JP2006054771A - Network hub device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a network hub apparatus by which easy access is allowed, without being conscious of the IP address of a network camera. <P>SOLUTION: The network hub apparatus comprises a switching hub means having a port connecting a plurality of network devices; a communication means for conducting communication through a network; a storage means for storing a hub management table; and a control means assigning the IP address to the network device raised an acquisition request by using a DHCP server function, when the acquisition request for the IP address is raised from the network device connected to the port of the switching hub means, and registering port number of the port connected to the network device, the assigned IP address, and the port name of the port on the hub management table. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a hub (concentrator) used in a network system or the like using a network camera that distributes captured image information or the like over a network, and in particular, is aware of the IP (Internet Protocol) address of a network device such as a network camera. The present invention relates to a network hub device that allows easy access without any problems.

  Prior art documents related to a network system using a network camera that distributes image information and the like taken on a network over the network include the following.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-023445 JP 2003-158521 A JP 2003-198586 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-199087 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-249941

  FIG. 14 is a configuration block diagram showing an example of a network system (specifically, a monitoring system) using a network camera that distributes such captured image information and the like over a network.

  In FIG. 14, 1, 2 and 3 are network cameras that are installed at each monitoring location and distribute image information and the like taken on the network, 4 and 5 are hubs, and 6 is an image display such as a computer that displays the distributed image information. An apparatus 7, an image recording apparatus such as a server for recording and storing distributed image information, and a general-purpose network 100 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet.

  The network cameras 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the respective ports of the hub 4, and the network connection ends of the hub 4 are connected to the network 100. The image display device 6 and the image recording device 7 are connected to the respective ports of the hub 5, and the network connection ends of the hub 5 are connected to the network 100.

  Here, the operation of the conventional example shown in FIG. 14 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an access status from the image display device 6 or the image recording device 7 to the network camera.

  The network cameras 1, 2, and 3 capture images of places where they are installed and distribute the captured image information over the network 100 via the hub 4. On the other hand, the image display device 6 and the image recording device 7 collect the image information distributed on the network 100 via the hub 5 and display it on the display means or sequentially store it in a storage means such as a hard disk and record it.

  More specifically, fixed IP addresses such as “IP01”, “IP02”, and “IP03” are allocated to the network cameras 1, 2 and 3 in advance as shown in FIG. The image recording apparatus 7 can access the network cameras 1 and 2 based on the IP address, as indicated by “AC01” and “AC02” in FIG.

  As a result, the network cameras 1 to 3 are installed at each monitoring location, and the captured image information and the like are distributed over the network 100, and the image information and the like on the network 100 are collected by the image display device 6 and the image recording device 7. By displaying and recording, a monitoring system can be configured.

  However, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 14, it is necessary to secure IP addresses for the number of network cameras in advance and to set IP addresses for each network camera one by one, which makes setting work extremely complicated. There was a problem that it would become.

Also, when replacing a network camera due to a network camera failure, it is necessary to set a separate IP address. If the IP address of the network camera is changed due to various circumstances, the IP address change information is displayed as an image. There is a problem that it must be provided to the apparatus 6 and the image recording apparatus 7 side.
Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to realize a network hub device that allows easy access without being aware of the IP address of the network camera.

In order to achieve such a problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is:
In the network hub device,
Switching hub means having a port for connecting a plurality of network devices, communication means for communicating via a network, storage means for storing a hub management table, and network equipment connected to the ports of the switching hub means When there is an IP address acquisition request, the DHCP server function is used to assign an IP address to the requested network device, and the port number of the port to which the network device is connected, the assigned IP address, and the By providing the control means for registering the port names for the respective ports in the hub management table, it is not necessary to set the IP addresses one by one, and the work man-hours can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 2
In the network hub device according to claim 1,
The control means is
When a connection request is received via the communication means, a port name is extracted from the received connection request, and the port management name stored in the storage means is searched based on the extracted port name. The IP address of the network device is obtained by converting the address of the received connection request based on the acquired IP address and transferring it to the network device corresponding to the IP address via the switching hub means. It is possible to easily access without being aware of the address.

The invention described in claim 3
In the network hub device according to claim 2,
In the connection request,
By sequentially describing the IP address of the network hub device, the port name for the port to which the network device to be connected and the requested file name are described, it is possible to easily access without being aware of the IP address of the network device. It becomes possible.

