JP2003153207A - Server system for video signal, and synchronous system control executing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video signal recording reproducing apparatus that is suitable for building up a system such as a system of a broadcast station where the restriction with respect to the quality and synchronization of a video signal is severe. SOLUTION: The system is configured to comprise: a video signal high efficiency encoder 10 capable of receiving a video signal synchronously with a synchronizing signal for the video signal; a video signal decoder 13 capable of outputting a decoded video signal synchronously with the synchronizing signal for the video signal; a data storage device 12 that records/reproduces output data from the video signal high efficiency encoder synchronously with the synchronizing signal for the video signal; a line switch 11 to which a plurality of data transmission media are connected and that switches lines synchronously with the synchronizing signal for the video signal; a synchronous control executing device 16 that executes control of the video signal high efficiency encoder 10, the data storage device 12, and the line switch 11 synchronously with the synchronizing signal for the video signal; and a control instruction transmission apparatus 15 that transmits a control instruction sent from a host application system to the synchronous control executing device 16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording and reproducing digital video signals, and uses a large number of high-efficiency encoders and decoders, data storage devices such as disks, high-speed data transmission media, circuit switching devices and the like. As a technology for constructing a particularly large-scale high-quality video signal recording / reproducing system and operating it in synchronization with a reference synchronization signal as a reference, for example, to realize a video signal server system in a broadcasting station. It is suitable to be applied to.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a news image is produced at a broadcasting station, for example, material images recorded by a camera having a video tape recorder are managed individually in a deep state. Then, the editor plays back the tape on which the material video is recorded using the video tape recorder in the editing room as necessary, and the news video that is actually broadcast is combined on a separate tape by combining the reproduced multiple material videos. Was produced in.

However, when the management of the material images is carried out in the state of the tape on which the material images are recorded, particularly when a large number of material images are used for the production of a single news image, a large number of material images are used. The work efficiency for selecting the necessary one from the images is poor, and it is necessary to transport the tape containing the material images from the storage location to the editing room. Furthermore, the material images can be shared by multiple editors. Is not easy either. Also, the news footage produced on the tape is
Generally, each is sent and loaded into a video tape recorder for sending or a cart machine incorporating it by human resources, but operations such as management of news video at the sending stage and exchange of sending order are also performed efficiently and reliably. It wasn't easy. Therefore, it is desired to realize a so-called server system that is used in a computing system, which facilitates centralized management and operation of material videos and broadcasting videos and sharing of material videos.

FIG. 5 shows an example of configuring a video signal server system 500 based on a concept similar to that of a server system used in a computing system. As shown in FIG. 5, the server system 500 includes a CPU 501, a ROM 502, and an R, which are basic elements of a computer.
The AM 503 is connected to the AM 503 via a high-speed bus 504, data storage devices 506-1 to 506-m connected via device interfaces 505-1 to 505-m, and input / output interfaces 507-1 to 507-n. The video signal high efficiency coding devices 508-1 to 508-n and the corresponding video signal decoding devices 509-1 to 509-n are basically configured. If the higher-level application system is implemented on a separate computer, LA
A LAN interface 511 for connecting the N510 and the system 500 is provided.

In the system 500, at the time of recording a video signal, the input video signal S50 is high-efficiency coded by the video signal high-efficiency coding device 508 to become high-efficiency coded video data S51, which is transmitted through the input / output interface 507 at high speed. Is transferred to the bus 504. The high-efficiency coded video data transferred to the bus 504 is temporarily stored in the RAM 503 for normal data flow control and the like, and then transferred to the bus 504 again, and then the data storage device via the device interface 505. It is recorded in 506.

On the other hand, at the time of reproducing the video signal, the high-efficiency coded video data stored in the data storage device 506 is
After being played via the device interface 505,
It is transferred to the high speed bus 504. The high-efficiency coded video data transferred to the bus 504 is temporarily stored in the RAM 503 for data flow rate control and the like, and then transferred to the bus 504 again through the input / output interface 507 as in the case of recording. It becomes the input data S52 of the video signal decoding device 509 via. The video signal decoding apparatus 509 decodes the video signal S53 from the input data S52 to decode the system 50.
Output from 0.

In performing the recording and reproduction, the input / output interfaces 507-1 to 507-n and the bus 50
4. The device interfaces 505-1 to 505-m all receive commands from the application system on the LAN 510 and LA.
N interface 511, bus 504, RAM 503
It operates under the control of the CPU 501 transmitted via the. When the operation command is supplied from the input / output side of the video signal instead of the application system, the control line S54 connected to the input / output interface 507 shown by the broken line in FIG. 5 is required. In this case, the command supplied from the control line S54 is the input / output interface 507 and the bus 5.
04, is transmitted to the CPU 501 via the RAM 503,
It is configured to be reflected in the control by the CPU 501.

[0008]

The video signal server system configuration on the extension of the prior art used in the computing system has been described above as an example. It is not always preferable to realize a server system that is premised on recording and reproducing a high quality video signal for the following reasons.

