JP7806586B2 - Relay device and system - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to relay devices and systems.

Traditionally, lighting effects in studios, stages, etc. are created using multiple lighting devices. A known lighting system for creating such lighting effects is one that controls each lighting device in accordance with a standard called DMX512 (hereinafter referred to as "DMX").

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-216046

On the other hand, if there are multiple control devices that send control information to a DMX node, controlling each control device can sometimes become complicated.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a relay device and system that can reduce the effort required to control each control device.

A relay device according to an embodiment includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit receives information regarding a change to the control information of the control target from the control device that controls the control target. When the transmitting unit receives information regarding the change, it transmits a notification regarding the change to another control device that is different from the control device that issued the change instruction.

This invention reduces the effort required to control each control device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of information processing executed by a relay device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device information storage unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of information processing executed by the relay device according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information processing executed by a relay device according to a modified example.

The relay device 100 according to the embodiment described below includes a receiving unit 131 and a transmitting unit 133. The receiving unit 131 receives information relating to a change to the control information of the control target from the control device that controls the control target. When the transmitting unit 133 receives information relating to the change, it transmits a notification relating to the change to another control device that is different from the control device that issued the change instruction.

In addition, the transmitter 133 of the relay device 100 according to the embodiment described below transmits information related to a command for changing the settings of the control information as a notification of the change.

In addition, the transmitter 133 of the relay device 100 according to the embodiment described below transmits, as notification of the change, information about a command indicating that the change to the control information settings has been completed.

In addition, the transmitter 133 of the relay device 100 according to the embodiment described below transmits a notification of the change to the control device, which is the destination and is pre-stored in a specific storage unit.

Furthermore, the reception unit 131 of the relay device 100 according to the embodiment described below receives a control command for controlling a control target from a control device, and the modification unit 132 converts the control command into a DMX signal and transmits the DMX signal to a specific device that transmits the DMX signal to the control target.

Furthermore, the reception unit 131 of the relay device 100 according to the embodiment described below receives information regarding changes to the control information of lighting devices to be controlled.

Furthermore, the system 1 according to the embodiment described below includes a relay device 100 and a dimmer console 10. The relay device 100 includes a reception unit 131 and a transmission unit 133. The reception unit 131 receives information regarding a change to the control information of the controlled object from the dimmer console that controls the controlled object. When the transmission unit 133 receives information regarding the change, it transmits a notification regarding the change to a dimmer console other than the dimmer console that issued the change instruction. When the dimmer console 10 receives the notification regarding the change, it updates the control information of the controlled object based on the content of the notification regarding the change.

Below, a detailed description will be given of a mode for implementing a relay device and system according to the present application (hereinafter referred to as an "embodiment") with reference to the drawings. Note that the relay device and system according to the present application are not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the embodiments can be combined as appropriate as long as the processing content is not inconsistent. Furthermore, the same components in the following embodiments will be assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

[Embodiment]
[Information processing indicated by relay device]
The information processing executed by the relay device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information processing executed by the relay device 100 according to an embodiment. The system shown in Fig. 1 includes a dimmer console 10 (an example of a control device), a DMX node 20, a lighting device LE1 (an example of a control target), and the relay device 100.

Here, lighting device LE1 is fixedly installed in a studio, stage, etc., and is controlled by a control address. Lighting device LE1 has a light source of multiple semiconductor light-emitting elements, such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). Furthermore, lighting device LE1 is a lighting device that can control, for example, the intensity (dimming level) of the light output by the semiconductor light-emitting elements, the color and range of the light output, etc., using control signals such as DMX signals received from dimmer console 10 and RDM signals based on the RDM (Remote Device Management) standard, which is an extension of the DMX standard, and illuminates a specified position according to the received control signals.

In the example of Figure 1, an example will be described in which there are multiple dimmers 10 and one DMX node 20. Below, different dimmers 10 may be distinguished and referred to as dimmers 11, dimmers 12, etc. On the other hand, when describing dimmers 11 and 12 without any particular distinction, they may be referred to as dimmers 10. Note that in the example of Figure 1, the dimmers 10 is used as an example, but this is not limiting, and the dimmers 10 may be replaced with, for example, a tablet terminal or a PC (Personal Computer).

