JP4359987B2 - Digital CATV retransmission device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital retransmission apparatus that receives a digital broadcast signal and then outputs the signal or a signal processed based on the signal to a medium such as a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In satellite digital broadcasting, it is multiplexed in a transport stream, and the data unit is a transport packet, and all information of video, audio, and data is transmitted in this packet. Since the transport stream is time-division multiplexed and transmitted to each satellite transponder, several channels of programs are multiplexed on one transponder, enabling easy channel selection, program selection, and program listing display. It is common for information to be transmitted to be time-division multiplexed and broadcast.
[0003]
The contents of the program information include, for example, an international standard called MPEG system and a private standard called DVB standard, and are normally operated within the range defined therein. There are roughly three types of program information defined by these: network information, service information, and event information.
[0004]
The network information is information transmitted to indicate the network configuration. The network identification number for uniquely identifying the network, the retransmission source network identification number for identifying the retransmission source network, and multiplexing in the network Transport stream identification number for identifying the transport stream that is the unit of transmission, transmission information including the frequency of the frequency band for transmitting each transport stream, a list of channel numbers belonging to each transport stream identification number, etc. Is included.
[0005]
The service information is transmitted to indicate information for each individual channel, and includes information elements such as a channel number and a channel name for uniquely identifying the channel in the network.
[0006]
The event information is transmitted to indicate information related to the broadcast program for each individual channel, and includes information elements such as a program identification number, program name, program content, program start time, program time length, and genre information. This event information is further classified into short-term event information describing only the program currently being broadcast and next scheduled program information and long-term event information describing all program information included in a long period such as one week. .
[0007]
These pieces of information are encoded in accordance with a section format defined in the MPEG system, but a description format using the section format is also defined for the program information.
[0008]
As described above, it is very common to multiplex and transmit program information on video and audio in digital broadcasting. However, in actual operation, the program information format is often different for each network. This is due to the fact that the number of channels to be transmitted and the transmission bandwidth that can be secured differ depending on the characteristics of each network. There are various factors that determine the program information format, but generally, the following program information encoding method and program information transmission method are mentioned.
[0009]
Differences in format that can normally occur in the program information encoding method will be described. In the program information encoding method, a binary format called a normal section format is provided as described above, but each information element described therein (generally described in a format called a descriptor) is not necessarily the same. Things are not always used. For example, there are cases where descriptors describing program names differ from network to network, or unique descriptors for describing information elements unique to the network are used. Therefore, a receiver that receives and processes program information transmitted by such an encoding method needs to be processed in consideration of the difference in encoding method in each network even when the same program name is used.
[0010]
The program information transmission method means how to transmit the encoded program information within each transmission band in the network. This is an example in which each network is independently operated as compared with the encoding method. There are many. Here, two typical examples will be described in order to explain the difference in the program information transmission method for each network.
[0011]
In one example of the program information transmission method (transmission method example 1), network information, service information, and short-term event information are transmitted in all transport streams, and a long-term occupying most of the program information in terms of data amount. Event information is transmitted together in one transport stream in the network. In a receiver that receives and processes program information transmitted by such a transmission method, for example, if a program guide is to be created based on long-term event information, a transport stream in which long-term event information is transmitted is selected. It is necessary to receive it.
[0012]
In another example of the program information transmission method (transmission method example 2), network information, service information, short-term event information, and the minimum required to specify a program such as the program name of long-term event information in all transport streams Only the information (basic event information) is transmitted, and the remaining information (extended event information) of the long-term event information is transmitted for each transport stream only in a portion corresponding to the channel included in the transport stream. In a receiver that receives and processes program information transmitted by such a transmission method, for example, it is possible to create a simple program guide regardless of which transport stream is selected.
[0013]
When the transmission method example 1 and the transmission method example 2 are compared, the transmission method example 2 has a higher proportion of program information in each transport stream. Therefore, it can be considered that the transmission rate of the individual program information in the transmission method example 2 is operated lower than the transmission rate of the program information in the transmission method example 1. Hereinafter, this communication method example 2 is referred to as a shared specification.
[0014]
In this way, since it is normally operated in different program information formats for each network, in order to create a receiver that can receive multiple networks, it supports all program information formats provided by all receiving networks. It must be done, and the development is very heavy.
[0015]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as represented by digital CATV, when a plurality of networks are received and retransmitted by selecting as necessary, the above-described situation is applied as it is. In other words, due to the difference in the program information format defined for each transmission source network transmitted within one network of digital CATV, a receiver that receives digital CATV is provided by all networks that may be retransmitted. Must be compatible with the program information format.
[0016]
An object of the present invention is to provide a retransmission apparatus and a retransmission method that can be realized at low cost without increasing the burden of developing a receiver.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, the digital CATV retransmission apparatus of the present invention detects a packet in which a digital satellite stream wave is received and a digital broadcast stream packet is transmitted and a program information that needs conversion is described, The detected program information is replaced with the contents converted based on the program information prepared in advance, and the network information generator for multiplexing the packet in which the program information is replaced with the original digital broadcast stream and the program information prepared in advance are generated. It has a CATV program information setter and a digital modulator.
