Cabinet U-bit detection system and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a cabinet U bit detection system and method. The system comprises front-end equipment and a background server, the front-end equipment is mounted on the cabinet and is used for photographing the U-bit area of the cabinet in sequence to generate a plurality of images; equipment is placed in part or all of the U positions of the cabinet, two-dimensional code labels are pasted on front panels of part or all of the equipment, and the two-dimensional code labels comprise equipment information. And the background server is used for integrating and analyzing the plurality of images, and generating an equipment image in the cabinet and U-bit occupation data according to an integration and analysis result. By using the scheme of the invention, the detection statistics of the cabinet U bit can be accurately and efficiently realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of visual recognition, and in particular to a cabinet U-position detection system and method. Background Art

[0002] The mechanical installation dimensions of IT (Information Technology) equipment in a data center comply with relevant standards. The width is 19 inches and the height is measured in "U" digits. U is a unit that represents the height of IT equipment. It is an abbreviation of unit and is a special unit of measurement for the height occupied by IT equipment installed in a cabinet, which is internationally used.

[0003] U-position asset management and control is the statistics and update of IT equipment asset changes. By counting U-position assets, corresponding statistical data can be provided to operation and maintenance personnel to realize asset positioning, asset inventory, capacity management and other functions. At present, the mainstream solution for IT asset management is to count the U-positions of the cabinet through the RFID system. The RFID system consists of an RFID reader, software and tags attached to each item. RFID tags are attached to each device, and near-field communication is performed through the built-in RFID chip. The RFID reader automatically identifies whether each U-position in the cabinet is occupied, as well as the device information occupying this space. However, this method has the following disadvantages:

[0004] 1. RFID tags exist in a nearly closed metal cabinet environment. For the detection of small IT assets, the reliability and accuracy of radio frequency technology are low;

[0005] 2. Due to the limitation of installation position in the cabinet, the number of RFID tags that can be recognized by a card reader is very limited;

[0006] 3. The communication between RFID tags and RFID readers is based on the principle of electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic backscattering, and its frequency ranges from tens of MHz to hundreds of MHz. In some scenarios, it may cause electromagnetic interference to the data center;

[0007] 4. The integration of IT equipment is becoming increasingly higher, and the space on the IT equipment panel where RFID tags can be attached is limited. Summary of the invention

[0008] The embodiments of the present invention provide a cabinet U-position detection system and method, which can accurately and efficiently realize the detection statistics of cabinet U-positions.

[0009] On the one hand, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cabinet U position detection system, the system comprising: a front-end device and a back-end server;

[0010] The front-end device is installed on the cabinet and is used to take pictures of the U-position area of ​​the cabinet in sequence to generate multiple images; devices are placed in some or all of the U-positions of the cabinet, and QR code labels are attached to the front panels of some or all of the devices, and the QR code labels contain device information;

[0011] The background server is used to integrate and analyze the multiple images, and generate images of equipment in the cabinet and U-position occupancy data according to the integrated analysis results.

[0012] Optionally, the front-end device includes:

[0013] The guide rail is set on the front door of the cabinet, and its length is the same as the total height of the cabinet U position;

[0014] A servo motor is mounted on the guide rail and is used to move up and down along the guide rail during operation;

[0015] A camera, mounted on the servo motor, is used to take pictures of the equipment in the U position of the cabinet and the QR code label on the equipment when the servo motor moves up and down along the guide rail to generate corresponding images;

[0016] The transmission control device is used to control the operation of the servo motor and acquire the image.

[0017] Optionally, the transmission control device is connected to the servo motor via a network cable.

[0018] Optionally, the transmission control device controls the servo motor to move along the guide rail in a stepping manner until all U positions of the cabinet are photographed and then return to the initial position; the stepping length is n U positions, n≥1.

[0019] Optionally, the servo motor sends a photo-taking instruction to the camera after each step, and returns the current position information to the transmission control device; after receiving the photo-taking instruction, the camera takes a photo of the U-position area and transmits the generated image to the transmission control device.

[0020] Optionally, after receiving the photographing instruction, the camera first takes a first photograph of the U position area, and then takes a second photograph of the QR code label area.

