurality of videos via a LAN (Local Area Network). For such applications, ARCNET (Attached Resource Computer Network), which has strength in real-time control, is generally used (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Usually, the automatic program transmission control facility is provided with a plurality of systems in a hot standby system to ensure redundancy. When the standby system is shifted to the maintenance mode, it can be used for maintenance work such as operation simulation. That is, it is possible to connect the test system to the standby system and perform the operation simulation while operating the current system.

However, since the controlled devices are shared by each system, the standby system and the active system share the same ARCNET. Therefore, when performing maintenance work, it is necessary to consider so as not to cause any trouble in the operation state of the working system.
The simplest solution is to physically separate the standby ARCNET with a switch or the like. However, as soon as the network topology changes, the configuration data reconstruction process at the physical layer level is activated in all of the active LAN, the standby LAN, and the controlled device LAN. This is unavoidable in a network that employs a token passing system such as ARCNET, which may cause the communication function to temporarily stop and cause an operation failure.
JP 2003-318927 A JP 2003-338824 A

As described above, in the existing multiplexed control system, since the data reconstruction process involving the active LAN and the controlled device LAN occurs along with the disconnection of the standby LAN, the real-time property of the control is impaired, As a result, there is a risk of operation failure.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a multiplexing control system in which disconnection of a standby system does not affect real-time control of an active system.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an active control system in which active control devices are connected via a first network and a standby system in which standby control devices are connected via a second network. A control system, a controlled system in which controlled devices that can be controlled from both the active control device and the standby control device are connected via a third network, and the first network as the third network. A working channel to be connected; a standby channel for connecting the second network to the third network; a first switching unit for physically connecting or disconnecting the working channel; and Between the active control system and the controlled system that are disposed opposite to each other with the second open / close section connected to or disconnected from the first open / close section A pair of first relay devices that relay transfer of control information, and a pair that relays control information between the standby control system and the controlled system that are arranged to face each other with the second opening / closing portion interposed therebetween. A second relay device, wherein the first relay device has a function of reconfiguring a routing route of the control information in accordance with a change in network topology accompanying an operation of the first opening / closing unit. The two-relay device is provided with a function of reconstructing a routing path of the control information in accordance with a change in network topology accompanying the operation of the second opening / closing unit.

  By taking such means, the standby control system can be disconnected from the entire system by the on / off operation of the opening / closing section. The same applies to the active control system. At that time, when the network topology changes due to system disconnection, the routing path is reconstructed by the relay device. However, the reconfiguration processing is performed by the pair of relay devices by facing the pair of relay devices across the opening / closing unit. It is performed in a closed form only in the device. That is, the reconstruction process can be hidden from any of the active system control system, the standby system control system, and the controlled system. Therefore, the configuration data is not reconstructed in any of the active system control system, the standby system control system, and the controlled system by disconnecting the system. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the real-time property of the control from being impaired.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a multiplexing control system in which the disconnection of the standby system does not affect the real-time control of the active system.

  FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of a multiplexing control system according to the present invention. This system includes an active system (SYS 1) system 20, a standby system (SYS 2) system 60, and a controlled system 30. The active system 20 is connected to the controlled system 30 via the control channel L1. The standby system 60 is connected to the controlled system 30 via a control channel L2 provided independently of the control channel L1.

  The controlled system 30 is formed by connecting a plurality of controlled devices such as the VTR device 40 to a common LAN. The active system 20 is formed by connecting an active (SYS1) control device 10 for controlling a controlled device to a common LAN. The standby system 60 is formed by connecting a standby (SYS2) control device 50 for controlling a controlled device to a common LAN. The active system 20, the standby system 60, and the controlled system 30 all operate under the ARCNET, and various information related to control is exchanged as a message.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the switch SW1 is provided in the control channel L1 so that the control channel L1 can be physically opened and closed. Further, a pair of link nodes N1 and N2 are provided across the switch SW1. That is, the active system 20 is connected to the controlled system 30 via the path of the link node N1 → the switch SW1 → the link node N2 on the control channel L1.

  Similarly, the control channel L2 is provided with a switch SW2 so that the control channel L2 can be physically opened and closed, and a pair of link nodes N3 and N4 are provided across the switch SW2. That is, the standby system 60 is connected to the controlled system 30 via the path of the link node N3 → the switch SW2 → the link node N4 on the control channel L2.