First of all, one of the obstacles in handling high-quality video signals that can be used in broadcasting stations is that there is a constraint on the system scale and its expandability due to the lack of data transfer capability of the bus. Can be mentioned. The data rate obtained by digitizing the current television video signal is 1
00 megabits / second or more, and the video signal high-efficiency coded data obtained by high-efficiency encoding the same is, for example, CCIR Recommendation 723, assuming deterioration due to editing processing.
30 megabits / second, that is, about 4 megabytes / second. Here, for example, if a system that enables eight editors to share material images and simultaneously edit two so-called AB rolls, it is considered that the RAM503 is used. Put on the bus 504 on the bus 3 (simultaneous playback of 2 materials and recording of 1 edited video) x 2 (round trip to RAM) x
This means that 48 (the number of editors) 48 video signal high-efficiency coded data are present at the same time. Therefore, an effective transfer rate of 192 megabytes / second is required for the bus only for the video signal high-efficiency coded data. Furthermore, there is a restriction peculiar to the video signal server system for the broadcasting station that the transfer to the input / output interface must be performed without interruption, and the C that controls the bus and the RAM
The processing capacity of PU is also a problem. In addition, even if the physical transfer rate of a bus in a general high-performance computer is about 100 megabytes / second, and the system scale allows about eight editors to share material images, Its realization is not always technically easy. Even if it were to be realized, it would be unreasonable in terms of cost because it would require the construction of dedicated hardware.

Second, the obstacle to the realization of a system usable in a broadcasting station is the synchronization dependency with respect to the external synchronization of the system. Normally, in the system in the broadcasting station, since the video signal is transmitted and sent in strict synchronization with the reference synchronization signal for the video signal, the video signal of the server system is also used to facilitate the connection with the existing device. It is necessary to perform input / output in synchronism with the reference synchronization signal, but it is not always easy to realize this in a system that basically regards a computer operating asynchronously as the core. That is, in a configuration in which data transfer and exchange are performed using an asynchronous bus and RAM, video data that is originally input / output in synchronization with a reference synchronization signal must necessarily pass through an asynchronous system in the system. Therefore, synchronous / asynchronous conversion is required. Therefore, the scale and cost of the device increase.

A third obstacle to the realization of a system usable at a broadcasting station is in the above-mentioned processing for transferring and exchanging data using an asynchronous bus and RAM, and synchronous / asynchronous conversion processing. There is an operational obstacle due to the system delay that occurs. Regarding the system delay, in addition to the magnitude of the absolute amount of the delay being a problem in editing work and the like, it is also a problem whether or not the delay amount is fixed in the system automation based on the timeline. Regarding the absolute amount of delay, for example, in the configuration of FIG. 5, the device interfaces 505-1 to 505-m at the time of reproduction,
RAM 503, input / output interfaces 507-1 to 50
Since it is necessary to control the data flow rate using a memory at three points of 7-n, it is basically difficult to satisfy the response performance required for editing work. It is not easy to guarantee because the root works asynchronously.

[0012] Fourth, in the realization of a system usable in a broadcasting station, a problem is that high-speed data transfer between the data accumulating means is necessary to prepare for a failure of the data accumulating means. The transfer rate cannot be sufficiently secured due to the above-mentioned problem of the bus capacity.
Further, in the configuration of FIG. 5, data transfer between the data storage means of different server systems is performed via the LAN 510, but in the existing LAN, for example, the transfer capacity of Ethernet (registered trademark) is 10 megabits. /
It takes about a second, and it takes a lot of time to transfer, which is not practical.

Fifth, an obstacle to the realization of a system usable at a broadcasting station is that recording and reproducing of data to and from the server system is performed by, for example, control from a controller outside the system. The problems of synchronization and delay mentioned above may occur. In order to realize this, for example, a dedicated control line S54 as shown by a broken line in FIG. 5 is connected to the input / output interfaces 507-1 to 507-.
However, in this case, the control command is transmitted to the CPU 501 via the bus 504 and is again transmitted to the bus 504.
Via the device interfaces 505-1 to 505
m and the input / output interfaces 507-1 to 507-n are transmitted, so that the transmission of the instruction itself is delayed. Even if delay-free control is possible, practical operation cannot be expected unless the system delay problem for data is solved.

Sixth, the obstacle to realizing a system usable at a broadcasting station is that in a server system centered on computer technology, which is an extension of the conventional technology, data transfer and exchange are performed by bus and RAM. , It is difficult to transfer or exchange the baseband digital video signal without deterioration due to the problem of bus capability as described above, and high efficiency coding is applied to all video signals. There is no choice but to do it. High-efficiency coding is an excellent technique for effective use of hardware resources, but there are also material videos that cause problems in the quality of video signals due to the application of high-efficiency coding. Even if there is, the quality of the video signal may reach a level that the broadcasting station cannot tolerate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. A first object of the present invention is to provide, in a broadcasting station system, a business scale of the broadcasting station and a business to which the system is applied even if it is the same station. In consideration of the fact that the size and function of the required server system differ depending on the type of system, and in addition, a configuration that is easy to change in size and function is desired, a system with few restrictions on system size and its expandability should be selected. An object of the present invention is to provide a video signal recording / reproducing device which can be configured easily and inexpensively.

A second object of the present invention is that, in a normal broadcasting station system, a video signal is transmitted and sent in strict synchronization with a reference sync signal for a video signal, and connection with an existing device is facilitated. It is possible to easily and inexpensively configure a system having a high synchronization attribute with respect to external synchronization, taking into consideration that the data of the video is input / output in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal. An object of the present invention is to provide a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus capable of transferring and exchanging data internally in synchronization with a reference synchronization signal.

