JP7187842B2 - Routing device and its control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a routing device and its control method, and more particularly to a routing device having a matrix switch and its control method.

The routing device used to connect each device in the broadcasting station system has a plurality of input lines connected to the input channels and arranged in one direction, and a plurality of input lines connected to the output channels and arranged in the other direction crossing the input lines. A matrix switch is used to connect the input lines and the output lines at each cross point where the input lines and the output lines intersect. The matrix switch is also provided with a reentry path for re-entering the signal output from the output channel into the input channel.

As a related technique, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a matrix switch having a reentry path, an output block having a part of the output line of the matrix switch connected to the input side, and a plurality of switches connected to the output side of the output block. An image processing apparatus having an image processing section having an output terminal of . Further, the image processing apparatus of Patent Document 1 includes a signal processing block whose input side is connected to part of the output line of the matrix switch, and whose output side is connected to part of the input line of the matrix switch through a reentry path. ing. Further, the image processing apparatus of Patent Document 1 sets a first terminal selected from a plurality of output terminals as an external reentry output terminal, corresponding to connection by an external cable, and sets a first terminal selected from a plurality of input terminals as an external reentry output terminal. 2 terminal as an external reentry input terminal.

JP 2010-246058 A

In a matrix switch having a reentry path as described above, an output channel is connected to an input channel via the reentry path, and an input channel to which the output of the output channel is re-entered is connected to another output channel. Thus, the same signal can be output from the two output channels of the matrix switch. For example, the video signal output from the output channel of the matrix switch to the main line system device can be re-entered and input by connecting the input channel to another output channel connected to the monitoring device. It is also possible to monitor the video signal while outputting the signal to the equipment of the main line system.

However, the control of the reentry input becomes relatively complicated, especially when the reentries overlap and become many stages, and it takes time from the instruction of the control to the completion of the control.

The main object of the present invention is to speed up control of reentry input.

A routing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of input channels, a plurality of output channels, and inputs of outputs of output channels of some of the plurality of output channels to some of the input channels of the plurality of input channels. a matrix switch having a reentry path that connects one of the plurality of input channels to the plurality of output channels; and a control section configured to connect one of the plurality of input channels to the reentry path and connecting said primary output channels to said one or more specific output channels in turn via said reentry path, said one or more specific output channels and a reentry group management unit that holds the identification information of the group of the original output channels and the order in which the original output channels are connected in association with each other.

A control method according to one aspect of the present invention includes inputting a plurality of input channels, a plurality of output channels, and outputs of some output channels of the plurality of output channels to some of the plurality of input channels. a reentry path for connecting one of the plurality of input channels to a primary output channel connected to the reentry path; The output channels are connected in order to one or more specific output channels via the reentry path, and the identification information of the group of the original output channels and the large output channel are associated with the one or more specific output channels. Preserves the order in which the original output channels are connected.

According to the aspect of the present invention, it is possible to speed up the control of reentry input.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a routing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of first connection control instructed by the control unit in FIG. FIG. 3 shows control contents performed by the control unit 12 in FIG. 1 in the first connection control, and shows an example of contents stored in the reentry group management unit. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of FIG. 1 in the first connection control. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of second connection control instructed by the control unit in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing control contents performed by the control unit in FIG. 1 in the second connection control, and an example of contents stored in the reentry group management unit. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of FIG. 1 in the second connection control. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operations in the second connection control. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an overview of the third connection control. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing control contents performed by the control unit in FIG. 1 in the third connection control, and an example of contents stored in the reentry group management unit. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the operation of FIG. 1 in the third connection control.

A first exemplary embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a routing device according to the first embodiment. The routing device 1 includes a matrix switch 11, a control section 12, and a reentry group management section 13, as shown in FIG.

