RU2798365C1 - Intercom control system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: computer technology.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to electrical communication systems that ensure the operation of such devices as intercom panels. The technical result of the claimed invention is aimed at expanding the functionality of intercom panels by installing a single intercom control system. The intercom control system contains a single printed circuit board, an application space located on the data processing server and connected by a control signal to the device controller, a Linux operating system kernel located on a single printed circuit board in the block of physical devices on the processor, while the device controller and physical resources are installed on a single printed circuit board; while the application space consists of modules: camafon, which is connected to the controller by a control signal; streamer and dns, which are connected by one-way communication with the kernel of the Linux operating system, the streamer module is connected to the api server, and the dns module is connected to sip; at the same time, physical resources are located separately from the kernel of the Linux operating system and the device controller and consist of modules: memory, processor, sensors, signal input/output, input/output bus; wherein the processor is coupled to an additional physical voltage control board containing an input voltage regulation unit.

EFFECT: expanding the functionality of intercom panels by installing a single intercom control system.

1 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of computer technology, namely to electrical communication systems that ensure the operation of such devices as intercom panels.

At the moment, there is such a “threat” from the manufacturers of any technical devices as Vendor Lock-in, which means the termination of technical support for the buyers of the manufacturers of the released products for any reason. The same applies to intercom panels, which are produced by the manufacturer with their own “firmware” - embedded software that operates the device at the lowest level, such as transmitting an electrical signal to a microcircuit that implements and coordinates the operation of the device as a whole.

Thus, there is a need to create such a control system - “firmware”, in particular for intercom systems and intercom panels themselves, which could equip any intercom panel with the same functions regardless of the manufacturer.

From the prior art, a territorial system for monitoring, warning and managing the municipal and / or facility level is known in case of a threat, occurrence, during and during the elimination of emergency situations (RU 2605505 C1, IPC A62C 35/00, G08B 25/00, publ. 20.12.2016 G.).

The hardware-software complex includes an interfacing and control device, controllers of peripheral devices, an automated workplace for a dispatcher of a central post, terminal devices in the form of command generation sources, warning devices and actuators. The interface and control device includes an RS 232/485 interface unit, a local area network interface unit, a speech synthesizer unit, an MP3 file playback unit, a remote device bus unit, a power supply voltage control unit, a clock station unit, a telephone interface unit, a GSM unit , a block for receiving signals from the television broadcasting network "Tricolor", a block for controlling intercoms, a block for controlling a radio station, a block for voice frequency channels, an indication block. Each block is an independent device with its own microcontroller. The blocks are interconnected via the system bus.

The disadvantage of this technical solution should be considered the absence of blocks and modules, due to which the HSC can be implemented in any device that receives and transmits a signal like an intercom or other similar device.

From the prior art, a user application environment in a process control device is known (patent RU 2733088 C1, IPC G06F 9/46, publ. 09/29/2020), where the communication connection of the device controller with the host, while the host is configured to provide a process control system a device controller and an automatic device communicatively connected to the device controller; installing a process control application in an application space in the firmware of the device controller, said process control application being provided with permission data;

executing, using the processor, a process control application, the process control application extending the functionality of the device controller in the application space; and controlling access of the process control application to the physical resources of the device controller in determining which of the physical resources of the device controller are available to the process control application by the permission data.

The disadvantage of this invention should be considered the absence of a block that regulates the input voltage to ensure stable operation of the device.

The technical result of the claimed invention is aimed at preserving and expanding the functionality of intercom panels by installing a single intercom control system located on a single printed circuit board that provides full control and operation of the intercom panel functions, as well as eliminating the possibility of a device failure due to a decrease in voltage. An additional technical result is aimed at remote control/updating of the device.

The technical result is achieved by the fact that the intercom control system contains a single printed circuit board, an application space located on the data processing server and connected by a control signal to the device controller, the Linux operating system kernel located on a single printed circuit board in the block of physical devices on the processor, while the device controller and physical resources are installed on a single printed circuit board; while the application space consists of modules: camafon, which is connected to the controller by a control signal; streamer and dns, which are connected by one-way communication with the kernel of the Linux operating system, and the signal from the kernel of the Linux operating system is sent simultaneously to the modules and dns; streamer module is connected to api server and dns module is connected to sip; at the same time, physical resources are located separately from the kernel of the Linux operating system and the device controller and consist of modules: memory, processor, sensors, signal input/output, input/output bus; moreover, the processor is connected to an additional physical voltage control board containing an input voltage regulation unit, which is connected directly to the power source, in order to exclude the possibility of a device failure due to a decrease in voltage.

In the context of this application, a single intercom control system means an intercom firmware (hereinafter referred to as intercom firmware - firmware) arranged on a single printed circuit board. The additional voltage control board is a physical input voltage control unit that balances the voltage value in a circuit section.