[0018]
Also, a receiver that receives a digital satellite broadcast wave and transmits a digital broadcast stream packet and a packet that contains program information that needs to be converted are detected, and the detected program information is converted based on program information prepared in advance. A network information generator that multiplexes the packet in which the program information is replaced with the original digital broadcast stream, a CATV program information setting unit that generates program information prepared in advance, and a transponder in which the program information is transmitted together A receiver that receives a digital satellite broadcast wave and transmits a digital broadcast stream packet, and a program information that detects a packet that contains program information that needs to be converted, and decomposes the detected program information into predetermined program information elements The analysis unit and the program information generated by the program information analysis unit are stored. Service / event information conversion comprising a program information storage construction unit for packetizing according to a program information description format defined by itself and an update program information generation unit for generating and storing program information for updating the current program and next program information And a transmitter and digital modulator for multiplexing these converted packets and packets from the network information generator into the original digital broadcast stream.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a digital CATV retransmission apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention in which a digital CATV network shares a program information format by individual broadcasters such as a broadcast according to a sharing specification of a program information format such as BS digital broadcast and a CS digital broadcast. The case where a broadcast different from the specification is retransmitted is shown.
[0021]
First, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the network identification number for uniquely identifying the network in the network information in the CATV network as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 is the network information in the case of broadcasting in accordance with the common specification of the program information format such as BS digital broadcasting. The transmission source network identification number used as the CATV digital network identification number assigned to each CATV broadcaster uses the BS digital network identification number as it is, and is used to identify a transport stream that is a unit of multiplexing in the network. The transport stream identification number and the channel number belonging to each transport stream identification number use the same channel number as the transmission source.
[0022]
As for network information in the case of broadcasting different from the shared specification of the program information format such as CS digital broadcasting, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the network identification number for uniquely identifying the network in the network information in the CATV network is The transmission source network identification number, which is the CATV digital network identification number assigned to each CATV broadcaster, transmits only one arbitrary channel of one CS broadcaster in one transport stream unit transmitted by one 64QAM modulator. In this case, the CS digital network identification number is used as it is. If the transmission source network identification number is transmitted by one 64QAM modulator in one transport stream unit, any channel of a large number of CS broadcasters is sent or voluntarily. When sending the transmission uses a CATV digital network identification number. In addition, a transport stream identification number for identifying a transport stream that is a unit of multiplexing in the network and a channel number belonging to each transport stream identification number use channel numbers set in the CATV network. This channel number is uniquely set within the CATV network so as not to overlap with the channel number of BS digital broadcasting.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 5, the transponder frequency of each digital satellite broadcast is also replaced with the 64QAM modulation frequency of the CATV network.
[0024]
In FIG. 1, the configuration on the BS digital broadcast side will be described. 1 is a receiver, 2 is a network information generator, and 3 is a modulator. On the CS digital broadcasting side, 4 receivers, 5 receivers, 6 network information generators, 7 service / event information converters, 8 transmitters, 9 modulators, 10 CATV program information setters The operation of the digital broadcast retransmission apparatus configured as described above will be described below.
[0025]
First, a receiver 1 that receives a BS digital satellite broadcast wave and transmits a digital broadcast stream packet is detected, and a packet that contains program information that needs to be converted is detected, and the detected program information is based on program information prepared in advance. The program information is replaced by the network information generator 2 that multiplexes the packet whose program information is replaced with the converted content and the original digital broadcast stream, and the CATV program information setting unit 10 that generates the program information prepared in advance. The digital broadcast stream in which the packets are multiplexed is mapped to a modulation method and sent to the CATV network using a digital modulation wave.
[0026]
On the other hand, the CS digital broadcast wave receives a plurality of desired channels in the CS digital satellite broadcast wave, and each of them is converted into a digital broadcast stream packet which is one transport stream unit transmitted by one 64QAM modulator of CATV. And the receiver 4 to be transmitted and the packet in which the program information that needs to be converted is detected, the detected program information is replaced with the content converted based on the program information prepared in advance, and the packet in which the program information is replaced Long-term event information that occupies most of the program information in a CS digital satellite broadcast wave and a block composed of a network information generator 6 to be multiplexed with a digital broadcast stream and a CATV program information setter 10 for generating program information prepared in advance A single transport that is sending in bulk A receiver 5 that receives a stream and sends out a digital broadcast stream packet; a program information analysis unit that detects a packet in which program information that needs to be converted is written and decomposes the detected program information into predetermined program information elements; The program information generated by the program information analysis unit is stored, and the program information storage construction unit for packetizing the program information description format of the BS digital broadcast defined by itself and the program information for updating the current program and the next program information are generated. The service / event information converter 7 constituted by the update program information generation unit to be stored, the converted packets, and the packet from the network information generator 6 are multiplexed into the original digital broadcast stream and the program information transmission method is changed to BS. The transmitter 8 and the packet in which the program information is replaced are multiplexed in the same way as in digital broadcasting. It comprises a digital modulator 9 that maps a digital broadcast stream to a modulation system and sends it to a CATV network with a digital modulated wave.
