JP5989577B2 - Version upgrade system and version upgrade method - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a version upgrade system and a version upgrade method for performing version upgrade of units in a plurality of casings used in a broadcasting station, for example.

  As is well known, a broadcast program transmission system is composed of a number of devices such as a distributor, a signal switcher, various TV system converters, and an effector. These devices can be realized in units by reducing the size of the device, and each device can be mounted in units in the same housing. By mounting a unit with the functions required by the system in the same chassis, it has become possible to easily reduce space and add configurations. It can be implemented by increasing the number of cases according to the system scale, by increasing the number of cases such as function implementation required by the system and division for each system, etc. The installed unit configuration will be different.

  Also, in the broadcast program transmission system, it is necessary to monitor the status of each device so that a failure can be promptly dealt with. In such an apparatus composed of a plurality of identical casings and units having different functions for each casing, these casings are connected by a high-speed bus such as Ethernet (registered trademark) for monitoring.

  By the way, the video quality of each unit has been dramatically improved from high definition to full high definition (2K x 1K), ultra high definition (4K x 2K), super high definition (8K x 4K), and has already been implemented in accordance with this. It is essential that performance and function improvements are also required for existing units.

JP 2002-354142 A

  In the apparatus as described above, it may be necessary to add unit functions in accordance with changes in business contents. In such a case, the unit needs to be upgraded.

  By the way, when performing a version upgrade operation of a unit, it is necessary to manage in which casing the corresponding unit is mounted and to perform the operation for each mounted casing, resulting in poor work efficiency.

  The purpose is to provide a version upgrade system and a version upgrade method that can improve the work efficiency of version upgrade of each unit by enabling quick and appropriate remote upgrade of the units in the housing without requiring manual operation. There is to do.

  According to the embodiment, the version upgrade system includes a plurality of housings and a terminal. The plurality of housings are different from each other and are configured with a plurality of units in which software for executing at least information processing functions is set, and the plurality of units are connected to the plurality of units via an internal bus to control processing by the plurality of units. And a control unit for controlling automatically. The terminal is connected to a plurality of casings via a communication network, and is remotely controlled so as to upgrade the software set in each unit of the plurality of casings. The terminal includes a version upgrade request generation unit and a request distribution unit. When an upgrade instruction is input, the upgrade request generation unit inserts a unit ID for identifying the type of unit to be upgraded into the header part of the packet, and sends an upgrade request with the upgrade data inserted into the payload part. Generate. The request distribution unit distributes the upgrade request to a plurality of cases on the communication network. Each control unit of the plurality of casings includes a casing-side storage unit and an upgrade control unit. The casing-side storage unit stores a configuration information table in which unit IDs are associated with slot IDs that specify unit mounting positions with respect to the casing. When receiving the upgrade request from the terminal, the upgrade control means refers to the configuration information table based on the unit ID included in the upgrade request, and installs the software set in the corresponding unit based on the reference result. Rewrite to the upgrade data included in the upgrade request.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a version upgrade system according to a first embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the software handled by the 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the memory content of the management table memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of the terminal for upgrade in the 1st embodiment. The figure which shows the packet structure transmitted / received between the terminal for upgrade in the 1st Embodiment, and a housing | casing. The sequence diagram which shows the control processing procedure between the terminal for version upgrade in this 1st Embodiment, and a housing | casing. The schematic block diagram of the version upgrade system in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the memory content of the group table handled by the 2nd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a version upgrade system used in a broadcasting station, for example. AP1 to APi are housings arranged in a studio or an editing room in a broadcasting station, and BT is For example, the upgrade terminals arranged in the control room are shown. IP addresses are assigned in advance to the housings AP1 to APi.

A plurality of units UN1 to UNn (n is a natural number) such as a file input / output interface unit, a video data input / output unit, a video data storage unit, a video encoding unit, and a video decoding unit are mounted on the housing AP1. A control unit CU that is connected to UN1 to UNn via an internal bus and controls the processing by the units UN1 to UNn in an integrated manner is mounted. Further, software as shown in FIG. 2A is set in the units UN1 to UNn, and functions related to signal processing such as video encoding processing and video decoding processing based on the set software, for example. Execute.
A plurality of units and control units are also mounted on the housings AP2 to APi.