A third object of the present invention is a device capable of reducing the place where a delay occurs in the system as much as possible and sufficiently improving the response capability of the part that controls the control, specifically, data transfer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus capable of exchanging data with each other in a synchronous manner, reducing the number of locations requiring synchronous / asynchronous conversion processing, and realizing a system that operates in synchronization with a synchronous signal.

A fourth object of the present invention is that the data transfer between the data storage devices is not detected by the user of the system, and the data transfer and exchange can be performed at high speed and independently. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus which has little influence on other processing.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus capable of transmitting a control command from the outside at high speed.

A sixth object of the present invention is to perform at least data transfer and exchange freely even in a state of a baseband digital video signal without deterioration, and at the same time, it is easy to connect to an existing system or apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide a video signal recording / reproducing device.

[0021]

To achieve the above object, a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention comprises at least one video signal input means for inputting a video signal in synchronization with a reference synchronization signal, and the above video signal. Between the video signal input means and the data storage means in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal, at least one data storage means capable of recording and reproducing the video signal input by the input means in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal. A plurality of data transmission media and a line exchange means capable of exchanging the plurality of data transmission media between the data storage means and the output line of the reproduced video signal; A predetermined line is set in the line switching means, the above-mentioned data storage means is controlled based on the reference synchronizing signal to record the input video signal transmitted through the set line, and at the time of reproduction, Depending on the raw instruction to set a predetermined line in said circuit switching means, by reproducing the video data by controlling the data storage means based on the reference synchronizing signal, and a control means for sending to the line set.

More specifically, a video signal input (high efficiency coding) means capable of inputting the video signal in synchronization with the video signal synchronizing signal with variable coding efficiency, and the video signal high efficiency coding means. The video signal decoding means capable of outputting the restored video signal in synchronization with the video signal reference synchronization signal corresponding to the above, and the video signal high-efficiency encoding means having the highest output data rate data are synchronized with the video signal reference synchronization signal. Data can be recorded / reproduced in synchronism with the signal, and a plurality of data transmission media can be connected to the recording / reproduction speed variable, and the circuit can be exchanged in synchronism with the video signal reference synchronization signal. Synchronous system control execution capable of controlling the circuit switching means, the video signal high-efficiency coding means, the video signal decoding means, the data storage means, and the circuit switching means in synchronization with the video signal reference synchronization signal. And a control command transmission means capable of transmitting a control command issued from the higher-level application system to the synchronous system control execution means, thereby basically separating the control flow and the signal flow. However, regarding the control system, a control command transmission means for receiving a command from the higher-level application system and a synchronization system control execution means that is easy to expand and operates in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal are separately provided and connected, and the synchronization system control is performed. By connecting the execution means and a large number of video signal high-efficiency encoding means, video signal decoding means, data storage means, circuit switching means, it becomes possible to control them in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal, It is possible to have flexibility and expandability of the system scale in terms of controllability, and regarding the signal system, video signal high efficiency coding means, data transmission medium, Exchanging means, the data transmission medium, data storage means, the data transmission medium,
The circuit switching means, the data transmission medium, and the video signal decoding means are connected in this order to enable the transfer and exchange of data in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal, and the data flow rate except for the interface of the data storage means. It is possible to reduce the problem of delay by enabling a configuration that does not require the control of.

Further, in the present invention, the data storage means, the data transmission medium, the circuit switching means, the data transmission medium, and the data storage means are sequentially connected to transfer data between the data storage means, It has become possible to perform independently at the maximum speed of the data transfer capacity of the data transmission medium and at high speed without affecting other processing. Further, in the present invention, a function for setting a control signal line connecting between arbitrary devices is provided in the synchronous system control execution means,
By using that function, control signals are logically exchanged, and control commands are transmitted between arbitrary devices included in the lower system via the control signal line without passing through the upper application system and from outside the lower system. It enables high-speed transmission of control commands. Further, in the present invention, a video signal recording / reproducing means capable of recording / reproducing a baseband digital video signal in synchronization with a video signal synchronizing signal, and a data transmission medium capable of transmitting a baseband digital video signal, The circuit switching means that can be exchanged is used, and they are controlled by the synchronous system control execution means, and the recording / reproduction of the baseband digital video signal is performed in the same system as the recording / reproduction of the high-efficiency coded video data. Made it possible.

[0024]

According to the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, at the time of recording a video signal, for example, a recording control command issued from the host application system is transmitted to the synchronous system control execution means by the control command transmission means, and the synchronous system control execution is executed. After performing the setting of the coding efficiency of the video signal high efficiency coding means according to the command transmitted by the means, and the setting of the line connecting the video signal high efficiency coding means and the data storage means by the control of the circuit switching means, The data storage means is controlled with reference to the video signal reference synchronization signal. As a result, the input video signal is highly efficiently coded at the set coding efficiency to become highly efficient coded video data, which is transmitted through the set line and recorded in the data storage device.

At the time of reproducing the video signal, a reproduction control command issued from the host application system is transmitted to the synchronous system control execution means by the control command transmission means, and the circuit switching means controls the synchronous system control execution means in accordance with the transmitted instruction. After setting the line connecting the data storage means and the video signal decoding means, the data storage means is controlled by referring to the video signal reference synchronization signal. As a result, the accumulated high-efficiency coded video data is reproduced, transmitted to the video signal decoding device using the set line, and the video signal restored by the video signal decoding device becomes the video signal reference synchronization signal. It is output in synchronization.