As shown in FIG. 1, the relay device 100 receives setting information, which is information related to changing the control information of the lighting device LE1, from the dimmer console 11 (step S1). For example, the relay device 100 receives information related to a command related to changing the setting of the control information of the lighting device LE1 as the setting information.

The relay device 100 then transmits the setting information to the DMX node 20 as a notification regarding the change in the control information of the lighting device LE1 (step S2). For example, the relay device 100 converts information regarding the command regarding the setting change into a DMX signal. The relay device 100 then transmits the converted DMX signal to the DMX node 20.

Then, the DMX node 20 changes the settings for the lighting device LE1 (step S3). For example, the DMX node 20 changes the various pieces of information set for the lighting device LE1 based on the command related to the setting change. To give a more specific example, assume that the command related to the setting change indicates that the address of the lighting device LE1 is to be changed from "10" to "20". In this case, the DMX node 20 changes the address of the lighting device LE1 from "10" to "20" based on the command related to the setting change.

The lighting device LE1 then transmits notification that the setting change has been completed to the DMX node 20 (step S4). The DMX node 20 then transmits notification that the setting change has been completed to the relay device 100 (step S5). The relay device 100 then transmits information related to the setting change to the dimmer console 12 (step S6). For example, the relay device 100 transmits information related to the setting change such as "The address of lighting device LE1 has been changed from '10' to '20'."

Here, the relay device 100 is assumed to have stored in advance in a predetermined storage unit the IP (Internet Protocol) addresses of the dimmer consoles 11 and 12, associated with identification information for identifying the dimmer consoles 11 and 12. In this case, the relay device 100 transmits information regarding the setting changes to the dimmer console 12 whose IP address is stored in the predetermined storage unit.

Previously, when there were multiple dimmers 10 sending control information to a DMX node, it was not possible to send information about setting changes made on dimmers 11 to dimmers 12. As a result, the user who operated dimmers 11 had to separately input the setting changes to dimmers 12. As such, when there were multiple dimmers 10 sending control information to a DMX node, controlling each dimmer 10 could become complicated.

Therefore, when the relay device 100 receives information regarding a change to the control information of a control target from a control device that controls the control target, it transmits a notification regarding the change to another control device that is different from the control device that issued the change instruction. In this way, it is possible to notify other dimmer consoles 10. This allows the relay device 100 to reduce the effort required to control each control device.

[System configuration]
Next, the configuration of the system 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the system 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the system 1 includes a dimmer console 10, a DMX node 20, and a relay device 100. The dimmer console 10, the DMX node 20, and the relay device 100 are connected to each other via a network N so as to be able to communicate with each other by wire or wirelessly. Note that the system 1 shown in Fig. 2 may include a plurality of dimmer consoles 10, a plurality of DMX nodes 20, and a plurality of relay devices 100.

The dimmer console 10 is realized by a device known as an operation console or control console, and controls the lighting device based on operations by an operator. For example, the dimmer console 10 has operation units such as a preset fader, master fader, and buttons, and receives control of the lighting device's dimming level and color from the user via the operation units.

In this case, the dimmer console 10 controls the lighting device by outputting a DMX signal containing a control address indicating the lighting device to be controlled and the control content as a dimming signal. For example, when the dimmer console 10 receives a request to control the dimming level or color of a lighting device, it outputs a DMX signal indicating the control content.

The dimmer console 10 is also connected to the network N via Ethernet (registered trademark).

The DMX node 20 distributes the dimming signal to multiple lighting devices. The DMX node 20 also has multiple ports to which multiple lighting devices can be connected. The DMX node 20 is connected to the network N via Ethernet (registered trademark).

The DMX node 20 is connected to the dimmer console 10 via a network such as Ethernet or a LAN (Local Area Network) so that two-way communication is possible. Meanwhile, the DMX node 20 and lighting devices are connected via specified communication lines according to the DMX or RDM standards so that two-way communication is possible.

The relay device 100 is an information processing device capable of communicating with various devices via the network N, and is realized, for example, by a server device or a cloud system. For example, the relay device 100 is connected to various other devices via the network N so that it can communicate with them.

