Network Telescope System

Abstract

To provide a network telescope system which allows a plurality of users to use a celestial body observation facility as fairly as possible regardless of time limit.SOLUTION: A network telescope system receives an observation request and an imaging request from a plurality of client computers 1 to 3 connected via the network to a celestial body observation facility having an astronomical telescope 6 which captures an observation object by driving a frame in response to an observation command from a computer and means 7 for imaging the observation object, previously gives an authentication code and a credit value that is equal to or greater than a threshold to a person who wants to use the facility and records them in a management server, makes the management server confirm that the user has a use qualification with input of the authentication code every time the user uses the celestial body observation facility, updates the record of the management server by reducing the credit value on the basis of a certain condition during the use, and does not permit the use of the celestial body observation facility when the credit value is equal to or less than the threshold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an astronomical observation facility equipped with an astronomical telescope, and more particularly to a system for operating a telescope via a network. [Background technology]

[0002] A network telescope system is known that is equipped with an astronomical observation facility that has an astronomical telescope that drives a mount to capture an object to be observed in accordance with observation commands from a computer and is also equipped with a means for capturing an image of the object to be observed, and that accepts observation requests and imaging requests from multiple client computers connected via a network (Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the astronomical observation facilities that use the above-mentioned network, when restricting users, it is common to set a unique authentication code for each user, such as an ID and password that identifies the user. Furthermore, to prevent a specific person from monopolizing the astronomical observation facility for a long period of time, a time limit is imposed on each connection, thereby avoiding such problems.

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2002-23064 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in astronomical observations, some observations require a long time, and some require time to track changes, so if the observation time is uniformly limited by a time limit, the observation may be interrupted and necessary observations may not be able to be made.

[0006] The present invention was devised in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a network telescope system that allows multiple users to use astronomical observation facilities as fairly as possible, regardless of time restrictions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In other words, the network telescope system of the present invention is a network telescope system that is equipped with an astronomical telescope that drives a mount to capture an object to be observed in accordance with observation commands from a computer, and that accepts observation requests and photography requests from multiple client computers connected via a network to astronomical observation equipment equipped with a means for imaging the object to be observed.Those who wish to use the equipment are given an authentication code and a credit value that is above a threshold in advance and recorded on a management server, and each time a user uses the astronomical observation equipment, the management server confirms that the user is eligible to use the equipment by entering the authentication code, and further, while the equipment is in use, the credit value is deducted based on certain conditions and the record on the management server is updated, and if the credit value is below the threshold, the user is not allowed to use the astronomical observation equipment.

[0008] Furthermore, the invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that in the network telescope system, the authentication code is invalidated so that use of the astronomical observation equipment is not permitted.

[0009] Furthermore, the invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that in the network telescope system, credit deduction does not start until a certain period of time has elapsed.

[0010] Furthermore, the invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that in the network telescope system, credits are deducted according to the number of times an image is captured by an image capturing device.

[0011] Furthermore, the invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that in the network telescope system, credits are deducted according to the number of times the telescope mount captures the target of observation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, since observation time is not uniformly limited by a time limit, specific users can secure a certain amount of observation time and obtain certain results from their observations. On the other hand, since the occupation of the astronomical observation facility by specific users for long periods or for extended periods is restricted, other users can use the astronomical observation facility fairly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network telescope system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of authentication of the management server. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0014] When using the network telescope system of the present invention, a credit value exceeding a threshold is given to the user along with a unique authentication code issued in advance, and these are simultaneously recorded in the management server of the astronomical observation facility. When the user enters the authentication code to connect to the astronomical observation facility, the management server will only allow the connection to the astronomical observation facility if the authentication code is correct and the credit value is greater than the threshold.

[0015] When an authorized user starts using the facility, the credit value starts to be deducted based on predetermined conditions. Note that, when connection time limitations and the method of the present invention are used together, the credit deduction may start after the connection time limit is exceeded.

[0016] The deduction condition is basically the usage time, for example, 1 credit is deducted every 10 minutes, and the value on the management server is updated. Of course, if there are multiple astronomical observation facilities, the deduction can be done in different time units depending on the connected facility. Also, the deduction condition for credits can be the number of astronomical images taken or the number of times the celestial object to be observed is introduced.

[0017] When the value recorded on the management server falls below the threshold due to the credit deduction, the connected user is notified of this and the connection is terminated after a certain period of time. Even if the user attempts to connect again, the management server will refuse the connection if the user's credit value is below the threshold, so the user will not be able to connect to the astronomical observation facility until the credit value is updated.

[0018] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the simplest system of the present invention. In the figure, reference numerals 1 to 3 represent client computers of network telescope users, reference numeral 4 represents a management server connected to client computers 1 to 3, reference numeral 5 represents a control device, reference numeral 6 represents an astronomical telescope, reference numeral 7 represents an imaging device, and reference numeral 8 represents a mount for the telescope.

[0019] In this block diagram, client computers 1 to 3 and management server 4 are connected via network N, but it goes without saying that the control device 5 may be connected by being placed on the network. Furthermore, network N is not limited to the Internet, and may of course be a network within a facility.