Further, the data transfer command between the data storage means issued from the host application system is transmitted to the synchronous system control execution means by the control command transmission means, and the circuit switching means is controlled in accordance with the instruction transmitted by the synchronous system control execution means. After setting the line for connecting the transmitting side data accumulating means and the receiving side data accumulating means, the both data accumulating means are controlled with reference to the video signal reference synchronization signal. As a result, the transfer of the high-efficiency coded data between the data accumulating means is performed at an arbitrary speed not higher than the data transmission speed of the set line and not higher than the data recording / reproducing speed of the data accumulating means.

Further, the control setting command in the lower system issued from the higher application system is transmitted to the synchronous system control execution unit by the control command transmission unit, and the synchronous system control execution unit in the synchronous system control execution unit according to the transmitted command. A control signal line connecting arbitrary devices is set, and real-time control commands are transferred between the devices included in the lower system via the set control signal line.

Furthermore, the recording / reproducing control command issued from the higher-level application system is transmitted to the synchronous system control executing means by the control command transmitting means, and the synchronous system control executing means controls the circuit switching means in accordance with the transmitted instruction to the baseband. After setting the line connecting the video signal recording / reproducing means capable of recording / reproducing a digital video signal and the baseband video signal input / output, the video signal recording / reproducing means is controlled with reference to the video signal synchronizing signal. To do.
As a result, recording / reproduction of the baseband digital video signal is performed in synchronization with the video signal synchronization signal.

[0029]

1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a video signal server system as a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the digitized input video signal S10 is input to each of the video signal high-efficiency coding devices 10-1 to 10-n whose coding efficiency is variable, and the high-efficiency coding is performed. The converted video data S11a is obtained.
Regarding the coding efficiency in each of the video signal high efficiency coding apparatuses 10-1 to 10-n, the synchronization system control execution apparatus 1
It is set in advance by the control signal S12 according to No. 6. If the high-efficiency encoders 10-1 to 10-n extract the clock and the frame timing from the input video signal S10 and use them internally, as a result, the video signal is synchronized with the video signal synchronization signal. Can be input.

The high-efficiency coded video data S11a is input to the circuit switching device 11 such as a routing switcher for a broadcasting station. In the circuit switching device 11, the circuit switching destination is set by the control signal S13 from the synchronous system control execution device 16. Therefore, the high-efficiency coded video data S11a input to the circuit switching device 11 is transferred to the predetermined data storage device 12 connected through the set route.
It is propagated as input high-efficiency coded video data S11b. The high-efficiency coded video data S11b are data storage devices 12-1 to 12-n that are individually controlled by the control signal S14 from the synchronization system control execution device 16.
Recorded in.

Each of the data storage devices 12-1 to 12-n comprises a data / control format conversion device 121 and a general-purpose disk device 122, as shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, high-efficiency coded video data S11b transmitted by a data transmission medium capable of transmitting a baseband digital video signal is input to the data and control format conversion device 121 and can be input to the disk device 122. Is converted to a different format. On the other hand, the disk device 12
The data reproduced from No. 2 is input to the data and control format converter 121, converted into a data format equivalent to that at the time of recording, and transmitted by a data transmission medium capable of transmitting a baseband digital video signal. The reproduced high-efficiency coded video data S15 is obtained. The control format of the data and control forming converter 121 is converted into a format capable of controlling the disk device 122 according to the control signal S14 from the synchronous system control execution device 16.

With such a configuration, the data / control format converter 121 and the general-purpose disk unit 1
22 can be connected via a general-purpose connection line S120 in which normal data and control signals are mixed, and encoded video data can be recorded / reproduced using a general-purpose disk device 122. Further, with such a configuration, the data storage device 12 can change the recording / reproducing speed within the range of the maximum data transfer speed of the disk device 122. As the disk device 122, for example, a magneto-optical disk device or the like can be applied.

The reproduced high-efficiency coded video data S15a is
It is input to the circuit switching device 11 as in the case of recording. In the circuit switching device 11, the circuit switching destination is set by the control signal S13 from the synchronous system control execution device 16. Therefore, the reproduced high-efficiency coded video data S15a input to the circuit switching device 11 is the predetermined video signal decoding devices 13-1 to 13-n connected through the set path.
To be transmitted as high-efficiency coded video data S15b. The high-efficiency encoded video data S15b is the restored video signal S16 in the video signal decoding devices 13-1 to 13-n.
And is output to an editing device outside the system, for example, an editing device. In the example of FIG. 1, the video signal decoding devices 13-1 to 13-
Although no control signal is input to n, this is because a decoding device of this type is usually configured to automatically follow a change in coding efficiency.

Regarding the control system of this system, first, a plurality of independent control commands S17a issued from the higher-level application system 14 composed of a single or a plurality of computers are used for general-purpose communication protocol via LAN. The information is sequentially transmitted to the control command transmission device 15 which is usually composed of one computer in a form conforming to (protocol).
The control command transmission device 15 is the synchronous system control execution device 1.
The control command S17b obtained by performing the protocol conversion for enabling communication with the communication control unit 6 is transmitted to the synchronous system control execution device 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the synchronous system control execution unit 16 includes a plurality of computers (hereinafter referred to as CPs).
U unit) 160-1 to 160-n. Each of the CPU units 160-1 to 160-n includes a communication interface 161, a CPU 162, a ROM 163, and a RAM, which are basic components of a computer.
164 and the control interface 165 are the CPU 1
Basically, it is connected to a bus 166 that operates under the control of 62. Multiple CPU units 160-1
˜160-n are coupled by the connection of the communication bus 167 and the communication interface 161, and the communication bus 16
7 is connected to the control command transmission device 15 for transmitting the control command S17b.