[0027]
Next, details of the network information generator of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0028]
First, the operation of the network information generator composed of the packet detection unit 11, the packet replacement unit 12, and the packet transmission unit 13 on the BS side will be described below. First, a BS digital broadcast stream packet is sent to the packet detector 11 and the packet transmitter 13 from the receiver 1 that has received the BS digital satellite broadcast wave. The packet detection unit 11 detects a packet describing program information that needs to be converted from the BS digital broadcast stream packet, and sends the detected packet to the CATV program information setting unit 10 and the packet replacement unit 12. The CATV program information setting unit 10 reconstructs the program information in this packet for the digital CATV network from information from both the program information from the BS packet detection unit 11 and the program information from the CS packet detection unit 14. The network identification number for uniquely identifying the network is the CATV digital network identification number assigned to each CATV broadcaster, and the BS digital network identification number is used as the transmission source network identification number. The other is to convert each transponder frequency in the satellite broadcast in the transmission information into a 64QAM modulation frequency in the digital CATV network, and also convert other transmission information from the satellite to the CATV.
[0029]
Further, the transport stream identification number and the channel number of the BS digital broadcast are converted into the transport stream identification number and the channel number of the BS digital broadcast on the CS digital broadcast side in the CATV network, The new program information with the channel number added is sent to the packet replacement unit 12. The packet replacement unit 12 transmits the new program information packet to the replacement packet transmission unit 13 with the original program information packet. The packet sending unit 13 multiplexes the replaced new program information packet with the BS digital broadcast stream to form a digital CATV broadcast stream from the BS side. This is the network information generator 2 on the BS side.
[0030]
On the other hand, the operation of the network information generator 6 including the packet detection unit 14 and the packet replacement unit 15 is also described below on the CS side. First, the receiver 4 receives a plurality of channels to be retransmitted selected by a CATV station from a CS digital satellite broadcast wave, and multiplexes them into one transport stream unit transmitted by one 64QAM modulator. The stream packet is sent to the packet detector 14 in the network information generator 6, the service / event information converter 7 and the transmitter 8. The packet detector 14 detects a packet describing program information that needs to be converted from the CS digital broadcast stream packet, and sends the detected packet to the CATV program information setter 10 and the packet replacement unit 15.
[0031]
The CATV program information setting unit 10 reconstructs the program information in this packet for the digital CATV network based on the information from both the program information from the BS side packet detection unit 11 and the program information from the CS side packet detection unit 14. One is a CATV digital network identification number assigned to each CATV broadcaster, and one source network identification number is one 64QAM modulator. When only one CS broadcaster's multiple channels are transmitted in one transport stream unit to be transmitted, the CS digital network identification number is used as it is, and if there are many in one transport stream unit to be transmitted by one 64QAM modulator. When sending multiple channels from a CS broadcaster, Network identification number using a CATV digital network identification number.
[0032]
The other one converts each transponder frequency in the satellite broadcast in the transmission information into a 64QAM modulation frequency in the digital CATV network, and converts other transmission information from that in the satellite broadcast to digital CATV. Furthermore, in the digital CATV network, the BS digital broadcasting side uses the BS digital broadcasting transport stream identification number and channel number as they are, so the CS digital broadcasting side transport stream identification number and channel number do not overlap with the BS CATV program. A transport stream identification number and a channel number set by conversion from program information reconstructed for the digital CATV network of the information setting device 10 are used. Then, new program information composed of the transport stream identification numbers and channel numbers on both the BS side and the CS side is sent to the packet replacement unit 15. The packet replacement unit 15 replaces the new program information packet with the original program information packet, and sends the packet to the transmitter 8. This is the network information generator 6 on the CS side.
[0033]
Next, the service / event information converter 7 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. A service / event information selection unit 16, a service / event information construction unit 17, a program information analysis unit 18, a program information construction / storage unit 19, an update program information generation unit 20, and a service / event information reconstruction unit 21. The operation of the service / event information converter 7 will be described below.
[0034]
The service / event information selection unit 16 receives a plurality of channels to be retransmitted selected by the CATV station from the CS digital satellite broadcast wave from the reception unit 4 and transmits each of them using a single 64QAM modulator. A CS digital broadcast stream packet multiplexed in port stream units and a transport stream identification number and a channel number are input as program information reconstructed for the digital CATV network in the CATV station from the CATV program information setting unit 10. In this embodiment, only one receiver 4 is described, but there are as many 64QAM modulators in the digital CATV network. The program information related to its own 64QAM modulator, that is, the transport stream identification number, and the program information related to the other 64QAM modulator, that is, the transport stream identification number, each maintain a relationship with itself. Normally. Call yourself an actual and the other the other.