  The link nodes N1 to N4 are relay devices that control up to the network layer of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model, and have a function as a router in a network using TCP / IP. Therefore, each of N1 to N4 has a function of detecting a change in the network topology of the system of FIG. When a change in the network topology is detected, the link nodes N1 to N4 update their stored routing tables (not shown) to reconstruct the message routing route.

  Next, the operation in the above configuration will be described. FIG. 1A shows a state in which both the switches SW1 and SW2 are closed and the control channels L1 and L2 are connected, and both the active system 20 and the standby system 60 are directly connected to the controlled system 30. Has been. When the switch SW2 is opened for shifting from this state to the maintenance mode, the standby system 60 is disconnected as shown in FIG.

  At that time, a change in the network topology is detected in both the link nodes N3 and N4, and the routing table is updated accordingly. In other words, a process for reconstructing the configuration data is performed. At this time, the range affected by the restructuring process is limited to only the link nodes N3 and N4.

  FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing an existing multiplexing control system for comparison. As shown in FIG. 2B, in the existing system, both the active system 20 and the standby system 60 are directly connected to the controlled system 30 via the control channels L1 and L2, respectively. When the switch SW2 is opened to isolate the standby system 60 from this state, a change in topology is detected in all of the systems 20, 30, and 60, and not only the standby system 60 but also the active system 20 and the controlled system 30 are detected. In this case, the configuration data reconstruction process is executed.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, a pair of link nodes having a router function are arranged with the switches SW1 and SW2 that open and close the control channels L1 and L2 interposed therebetween. Since it did in this way, the area where the reconfiguration | reconstruction of the configuration data which arises with opening / closing of control channel L1, L2 can be localized between the link nodes which pinched | opened the switch.

  In addition, since the control channel is physically disconnected, it is possible to completely prevent unnecessary control telegrams from flowing into other systems when the systems are separated. This means that the operation can be carried out without requiring consideration for the active system, particularly when the operation simulation is performed, and it is possible to greatly satisfy the needs at the site. In addition, there is no room for logical bugs and the highest form of reliability can be provided.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to safely switch the multiplexed control system and shift to the maintenance mode without causing a communication failure. From these facts, it is possible to provide a multiplexing control system in which the disconnection of the standby system does not affect the real-time control of the active system.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, each switch SW1, SW2 may be attacked as part of a more complex matrix switch. For example, a 2 × 2 type matrix switch can be used in the system of FIG. Further, in an N: M type multiplexing system having a plurality of standby systems for a plurality of active systems, a matrix switch corresponding to the scale may be provided. Such a form makes it possible to construct a more complex multiplexing system.

  In addition, the present invention can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the spirit of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment.

1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of a multiplexing control system according to the present invention. The system figure which shows the existing multiplexing control system for a comparison.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Active system control apparatus, 20 ... Active system, 30 ... Controlled system, 40 ... VTR apparatus, 50 ... Standby system control apparatus, 60 ... Standby system, L1, L2 ... Control channel, SW1, SW2 ... Switch, N1, N2, N3, N4 ... Link node

Claims (4)

An active control system in which active control devices are connected via the first network;
A standby control system in which standby control devices are connected via a second network;
A controlled system in which controlled devices that can be controlled from both the active control device and the standby control device are connected via a third network;
An active channel connecting the first network to the third network;
A standby channel connecting the second network to the third network;
A first opening / closing unit for physically connecting or disconnecting the working channel;
A second opening / closing unit for physically connecting or disconnecting the standby channel;
A pair of first relay devices that are arranged opposite to each other across the first opening / closing section and relay control information between the active control system and the controlled system;
A pair of second relay devices that are arranged opposite to each other across the second opening / closing section and relay control information between the standby control system and the controlled system;
The first relay device has a function of reconstructing a routing path of the control information in accordance with a change in network topology accompanying the operation of the first opening / closing unit,
The multiplexing control system, wherein the second relay device has a function of reconstructing a routing path of the control information in accordance with a change in network topology accompanying the operation of the second opening / closing unit. 2. The multiplexing control system according to claim 1, wherein the first to third networks are networks that operate under a protocol that employs a token passing system. 3. The multiplexing control system according to claim 2, wherein the first to third networks are ARCNET (Attached Resource Computer Network). 2. The multiplexing control system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second open / close sections are matrix switches that accommodate the active channel and the standby channel.

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