JP2015082765A - Imaging device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to quickly reset an IP address without requiring complicated work when the IP address becomes unknown.
An imaging system including an imaging device and a control device, the imaging device having transmission means for transmitting image data including connection specific information for connecting to the imaging device, wherein the control device includes an image A receiving unit that receives data, an extraction unit that extracts connection-specific information from image data, and a connection request transmitted to the imaging device when the communication connection with the imaging device is not established. Transmitting means.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an imaging system having an imaging device (Flat Panel Detector, hereinafter abbreviated as FPD) having a planar radiation detector has become widespread as an imaging system used for medical image diagnosis and nondestructive inspection using X-rays. An imaging system having this FPD is a system capable of digital imaging that obtains a digital image signal from radiation such as X-rays transmitted through a subject such as a patient. An imaging system having an FPD is used for still image shooting such as general shooting and moving image shooting such as fluoroscopic shooting in medical image diagnosis.

  As an X-ray imaging system, a system in which a single control device controls a plurality of imaging devices is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such an imaging system, Ethernet (registered trademark) is widely adopted as a communication means between the control device and the imaging device (FPD). The control device can easily control a plurality of imaging devices by adopting Ethernet to set an IP address for each imaging device. Further, by adopting Ethernet, the administrator can easily replace the imaging device in the imaging system with an alternative imaging device, expand the imaging system, or the like. However, in an imaging system employing Ethernet, the IP address of the imaging device may not be known due to factors such as erroneous operation or memory failure of the control device. In this case, the communication connection between the control device and the image capturing device cannot be established, and the image capturing device cannot capture images. For such problems, as a recovery measure when the IP address becomes unknown, there is a method of providing a dedicated switch for returning the IP address to the initial setting, and a dedicated tool for returning the IP address to the initial setting. A method to use is proposed.

JP 2001-340326 A

  However, as described above, when a means for returning the IP address to the initial setting is provided, the apparatus scale and the apparatus cost are increased. Furthermore, after initializing the IP address, complicated work such as resetting the IP address and reconnecting is required, and the time required for recovery becomes longer. In addition, when one imaging system has imaging devices with different restoration means, the restoration process becomes more complicated, and the time required for restoration becomes further longer. In addition, when the recovery means is different for each imaging apparatus, work such as replacement of the imaging apparatus to the imaging system and expansion of the imaging system becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a mechanism capable of quickly resetting an IP address without requiring complicated work.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an imaging apparatus that is connected to an external device via a network, and that transmits image data including connection specific information for connecting to the imaging apparatus in the network via the network. Have

  According to the present invention, even when the IP address becomes unknown, it is possible to quickly reset the IP address without requiring complicated work.

It is a figure which shows an imaging system. It is a figure which shows an imaging device. It is a flowchart which shows the connection process by an imaging device. It is a flowchart which shows the connection process by a control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the imaging system concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing by an imaging device. It is a flowchart which shows the connection process by a control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of a change.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an imaging system according to the first embodiment. The imaging system includes an imaging device 10, an X-ray light source 11, a control device 12, and a monitor 13. The imaging device 10 and the X-ray light source 11 detect X-rays transmitted through a person as a subject P mounted on the bed 20 while synchronizing with the command from the control device 12. The detected X-ray is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal in the imaging apparatus 10. Then, the digital signal is transmitted to the control device 12 as needed, and is displayed as an image on the monitor 13 by the control device 12.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the imaging apparatus 10. The CPU 201 reads a control program stored in the ROM 202 and executes various processes. The RAM 203 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and a work area for the CPU 201. The HDD 204 stores image data, various programs, various information to be described later, and the like. The network I / F 207 communicates with an external device such as the control device 12 by Ethernet using an IP address. Here, the IP address is an example of connection specific information. The hardware configuration of the control device 12 is the same as the hardware configuration of the imaging device 10 described with reference to FIG. Note that the control device 12 may further include an operation unit for accepting various operations from the operator. The functions and information processing of the imaging apparatus 10 are realized by the CPU 201 reading out a program stored in the ROM 202 or the HDD 204 and executing this program. Similarly, the functions and information processing of the control device 12 are realized by the CPU 201 of the control device 12 reading out a program stored in the ROM 202 or the HDD 204 and executing this program.