[0035]
The service / event information selection unit 16 selects only the service information and event information related to the own transport stream identification number, that is, the actual service information, and outputs the selected information to the service / event information construction unit 17.
[0036]
The service / event information construction unit 17 first converts all the information elements related to the channel number in the actual service information according to the program information reconstructed for the digital CATV network in the CATV station from the CATV program information setter 10. The actual event information also converts all channel numbers to which it belongs. In this way, the program information obtained by converting only the actual service information and the program information of each 64QAM is output to the service / event information reconstruction unit.
[0037]
On the other hand, the receiver 5 is a single transport stream that transmits long-term event information that occupies most of the program information in the CS digital satellite broadcast wave for all the transponders of the CS digital satellite (commonly known as an EPG transponder). And the digital broadcast stream packet of the transponder is sent to the program information analysis unit 18. The program information analysis unit 18 receives from the CATV program information setting unit 10 all 64QAM modulators in the digital CATV network, here the source transport stream identification number and the channel number in the transport identification number. . In addition, long-term event information of all channels corresponding to all transponders in the transmission source CS digital satellite is collectively input from the receiver 5.
[0038]
The program information analysis unit 18 selects the long-term event that matches the transmission source channel number selected from the CATV program information setting unit 10 in the digital CATV network among the long-term event information of all channels at the transmission source from the receiver 5. Only the information is output to the program information construction / accumulation unit 19.
[0039]
The program information construction / storage unit 19 converts the information elements in the long-term program information from the program information analysis unit 18 from the original CS digital program element contents to the BS digital program element contents based on the program information prepared in advance. to add. Then, it is converted and accumulated into long-term event information corresponding to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers set in the digital CATV network, not the transmission source. The program elements here are expressed as tables and descriptors. The converted long-term event information is output to the update program information generator 20 and the service / event information reconstruction unit 21.
[0040]
The program information generator for update 20 is a short-term program in which the currently broadcasted program and the program information scheduled to be started next are updated from the long-term event information from the program information construction / accumulation unit 19 every time the program ends / starts. Event information is created and accumulated for the program update during the period in the long-term event information for all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers, and is output to the service / event information reconstruction unit 21.
[0041]
The service / event information restructuring unit 21 receives from the service / event information building unit 17 program information obtained by converting only the actual service information and event information that is the own for each 64QAM. The program information construction / accumulation section 19 converts the information elements in the long-term program information from the original CS digital program element contents to the BS digital program element contents on the basis of the program information prepared in advance, and not the transmission source but the digital CATV. Long-term event information corresponding to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers set in the network is input. Also, the program information generator for update 20 receives short-term event information that is updated every time a program corresponding to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers ends / starts.
[0042]
The service / event information reconstructing unit 21 first outputs program information obtained by converting only the actual service information and event information which is the own for each 64QAM from the service / event information constructing unit 17 to the transmitter 8. . As a result, the delay due to the reconstruction of the program information is reduced with respect to the actual which is the own for each 64QAM. Next, the original CS digital program element contents from the program information construction / accumulation unit 19 are converted into BS digital program element contents and correspond to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers set in the digital CATV network. The long-term event information is output to the transmitter 8. Further, out of the short-term event information from the update program information generator 20, the short-term event information that matches the channel number in the actual transport stream identification number for each 64 QAM is output to the transmitter 8 first. After the above processing, the service information and short-term event information of the other than the actual, which is itself in the CATV network, is constructed and output to the transmitter 8. The above is the service event information converter 7 in FIG.
[0043]
The transmitter 8 multiplexes each program information input from the service / event information reconstruction unit 21 and network information input from the network information generator 6 into the CS digital broadcast stream from the receiver 4, and all the program information transmission methods are performed. Only the minimum information (basic event information) that identifies the program, such as the program name of the network information, service information, short-term event information, and long-term event information, is sent in the transport stream, and the rest of the long-term event information This information (extended event information) is output to the digital modulator 9 as a digital CATV broadcast stream in the BS digital system for transmitting only the portion corresponding to the channel included in the transport stream for each transport stream.
[0044]
The digital modulator 9 maps the digital broadcast stream to a modulation method and sends it to the CATV network using a digital modulated wave.
[0045]
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 shows a case where a 110-degree CS digital broadcast is added to the configuration described in (Embodiment 1) of the present invention and a CS digital broadcast is not a single broadcast but a multiple satellite broadcast or a CATV station independent broadcast. Showed the case.
[0046]
(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 8 shows a digital CATV network similar to (Embodiment 1) of the present invention, a broadcast according to a common specification of a program information format such as BS digital broadcast and 110-degree CS digital broadcast, and individual such as CS digital broadcast. The case where a broadcaster retransmits a broadcast different from the shared specification of the program information format is shown. Here, broadcasting according to the shared specifications of program information formats such as BS digital broadcasting is not retransmitted in units of transport identification numbers based only on network information, but in units of channels for reconstructing channel information and program information. Shown as a transmission example. 9 and 10, the case of BS digital broadcasting and CS digital broadcasting has been described as an example.