The matrix switch 11 converts the outputs of the plurality of input channels i1 to i10, the plurality of output channels o1 to o9, and the outputs of some of the plurality of output channels o1 to o9 to the output channels o1 to o5 of the plurality of input channels i1 to i10. It has reentry paths r1 to r5 input to some of the input channels i6 to i10. Note that the numbers of input channels and output channels of the matrix switch 11 are shown in FIG. 1 as an example, and may be any number.

Also, the matrix switch 11 may be an IP switch that distributes IP (Internet Protocol) signals. In this case, an IP converter (TX) (not shown) is connected to each input channel of the matrix switch 11, and a video signal such as an SDI format input to the routing device 1 is converted into an IP signal by the IP converter (TX). It may be input to each input channel of matrix switch 11 . An IP converter (RX) is connected to each output channel of the matrix switch 11, and a signal output from each output channel is converted by the IP converter (RX) into a video signal in SDI (Serial Digital Interface) format or the like. may be output.

The control unit 12 controls connections between the plurality of input channels i1 to i10 and the plurality of output channels o1 to o9. For example, the controller 12 is instructed to connect N output channels with the same single input channel.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of first connection control instructed by the control unit in FIG. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the controller 12 is instructed to distribute the video signal input from the input channel i1 to the three output channels o1, o2 and o3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in the reentry group management part, which shows control contents performed by the control unit 12 in FIG. 1 in the first connection control. 2, the control unit 12 puts the output channel o1 under normal control and connects it to the input channel i1, as shown in FIG. In addition, the control unit 12 sets the output channel o2 to the “reentry group A” whose original output channel is o1, and sets the order as the first. Also, the output channel o3 is set to be the "reentry group A" whose original output channel is o1, and the order is set to be the second.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 12 controls the input channel i1 at the cross point between the input channel i1 of the matrix switch 11 to which the video signal is input and the output channel o1 connected to the reentry path. and output channel o1. In this manner, the control unit 12 connects the input channel i1 to which the video signal is input to the original output channel o1 connected to the reentry path.

The control unit 12 also connects specific output channels o2 and o3 in order to the original output channel o1 via reentry paths r1 and r2. That is, the control unit 12 connects the input channel i6 and the output channel o2 at the cross point of the input channel i6 and the output channel o2 which are connected to the output channel o1 of the matrix switch 11 via the reentry path r1.

In this manner, the control unit 12 connects the output channel o2 to the output channel o1 via the reentry path r1. The control unit 12 connects the input channel i7 and the output channel o3 at the cross point between the input channel i7 and the output channel o3 which are connected to the output channel o2 of the matrix switch 11 via the reentry path r2. In this way, the control unit 12 connects the output channel o3 to the output channel o2 via the reentry route r2.

By distributing the reentry signal that returns the video signal output from the output channel o1 to the input channel of the matrix switch 11 to the other output channels o2 and o3, the signal output from the output channel o1 can It is possible to monitor by distributing to other connected output channels o2 and o3.

Also, if the connection of the input channel i1 connected to the output channel o1 is switched to be connected to another input channel, the output signals of o2 and o3 connected to the output channel o1 via the reentry path are also output. It is switched to the same signal as the output signal of channel o1.

The reentry group management unit 13 records that the original output channel o1 is under normal control according to the control contents of the control unit 12 described above. Further, when the control unit 12 connects the original output channel o1 to the specific output channels o2 and o3 in order via the reentry routes r1 and r2, the reentry group management unit 13 corresponds to the output channels o2 and o3. and hold the group identification information and the order of the original output channel o1.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of FIG. 1 in the first connection control. As shown in FIG. 4, in the control method of the routing device 1, the controller 12 is instructed to connect a plurality of (N) output channels to the same single input channel as shown in FIG. 2, for example. In the example of FIG. 2, the controller 12 is instructed to connect the three output channels o1, o2, and o3 to the same single input channel i1 (step S1).