Each CPU unit 160-1 to 160-n
In, the control interface 165 is supplied with the video signal reference synchronization signal S18. The control interface 165 is configured to control each of several controlled devices, and for example, the control signal S1 shown in FIG.
A control line 168 capable of inputting and outputting a plurality of control signals such as S2, S13, and S14 is provided. The video signal reference synchronization signal S18 may be supplied also to the communication interface 161, as shown in FIG. 3, to help speed up the communication or fix the delay time generated for the communication. Also,
In addition to the video signal reference synchronization signal S18, some time information such as a local time code may be supplied to enable control based on the time line.

In the configuration of FIG. 3, first, the control command S
17b is supplied from the control command transmission device 15 to the communication bus 167. Each CPU unit 160-1 to 160-n
The communication interface 161 of the above fetches a control command to be processed by each from the communication bus 167 and transmits it to the internal bus 166. The control command fetched on the internal bus 166 is converted into a command for real-time control for actually controlling the device, and transferred to the control interface 165. The control interface 165 refers to the video signal reference synchronization signal S18 and communicates with each device at an accurate timing within a frame period, for example.
For example, the control signals S12, S13, shown in FIG.
The control by S14 is realized, the coding efficiency is set in the video signal high-efficiency coding devices 10-1 to 10-n, and the video signal high-efficiency coding device 1 is controlled by the circuit switching device 11.
0-1 to 10-n or video signal decoding device 13-1 to
13-n and the data storage devices 12-1 to 12-n are set up or exchanged, and operation control of the data storage device 12 in recording and reproduction is performed.

In such a configuration, the communication bus 16
7, the communication interface 161, and the control interface 165 are operated in synchronization with the video signal reference synchronization signal S18.
If the processing in the OM 163 and RAM 164 is limited,
The system delay amount related to the control inside the synchronous system control execution device 16 can be easily fixed in frame period units. Further, the control interface 165 gives priority to transmitting the control signal at an accurate timing in synchronization with the video signal reference synchronization signal S18.
It is possible to easily satisfy the condition relating to the timing of the control signal, which is different for each device and requires accuracy. In addition, by providing a margin only for the communication capacity of the communication bus 167, the synchronous system control execution device 16 by adding the CPU unit 160
Can be easily expanded, so that the flexibility of the number of devices and devices under the control of the synchronous system control execution device 16 can be maintained, and as a result, the system scale can be expanded.

When the upper application system 14 issues a data transfer command between the data storage devices, the following operation is performed. That is, the storage device-to-storage device data transfer control command S1 issued from the host application system 14
7a is transmitted to the control command transmission device 15, where the protocol conversion for enabling communication with the synchronous system control execution device 16 is performed. Synchronous system control execution device 16
Is a reproduction side data storage device 12 (a), a line switching device 11, a recording side data storage device 12 (b) with reference to a video signal reference synchronization signal in accordance with a control command S17b obtained by protocol conversion. Is controlled at an appropriate timing to execute data transfer between the data storage devices 12. At the time of data transfer between the data storage devices 12, the data storage device 12 (a) on the reproduction side is controlled by the control signal S14, reproduces the stored data, and outputs the reproduction data string S15b. The reproduction data string S15b is
Circuit switching device 1 such as a routing switcher for broadcasting station
1 and are exchanged as preset by the control signal S13, and the data storage device 12 on the recording side is exchanged.
It is connected to (b) and becomes the input data S11b. The input data S11b is recorded in the data storage device 12 (b) controlled by the control signal S14.

Further, by logically exchanging control signals between arbitrary devices of the synchronous system control execution unit 16 shown in FIG. It is possible to realize transmission of control commands between arbitrary devices included in the lower system and high-speed transmission of control commands from the outside of the lower system via the control signal line. In this case, the following operation is performed.

For example, a control command transmission logical line setting command S17a issued from the higher-level application system 14 is transmitted to the control command transmission device 15, and the management function of the communication bus 167 of the synchronous system control execution device 16 which receives the control command transmission device 15 is received. The control command transmission device 15 has a CPU unit 160-
1 communication interface 161 and CPU unit 16
By assigning the time slot of the communication bus 167 which can be exclusively used by the communication interface 161 of 0-2, the logical line for transmitting the control command can be set. Then, the CPU unit 160-1 and the CPU unit 160
-2, when transmitting a control command to the CPU, first, the CPU
The control signal input from the device connected to the control interface 165 of the unit 161-1 is the internal bus 16
6 and is immediately transferred to the communication interface 161 under the control of the CPU 162. The communication interface 161 transmits the transferred control command to the communication bus 167.
Send to. The control command sent to the communication bus 167 is sent to the internal bus 1 of the CPU unit 160-2 by the communication interface 161 of the CPU unit 160-2.
It is transferred to the communication interface 161 under the control of the CPU 162, and then supplied to the device connected to the control interface 165 of the CPU unit 160-2.