The intercom control system contains an application space that interacts with system controllers, device controllers and / or automatic devices located in the process control system of the intercom panel itself, namely, degaussing the door, communicating between the intercom apartment handset and the BVD (intercom call unit), lighting , collecting and broadcasting data from a video camera, storing historical information, interacting with other devices such as smartphones.

In the context of this application, the device controllers perform physical resource management functions in addition to the basic process control functions performed by the firmware of the device controllers.

Such automatic devices can be, for example, a demagnetization sensor, a light sensor, a service call button 112, and they can perform process control functions such as opening or closing a magnetic lock, turning on a backlight, receiving a call to a service at 112.

In addition to controlling automatic devices, device controllers may generate process data (eg, process control information) based on information received from automatic devices.

The process data may include process statistics, alarms, monitoring data, process trending information, diagnostic information, automation device status information, and/or messages from automation devices. In some examples, device controllers may be integrated into an automated device. Alternatively, or additionally, in some examples, device controllers may be connected to an automated device using a wired or wireless connection.

The controller pre-installed on the circuit board of the doorphone control system performs a connection function, for example, to communicate with a host (eg SIP telephony, server, etc.), communicate with an automatic device, and/or generate process data. To update the functionality of the device controller, it does not need to be taken offline, but the software is updated - the controller firmware remotely, that is, this happens in the background without disrupting the operation of the device as a whole.

In addition, in order to expand or restrict user functions, the firmware or firmware module is changed and recompiled. Such approaches limit the flexibility of the device controller and may require a significant amount of time and resources.

The device firmware contains an application space hosted on a data server and connected via a control signal to the device controller. The application space allows you to extend and/or update the functionality of the process controller without upgrading the firmware and without disrupting the process controller.

The presence in the application space of the following modules ensures the performance of functions:

camafon is a resource that processes and transmits a video stream from a camera pre-installed in the intercom;

streamer - broadcasts streaming video frames to paired devices using api server, which allows you to make requests and receive responses between the intercom and a smartphone or other device such as a personal computer, tablet, etc.;

dns is a standard protocol that allows users to access websites using human-readable addresses, in this case a cloud-based VoIP platform;

sip is a set of software for launching IP telephony within an office or production (call distributor).

The device firmware contains the kernel of the Linux operating system, located on a single printed circuit board in the block of physical devices on the processor. This allows you to separate it from the rest of the firmware modules to ensure the safety and stability of the device, which means that each device can be updated in the background and used as a separate device, and the settings for the operation of the entire device as a whole can also be changed. The Linux operating system is the most resistant to breakdowns and system failures of the entire device system, it allows you to integrate into any similar device and ensure the operation of all processes embedded in the firmware without slowing down the device itself - working without delays in response to controller commands.

The presence of a block of physical resources containing memory, a processor, sensors, information input means, information output means, an additional control board ensures the full operation of the intercom panel, namely: communication between the BVD and the intercom handset in the apartment, the ability to broadcast, save, view the video stream and video archive, the implementation of keyboard backlighting. The presence in this unit of the ability to connect to an additional voltage control board through a common bus with a power supply, provides control of the input voltage by adjusting its values, which ensures uninterrupted power supply and prevents the device from failure due to voltage reduction.

Next, a specific example of the operation of the intercom firmware on the intercom call unit will be considered.

The figure shows a block diagram of the firmware for the intercom, where the following blocks with positions and their connections are indicated: 1 - application space; 1.1 - camafon; 1.2 - streamer; 1.3 - api server; 1.4 - dns; 1.5 - sip; 2 - the core of the Linux operating system; 3 - device controller; 4 - physical resources; 4.1 - memory; 4.2 - processor; 4.3 - sensors; 4.4 - means of entering information; 4.5 - means of information output; 4.6 - additional voltage control board; 5 - automatic device; 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 - control signals between modules; 11 - power supply; 12 - tire.

In a specific embodiment, the sensors should be understood as a motion sensor, a degaussing sensor, a light sensor, a darkness sensor.

Information input means: keyboard, speaker, key reader, video camera.

Information output means: display, speaker.

Automatic device - intercom call block.

The intercom calling panel, produced and pre-installed on the entrance door in the residential building of the Intersvyaz company, the Sokol model, is connected to the power supply 11 through the bus 12 to the block 4 physical resources, namely to module 4.6 - an additional voltage control board, which is unambiguous ensures uninterrupted operation of the device. Through the module 4.6, the connection from the power supply 11 is made to the processor 4.2, from there the processor 4.2 itself is connected to the remaining physical resources of the block 4, namely 4.1,4.3, 4.4, 4.5.