The control unit 12 determines the group identification information of the plurality of output channels, the original output channel, and the order of the output channels. In the example of FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 12 sets the group identification information to, for example, "reentry group A", sets the output channel o1 as the original output channel, and outputs the output channel o2 as the first output channel. It is decided to connect the channel o3 to the original output channel in the second order (step S2). The control unit 12 then connects the input channel to the original output channel. In the example of FIG. 2, the control unit 12 connects the input channel i1 to the output channel o1 (step S3). The reentry group management unit 13 records that the original output channel o1 is under normal control (step S4).

First, the order is set to I=1 (step S5), and the control unit 12 connects the input channel connected to the original output channel via the reentry path I times to the I-th output channel. In the example of FIG. 2, the control unit 12 connects the input channel i6, which is connected to the original output channel o1 via the reentry path once, to the first output channel o2 (step S6). .

The reentry group management unit 13 holds the identification information of the group of the original output channel and the I-th order in association with the I-th output channel. In the example of FIG. 2, "reentry group A", which is the identification information of the group of the original output channel o1, is associated with the output channel o2 whose order is first, and that the output channel o2 is the first order. is held (step S7).

Then, the control unit 12 determines whether or not all the output channels have been connected. That is, the control unit 12 determines whether the order I<N-1 is satisfied (step S8). If all the output channels have not been connected, the controller 12 increments the order I by one to set I=I+1 (step S9), and returns to step S6. In the example of FIG. 2, N=3 and I=1 is smaller than N−1, so it is determined that all the output channels have not been connected. and returns to step S6. In the example of FIG. 2, the control unit 12 connects the input channel i7, which is connected to the original output channel o1 via the reentry route r1 twice, to the second output channel o3 (step S6). ).

The reentry group management unit 13 associates the output channel o3, which is second in order, with the original output channel o1 and holds that the output channel o3 is second in order (step S7).

In step S8, it is determined that the order I is 2, which is not smaller than N-1 (=2), and the process ends.

Next, the operation when the connection is changed will be explained. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of second connection control instructed by the control unit in FIG. The diagram on the left side of FIG. 5 is the same as FIG. 2, and shows a state in which three output channels o1, o2, and o3 are connected to the same single input channel i1, that is, belong to the same group. The second connection control is an example of connecting two output channels o2 and o3 belonging to the same group to another input channel i2 from this state.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in the reentry group management section, which shows control contents performed by the control section 12 of FIG. 1 in the second connection control. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of FIG. 1 in the second connection control. In accordance with the second connection control instruction shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 12 puts the output channel o2, which is higher in order than the output channels o2 and o3 newly connected to the input channel i2, into normal control. 7, the state of being connected to the input channel i6 is switched to the state of being connected to the input channel i2.

The control unit 12 keeps the output channel o1 under normal control and maintains the state of being connected to the input channel i1 as shown in FIG. Further, the control unit 12 assigns the output channel o3 to the “reentry group A” in which the original output channel is o2, and assigns the order to the first. Originally, the output channel o3 is in the same group as the output channel o2 and is in the order following the output channel o2. Therefore, output channel o3 is connected to input channel i7 as shown in FIG. The control unit 12 only needs to maintain this connection for the output channel o3, and does not need to change the connection.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of FIG. 1 in the second connection control. As shown in FIG. 8, in the control method of the routing device 1, the control unit 12 is instructed to connect an input channel to which a new video signal is input, for example, to one or more output channels belonging to the same group. In the example of FIG. 5, three output channels o1, o2, and o3 are connected to the same input channel i1 and belong to the same group. The controller 12 is instructed to connect (step S11).

The control unit 12 determines the order of division. In the example of FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 12 selects the order of the output channel o2 with the highest order among the output channels o2 and o3 newly connected to the input channel i2, i.e., the first, as the group. The order of division is determined (step S12).

Then, the control unit 12 connects the determined output channel to the new input channel. In the example of FIG. 5, the control unit 12 connects the output channel o2 to the new input channel i2 (step S13). The reentry group management unit 13 records that the determined output channel o2 is under normal control (step S14).