  3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining processing for establishing communication between the imaging device 10 and the control device 12 in the imaging system. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing connection processing by the imaging apparatus 10. The imaging device 10 starts connection processing after activation. In step S <b> 301, the CPU 201 of the imaging apparatus 10 transmits image data including its own IP address to the control apparatus 12. That is, the CPU 201 transmits image data when the imaging apparatus 10 is activated (transmission processing). Here, the image data including the IP address of the own device is, for example, image data that displays the IP address, image data that displays the IP address together with image data captured by the imaging device 10, or the like. When the CPU 201 of the control device 12 receives image data including an IP address (reception processing), the received image data is stored in the ROM 202 or the like. Next, in step S302, the CPU 201 waits until the network I / F 205 receives a communication connection request from the control device 12 (reception processing). If the CPU 201 receives a connection request (Yes in S302), the CPU 201 advances the process to S303. In step S <b> 303, the CPU 201 establishes a communication connection with the control device 12. This completes the connection process.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing connection processing by the control device 12. In S401, the CPU 201 of the control device 12 designates the IP address of the imaging device 10 stored in the ROM 202 or the like of the own device, and transmits a connection request to the imaging device 10 (transmission processing). At this time, the CPU 201 starts counting elapsed time. That is, the elapsed time is the time from the connection request transmission timing. Next, in S402, the CPU 201 confirms whether or not a connection corresponding to the connection request transmitted in S401 has been established. When the CPU 201 establishes a communication connection with the imaging apparatus 10 that is the transmission destination of the connection request (Yes in S402), the CPU 201 ends the connection process. If the communication connection is not established (No in S402), the CPU 201 advances the process to S403.

  In S403, the CPU 201 confirms whether or not T1 time has elapsed from the start of counting. Here, T1 is a time threshold value and is stored in advance in the ROM 202 or the like. Note that cases where the communication connection is not established within the time T1 include cases where the imaging device 10 or the control device 12 is not correctly connected to the network, the imaging device 10 is not activated, or the like. If the T1 time has elapsed (Yes in S403), the CPU 201 ends the connection process as a connection failure. On the other hand, if the T1 time has not elapsed (No in S403), the CPU 201 advances the process to S404.

  In step S <b> 404, the CPU 201 confirms whether image data including an IP address has been received from the imaging apparatus 10. If the CPU 201 has not received the image data including the IP address (No in S404), the process proceeds to S401. That is, in this case, the CPU 201 transmits the connection request again in S401. If the CPU 201 has received the image data including the IP address (Yes in S404), the process proceeds to S405. In step S <b> 405, the CPU 201 extracts an IP address from the image data including the IP address (extraction process), and registers the extracted IP address in the ROM 202 or the like as a new IP address of the imaging device 10. The CPU 201 further displays the newly registered IP address on the monitor 13.

  Next, in S406, the CPU 201 deletes image data including the IP address from the ROM 202 or the like. Next, in step S407, the CPU 201 designates the newly registered IP address and transmits a connection request to the imaging device 10 again (transmission processing). At this time, the CPU 201 starts counting elapsed time again. Next, in step S408, the CPU 201 confirms whether or not a connection corresponding to the connection request transmitted in step S407 has been established. When the CPU 201 establishes a communication connection with the imaging apparatus 10 that is the transmission destination of the connection request (Yes in S408), the CPU 201 ends the connection process. If the communication connection is not established (No in S408), the CPU 201 advances the process to S409. In S409, the CPU 201 confirms whether or not the T1 time has elapsed since the count start in S408. If the T1 time has elapsed (No in S409), the CPU 201 ends the connection process as a connection failure. On the other hand, if the T1 time has not elapsed (Yes in S409), the CPU 201 advances the process to S407.