The invention according to claim 4
In the network hub device according to claim 3,
The control means is
By replacing the IP address and the port name portion of the network hub device in the connection request with the acquired IP address and converting the received connection request address, it is easy without being aware of the IP address of the network device. Can be accessed.

The invention according to claim 5
In the network hub device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The storage means
By using a hard disk, RAM, or flash memory, it is not necessary to set the IP address one by one, and the number of work steps can be reduced. Further, it is possible to easily access without being aware of the IP address of the network device.

The invention described in claim 6
In the network hub device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
By applying to a network system using the network device that distributes image information on the network, it is not necessary to set IP addresses one by one, and the number of work steps can be reduced. Further, it becomes possible to easily access without being aware of the IP address of the network device.

The invention described in claim 7
In the network hub device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Application to a network system using the network device that distributes voice information on the network eliminates the need to set IP addresses one by one, thereby reducing the number of work steps. Further, it becomes possible to easily access without being aware of the IP address of the network device.

The invention described in claim 8
In the network hub device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
By applying the measurement information to the network system using the network device that distributes the information on the network, it is not necessary to set the IP address one by one, and the number of work steps can be reduced. Further, it becomes possible to easily access without being aware of the IP address of the network device.

The invention according to claim 9
In the network hub device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
By applying the observation information to the network system using the network device that distributes the information on the network, it is not necessary to set the IP address one by one, and the number of work steps can be reduced. Further, it becomes possible to easily access without being aware of the IP address of the network device.

The present invention has the following effects.
According to the first, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth aspects of the present invention, by automatically setting the IP address of the network device having the DHCP client function by the DHCP server function of the connected network hub device. There is no need to set IP addresses one by one, and the number of work steps can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and claim 9, the connection is made based on the IP address of the network hub device and the port name for the port to which the network device to be connected is connected. By creating a request (URL) and converting the address based on the IP address corresponding to the port name, it becomes possible to easily access without being aware of the IP address of the network device.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a network system (specifically, a monitoring system) using a network hub device according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 100 are assigned the same reference numerals as in FIG. 14, and 8, 9 and 10 are DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) that distributes images and the like installed at each monitoring location on the network. : A protocol that dynamically assigns IP addresses to devices on the network (hereinafter simply referred to as DHCP) A network camera having a client function, 11 having a DHCP server function, and converting a connection request from the network 100 side It is a network hub device to transfer.

  The network cameras 8, 9 and 10 are connected to the respective ports of the network hub device 11, and the network connection ends of the network hub device 11 are connected to the network 100. The image display device 6 and the image recording device 7 are connected to the respective ports of the hub 5, and the network connection ends of the hub 5 are connected to the network 100.

  2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the network hub device 11. In FIG. 2, 8, 9, 10 and 100 are assigned the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1, and 12 is a plurality of network cameras. Switching hub means having a port to be connected, 13 is a control means that controls each constituent means and has an address conversion function and a DHCP server function, 14 is a communication means for performing communication via the network 100, and 15 is a hub management table. Storage means such as a hard disk. In addition, 12, 13, 14, and 15 constitute a network hub device 50.

  The network cameras 8, 9 and 10 are connected to the respective ports of the switching hub means 12, and the communication means 14 is connected to the network 100. Further, the input / output of the switching hub unit 12 is connected to the control unit 13, and the input / output of the communication unit 14 and the storage unit 15 is also connected to the control unit 13.

  Here, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. This will be described in detail.

  3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the network cameras 8 to 10, FIGS. 4, 9, and 13 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the flow of information. FIGS. 5, 10, and 12 show the operation of the network hub device 11. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the hub management table, FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the image display device 6 or the image recording device 7, and FIG. 8 is an image display device 6 or the image recording device 7. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an example of address conversion, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an example of address conversion.

  First, an operation for automatically setting an IP address to the network cameras 8 to 10 will be described. In “S001” in FIG. 3, the network cameras 8 to 10 determine whether or not they are connected to the port of the switching hub 12 of the network hub device 11, and if it is determined that they are connected to the port, FIG. In the middle “S002”, the network cameras 8 to 10 request the network hub apparatus 11 to obtain an IP address using the DHCP client function, and in “S003” in FIG. Wait until you get it.

  For example, as indicated by “RA11” in FIG. 4, the network camera 8 transmits an IP address acquisition request to the connected network hub device 11 and waits until the IP address is acquired.