  On the other hand, the upgrade terminal BT is connected to the housings AP1 to APi via a communication network NW such as Ethernet (registered trademark). The upgrade terminal BT includes a personal computer, and includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, a control unit 13, a display unit 14 using a CRT, and an input unit 15 including a keyboard and a mouse. I have. Of these, the input unit 15 is used to input various operation instructions to the upgrade terminal BT, and is also used to input an execution instruction for upgrading the desired unit.

  The communication unit 11 communicates with the housings AP1 to APi via the communication network NW, and transmits a version upgrade request to the housings AP1 to APi in response to a version upgrade execution instruction from the input unit 15. At the same time, the information (ACK / NACK) indicating the success / failure of the version upgrade transmitted by the housings AP1 to APi in response to the version upgrade request is received.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 12 specifies a device ID that identifies the housings AP1 to APi, a unit ID that identifies the type of the units UN1 to UNn, and a mounting position of the unit with respect to the housings AP1 to APi. A management table 121 is stored that represents a correspondence relationship between slot IDs to be updated and information indicating success / failure of unit upgrade. The management table 121 is displayed on the display unit 14.

  The control unit 13 performs an operation as the upgrade terminal BT, and includes a version upgrade request generation unit 131, a version upgrade request distribution unit 132, and a version upgrade result recording unit 133.

  When an upgrade instruction is input from the maintenance staff through the input unit 15, the upgrade request generation unit 131, as shown in FIG. 4A, has a unit ID (02) that identifies the type of unit to be upgraded. ) Is inserted into the header portion of the IP packet, and a version upgrade request in which the version upgrade data is inserted into the payload portion is generated.

  The upgrade request distribution unit 132 refers to the management table 121 and distributes the upgrade request to, for example, the housings AP1, AP3, AP5 to APi in which the corresponding unit is mounted.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the upgrade result recording unit 133 has received an IP packet (ACK / NACK) indicating the success / failure of the upgrade transmitted from the housings AP1 to APi in response to the upgrade request. In this case, ACK / NACK is recorded in the management table 121 in association with the device ID, unit ID, and slot ID inserted in the header portion of the IP packet.

  On the other hand, the storage unit 21 is connected to the control unit CU of the housing AP1, and further includes an upgrade control unit 22 and an upgrade result transmission unit 23. The storage unit 21 stores a configuration information table 221 that indicates a correspondence relationship between a unit ID that specifies the type of the units UN1 to UNn and a slot ID that specifies the mounting position of the unit with respect to the housing AP1.

  When receiving the upgrade request from the upgrade terminal BT, the upgrade controller 22 refers to the configuration information table 211 based on the unit ID included in the upgrade request, and uses the internal bus based on the reference result. The software set in the corresponding unit UNn is rewritten with the upgrade data included in the upgrade request. That is, the new version of software in FIG. 2B is written in the unit UNn in which the old version of software in FIG. 2A has been set. Then, in the unit UNn, “function f” (for example, HDTV (High Definition TV) processing function) and “function x” can be newly used in place of “function c” (for example, SDTV (standard definition TV) processing function). It becomes like this. In the first version upgrade, “function f” and “function x” are set to “OFF”, but in the second version upgrade, “function f” and “function x” are set to “ON”. .

  When the upgrade is completed, the upgrade result transmission unit 23 adds the slot ID of the corresponding unit to the information indicating the success / failure of the upgrade of the unit and the device ID of the own housing AP1 to update the terminal. Send to BT.

Next, the operation in the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 5 is a sequence showing a control processing procedure between the upgrade terminal BT and the housing AP1.

  When upgrading the unit, the person in charge of maintenance sets the upgrade mode by operating the input unit 15 in the upgrade terminal BT. When detecting the setting of the upgrade mode in step ST51a, the control unit 13 of the upgrade terminal BT accepts input of upgrade data by the maintenance staff (step ST51b).

  At this time, the maintenance staff inputs necessary items such as a unit ID desired to be upgraded and a function name desired to be added. The control unit 13 displays the version upgrade data including the input unit ID and the input function name on the display unit 14. In this state, when the maintenance person performs a confirming operation on the input unit 15, the control unit 13 proceeds from step ST51c to step ST51d, and refers to the management table 121, for example, the housings AP1, AP3 mounted with the corresponding unit. An upgrade request including the unit ID and upgrade data is transmitted to AP5 to APi via the communication network NW.