[0020] The control device 5 controls the telescope 6, the imaging device 7, and the telescope mount 8. If the number of astronomical observation facilities connected to the management server 4 is small, one or all of the telescope 6, the imaging device 7, and the telescope mount 8 may be directly connected to the management server 4 in order to reduce the overall cost of the facilities. If all are connected, the management server 4 and the control device 5 will be shared.

[0021] The control device 5 analyzes instructions from users via the client computers 1-3 sent via the management server 4, and issues control commands to the telescope 6, imaging device 7, and telescope mount 8. When there are many astronomical observation facilities, the equipment contents may differ for each facility, so it is advisable to arrange control devices 5 to absorb the differences between facilities and to distribute the load on the management server 4. Upon receiving a control command from the control device 5, the telescope 6, imaging device 7, and telescope mount 8 execute the command and return a response to the control device 5 as necessary.

[0022] The control device 5 sends the received response to the management server 4 as necessary, and the management server 4 processes the received response appropriately as necessary and returns it to the user. The main responses returned to the user include the pointing direction of the telescope (right ascension, declination, etc.), the status of the imaging device, and the captured image.

[0023] 2 is an authentication flow diagram of the management server 4. In a normal authentication flow, connection is permitted with only an authentication code, but in the present invention, after the authentication code is confirmed, connection is further determined based on the remaining credit amount.

[0024] A user requests permission from the facility manager to use the astronomical observation facility, which is made up of the control device 5, telescope 6, imaging device 7, and telescope mount 8. This permission may be for temporary use or for periodic, continuous use, but in this example, we will show a periodic, continuous use permission that encompasses temporary use.

[0025] When granting permission for use, the facility manager determines the user's authentication code and credit value, presents them to the user, and records them in the management server. Of course, this procedure can be performed automatically without human intervention by a program on the management server. The credit value can also be different for each user.

[0026] When actually using the astronomical observation facility, a user requests connection to the astronomical observation facility from the management server 4, and the management server 4 then asks the user to enter an authentication code (step S1). When the user enters the authentication code, the management server verifies the authentication code (steps S1 to S6), and if it is an appropriate authentication code, checks the credit value associated with the authentication code (step S7), and if it is equal to or greater than a threshold, permits connection (steps S8 to S9, S10). Here, it is shown that if the credit value is 0, use of the astronomical observation facility is not permitted, but since the user's credit value is 1 or greater, connection to the astronomical observation facility is permitted.

[0027] When a connection is made to an astronomical observation facility, the management server begins deducting the credit value. Here, an example is shown in which 1 credit is deducted every hour. Since this is a typical example, fractional connection times are not taken into account, but it is of course also possible to treat connection times in 6-minute increments and deduct in 0.1 credit increments.

[0028] The user issues instructions to the telescope mount and imaging device via the control device. Depending on the connection configuration within the astronomical observation facility, instructions can also be issued to the telescope mount and imaging device without going through the control device.

[0029] After one hour has passed since the start of the connection, the management server 4 subtracts the credit value of user 1. As the credit value becomes 0, the user is no longer permitted to connect, and the management server 4 disconnects the user from the astronomical observation facility.

[0030] Of course, a countdown may be started, for example, 30 minutes before the connection is cut off, and the countdown may be displayed to the user.

[0031] For example, if a user is granted 10 credits per month and the management server subtracts the credits every hour, the user is allowed to connect to the astronomical observation facility for only 10 hours.

[0032] If there is no limit on the connection time, observations can be made for a maximum of about 10 hours in the Japanese winter, so if a user continues to use the service for that long, their credits will be lost in one night and they will no longer be able to connect to the astronomical observation facilities for that month. Meanwhile, other users will be able to use the astronomical observation facilities for the remaining 29 nights of the month.

[0033] Furthermore, if a user uses the facility for one hour every day, the credit will be lost in ten days and the user will no longer be able to connect. However, other users will be able to use the facility for about nine hours on the same day that the user uses the facility, and will also be able to use the facility for the remaining 19 nights when the user is not authorized to authenticate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1-3 Client computers (users) 4 Management Server 5. Control device 6 telescope 7. Imaging device 8 Telescope Mount

Claims

1. A network telescope system is provided with an astronomical observation facility that includes an astronomical telescope that captures an object of observation by driving a mount in accordance with observation commands from a computer, and that also includes a means for capturing an image of the object of observation. The network telescope system receives observation requests and image capture requests from a plurality of client computers connected via a network to the astronomical observation facility. A network telescope system characterized by the fact that an authentication code and a credit value above a threshold are assigned in advance to those who wish to use the facility and recorded in a management server; each time a user uses the astronomical observation facility, the management server confirms that the user is eligible to use the facility by having the user enter the authentication code; and during use, the credit value is deducted based on certain conditions and the management server's records are updated; and if the credit value is below the threshold, the user is not permitted to use the astronomical observation facility.

2. 2. The network telescope system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication code is invalidated to prohibit use of the astronomical observation facility.

3. 3. The network telescope system according to claim 1, wherein credit deduction does not begin until a certain period of time has elapsed.

4. A network telescope system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which credits are deducted according to the number of times an image of an object to be observed is captured by an imaging device.

5. 5. The network telescope system according to claim 1, wherein credits are deducted according to the number of times the telescope mount captures the target of observation.

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