  When it is determined that the IP address is acquired from the network hub device 11 in “S003” in FIG. 3, the network cameras 8 to 10 use the acquired IP address as their own IP address in “S004” in FIG. Set.

  For example, as shown by “GA11” in FIG. 4, when the network camera 8 acquires an IP address from the network hub device 11, the acquired IP address is set as the IP address of the network camera 8.

  On the other hand, in “S101” in FIG. 5, the network hub device 11 determines whether or not there is an IP address acquisition request from the connected network cameras 8 to 10, and if it is determined that there is an acquisition request, In “S102” in FIG. 5, the network hub device 11 notifies the network camera that has made an acquisition request using the DHCP server function to notify the IP address assignment.

  Further, in “S103”, “S104”, “S105”, and “S106” in FIG. 5, the network hub device 11 registers the port number of the port to which the network camera is connected in the hub management table, and the network camera The MAC (Media Access Control address) address is registered in the hub management table, the IP address assigned to the network camera is registered in the hub management table, and the port name for the port to which the network camera is connected is stored in the hub management table. sign up.

  For example, in the hub management table stored in the storage means 15 constituting the network hub device 11 as shown in FIG. 6, the port numbers (1, 2, 3,...) Of the ports of the switching hub means 12 are Port names (C1, C2, C3...), Connected network camera MAC addresses (MAC21, MAC22, MAC23...), And assigned IP addresses (IP21, IP22, IP23...) Are registered.

  Secondly, an access operation to the network cameras 8 to 10 will be described. Here, a fixed IP address (specifically, “IP31”) is preset in the network hub device 11, and the IP address and network camera are connected to the image display device 6 and the image recording device 7. Suppose that there is information about the port name for a given port.

  In “S201” in FIG. 7, the image display device 6 or the image recording device 7 determines whether or not to connect to the network camera. If it is determined to connect to the network camera, in “S202” in FIG. The image display device 6 or the image recording device 7 creates a connection request (URL) based on the IP address of the network hub device and the port name for the port to which the network camera to be connected is connected.

  Specifically, as a connection request (URL), a resource type “http: //” (HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)) is specified as a scheme name as shown by “FM31” in FIG. The fixed IP address of the hub device 11, the port name for the port to which the network camera to be connected is connected, and the requested HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) file name are described sequentially by separating them with “/”.

  That is, when the port name for the port to which the network camera to be connected is connected is “C1” and the requested HTML file name is “index.html”, the fixed IP address of the network hub device 11 is “IP31”. Therefore, the connection request (URL) described is as indicated by “CR31” in FIG.

  In “S203” in FIG. 7, the image display device 6 or the image recording device 7 transmits the connection request (URL) described in this way to the network hub device 11, and in “S204” in FIG. 7, the response from the network camera is transmitted. Wait for reception.

  For example, as indicated by “RQ31” in FIG. 9, the image table device 6 transmits a connection request (URL) to the network hub device 11 via the hub 5 and the network 100 and receives a response from the network camera. stand by.

  On the other hand, in “S301” in FIG. 10, the network hub device 11, specifically, the control unit 13 determines whether a connection request is received from the image display device 6 or the image recording device 7 via the communication unit 14. If it is determined that a connection request has been received, the network hub device 11, specifically, the control means 13 extracts the port name from the received connection request in “S 302” in FIG. 10.

  Specifically, the port name “C1” is extracted from the connection request indicated by “CR41” in FIG.

  Then, in “S303” in FIG. 10, the network hub device 11, specifically, the control unit 13 searches the hub management table stored in the storage unit 15 based on the extracted port name, and sets the port name. The corresponding IP address is acquired, and in “S304” in FIG. 10, the network hub device 11, specifically, the control means 13 converts the address of the received connection request based on the acquired IP address and in FIG. The connection request whose address is converted in S305 "is transferred to the network camera corresponding to the IP address via the switching hub means 12.

  Specifically, the hub management table shown in FIG. 6 is searched based on the port name “C1” extracted from the connection request shown in “CR41” in FIG. 11, and the corresponding IP address “IP21” is acquired. As shown in the middle “CN41”, the IP address and port name portion of the network hub device 11 is replaced with the acquired IP address “IP21”, in other words, the address of the received connection request is converted to “RQ32” in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the data is transferred to the network camera 8 corresponding to the IP address.