[0047]
First, the network identification number for uniquely identifying the network in the network information in the CATV network is assigned to each CATV broadcaster for the network information in the case of broadcasting according to the common specification of the program information format such as BS digital broadcasting. The CATV digital network identification number is a transmission source network identification number that uses a CATV digital network identification number in consideration of 110-degree CS digital broadcasting, and a transport for identifying a transport stream that is a unit of multiplexing in the network. The channel number belonging to the port stream identification number and each transport stream identification number does not overlap with the channel number of 100 degree CS digital broadcasting or CS digital broadcasting reconstructed by the CATV broadcaster. To use the tunnel number.
[0048]
As for network information in the case of broadcasting different from the shared specification of the program information format such as CS digital broadcasting, a network identification number for uniquely identifying the network in the network information in the CATV network is assigned to each CATV broadcaster. The source network identification number, which is the CATV digital network identification number, is the CS digital network identification number when only one channel of one CS broadcaster is transmitted in one transport stream unit transmitted by one 64QAM modulator. If the transmission source network identification number is to be transmitted by a single 64QAM modulator in one transport stream unit, when sending arbitrary channels in a large number of CS broadcasters or when sending independent broadcasts Use the CATV digital network identification number.
[0049]
In addition, a transport stream identification number for identifying a transport stream that is a unit of multiplexing in the network and a channel number belonging to each transport stream identification number use channel numbers set in the CATV network. This channel number is uniquely set in the CATV network so as not to overlap with the channel number of BS digital broadcasting or 100 degree CS broadcasting. The transponder frequency of each digital satellite broadcast is also replaced with the 64QAM modulation frequency in the CATV network.
[0050]
In FIG. 8, the configuration on the BS digital broadcast and 110-degree CS digital broadcast side will be described. 1 is a receiver, 2 is a network information generator, 22 is a receiver, 23 is a network information generator, 26 is a transmitter, and 3 is a modulator. On the CS digital broadcasting side, 4 receivers, 5 receivers, 6 network information generators, 7 service / event information converters, 8 transmitters, 9 modulators, 10 CATV program information setters The operation of the digital broadcast retransmission apparatus configured as described above will be described below.
[0051]
First, BS digital broadcasting and 110-degree CS digital broadcasting receive a desired channel in BS digital broadcasting and a desired channel in 110-degree CS digital broadcasting, and transmit each of them by one 64QAM modulator of CATV. Receivers 1 and 22 that transmit digital broadcast stream packets in units of one transport stream and packets that contain program information that needs to be converted are detected, and the detected program information is converted based on program information prepared in advance. The network information generators 2 and 23 that multiplex the packet with the replaced program information into the original digital broadcast stream and the CATV that generates program information prepared in advance for reconstructing the program information in the CATV station. Block configured by the program information setting device 10 In the BS and BS digital broadcasts and 110 degree CS digital broadcasts, all the transport stream information is collectively transmitted and the program information that needs to be converted by receiving the output from the receivers 1 and 22 is transmitted. A program information analysis unit for detecting the described packet and decomposing the detected program information into predetermined program information elements; and storing the program information generated by the program information analysis unit, A service / event information converter 7 comprising a program information storage construction unit for packetizing all transport stream information in accordance with the program information description format of both 110 degree CS digital broadcasts into all station program information, and conversion between them Packets and network information generators 2 and 23 and the original digital The original digital broadcast stream has each station program information carrying information unique to each transport stream. The original digital broadcast stream is multiplexed with the original digital broadcast stream and the program information transmission method is changed to BS digital broadcast and 110 degree CS. The transmitter 26 is configured in the same manner as in digital broadcasting, and the digital modulator 3 that maps the digital broadcasting stream in which the packet in which the program information is replaced is multiplexed to a modulation method and transmits the modulated modulation wave to the CATV network. .
[0052]
On the other hand, the CS digital broadcast wave receives a plurality of desired channels in the CS digital satellite broadcast wave, and each of them is converted into a digital broadcast stream packet which is one transport stream unit transmitted by one 64QAM modulator of CATV. And the receiver 4 to be transmitted and the packet in which the program information that needs to be converted is detected, the detected program information is replaced with the content converted based on the program information prepared in advance, and the packet in which the program information is replaced Long-term event information that occupies most of the program information in a CS digital satellite broadcast wave and a block composed of a network information generator 6 to be multiplexed with a digital broadcast stream and a CATV program information setter 10 for generating program information prepared in advance A single transport that is sending in bulk A receiver 5 that receives a stream and sends out a digital broadcast stream packet; a program information analysis unit that detects a packet in which program information that needs to be converted is written and decomposes the detected program information into predetermined program information elements; The program information generated by the program information analysis unit is stored, and the program information storage construction unit for packetizing the program information description format of the BS digital broadcast defined by itself and the program information for updating the current program and the next program information are generated. The service / event information converter 7 constituted by the update program information generation unit to be stored, the converted packets, and the packet from the network information generator 6 are multiplexed into the original digital broadcast stream and the program information transmission method is changed to BS. The transmitter 8 and the packet in which the program information is replaced are multiplexed in the same way as in digital broadcasting. It comprises a digital modulator 9 that maps a digital broadcast stream to a modulation system and sends it to a CATV network with a digital modulated wave.