[0021] Optionally, after receiving a scanning instruction from the background server or a manual scanning instruction, the transmission control device controls the servo motor to start working; or the transmission control device controls the servo motor to start working according to a set cycle.

[0022] Optionally, the front-end device further includes:

[0023] A door closing relay, installed on the cabinet, for sending a door closing signal to the transmission control device when the cabinet door is closed;

[0024] The transmission control device is also used to control the servo motor to start working after delaying a set time after receiving the door closing signal.

[0025] Optionally, the guide rail is installed in the middle position of the cabinet door.

[0026] Optionally, the background server is also used to determine whether the device in the U position is not affixed with a QR code label based on the integrated analysis results, and to give a prompt when it is detected that the device in the U position is not affixed with a QR code label.

[0027] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a cabinet U position detection method, the method comprising:

[0028] Taking pictures of the U-position area of ​​the cabinet in sequence to generate multiple images; devices are placed in some or all of the U-positions of the cabinet, and QR code labels are attached to the front panels of some or all of the devices, and the QR code labels contain device information;

[0029] The multiple images are integrated and analyzed, and images of equipment in the cabinet and U-position occupancy data are generated according to the integrated analysis results.

[0030] Optionally, the sequentially photographing the devices in the U positions of the cabinet and the QR code labels on the devices includes: triggering a photographing process every n U positions, where n≥1.

[0031] Optionally, each photographing process includes: first taking a first photograph of the U position area, and then taking a second photograph of the QR code label area.

[0032] Optionally, the method further includes: determining whether the device in the U position is not affixed with a QR code label according to the integrated analysis result, and giving a prompt when it is detected that the device in the U position is not affixed with a QR code label.

[0033] The cabinet U-position detection system and method provided by the embodiment of the present invention sequentially photographs the equipment in the cabinet U-position and the QR code labels on the equipment to generate multiple images, integrate and analyze these images, and generate images of equipment in the cabinet and U-position occupancy data based on the integrated analysis results. The scheme of the present invention uses visual recognition technology to detect and count the cabinet U-positions. Compared with the existing method of tag recognition through RFID readers, it will not affect the electromagnetic environment of the equipment, and can more conveniently, accurately and efficiently determine the information of all U-positions in the cabinet; moreover, generating a visualized image of the equipment in the cabinet can help operation and management personnel discover abnormal physical fault equipment, so that the fault can be handled in a timely manner.

[0034] Furthermore, it is possible to determine whether the device in the U position is not affixed with a QR code label based on the integrated analysis results of all images. When it is detected that the device in the U position is not affixed with a QR code label, an active prompt can be given to avoid statistical errors caused by human operational errors.

[0035] Furthermore, there are many ways to trigger the cabinet U position detection, such as remote control, on-site manual triggering, triggering under certain conditions, periodic triggering, etc., so as to meet the diverse needs of different users.

[0036] Furthermore, the rail structure on the cabinet is easy to install and debug, and can be manufactured, installed and debugged at the same time when a new cabinet is manufactured, eliminating the need for on-site installation and debugging; for existing cabinets, installation and debugging can also be performed by screws, facilitating the upgrade and transformation of existing cabinets. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a cabinet U position detection system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 2 It is a structural and installation diagram of a front-end device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of an adaptation structure of a servo motor and a guide rail in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 a side view of the adapting structure shown;

[0041] Figure 5 It is a flow chart of a cabinet U position detection method provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and beneficial effects of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] In response to the problems existing in the existing method of identifying labels of U-position devices in a cabinet through an RFID reader, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cabinet U-position detection system and method, which uses a camera to take pictures of the devices in the U-position of the cabinet and the QR code labels on the devices in sequence to generate multiple images, and integrate and analyze these images. According to the integrated analysis results, images of the equipment in the cabinet and U-position occupancy data are generated to achieve detection statistics of the U-position of the cabinet.

[0044] like Figure 1 , which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cabinet U position detection system provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] The cabinet U position detection system includes: a front-end device 10 and a back-end server 20. Among them:

[0046] The front-end device 10 is installed on the cabinet and is used to take pictures of the U-position area of ​​the cabinet in sequence to generate multiple images; devices are placed in some or all of the U-positions of the cabinet, and QR code labels are pasted on the front panels of some or all of the devices, and the QR code labels contain device information.