Then, the order I is set to 1 (step S15), and the reentry group management unit 13 holds the group identification information and the I-th order for the determined order+I-th output channel o3. In the example of FIG. 5, the control unit 12 holds the group identification information "reentry group A" and the first order for the second output channel o3 (step S16).

Then, it is determined whether the connection of all the output channels is finished. That is, it is determined whether or not the order I satisfies (the number of output channels newly connected to the input channel i2)-1 (step S17). If all the output channels have not been connected, the order I is incremented by one to set I=I+1 (step S18), and the process returns to step S16. In the example of FIG. 5, I=1 is (the number of output channels newly connected to input channel i2)-1, so it is determined that all output channels have been connected, and the process is terminated.

In the second connection control, if there is no group identification information or order information as shown in FIG. 6, there is a possibility that the output channel o3 will be connected to the input channel i2 under normal control. With such control, the connection of the output channel o3 is switched to the input channel i2, the input channel i8 connected to the reentry path r3 connected to the output channel o3 is specified, and the connection of the output channel o2 is changed to the input channel i8. Need to switch to i8.

According to the present embodiment, a plurality of output channels o1, o2, and o3 connected to the same input channel i1 are grouped, and specified to be sequentially connected to the original output channel o1 via reentry paths r1 and r2. , the group identification information and order are held for the output channels o2 and o3. With this configuration, in response to an instruction to collectively connect a plurality of output channels o2 and o3 belonging to the same group to a new input channel i2, the output channel o2, which has the highest order of connection to the original output channel, is selected. can be easily specified, and by switching the connection of this output channel o2, the connection according to the instruction can be realized. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to speed up the control of the reentry input.

Next, the operation of another example when the connection is changed will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an outline of third connection control instructed by the control unit in FIG. The diagram on the left side of FIG. 9 shows a state in which five output channels o1, o2, o3, o4, and o5 are connected to the same single input channel i1, that is, belong to the same group. The third connection control is an example of connecting output channels o3, o4, and o5 belonging to the same group to another input channel i2 from this state.

FIG. 10 shows control contents performed by the control unit 12 in FIG. 1 in the third connection control, and shows an example of contents stored in the reentry group management unit. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the operation of FIG. 1 in the third connection control. In accordance with the third connection control instruction shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 12 normally controls the output channel o3, which is the highest in order among the output channels o3, o4, and o5 newly connected to the input channel i2. 11, the state of being connected to input channel i7 is switched to the state of being connected to input channel i2.

The control unit 12 keeps the output channel o1 under normal control and maintains the state of being connected to the input channel i1. The control unit 12 sets the output channel o2 to the "reentry group A" in which the original output channel is o1, and maintains the state of the first order.

Further, the control unit 12 sets the output channels o4 and o5 to "reentry group B" in which the original output channel is o3, and sets the order to No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Originally, the output channels o4 and o5 belong to the same group as the output channel o3, the order of the output channel o4 is next to the output channel o3, and the output channel o5 is next to the output channel o4. be. Output channels o4 and o5 are therefore connected to input channels i8 and i9, respectively, as shown in FIG. The control unit 12 only needs to maintain this connection for the output channels o4 and o5, and does not need to change the connection.

The operation of FIG. 1 in the third connection control will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 9, five output channels o1, o2, o3, o4, and o5 are connected to the same single input channel i1 and belong to the same group. The controller 12 is instructed to connect o5 to another input channel i2 (step S11).

Next, the control unit 12 determines the order of the output channel o3, which has the highest order among the output channels o3, o4, and o5 newly connected to the input channel i2, that is, the second order, as the order of dividing the group ( step S12).

Then, the control unit 12 connects the determined order output channel o3 to the new input channel i2 (step S13). The reentry group management unit 13 records that the determined output channel o3 is under normal control (step S14).