  On the other hand, the control unit CU of the housing AP1 receives the upgrade request sent from the upgrade terminal BT (step ST52a), and based on the unit ID inserted in the header part of the upgrade request, the configuration information table The corresponding unit is checked with reference to 211 (step ST52b).

  When it is determined that the corresponding unit UNn is the target for version upgrade, the control unit CU executes processing for rewriting the software set in the unit UNn with the version upgrade data inserted in the payload part of the version upgrade request (step ST52c). ). Note that the control unit CU does not write upgrade data to the non-corresponding units UN1 to UN (n−1).

  The corresponding unit UNn upgrades according to the upgrade data, and returns ACK to the control unit CU when the upgrade is completed. If it fails, NACK is returned.

  The control unit CU of the housing AP1 monitors whether or not the upgrade is successful (step ST52d), and when the upgrade is successful (Yes), the ACK and the slot ID and device ID of the unit UNn (device) The upgrade result (IP packet) including 1) is transmitted to the upgrade terminal BT (step ST52e). On the other hand, when the upgrade fails (Yes), the control unit CU transmits the upgrade result (IP packet) including the NACK, the slot ID of the unit UNn, and the device ID (device 1) to the upgrade terminal BT. (Step ST52f).

  The upgrade terminal BT receives the upgrade result from the housing AP1 (step ST51e), and records the device ID, slot ID, and information indicating the success / failure of the upgrade in the management table 121 in the upgrade result. And display on the display unit 14 (step ST51f).

  As a result, when the upgrade fails, information on the failed casing, slot, and upgrade data can be set in the upgrade terminal BT, and only the failed corresponding unit can be upgraded.

  When receiving a version upgrade request, the control unit of the housing AP2 checks the mounted unit using the internal bus in the same manner as the housing AP1, but sends no NACK to the upgrade terminal BT because there is no corresponding unit. To do. The upgrade terminal BT displays that the housing AP2 is not applicable.

  By building the above system, implementation management and unit upgrade work can be automated.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the steps from the upgrade request to the unit upgrade in each of the housings AP1 to APi are all performed via the communication network NW without requiring manual work. . This eliminates the need for unit mounting management and manual unit upgrade work by maintenance personnel. Therefore, it is possible to upgrade the target unit in each of the housings AP1 to APi within a short time, and it is possible to greatly reduce the labor required for upgrading. In addition, in an upgrade request transmitted from the upgrade terminal BT to each of the housings AP1 to APi, an existing IP packet in which the unit ID to be upgraded is inserted in the header portion and the upgrade data is inserted in the payload portion is used. Thus, since the corresponding unit can be upgraded, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated signal line for transmitting the upgrade request. Further, the maintenance staff of the upgrade terminal BT only needs to specify the type of unit desired to be upgraded, thereby simplifying the maintenance staff's upgrade request operation.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the upgrade terminal BT and each of the housings AP1 to AP1 are used using the correspondence between the device ID and the unit ID stored and managed in the management table 121 in the upgrade terminal BT. Since communication with the APi, determination of whether to upgrade, and the like are performed, appropriate upgrade processing can be performed with a simple procedure.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the maintenance staff of the upgrade terminal BT can confirm at least whether or not the upgrade requested by the upgrade terminal BT has been accepted. In addition, in addition to the information indicating the success / failure of the upgrade, in addition to notifying the maintenance person of the upgrade terminal BT of the device ID and the slot ID, if the upgrade fails, the maintenance person The person can grasp which mounting position unit UNn of the corresponding housing AP1 has failed and perform an appropriate redo operation or the like.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, a plurality of casings AP1 to APi are grouped, and version upgrade is performed for each group.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the version upgrade system.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the storage unit 12 of the upgrade terminal BT includes a plurality of groups G1 and G2 configured by dividing the casings AP1 to APi on the communication network NW, and the groups G1 and G2. A group table 122 representing a correspondence relationship between a plurality of housings belonging to the information and information specifying the execution time zone for version upgrade is stored.

  The upgrade terminal BT switches between the groups G1 and G2 that perform the upgrade according to the time zone.

  In this state, for example, when the time is 17:00, the upgrade terminal BT refers to the group table 122 and transmits an upgrade request to the housings AP4 to APi belonging to the group G2 to upgrade the corresponding unit. When 9:00 is reached, the group table 122 is referred to, and an upgrade request is transmitted to the housings AP1 to AP3 belonging to the group G1 to upgrade the corresponding unit. In this way, it is possible to automatically change the group to be upgraded according to the time zone. In addition to the date / time information, for example, communication traffic, occurrence of a failure, or the like can be used as the switching condition.