  As described above, in the imaging system according to the first embodiment, the imaging device 10 transmits image data including its own IP address to the control device 12 every time it starts. Therefore, even when the IP address of the imaging device 10 becomes unknown for some reason, the control device 12 quickly establishes communication with the imaging device 10 using the IP address included in the received image data. be able to.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an imaging system according to the second embodiment. The imaging system according to the second embodiment includes two imaging devices 10A and 10B and two X-ray light sources 11A and 11B corresponding thereto. The imaging system further includes a control device 12 and a monitor 13 as in the imaging system according to the first embodiment. The imaging system according to the present embodiment obtains a three-dimensional image by combining images taken from two directions by the imaging devices 10A and 10B and the light sources 11A and 11B. The imaging device 10 </ b> A and the light source 11 </ b> A perform X-ray detection while synchronizing based on a command from the control device 12. Similarly, the imaging device 10 </ b> B and the light source 11 </ b> B perform X-ray detection while synchronizing based on a command from the control device 12. The imaging devices 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B convert detected X-rays from analog signals to digital image signals and transmit them to the control device 12 as needed. The control device 12 synthesizes a three-dimensional image from the images received from the imaging devices 10A and 10B. The control device 12 outputs a three-dimensional image as an image on the monitor 13.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control process performed by the imaging device 10A and the imaging device 10B. The imaging devices 10A and 10B each start connection processing after activation. In step S <b> 601, the CPU 201 of the imaging devices 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B waits until the network I / F 205 receives a communication connection request from the control device 12. In addition, CPU201 will start the count of elapsed time, if a connection process is started (count process). That is, the elapsed time is an elapsed time from the start timing of the imaging devices 10A and 10B. If the CPU 201 receives a connection request (Yes in S601), the process proceeds to S605. In step S605, the CPU 201 establishes a communication connection with the control device 12, and ends the connection process. Thereby, the imaging devices 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B become controllable from the control device 12.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 201 does not receive a connection request in S601 (No in S601), the CPU 201 advances the process to S602. In step S602, the CPU 201 confirms whether T2 time has elapsed since the start of the connection process. Here, T2 is a time threshold value and is stored in advance in the ROM 202 or the like. If the T2 time has not elapsed (No in S602), the CPU 201 advances the process to S601. On the other hand, if the time T2 has elapsed, that is, if the elapsed time has exceeded the time threshold (Yes in S602), the CPU 201 advances the process to S603.

  In step S <b> 603, the CPU 201 transmits image data including an IP address and a device ID to the control device 12. Here, the device ID is an identifier for each imaging device. Different imaging IDs are allocated to the imaging devices 10A and 10B, respectively. In step S <b> 604, the CPU 201 waits until the network I / F 205 receives a connection request from the control device 12. If the CPU 201 receives a connection request (Yes in S604), the CPU 201 advances the process to S605.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing connection processing by the control device 12. The connection process is a process in which the control device 12 establishes a communication connection with each of the imaging devices 10A and 10B. The control device 12 uses the imaging devices 10A and 10B as communication partners, and executes connection processing independently for each communication partner. Hereinafter, the connection process will be described by taking as an example a case where the imaging apparatus 10A is a communication partner. In S701, the CPU 201 of the control device 12 designates the IP address of the imaging device 10A stored in the ROM 202 of the own device, and transmits a connection request to the imaging device 10A. At this time, the CPU 201 starts counting elapsed time. Hereinafter, the processing of S702 and S703 is the same as the processing of S402 and S403 in the connection processing (FIG. 4) by the control device 12 according to the first embodiment.