By adopting the system described above,
The system delay amount related to the control inside the synchronous system control execution device 16 can be easily fixed in frame period units. In addition, the control interface 165 gives priority to transmitting the control signal in synchronization with the video signal reference synchronization signal S18 at an accurate timing, and sets the conditions regarding the timing of the control signal that differ depending on each device and require accuracy. It is easy to satisfy, and the controlled device operates without trouble even if there is a system delay in frame period units.

In addition to the system described above, transmission of control commands between devices connected to the same control interface 165 can also be carried out with the configuration of FIG. In this case, for example, the control command S161 from the device on the control side (master) is input to the control interface 165 and returned to the control interface 165 again via the bus 166 and the RAM 164, and the control interface 165 displays the image. In the same manner as described above with reference to the signal reference synchronization signal S18, the control command S16 is generated at the correct timing.
2 will be emitted.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of a video signal server system as a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a digital baseband video signal input S2 is input to the circuit switching device 11 of the system.
0, and digital baseband video signal output S21
, And a normal digital video tape recorder 20, for example, is arranged in the same row as the data storage device 12 to record and reproduce both the digital baseband video signal and the high-efficiency coded video data in the same system. Is configured to do.

Further, once the digital baseband video signal is recorded as it is on the digital video tape recorder 20, it is reproduced as needed to perform high-efficiency coding by using the video signal high-efficiency coding device 10, and data is recorded. Storage device 1
It is also possible to record it in 2 and use it.

Regarding the control, the data storage device 1
2 and the digital video tape recorder 20 are replaced,
Except for the control of the video signal high-efficiency encoding devices 10-1 to 10-n and the video signal decoding devices 13-1 to 13-n, the same operation as in the case of the first embodiment can be performed. .

[0048]

As described above, according to the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the flexibility of the scale of the control system is mainly obtained, so that the system scale and its expandability are conventionally restricted. It is possible to realize an easy and inexpensive configuration of a system that is significantly less than the above. As a result, for example, in a broadcasting station system, it is possible to construct a server system of an optimum scale depending on the broadcasting station business scale and the type of business to which the system is applied even for the same station. It is possible to easily change the function.

Further, according to the present invention, since the input / output of the video signal and the data transfer / exchange in the system are performed in strict synchronization with the reference synchronization signal for the video signal, the existing device or the system in the broadcasting station system can be used. It becomes possible to construct a system having high consistency with the system more easily than before.

Further, according to the present invention, a system configuration capable of reducing the place where delay occurs in the system as much as possible and fixing the delay amount can be obtained. Therefore, a broadcasting station system that requires a high control response capability. Can be constructed more easily than before.

Further, according to the present invention, it is easy to perform data transfer and exchange at high speed and independently so that the data transfer between the data storage devices can be made unnoticeable to the user of the system. Therefore, it becomes possible to more efficiently perform the copying operation of the video signal in the system in the broadcasting station than in the past.

Further, according to the present invention, the function of directly exchanging the external control command itself can be provided to transmit the control command at a high speed, so that a high-speed response can be obtained in editing or the like in the broadcasting station. It is possible to more easily configure the system required by the conventional method.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to have a system configuration in which data transfer and exchange can be freely performed even in the state of a baseband digital video signal without deterioration. It is an unprecedented rational way to record a video signal as it is on a digital video tape recorder and play it back as needed to obtain a video quality suitable for the purpose of high-efficiency coding. System operation becomes easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a data storage device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a synchronous system control execution device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of configuring a video signal server system based on a concept similar to that of a server system used in a computing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10-1 to 10-n ... Video signal high efficiency coding device 11 ... Circuit switching equipment 12-1 to 12-n ... Data storage device 121 ... Data and control format converter 122 ... Disk device 13-1 to 13-n ... Video signal decoding device 14 ... Applied system 15 ... Control command transmission device 16 ... Synchronous system control execution device 160-1 to 160-n ... CPU unit 161 ... Communication interface 162 ... CPU 163 ... ROM 164 ... RAM 165 ... Control interface 166 ... bus 167 ... Bus for communication 168 ... Control line 20 ... Digital tape recorder

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 25, 2002 (2002.10.
25)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Title of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Title of invention Video signal server system and
Synchronous system control execution device

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[ Claims ]

1. A computer that operates asynchronously with a reference synchronization signal for video signals, a local area network to which a control signal output from the computer is transferred asynchronously with the reference synchronization signal, and the local area. Connected to a network, and protocol-converts the control signal compliant with the protocol on the local area network into a control signal compliant with the protocol on the system synchronized with the reference synchronization signal,
Synchronous system control execution means having protocol conversion means that operates asynchronously with the reference synchronization signal, a communication bus that receives the protocol-converted control signal, and a plurality of control units connected to the communication bus And a plurality of video devices that operate in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal controlled by the synchronization system control executing means, and each of the control units that operate in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal is processed by the respective control unit. When a power control signal is fetched from the communication bus, the fetched control signal is converted into a control signal for real-time control of the video device, and the control target video device is synchronized with the reference synchronization signal at a predetermined timing. A video signal server system characterized by outputting.