After connection, the current goes to the processor 4.2, which ensures the operation of other physical resources located in module 4, as well as to the device controller 3, which starts the work processes of the remaining modules located on the board.

The device controller 3 is connected to the camafon module 1.1 by means of a one-way connection 6 in the form of a control signal in order to start processing the video stream from the input means module 4.4. Thus, the camera pre-installed on the intercom panel starts working and saves the video archive to the 4.1 memory module, which is an extended functionality of the intercom panel.

After the module 1.1 is started, the signal passes to the kernel 2 of the Linux operating system, which simultaneously communicates with the modules 1.2 streamer and 1.4 dns through one-way communication 7. That is, a signal is given from the core 2 to broadcast the video stream to the paired devices through the module 1.2, after which, it is necessary to implement the addressing of the broadcast of the video stream, this operation is carried out by connecting 8 from the streamer module 1.2 to the api server module 1.3. Thanks to such connection of the blocks, the intercom user can view the video stream from the intercom camera from a mobile device (smartphone, tablet, etc.).

The 1.4 dns module through one-way communication with the 1.5 sip module forms a bundle that provides the ability to make a call from the intercom panel to a specific intercom handset in the apartment, as well as the ability to set up a call handset schedule, which in turn is an extension of the functionality. It is also possible to adjust the volume and signal level in the intercom handset.

The presence of separation of the connections of the device controller 3 with the application space 1; kernel 2 Linux operating system with application space 1; device controller 3 and block 4 of physical resources allows you to distribute the load on the operation of the device as a whole. In this case, the response time from any of the input devices will be 0 seconds with an error of up to 0.1 seconds.

Placing the main blocks 2 - 4 on a single printed circuit board allows you to integrate this firmware into any device containing the same set of input and output information, which makes the firmware universal for all intercom panels of any manufacturer.

The presence of kernel 2 of the Linux operating system associated with the 1.4 dns module provides the ability to remotely update the device, as well as the ability to collect data stored on this device (intercom panel), as well as expand functionality, such as improving video quality, launch mass emergency alerts , launch a ticker - notification, etc.

Thus, the preservation and expansion of the functionality of intercom panels is achieved by installing a single intercom control system located on a single printed circuit board that provides full control and operation of functions, as well as eliminating the possibility of a device failure due to a decrease in voltage.

Since the intercom firmware is an independent unit within the BVD, it is possible to connect to another intercom panel, for example, without a physical control board in the existing design, which means that the BVD is prone to malfunctioning.

For example, such an intercom panel is provided by the Bevard company, which, in terms of technical equipment, coincides with the functionality of the Sokol intercom panel, that is, there is a keyboard, a video camera, a key reader, a speaker, a display, and also contains its own firmware, which provides a number of functions such as : saving and implementation of the video stream, the ability to view it; the possibility of making a call with an apartment in which an intercom handset is installed; providing access to the entrance.

However, this functionality of the existing firmware does not seem to be as extensive as on the Sokol intercom.

After the “introduction” of the “Sokol” firmware into the “Bevard” intercom panel, it becomes possible to perform such functions as:

- by connecting the module 4.6 through the bus 12 with the power supply 11 eliminates the possibility of failure of the intercom panel due to a power surge;

- due to the presence of the application space 1 and the connection of such modules as 1.1 camafon and 1.2 streamer, it is possible not only to implement a video stream and save it, but also to view the video archive for each specific subscriber (namely, your address), as well as adjust the video quality and the ability to configure night shooting;

- due to the presence of the sip 1.5 module, it is possible to configure apartment intercom handsets, namely, setting the automatic on and off of the sound signal, as well as adjusting the volume;

- due to the presence of sensors in the module firmware 4.3, it is possible to additionally connect, for example, LEDs for keyboard illumination, or a demagnetization button.

Thus, the functionality of the intercom panel is expanded, despite the fact that the technical equipment remains the same, and the entire operation of the device is stabilized and protection against power outages is performed.

Claims (1)

An intercom control system, characterized in that it contains a single printed circuit board, an application space located on a data processing server and connected by a control signal to a device controller, a device controller and physical resources are installed on a single printed circuit board, while the physical resources and the controller are located separately from Linux operating system kernels; the device controller consists of modules: memory, processor, sensors, signal input / output, input / output bus, and the processor is connected to an additional physical voltage control board containing an input voltage regulation block, which is connected directly to the power source, while the device controller one-way connection account - the control signal is connected to the camafon module to start the process of processing the video stream from the information input module - the camera and saves the video archive to the memory module, also after starting camafon the signal goes to the kernel of the Linux operating system, which communicates with the streamer and dns modules, for through which the video stream is broadcast on the paired devices, and the api server module, the dns module and the sip module are used for address translation.

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