[0047] The backend server 20 is used to integrate and analyze the multiple images taken by the front-end device 10, and generate images of equipment in the cabinet and U-position occupancy data according to the integrated analysis results.

[0048] In some embodiments, the front-end device 10 and the back-end server 20 can be connected via a network cable to achieve image transmission. That is, after each photo-taking process is completed, the front-end device 10 can transmit the corresponding image to the back-end server 20 via the network cable in real time.

[0049] In other embodiments, the front-end device 10 may also save the generated image in a local memory. After all corresponding U positions of the cabinet are photographed, the back-end server 20 reads the local memory of the front-end device 10, or copies the image data stored in the local memory to the back-end server 20 through a mobile device, so that the back-end server 20 obtains the corresponding image.

[0050] It should be noted that, for the shooting of the U positions of the cabinet, each U position can be shot in turn according to the field of view angle of the camera, or the shooting process can be performed every 2-3 U positions.

[0051] like Figure 2 The figure shows a schematic diagram of the structure and installation of a front-end device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] The front-end equipment includes the following parts:

[0053] The guide rail 11 is arranged on the cabinet door 31 of the cabinet 30, and has a length equal to the total height of the cabinet U position;

[0054] A servo motor 12 is mounted on the guide rail 11 and is used to move up and down along the guide rail 11 during operation;

[0055] The camera 13 is installed on the servo motor 12 and is used to take pictures of the equipment in the U position of the cabinet and the QR code labels on the equipment when the servo motor 12 moves up and down along the guide rail 11 to generate corresponding images;

[0056] The transmission control device 14 is used to control the operation of the servo motor and acquire the image.

[0057] like Figure 2 As shown, the transmission control device 14 can be installed on the cabinet 30. The specific installation position is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention and can be determined according to the placement position of the cabinet 30 and the environmental space. For example, in a non-limiting embodiment, it is installed on the top of the cabinet 30.

[0058] The transmission control device 14 can be connected to the servo motor 12 and the camera 13 via a network cable. In order to keep the exterior of the cabinet 30 neat and beautiful, the network cable can be embedded in the cabinet 30 or attached to the inside or outside of the back panel of the cabinet 30. This embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0059] The power supply of each part in the front-end equipment can be supplied by the power supply on the cabinet.

[0060] The transmission control device 14 can control the servo motor 12 to move along the guide rail 11 in a stepping manner until all U positions of the cabinet are photographed and then return to the initial position; the step length is n U positions, n ≥ 1. The initial position may be the bottom position or the top position of the guide rail 11. If the bottom of the guide rail 11 is set to the initial position, the servo motor 12 moves from bottom to top along the guide rail 11 after being triggered to start working, and returns to the initial position along the guide rail 11 after all U positions are photographed. It should be noted that it is not necessary to move in a stepping manner when returning, and it can be connected and moved from top to bottom to the initial position. If the top of the guide rail 11 is set to the initial position, the servo motor 12 moves similarly to the above after being triggered to start working, but in the opposite direction.

[0061] In the embodiment of the present invention, the servo motor 12 can send a photographing instruction to the camera 13 after each step, and return the current position information to the transmission control device 14. Accordingly, after receiving the photographing instruction, the camera 13 photographs the U-position area and transmits the generated image to the transmission control device 14 via a network cable.

[0062] In some embodiments, each time the camera 13 receives a photo taking instruction, it can aim at the U-position area and take an image, which includes the devices in the area and the QR code labels attached to the front panels of the devices.

[0063] In other embodiments, each time the camera 13 receives a photo command, it may first take a photo of the U position area, and then take a photo of the QR code label area for the second time. The angles and exposure parameters of the two photos are different. The first photo can collect the overall brightness of the field of view area to adjust the exposure parameters, and the second photo can adjust the exposure parameters according to the brightness of the QR code label location, so that when the images are subsequently integrated and analyzed, each device and QR code label can be more accurately identified.

[0064] like Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of an adaptation structure of a servo motor and a guide rail in an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A side view of the adapter structure shown.

[0065] In this example, a toothed structure 111 is provided on the guide rail 11, and correspondingly, a gear 121 matching the toothed structure 111 is provided on the servo motor 12. This structure can more conveniently control the distance of each step of the servo motor 12.