  Then, in “S401” in FIG. 12, the network hub device 11, specifically, the control means 13 determines whether or not a response from the network camera has been received via the switching hub means 12, and if so, If it is determined that the data has been received, the network hub device 11, specifically, the control means 13 transfers it to the image display device 6 or the image recording device 7 via the communication means 14 in “S 402” in FIG.

  Specifically, when receiving a response from the network camera 8 as indicated by “RS51” in FIG. 13, the network hub device 11 passes through the network 100 and the hub 5 as indicated by “TR51” in FIG. 13. To the image display device 6.

  Finally, returning to “S204” in FIG. 7, if it is determined that a response from the network camera has been received, the image display device 6 or the image recording device 7 displays the received information in “S205” in FIG. Or record.

  As a result, by automatically setting the IP address of the network camera having the DHCP client function by the DHCP server function of the connected network hub device 11, there is no need to set the IP address one by one. Can be reduced.

  When connecting to such a network camera, a connection request (URL) is created based on the IP address of the network hub device and the port name for the port to which the network camera to be connected is connected, and the IP address corresponding to the port name. By converting the address based on the IP address, it is possible to easily access without being aware of the IP address of the network camera.

  Furthermore, since it is possible to access a plurality of network cameras via one fixed IP address, it is possible to effectively use the depleted IP address resources.

  In the description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a monitoring system using a network camera is illustrated for the sake of simplicity. Of course, any network device having a DHCP client function may be used. It doesn't matter.

  As a network system that can use the network hub device of the present invention, not only a monitoring system using a network camera but also a network that distributes various types of information such as image information, audio information, measurement information, and observation information over the network. The present invention can be applied to a network system using equipment.

  The storage means 15 constituting the network hub device is exemplified by a hard disk, but of course storage means such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and flash memory (electrically rewritable ROM (Read Only Memory)). May be used.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a network system using a network hub device according to the present invention. It is a block diagram showing a specific example of a network hub device. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of a network camera. It is explanatory drawing explaining the flow of information. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of a network hub apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a hub management table. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of an image display apparatus or an image recording device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the description format of the connection request | requirement for accessing a network camera from an image display apparatus or an image recording device. It is explanatory drawing explaining the flow of information. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of a network hub apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of address conversion. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of a network hub apparatus. It is explanatory drawing explaining the flow of information. 1 is a configuration block diagram illustrating an example of a network system using a network camera. It is explanatory drawing explaining the access condition to the network camera from an image display apparatus or an image recording device.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 Network camera 4, 5 Hub 6 Image display device 7 Image recording device 11, 50 Network hub device 12 Switching hub means 13 Control means 14 Communication means 15 Storage means 100 Network

Claims (9)

In the network hub device,
Switching hub means having a port for connecting a plurality of network devices;
A communication means for communicating via a network;
Storage means for storing a hub management table;
When there is an IP address acquisition request from a network device connected to the port of the switching hub means, an IP address is assigned to the network device requested to acquire using the DHCP server function, and the network device is connected. A network hub device comprising: a control means for registering a port number of an existing port, the assigned IP address, and a port name for the port in the hub management table. The control means is
When a connection request is received via the communication means, a port name is extracted from the received connection request, and the port management name stored in the storage means is searched based on the extracted port name. An IP address corresponding to the IP address is acquired, the address of the received connection request is converted based on the acquired IP address, and transferred to the network device corresponding to the IP address via the switching hub means. The network hub device according to 1. In the connection request,
3. The network hub device according to claim 2, wherein an IP address of the network hub device, a port name for a port to which a network device to be connected is connected, and a requested file name are sequentially described. The control means is
4. The network hub device according to claim 3, wherein an IP address and a port name portion of the network hub device in the connection request are replaced with the acquired IP address to convert the received connection request address. The storage means
5. The network hub device according to claim 1, wherein the network hub device is a hard disk, a RAM, or a flash memory. 5. The network hub device according to claim 1, wherein the network hub device is applied to a network system using the network device that distributes image information on the network. 5. The network hub device according to claim 1, wherein the network hub device is applied to a network system using the network device that distributes voice information on the network. 5. The network hub device according to claim 1, wherein the network hub device is applied to a network system using the network device that distributes measurement information on the network. 5. The network hub device according to claim 1, wherein the network hub device is applied to a network system using the network device that distributes observation information on the network.

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