2. A synchronous system control execution device for realizing control of a plurality of video devices that operate in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal by a computer that operates asynchronously with the reference synchronization signal for the video signal, wherein the reference synchronization is performed. Protocol conversion of the control signal conforming to the protocol on the computer and the local area network to a control signal conforming to the protocol on the system synchronized with the reference synchronization signal to a local area network that operates asynchronously with the signal When the protocol conversion means that operates asynchronously with the reference synchronization signal is connected, the communication bus for receiving the protocol-converted control signal from the protocol conversion means and the communication bus are connected. And a plurality of control units that operate in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal. , Each of the control units includes a communication interface that receives a control signal to be processed from the communication bus, and a conversion unit that converts the received control signal into a control signal for real-time control of a video device, And a control interface for outputting to a video device to be controlled at a predetermined timing synchronized with the reference synchronization signal.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0021

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[ 0021 ]

In order to solve the above object, in the video signal server system of the present invention,
(1) A computer that operates asynchronously with the reference sync signal for video signals, (2) a local area network in which control signals output from the computer are transferred asynchronously with the reference sync signal, and (3) local A protocol conversion that is connected to an area network and performs protocol conversion of control signals that comply with the protocol on the local area network into control signals that comply with the protocol on the system that is synchronized with the reference synchronization signal, and that operates asynchronously with the reference synchronization signal. Means, and (4) a synchronous system control execution means having a communication bus for receiving a protocol-converted control signal and a plurality of control units connected to the communication bus, and (5)
It is proposed to have a plurality of video devices that operate in synchronization with a reference synchronization signal controlled by the synchronization system control execution means.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0022

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

More specifically [0022] Each control unit that operates in synchronization with a reference synchronization signal, when loading the control signal to be processed from each of the communication bus, a control signal taken real-time control of the video device The control signal is converted into a control signal for use and output to the video device to be controlled at a predetermined timing synchronized with the reference synchronization signal.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0023

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, by a computer which operates asynchronously with the reference synchronization signal for the video signal, the synchronization system control execution apparatus of the present invention to realize a control of a plurality of video devices that operate in synchronism with the reference sync signal (1 ) Protocol conversion of control signals compliant with the protocol on the computer and local area network into control signals compliant with the protocol synchronized with the reference synchronization signal on the local area network that operates asynchronously with the reference synchronization signal. When the protocol conversion means that operates asynchronously with the reference synchronization signal is connected, it is connected to the communication bus that receives the protocol-converted control signal from the protocol conversion means and (2) the communication bus. , And a plurality of control units that operate in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal. Here, each control unit consists of (2-1) a communication interface that takes in control signals to be processed from the communication bus, and (2-2) that takes in the control signals for real-time control of the video device. It has a conversion means for converting into a control signal and (2-3) a control interface for outputting to a video device to be controlled at a predetermined timing synchronized with the reference synchronization signal.

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[ 0024 ]

According to the present invention, the synchronous system control execution means
Unlike the conventional system, only the control signal is communicated to the (device) communication bus. That is, since the material data does not flow on the communication bus, the problem that occurs in the video signal server system on the extension line of the prior art shown in FIG. 5 is solved.

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0025

[Correction method] Delete

[Procedure Amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0026

[Correction method] Delete

[Procedure Amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0027

[Correction method] Delete

[Procedure Amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0028

[Correction method] Delete

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yuichi Kojima             6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Inside the corporation (72) Inventor Atsushi Matsuyama             6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Inside the corporation F term (reference) 5C053 FA14 GA11 GB21 GB38 KA24                       LA11 LA15                 5D044 AB05 AB07 BC01 BC06 CC03                       CC04 GK08 GK10 GK14 HL02                       HL11