  In step S <b> 703, the CPU 201 confirms whether image data including an IP address and a device ID has been received. If the CPU 201 has not received image data including an IP address or the like (No in S704), the process proceeds to S701. If the CPU 201 has received image data including an IP address or the like (Yes in S704), the process proceeds to S705. In S705, the CPU 201 compares the device ID included in the image data with the device ID of the imaging device 10A. If the device ID included in the image data matches the device ID of the imaging device 10A (Yes in S705), the CPU 201 advances the process to S706.

  If the device ID included in the image data does not match the device ID of the imaging device 10A (No in S705), the CPU 201 advances the process to S701. The processes of S706 to S710 are the same as the processes of S405 to S409, respectively. The remaining configuration and processing of the imaging system according to the second embodiment are the same as the configuration and processing of the imaging system according to the first embodiment.

  As described above, in the imaging device according to the second embodiment, the imaging devices 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B transmit image data including the device ID of the device itself and the IP address to the control device 12. Therefore, even when the IP address of the imaging device 10 becomes unknown for some reason, the control device 12 quickly uses the IP address included in the image data transmitted to the control device 12 to Communication can be established. In addition, since the imaging devices 10A and 10B transmit image data including an IP address and the like when a predetermined time (T2) has elapsed, the imaging devices 10A and 10B transmit image data more than necessary. Can be prevented.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a first modification of the connection process performed by the control device 12 according to the first embodiment. In the connection according to the first modification, in S404, when the CPU 201 receives image data including an IP address from the imaging apparatus 10 (Yes in S404), the process proceeds to S801. In step S <b> 801, the CPU 201 displays image data including an IP address on the monitor 13, and ends the connection process as a connection failure. Thus, in the first modified example, the reconnection process is not performed, and the process is ended only by notifying the user of the connection failure. As a result, the user can manually continue the operation of the apparatus after confirming whether or not resetting of the IP address is necessary.

  This modification example can also be applied to connection processing by the control device 12 according to the second embodiment. That is, in the connection process shown in FIG. 7, when the result in S705 is Yes, the CPU 201 displays the image data including the IP address on the monitor 13, and ends the connection process as a connection failure.

  As a second modification, the imaging system may further include an image processing device. In this case, the imaging device 10 transmits image data to the image processing device. Then, the control device 12 receives the image data transmitted by the imaging device 10 via the image processing device.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media. Then, the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program.

  As described above, according to each embodiment described above, when the IP address becomes unknown, it is possible to quickly reset the IP address without requiring a complicated operation.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

10 imaging device, 11 X-ray light source, 12 control device, 13 monitor, 201 CPU, 202 ROM, 203 RAM, 204 HDD, 205 network I / F

Claims (7)

An imaging device connected to an external device via a network,
An imaging apparatus comprising: transmission means for transmitting image data including connection-specific information for connecting to the imaging apparatus in the network via the network.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the image data when the imaging apparatus is activated. Counting means for counting the elapsed time from the start timing of the imaging device;
Receiving means for receiving a connection request from a control device that controls the imaging device;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the image data when the elapsed time exceeds a threshold without receiving the connection request. An imaging system including an imaging device and a control device,
The imaging device
Transmission means for transmitting image data including connection specific information for connecting to the imaging device;
The controller is
Receiving means for receiving the image data;
An extraction means for extracting the connection specific information from the image data when a communication connection with the imaging device is not established;
An imaging system comprising: a transmission unit that transmits a connection request to the imaging apparatus using the extracted connection specific information. An information processing method executed by an imaging device connected to an external device via a network,
An information processing method including a transmission step of transmitting image data including connection specific information for connecting to the imaging device in the network via the network. An information processing method executed by an imaging system including an imaging device and a control device,
A transmission step in which the imaging device transmits image data including connection-specific information for connecting to the imaging device;
A receiving step in which the control device receives the image data;
An extraction step of extracting the connection specific information from the image data when the control device does not establish a communication connection with the imaging device;
An information processing method comprising: a transmission step in which the control device transmits a connection request to the imaging device using the extracted connection specific information. Computer
A program for functioning as transmission means for transmitting image data including connection-specific information for connecting to the computer in the network via the network.

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