[0066] Furthermore, the gear 121 may also have a locking mechanism 122. After each step of the servo motor 12, the locking mechanism 122 can be attached to the guide rail 11, which can effectively prevent the servo motor 12 from damaging the equipment in the U position of the camera 13 when an abnormality (such as loss of control) occurs.

[0067] It should be noted that Figure 3 The structure shown is only an exemplary description. In actual implementation, other structures may be used as long as the servo motor 12 can be moved up and down along the guide rail 11 according to a fixed step size and time interval.

[0068] In the embodiment of the present invention, the transmission control device 14 can control the servo motor 12 in various ways, such as:

[0069] In some embodiments, the transmission control device 14 may receive Figure 1 After receiving the scanning instruction from the background server 20 or the manual scanning instruction, the servo motor 12 is controlled to start working.

[0070] In other embodiments, the transmission control device 14 can also control the servo motor 12 to start working according to a set cycle.

[0071] In other embodiments, Figure 2 As shown in Figure 1 The front-end device 10 may further include: a door closing relay 15, which is installed on the cabinet 30, for example, it can be installed on the cabinet 30 near the connection with the cabinet door 31, and is used to send a door closing signal to the transmission control device 14 when the cabinet door 31 is closed. Accordingly, the transmission control device 14 can delay the setting time after receiving the door closing signal to control the servo motor 12 to start working.

[0072] Continue to refer to Figure 1In the cabinet U position detection system provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the background server 20 can integrate the image obtained by the front-end device 10 to form a complete image of the equipment in the cabinet. The specific image integration process can adopt existing related technologies, which are not limited by the embodiment of the present invention. The background server can display the generated complete image in real time, so that the equipment maintenance personnel can determine whether the operating status of each device in the cabinet is abnormal based on the complete image.

[0073] In addition, the backend server 20 can also perform target recognition on the complete image, determine whether there is a device occupying each U position, and obtain the number of occupied U positions and unoccupied U positions by counting. Furthermore, the QR code labels on the device can be identified, the number of QR code labels can be counted, and whether the number of occupied U positions and the number of QR code labels are the same according to the statistical results. If they are different, it means that some U positions are occupied by devices but no QR code labels are attached. Furthermore, the position of the U position where the device without the QR code label is located can be determined, and corresponding prompts can be given, such as displaying "It is detected that a device has not attached a QR code label", and further displaying "location information", etc. The specific display information can be set according to actual needs, and this embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0074] Furthermore, in some embodiments, an alarm indicator light may be provided on the panel of some devices in the U position, for example, when a device fails, the alarm indicator light is red. Accordingly, the backend server 20 may also identify the alarm indicator light, and when the alarm indicator light is identified to be red, prompt the device failure information.

[0075] The cabinet U-position detection system provided by the embodiment of the present invention realizes the detection and statistics of the cabinet U-position through visual recognition technology. Compared with the existing method of tag recognition through RFID reader, it will not affect the electromagnetic environment of the equipment, and can more conveniently, accurately and efficiently determine the information of all U-positions in the cabinet; moreover, generating a visualized image of the equipment in the cabinet can help the operation and management personnel find abnormal physical fault equipment, so that the fault can be handled in time. The cabinet U-position detection system of the embodiment of the present invention can realize automatic detection of the cabinet U-position and improve the degree of automation of detection.

[0076] Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a cabinet U position detection method, such as Figure 5 As shown, it is a flow chart of the method, comprising the following steps:

[0077] In step 501, the U-position areas of the cabinet are photographed in sequence to generate multiple images; devices are placed in some or all of the U-positions of the cabinet, and QR code labels are attached to the front panels of some or all of the devices, and the QR code labels contain device information.

[0078] Specifically, a photographing process may be triggered every n U positions, where n≥1. Moreover, each photographing process may be performed once or twice, for example, the U position area is photographed for the first time, and then the QR code label area is photographed for the second time.

[0079] In step 502, the plurality of images are integrated and analyzed, and images of equipment in the cabinet and U-position occupancy data are generated according to the integrated analysis results.