[0053]
Next, details of the network information generator of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0054]
First, the operation of the network information generator composed of the packet detection unit 11 and the packet replacement unit 12 on the BS side and the 110-degree CS side will be described below.
[0055]
First, the receiver 1 receives a channel to be retransmitted selected by the CATV station from the BS digital satellite broadcast wave and the 110-degree CS digital satellite broadcast wave, and transmits each of them by one 64QAM modulator. The digital broadcast stream packets multiplexed in units are sent to the packet detector 11 and the transmitter 26 in the network information generator 2. The packet detection unit 11 detects a packet describing program information that needs to be converted from the digital broadcast stream packet, and sends the detected packet to the CATV program information setting unit 10 and the packet replacement unit 12. The CATV program information setting unit 10 reconstructs the program information in this packet for the digital CATV network from information from both the program information from the BS packet detection unit 11 and the program information from the CS packet detection unit 14. One is a CATV digital network identification number assigned to each CATV broadcaster, and the source network identification number is one 64QAM modulator. When transmitting a plurality of channels from a large number of broadcasters in one transport stream unit to be transmitted, the CATV digital network identification number is used as the transmission source network identification number.
[0056]
The other one converts each transponder frequency in the satellite broadcast in the transmission information into a 64QAM modulation frequency in the digital CATV network, and converts other transmission information from that in the satellite broadcast to digital CATV. Further, in the digital CATV network, the transport stream identification number and the channel number are set by conversion from the program information reconstructed for the digital CATV network of the CATV program information setting unit 10 so that the transmission sources do not overlap each other. Then, new program information composed of the BS and the transport stream identification numbers and channel numbers of both the 110-degree CS side and the CS side is sent to the packet replacement unit 12. The packet replacement unit 12 replaces the new program information packet with the original program information packet, and sends the packet to the transmitter 26. This is the network information generator 2 on the BS and 110 degree CS side.
[0057]
On the other hand, the operation of the network information generator 6 including the packet detection unit 14 and the packet replacement unit 15 is also described below on the CS side. First, the receiver 4 receives a plurality of channels to be retransmitted selected by a CATV station from a CS digital satellite broadcast wave, and multiplexes them into one transport stream unit transmitted by one 64QAM modulator. The stream packet is sent to the packet detector 14 in the network information generator 6, the service / event information converter 7 and the transmitter 8. The packet detector 14 detects a packet describing program information that needs to be converted from the CS digital broadcast stream packet, and sends the detected packet to the CATV program information setter 10 and the packet replacement unit 15.
[0058]
The CATV program information setting unit 10 converts the program information in the packet into a digital CATV network based on information from both the BS and the program information from the 110-degree CS-side packet detection unit 11 and the program information from the CS-side packet detection unit 14. Replaced with program information reconstructed for use, one is a CATV digital network identification number assigned to each CATV broadcaster as a network identification number for uniquely identifying a network, and one source network identification number If only one CS broadcaster's multiple channels are transmitted in one transport stream unit transmitted by 64QAM modulator, the CS digital network identification number is used as it is, and one transport is transmitted by one 64QAM modulator. When sending multiple channels from multiple CS broadcasters on a stream basis In this case, the source network identification number uses the CATV digital network identification number.
[0059]
The other one converts each transponder frequency in the satellite broadcast in the transmission information into a 64QAM modulation frequency in the digital CATV network, and converts other transmission information from the satellite broadcast to the digital CATV. Further, in the digital CATV network, the transport stream identification number and channel number on the CS digital broadcasting side are set to convert from the program information reconstructed for the digital CATV network of the CATV program information setting unit 10 so as not to overlap with BS and 110 degree CS. Transport stream identification number and channel number. Then, the new program information composed of the BS and the transport stream identification numbers and channel numbers on both the 110-degree CS side and the CS side is sent to the packet replacement unit 15. The packet replacement unit 15 replaces the new program information packet with the original program information packet, and sends the packet to the transmitter 8. This is the network information generator 6 on the CS side.
[0060]
Next, details of the service / event information converter 7 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A service / event information selection unit 16, a service / event information construction unit 17, a program information analysis unit 18, a program information construction / storage unit 19, an update program information generation unit 20, and a service / event information reconstruction unit 21. The operation of the service / event information converter 7 will be described below.