[Configuration of relay device]
Next, an example of the functional configuration of the relay device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the relay device 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit 130.

(Regarding the communication unit 110)
The communication unit 110 is realized by, for example, a network interface card (NIC). The communication unit 110 is connected to a network N via a wired or wireless connection and transmits and receives information to and from various other devices. The communication unit 110 may also be capable of communicating with an external cloud system that stores setting information.

(Regarding the storage unit 120)
The storage unit 120 stores programs and the like for implementing control by the control unit 130. The storage unit 120 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 120 also includes a device information storage unit 121.

(Regarding the device information storage unit 121)
The device information storage unit 121 stores information about various devices. For example, the device information storage unit 121 stores identification information for identifying the dimmer table 10 in association with the IP address of the dimmer table 10. Note that the device information storage unit 121 may previously store the identification information for identifying the dimmer table 10 in association with the address of the dimmer table 10.

Here, Figure 3 shows an example of the device information storage unit 121 according to the embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 3, the device information storage unit 121 has items such as "identification information," "device information," and "address."

"Identification information" is an identifier that identifies a device. "Device information" is various information about the device associated with the "identification information." "Address" is information about the address assigned to the device associated with the "identification information."

For example, in Figure 3, "ID1" identified by the identification information has device information "AP1" and address "AD1." Note that in the example shown in Figure 3, device information, etc. is expressed using abstract codes such as "AP1," but device information, etc. may also be in the form of numbers, character strings, or the file format of a file containing various information indicating device information, etc.

(Regarding the control unit 130)
The control unit 130 executes various processes of the relay device 100. The control unit 130 can be realized by a control circuit including a processor and memory. Each functional unit of the control unit 130 is realized, for example, by the processor reading instructions written in a program from the internal memory and executing the program using the internal memory as a work area. The programs read by the processor from the internal memory include an operating system (OS) and application programs. Each functional unit of the control unit 130 may also be realized by an integrated circuit such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 130 has a reception unit 131, a change unit 132, and a transmission unit 133, and realizes or executes the information processing functions and actions described below. Note that the internal configuration of the control unit 130 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, and may be other configurations as long as they perform the information processing described below. Furthermore, the connection relationships between the processing units of the control unit 130 are not limited to the connection relationships shown in FIG. 2, and may be other connection relationships.

(Regarding the Reception Unit 131)
The reception unit 131 receives various types of information. Specifically, the reception unit 131 receives information regarding changes to control information of a control target from a control device that controls the control target. For example, the reception unit 131 receives setting information, which is information regarding changes to control information of a lighting device (an example of a control target), from the dimmer console 10 (an example of a control device). For example, the reception unit 131 receives information regarding a command related to a setting change of the control information of the lighting device as the setting information.

When receiving setting information from the dimmer table 10, the reception unit 131 may also receive identification information for identifying the dimmer table 10 and the IP address of the dimmer table 10. In this case, the reception unit 131 may store the identification information for identifying the dimmer table 10 and the address of the dimmer table 10 in association with each other in the device information storage unit 121.

(Regarding the change unit 132)
The change unit 132 changes various types of information. Specifically, the change unit 132 changes setting information. For example, the change unit 132 converts information related to a setting change command received by the reception unit 131 into a DMX signal.

(Regarding the transmitting unit 133)
The transmitter 133 transmits various types of information. Specifically, the transmitter 133 transmits setting information to the DMX node 20 as a notification regarding a change in the control information of the lighting device. For example, the transmitter 133 transmits the DMX signal changed by the change unit 132 to the DMX node 20.

Furthermore, when information regarding the change is received, the transmission unit 133 transmits a notification regarding the change to another control device different from the control device that issued the change instruction. In the example of Figure 1, the transmission unit 133 transmits information regarding the change in settings to the lighting console 12.

For example, the transmission unit 133 transmits information regarding the change in settings to the dimmer console 12 having the IP address stored in the device information storage unit 121. For example, the transmission unit 133 transmits information such as "The address of lighting device LE1 has been changed from '10' to '20'" as information regarding the change in settings.