[0080] In other embodiments, the cabinet U position detection method may further include the following steps: determining whether the device in the U position is not affixed with a QR code label based on the integrated analysis results, and giving a prompt when it is detected that the device in the U position is not affixed with a QR code label.

[0081] In a specific implementation, the various modules / units contained in the various devices and equipment in the cabinet U position detection system described in the above embodiments may be software modules / units or hardware modules / units, or may be partly software modules / units and partly hardware modules / units.

[0082] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this article is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this article indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0083] The “plurality” that appears in the embodiments of the present invention refers to two or more than two.

[0084] The first, second, etc. descriptions appearing in the embodiments of the present invention are only used for illustration and distinction of the description objects. There is no order, nor does it indicate any special limitation on the number of devices in the embodiments of the present invention, and cannot constitute any limitation on the embodiments of the present invention.

[0085] Although the present invention is disclosed as above, the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A cabinet U position detection system, characterized in that: The system includes: a front-end device and a back-end server; The front-end device is installed on the cabinet and is used to take pictures of the U-position area of ​​the cabinet in sequence to generate multiple images; devices are placed in some or all of the U-positions of the cabinet, and QR code labels are attached to the front panels of some or all of the devices, and the QR code labels contain device information; The background server is used to integrate and analyze the multiple images, and generate images of equipment in the cabinet and U-position occupancy data according to the integrated analysis results.

2. The cabinet U position detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front-end device comprises: The guide rail is set on the front door of the cabinet, and its length is the same as the total height of the cabinet U position; A servo motor is mounted on the guide rail and is used to move up and down along the guide rail during operation; A camera, mounted on the servo motor, is used to take pictures of the equipment in the U position of the cabinet and the QR code label on the equipment when the servo motor moves up and down along the guide rail to generate corresponding images; The transmission control device is used to control the operation of the servo motor and acquire the image.

3. The cabinet U position detection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transmission control device is connected to the servo motor via a network cable.

4. The cabinet U position detection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transmission control device controls the servo motor to move along the guide rail in a stepping manner until all U positions of the cabinet are photographed and then return to the initial position; the stepping length is n U positions, n≥1.

5. The cabinet U position detection system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The servo motor sends a photo-taking instruction to the camera each time it steps forward, and returns current position information to the transmission control device; After receiving the photographing instruction, the camera takes a photograph of the U-position area and transmits the generated image to the transmission control device.

6. The cabinet U position detection system according to claim 5, characterized in that: After receiving the photographing instruction, the camera first takes a photograph of the U position area for the first time, and then takes a photograph of the QR code label area for the second time.

7. The cabinet U position detection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: After receiving the scanning instruction from the backend server or the manual scanning instruction, the transmission control device controls the servo motor to start working; or The transmission control device controls the servo motor to start working according to a set period.

8. The cabinet U position detection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The front-end device also includes: A door closing relay, installed on the cabinet, for sending a door closing signal to the transmission control device when the cabinet door is closed; The transmission control device is also used to control the servo motor to start working after delaying a set time after receiving the door closing signal.

9. The cabinet U position detection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The guide rail is installed at the middle position of the front door of the cabinet.

10. The cabinet U position detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The background server is also used to determine whether the device in the U position is not affixed with a QR code label based on the integrated analysis results, and to give a prompt when it is detected that the device in the U position is not affixed with a QR code label.

11. A cabinet U position detection method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Taking pictures of the U-position area of ​​the cabinet in sequence to generate multiple images; devices are placed in some or all of the U-positions of the cabinet, and QR code labels are attached to the front panels of some or all of the devices, and the QR code labels contain device information; The multiple images are integrated and analyzed, and images of equipment in the cabinet and U-position occupancy data are generated according to the integrated analysis results.

12. The cabinet U position detection method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The sequentially photographing the devices in the U positions of the cabinet and the QR code labels on the devices includes: The photo-taking process is triggered every n U bits, where n≥1.

13. The cabinet U position detection method according to claim 12, characterized in that: Each photo-taking process includes: first taking a photo of the U-position area, and then taking a photo of the QR code label area for the second time.

14. The cabinet U position detection method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Determine whether the device in the U position has no QR code label affixed based on the integrated analysis results, and give a prompt when it is detected that the device in the U position has no QR code label affixed.

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