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. At least one video signal input means for inputting a video signal in synchronization with a reference synchronization signal, and at least a recordable and reproducible video signal input by the video signal input means in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal. One data storage means, a plurality of data transmission media between the video signal input means and the data storage means, and the data storage means and the output line of the reproduced video signal in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal. Between the line exchange means capable of exchanging a plurality of data transmission media between them, and at the time of recording the video signal, the line exchange means is caused to set a predetermined line in response to the recording command, and the data storage means is operated based on the reference synchronization signal. The input video signal transmitted through the line set by control is recorded, and at the time of reproduction, the line exchanging means is caused to set a predetermined line in accordance with the reproduction instruction, and the reference synchronization signal is set. A video signal recording / reproducing apparatus having a control means for controlling the data accumulating means based on the above to reproduce the video data and transmitting it to a set line. 2. The video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the video signal inputting means encodes the input video signal. 3. The video signal input means is configured to be variable in coding efficiency, and the control means sets the coding efficiency of the video signal input means in response to a recording command when recording the video signal.
The described video signal recording / reproducing apparatus. 4. The data storage means is capable of recording / reproducing data at the highest output data rate of the video signal inputting means in synchronization with a reference synchronizing signal, and is configured to have a variable recording / reproducing rate. The video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3. 5. A data transmission medium, which is connected to the circuit switching means and has a data transmission capacity capable of transmitting a baseband digital video signal, is provided in parallel with the data storage means with respect to the circuit switching means. A video signal recording / reproducing means capable of recording / reproducing a baseband digital video signal in synchronization with a synchronizing signal is connected, and the control means controls the video signal recording / reproducing means and the circuit switching means to perform the data transmission medium. Recording and reproduction of a baseband digital video signal via the
The video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to 2, 3, or 4. 6. The video signal decoding means comprises at least one video signal decoding means for decoding the video signal reproduced by the data storage means in synchronization with a reference synchronizing signal corresponding to the video signal input means. 4. A video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to 4 or 5. 7. The video signal recording according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the control means independently controls at least the circuit switching means and the data storage means for each of a plurality of independent commands. Playback device. 8. The control means receives a data transfer command between the data accumulating means and sets a line connecting the data accumulating means on the transmitting side and the data accumulating means on the receiving side in the circuit exchanging means. The video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the reading and recording control of the data of both data storage means are performed based on the reference synchronization signal. 9. The control means performs transfer of a video signal between the data accumulating means at an arbitrary speed not higher than a data transfer speed of a set line and not higher than a data recording / reproducing speed of the data accumulating means. The video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, which is controlled. 10. The control means receives a control signal line setting command in a lower system during recording / reproduction of a video signal, and sets a control signal line connecting arbitrary devices,
10. The video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a control signal is transmitted between devices included in a lower system via the control signal line. 11. The synchronization system control execution means capable of executing control of the data storage means and the circuit switching means at least in synchronization with a reference synchronization signal, and the synchronization system control execution means. The video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a control command transmitting means for transmitting a control command issued from a higher-order application system. 12. An encoding efficiency variable and at least one video signal encoding means capable of inputting a video signal in synchronization with a reference synchronization signal, and a reference synchronization signal corresponding to the video signal encoding means. And at least one video signal decoding means capable of outputting a restored video signal and capable of recording / reproducing data at the highest output data rate of the video signal encoding means in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal, and At least one data storage means with variable recording / reproducing speed, circuit switching means that can connect multiple data transmission media and perform line switching in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal, and synchronize with the reference synchronization signal. A synchronous system control execution means capable of executing at least the video signal encoding means, the data storage means, and the circuit switching means;
A control command transmitting means capable of transmitting a control command issued from the host application system to the synchronous system control executing means, and a recording control command issued from the host application system when the video signal is recorded. Is transmitted to the synchronous system control execution means, and in accordance with the instruction transmitted by the synchronous system control execution means, the encoding efficiency of the video signal encoding means is set, and the video signal encoding means and the data storage means under the control of the circuit switching means are set. After executing the setting of the line to be connected, the data storage means is controlled by referring to the reference synchronization signal, and the encoded video data transmitted by the set line is recorded in the data storage means. The control command transmission means transmits the reproduction control command issued from the application system to the synchronous system control execution means, and The system control execution means executes the setting of the line connecting the data storage means and the video signal decoding means under the control of the circuit switching means in accordance with the transmitted command, and then controls the data storage means by referring to the reference synchronization signal to store the data. A video signal recording / reproducing apparatus for reproducing the encoded video data that has been reproduced and transmitting it to the video signal decoding means using the set line, and outputting the video signal restored by the video signal decoding means in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal. . 13. When recording a video signal, the control command transmission means sequentially transmits a plurality of independent recording control commands issued from the host application system to the synchronous system control execution means,
The video signal high-efficiency coding means and the data storage means under the control of the circuit switching means are set in parallel and independently for each of a plurality of independent instructions transmitted by the synchronous system control execution means, and independently. After setting the multiple lines that connect the lines, control the data storage unit by referring to the reference synchronization signal, record the encoded video data transmitted by the set line in the data storage unit, and At the time of reproduction, the control command transmission means transmits a plurality of independent reproduction control instructions issued from the host application system to the synchronous system control execution means, and the synchronous system control execution means sequentially and independently outputs each of the plurality of independent instructions transmitted. After setting the line for connecting the data storage means and the video signal decoding means under the control of the line switching means, the data storage means is referred to with reference to the reference synchronization signal. To reproduce the encoded video data that has been stored and transmit it to the video signal decoding means using the set line, and output the video signal restored by the video signal decoding means in synchronization with the reference synchronization signal. Claim 1
2. A video signal recording / reproducing device according to 2. 14. A control command transmitting means transmits a data transfer instruction between data accumulating means issued from a higher-level application system to the synchronous system control executing means, and the synchronous system control executing means controls the circuit switching means in accordance with the transmitted instruction. After the setting of the line connecting the transmitting side data storing means and the receiving side data storing means is performed, the both data storing means are controlled by referring to the reference synchronization signal and the encoding between the data storing means by the set line is performed. 14. The video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the data transfer is performed at an arbitrary speed not higher than the data transmission speed of the set line and not higher than the data recording / reproducing speed of the data storage means. 15. When recording / reproducing a video signal, the control command transmission means transmits a line setting instruction for a control signal in a lower system issued from a higher application system to the synchronization system control execution means, and the synchronization system control execution means is transmitted. According to the instruction, a control signal line connecting arbitrary devices is set in the synchronous system control execution means, and the control signal is transmitted between the devices included in the lower system via the set control signal line. The video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to item 12, 13 or 14. 16. A data transmission medium, which is connected to the circuit switching means and has a data transmission capacity capable of transmitting a baseband digital video signal, and is provided in parallel to the data storage means with respect to the circuit switching means. A video signal recording / reproducing means capable of recording / reproducing a baseband digital video signal in synchronization with the synchronization signal is connected, and the synchronous system control executing means controls the video signal recording / reproducing means and the circuit switching means to control the baseband. 15. A recording / reproducing of a digital video signal is performed.
Or the video signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to item 15.