  Further, the housings AP1 to AP3 belonging to the group G1 are used as the active system, and the housings AP4 to APi belonging to the group G2 are used as the standby system. It may be switched to ~ APi.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, a plurality of housings AP1 to APi are grouped, and the groups G1 and G2 are associated with the housings AP1 to APi. Therefore, it is possible to select and set an optimum group and perform the upgrade process efficiently.

(Other embodiments)
In addition, the embodiments are not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and in the implementation stage, the constituent elements can be modified and embodied without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Communication part, 12 ... Memory | storage part, 13 ... Control part, 14 ... Display part, 121 ... Management table, 122 ... Group table, 131 ... Version upgrade request production | generation part, 132 ... Version upgrade request delivery part, 133 ... Version upgrade Result recording unit, 21 ... storage unit, 22 ... version upgrade control unit, 23 ... version upgrade result transmission unit, 211 ... configuration information table, BT ... terminal for version upgrade, AP1-APi ... casing, UN1-UNn ... unit , NW ... Communication network.

Claims (5)

A plurality of units that are different from each other and configured with software for executing at least functions related to information processing, and a control unit that is connected to the plurality of units via an internal bus and controls the processing by the units A plurality of housings comprising:
A terminal that is connected to the plurality of casings via a communication network and remotely controls to upgrade the software set in each unit of the plurality of casings;
The terminal
When a version upgrade instruction is input, a version upgrade request generation means for generating a version upgrade request by inserting a unit ID for identifying the type of unit to be upgraded into the header portion of the packet and inserting the upgrade data into the payload portion When,
Request distribution means for distributing the upgrade request to the plurality of cases on the communication network;
Each control unit of the plurality of housings,
A housing-side storage unit that stores a configuration information table in which the unit ID is associated with a slot ID that identifies a mounting position of the unit with respect to the housing;
When receiving a version upgrade request from the terminal, the configuration information table is referred to based on a unit ID included in the version upgrade request, and the software set in the corresponding unit based on the reference result is upgraded to the version upgrade. An upgrade system comprising upgrade control means for rewriting the upgrade data included in the request. The terminal further includes a terminal-side storage unit that stores a table in which a device ID that identifies the housing is associated with the unit ID.
2. The upgrade system according to claim 1, wherein the request distribution unit distributes the upgrade request to a corresponding housing based on a table stored in the terminal-side storage unit. Each control unit of the plurality of cases further includes an information transmission unit that adds a slot ID of a corresponding unit to information indicating success / failure of the upgrade of the unit and transmits the information to the terminal.
The terminal includes a recording unit that records information indicating the success / failure of the version upgrade transmitted from each housing in the table in association with the device ID, the unit ID, and the slot ID. The version upgrade system according to claim 2, further comprising: The terminal further includes group data storage means for storing data representing a correspondence relationship between a plurality of groups configured by dividing the plurality of casings and casings belonging to these groups,
2. The upgrade according to claim 1, wherein the request distribution unit distributes the upgrade request to a case belonging to a corresponding group with reference to the group data storage unit based on a predetermined condition. system. A plurality of units that are different from each other and configured with software for executing at least functions related to information processing, and a control unit that is connected to the plurality of units via an internal bus and controls the processing by the plurality of units in an integrated manner And a terminal that is connected to the plurality of casings via a communication network and that is remotely controlled so as to upgrade the software set in each unit of the plurality of casings. A version upgrade method used in the system,
In the terminal, when a version upgrade instruction is input, a unit ID that identifies the type of unit to be upgraded is inserted into the header portion of the packet, and a version upgrade request is inserted in which the upgrade data is inserted into the payload portion,
In the terminal, the upgrade request is distributed to the plurality of cases on the communication network,
In each control unit of the plurality of housings, a configuration information table in which the unit ID is associated with a slot ID for specifying a mounting position of the unit with respect to the housing is stored.
In the control unit, when receiving a version upgrade request from the terminal, the configuration information table is referred to based on a unit ID included in the version upgrade request, and the corresponding unit is set based on the reference result. A version upgrade method, wherein software is rewritten to version upgrade data included in the version upgrade request.

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