Then, the order I is set to 1 (step S15), and the reentry group management unit 13 adds the group identification information "reentry group B" and the I-th, that is, the first is held (step S16).

Then, it is determined whether the order I=1 satisfies (the number of output channels newly connected to the input channel i2)-1 (step S17). When I=1, it is determined that all the output channels have not been connected, the order I is incremented by 1 to make I=2 (step S18), and the process returns to step S16.

The reentry group management unit 13 holds the group identification information "reentry group B" and the I-th, ie, the 2nd, order for the determined order+I-th, ie, the 4th, output channel o5 (step S16). Then, it is determined whether the order I=1 satisfies (the number of output channels newly connected to the input channel i2)-1 (step S17). Since I=2 satisfies (last order of output channels newly connected to input channel i2)-1, it is determined that all output channels have been connected, and the process ends.

In the third connection control, if there is no group identification information or order information as shown in FIG. 10, for example, output channel o4 may be connected to input channel i2 under normal control. With such control, the connection of the output channel o4 is switched to the input channel i2, the input channel i9 connected to the reentry path r4 connected to the output channel o4 is specified, and the connection of the other output channel o3 is changed. It is necessary to switch to input channel i9. Furthermore, it is necessary to identify the input channel i8 connected to the reentry path r3 connected to the output channel o3 and switch the connection of the remaining output channel o5 to the input channel i8. As in the third connection control, the more output channels are connected to the same input channel, the longer it takes to control the reentry input.

According to the present embodiment, even in the third connection control, in response to an instruction to collectively connect output channels o3, o4, and o5 belonging to the same group to other input channel i2, output channel o3 with the highest order is selected. can be easily specified, and by switching the connection of this output channel o2, the connection according to the instruction can be realized. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to speed up the control of the reentry input.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

1 routing device 11 matrix switch 12 control unit 13 reentry group management unit

Claims (5)

a matrix switch having a plurality of input channels, a plurality of output channels, and a reentry path for inputting outputs of some of the plurality of output channels to some of the plurality of input channels;
a control unit that controls connections between the plurality of input channels and the plurality of output channels so that one output channel is connected to one input channel ;
The control unit connects one of the plurality of input channels to a primary output channel connected to the reentry path, and the output of the primary output channel is newly input via the reentry path. by sequentially performing control to connect the input channel to one of one or more specific output channels to the input channel to which the output of the original output channel is newly input by connection , when controlling connection so that the output of the primary output channel is output to the one or more specific output channels, a reentry group management unit that holds group identification information and an order in which the input channels to which the outputs of the original output channels are input are connected to the one or more specific output channels ;
A routing device having a When connecting a new input channel different from one of the plurality of input channels to one or more output channels belonging to the same group, the control unit determines the order of dividing the group, and divides the determined group into connect the output channel in the order to be split to a new input channel,
A routing device according to claim 1 . 3. The control unit according to claim 2, wherein the order of the output channel having the highest order among the one or more output channels connected to the new input channel is determined as the order of dividing the group. routing device. When instructed to connect the plurality of output channels to one of the plurality of input channels, the control unit determines the primary output channel to be normally controlled, and selects the primary output channel as 4. A routing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which determines the order of connection to one or more specific output channels via said reentry path. A matrix switch having a plurality of input channels, a plurality of output channels, and a reentry path for inputting outputs of some of the plurality of output channels to some of the plurality of input channels. A control method for a routing device,
The matrix switch is controlled so that no more than one output channel is connected to one input channel,
connecting one of the plurality of input channels to a primary output channel connected to the reentry path;
control of connecting an input channel whose output of the original output channel is newly input via the reentry path to one of one or more specific output channels; controlling the connection so that the output of the original output channel is output to the one or more specific output channels by sequentially performing the output to the input channel newly input by the connection;
The identification information of the group of the primary output channels and the order of connecting the input channels to which the outputs of the primary output channels are input are held to the one or more specific output channels in association with the specific output channels. do,
Routing control method.

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