[0061]
The service / event information selection unit 16 receives a plurality of channels to be retransmitted selected by the CATV station from the BS and the 110-degree CS digital satellite broadcast wave from the reception unit 1 and transmits each channel using a single 64QAM modulator. Receiving a plurality of channels to be retransmitted selected by a CATV station from a digital broadcast stream packet multiplexed in one transport stream unit and a CS digital satellite broadcast wave from the receiver 4, and each of them is received by one 64QAM modulator. A CS digital broadcast stream packet multiplexed in one transport stream unit to be transmitted and a transport stream identification number and a channel number are input as program information reconstructed for the digital CATV network in the CATV station from the CATV program information setting unit 10. The In this embodiment, only one receiving unit 1 and four receiving units 4 are described, but there are as many 64QAM modulators in the digital CATV network. The BS and 110-degree CS receiving side has its own 64QAM modulator, that is, program information relating to the transport stream identification number and program information relating to the transport stream identification numbers of all other 64QAM modulators. Usually, each station program information is called itself and all traps are called all station program information. On the CS receiving side, the relationship between the program information related to its own 64QAM modulator, that is, the transport stream identification number, and the program information related to the transport stream identification number of another 64QAM modulator is maintained. They are usually called themselves and others are called other.
[0062]
The service / event information selection unit 16 selects only the service information and event information of each station related to the own transport stream identification number on the BS and 110 degree CS reception side, and outputs the selected service information to the service / event information construction unit 17. On the CS receiving side, only the service information and event information related to the own transport stream identification number, that is, the actual service information and event information are selected and output to the service / event information construction unit 17.
[0063]
In the service / event information construction unit 17, all information elements related to the channel number in the service information of each station are re-used for the digital CATV network in the CATV station from the CATV program information setting unit 10 on the BS and 110-degree CS receiving side. Convert according to the constructed program information. The event information of each station also converts all channel numbers to which it belongs. In this way, the program information obtained by converting only the actual service information and the program information of each 64QAM is output to the service / event information reconstruction unit. The CS receiving side first converts all the information elements related to the channel number in the actual service information according to the program information reconstructed for the digital CATV network in the CATV station from the CATV program information setting unit 10. The actual event information also converts all channel numbers to which it belongs. In this way, the program information obtained by converting only the actual service information and the program information of each 64QAM is output to the service / event information reconstruction unit.
[0064]
On the other hand, the receiver 27 receives each transponder in BS and 110-degree CS digital satellite broadcast waves, and there are as many transponders as the receiver 27 receives. A digital broadcast stream packet of all-station program information that is transmitted collectively for all transponders is sent to each transponder to the program information analysis unit 18. The program information analysis unit 18 receives from the CATV program information setting unit 10 all 64QAM modulators in the digital CATV network, here the source transport stream identification number and the channel number in the transport identification number. . In addition, all the station program information of all the channels corresponding to the transmission source BS and all the transponders in the 110-degree CS digital satellite are inputted together from the receiver 27.
[0065]
The program information analysis unit 18 selects the all-station program that matches the transmission source channel number selected and used from the CATV program information setting unit 10 in the digital CATV network among the all-station program information of all channels at the transmission source from the receiver 27. Only the information is output to the program information construction / accumulation unit 19.
[0066]
The program information construction / accumulation unit 19 accumulates information elements in the all-station program information from the program information analysis unit 18. The program elements here are expressed as tables and descriptors. This all-station program information is output to the service / event information reconstruction unit 21.
[0067]
The service / event information reconstructing unit 21 receives from the service / event information constructing unit 17 the program information obtained by converting only each station program information and the actual service information and event information for each 64QAM. Also, all-station program information corresponding to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers set in the digital CATV network is input from the program information construction / storage unit 19.
[0068]
In the service / event information reconstructing unit 21, first, each 64QAM from the service / event information constructing unit 17 is each station program information and program information obtained by converting only the actual service information and event information. 26. As a result, the delay due to the reconstruction of the program information is reduced with respect to each station information and the actual of all stations for each 64QAM. Next, all station program information corresponding to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers from the program information construction / accumulation unit 19 is output to the transmitter 26. After the above processing, the service information and short-term event information of the other than the actual, which is itself within the CATV network, are constructed and output to the transmitter 26. The above is the service event information converter 7 in FIG.
[0069]
The transmitter 26 multiplexes each program information input from the service / event information reconstructing unit 21 and network information input from the network information generator 2 into the digital broadcast stream from the receiver 1, and the program information transmission method is applied to all stations and It outputs to the digital modulator 3 as a digital CATV broadcast stream for transmitting each station program information.
[0070]
The digital modulator 3 maps the digital broadcast stream to a modulation method and transmits the digital broadcast stream to the CATV network using a digital modulated wave.