[Processing Procedure]
Next, the procedure of information processing executed by the relay device 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of information processing executed by the relay device 100 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the reception unit 131 determines whether to accept setting information (step S101). Specifically, if the reception unit 131 has not accepted setting information (step S101; No), the reception unit 131 waits until it accepts setting information.

On the other hand, if the reception unit 131 receives the setting information (step S101; Yes), the change unit 132 changes the setting information (step S102). Subsequently, the transmission unit 133 transmits information regarding the setting changes to the other dimmer desks 10 (step S103).

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the relay device 100 transmits information regarding the change in the settings to another dimmer console 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the DMX node 20A may have the function of the relay device 100.

An example of information processing executed by the DMX node 20A will be described using Figure 5. As shown in Figure 5, the DMX node 20A receives setting information, which is information related to changing the control information of the lighting device LE1, from the dimmer console 11 (step S21). For example, the DMX node 20A receives information related to a command related to changing the setting of the control information of the lighting device LE1 as the setting information.

Next, the DMX node 20A changes the settings for the lighting device LE1 (step S22). For example, the DMX node 20A changes the various pieces of information set for the lighting device LE1 based on the command related to the setting change. To give a more specific example, assume that the command related to the setting change indicates that the address of the lighting device LE1 is to be changed from "10" to "20". In this case, the DMX node 20A changes the address of the lighting device LE1 from "10" to "20" based on the command related to the setting change.

Next, lighting device LE1 sends notification that the setting change has been completed to DMX node 20A (step S23). Then, DMX node 20A sends information related to the setting change to the dimmer console 12 (step S24). For example, DMX node 20A sends information related to the setting change such as "The address of lighting device LE1 has been changed from '10' to '20'."

In this way, the DMX node 20A according to this modified example can reduce the effort required to control each control device. The DMX node 20A may also transmit information regarding the setting changes to the dimmer console 12 using a broadcast.

In addition, while the above embodiment has been described with reference to an example in which the system is installed in a studio or a stage, the system may also be installed in other facilities. For example, other facilities may be public institutions such as theaters, movie theaters, community centers, or any other facility such as a building.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the control device is a dimmer table 10, but this is not limited to this. For example, the control device may be a desktop PC, a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, etc.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was given in which the controlled object was a lighting device, but this is not limited to this. For example, the controlled object may be a baton, a power panel, a dimmer panel, another DMX node 20, etc.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the transmitter 133 of the relay device 100 transmits information regarding the setting change to another dimmer console 10. However, the transmitter 133 may also transmit information regarding a command indicating that the setting change of the control information has been completed as a notification regarding the change.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This embodiment can be embodied in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims, as well as the scope and spirit of the invention.

N Network 1 System 10, 11, 12 Dimmer console 20 DMX node 100 Relay device 110 Communication unit 120 Storage unit 121 Device information storage unit 130 Control unit 131 Reception unit 132 Change unit 133 Transmission unit

Claims (7)

a receiving unit that receives information regarding a change in control information of a control object from a control device that controls the control object;
a transmitting unit that, when information regarding the change is received, transmits a notification regarding the change to another control device that is different from the control device that issued the change instruction;
A relay device comprising: The transmission unit
The relay device according to claim 1 , wherein the notification of the change is information about a command related to a setting change of the control information. The transmission unit
The relay device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notification regarding the change is information regarding a command indicating that the setting change of the control information has been completed. The transmission unit
4. The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller that is a destination pre-stored in a predetermined storage unit, and that transmits a notification regarding the change to the control device. The reception unit
receiving a control command for controlling the control target from the control device;
A conversion unit converts the control command into a DMX signal,
The transmission unit
The relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the relay device transmits the DMX signal to a predetermined device that transmits the DMX signal to the control target. The reception unit
The relay device according to claim 1 , wherein the relay device receives information relating to a change in control information of a lighting device as the control target. A system including a relay device and a dimmer console,
The relay device
a receiving unit that receives information regarding a change in control information of a control object from the lighting console that controls the control object;
a transmitting unit that, when information regarding the change is received, transmits a notification regarding the change to another dimmer console different from the dimmer console that is the source of the change instruction;
Equipped with
The dimmer console is
and when receiving the notification of the change, updating the control information of the controlled object based on the content of the notification of the change.