[0071]
On the other hand, the receiver 5 is a single transport stream that transmits long-term event information that occupies most of the program information in the CS digital satellite broadcast wave for all the transponders of the CS digital satellite (commonly known as an EPG transponder). And the digital broadcast stream packet of the transponder is sent to the program information analysis unit 18. The program information analysis unit 18 receives from the CATV program information setting unit 10 all 64QAM modulators in the digital CATV network, here the source transport stream identification number and the channel number in the transport identification number. . In addition, long-term event information of all channels corresponding to all transponders in the transmission source CS digital satellite is collectively input from the receiver 5.
[0072]
The program information analysis unit 18 selects the long-term event that matches the transmission source channel number selected from the CATV program information setting unit 10 in the digital CATV network among the long-term event information of all channels at the transmission source from the receiver 5. Only the information is output to the program information construction / accumulation unit 19.
[0073]
The program information construction / storage unit 19 converts the information elements in the long-term program information from the program information analysis unit 18 from the original CS digital program element contents to the BS digital program element contents based on the program information prepared in advance. to add. Then, it is converted and accumulated into long-term event information corresponding to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers set in the digital CATV network, not the transmission source. The program elements here are expressed as tables and descriptors. The converted long-term event information is output to the update program information generator 20 and the service / event information reconstruction unit 21.
[0074]
The program information generator for update 20 is a short-term program in which the currently broadcasted program and the program information scheduled to be started next are updated from the long-term event information from the program information construction / accumulation unit 19 every time the program ends / starts. Event information is created and accumulated for the program update during the period in the long-term event information for all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers, and is output to the service / event information reconstruction unit 21.
[0075]
The service / event information restructuring unit 21 receives from the service / event information building unit 17 program information obtained by converting only the actual service information and event information that is the own for each 64QAM. The program information construction / accumulation section 19 converts the information elements in the long-term program information from the original CS digital program element contents to the BS digital program element contents on the basis of the program information prepared in advance, and not the transmission source but the digital CATV. Long-term event information corresponding to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers set in the network is input. Also, the program information generator for update 20 receives short-term event information that is updated every time a program corresponding to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers ends / starts.
[0076]
The service / event information reconstructing unit 21 first outputs program information obtained by converting only the actual service information and event information which is the own for each 64QAM from the service / event information constructing unit 17 to the transmitter 8. . As a result, the delay due to the reconstruction of the program information is reduced with respect to the actual which is the own for each 64QAM. Next, the original CS digital program element contents from the program information construction / accumulation unit 19 are converted into BS digital program element contents and correspond to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers set in the digital CATV network. The long-term event information is output to the transmitter 8. Further, out of the short-term event information from the update program information generator 20, the short-term event information that matches the channel number in the actual transport stream identification number for each 64 QAM is output to the transmitter 8 first. After the above processing, the service information and short-term event information of the other than the actual, which is itself in the CATV network, is constructed and output to the transmitter 8. The above is the service event information converter 7 in FIG.
[0077]
The transmitter 8 multiplexes each program information input from the service / event information reconstruction unit 21 and network information input from the network information generator 6 into the CS digital broadcast stream from the receiver 4, and all the program information transmission methods are performed. Only the minimum information (basic event information) that identifies the program, such as the program name of the network information, service information, short-term event information, and long-term event information, is sent in the transport stream, and the rest of the long-term event information This information (extended event information) is output to the digital modulator 9 as a digital CATV broadcast stream in the BS digital system for transmitting only the portion corresponding to the channel included in the transport stream for each transport stream.
[0078]
The digital modulator 9 maps the digital broadcast stream to a modulation method and sends it to the CATV network using a digital modulated wave.
[0079]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a digital CATV network, broadcasts with different program information encoding methods and program information transmission methods such as BS digital broadcasts and multiple CS digital broadcasts can be retransmitted. It is.
[0080]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a receiver that receives digital CATV is retransmitted in response to a difference in program information format defined for each transmission source network transmitted within one network of digital CATV. It must support the program information format provided by all possible networks.
[0081]
Thus, an advantageous effect of providing a retransmission apparatus and a retransmission method that can be realized at low cost without increasing the burden of developing a receiver can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital broadcast retransmission apparatus and digital broadcast retransmission method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a network information generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a service / event information converter according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of network information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of frequency replacement in transmission information in network information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of network information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a digital broadcast retransmission apparatus and a digital broadcast retransmission method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast retransmission apparatus and digital broadcast retransmission method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a network information generator according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a service / event information converter according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an overall configuration diagram of network information according to a conventional example.
FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of network information according to a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Receiver
2 Network information generator
3 Modulator
4 receivers
5 Receiver
6 Network information generator
7 Service / event information converter
8 Transmitter
9 Modulator
10 CATV program information setting device
11 Packet detector
12 Packet replacement part
13 Packet sending part
14 Packet detector
15 Packet replacement part
16 Service / event information selection section
17 Service / Event Information Construction Department
18 Program information analysis section
19 Program information construction / storage section
20 Program information generator for updating
21 Service / Event Information Reconstruction Department
22 Receiver
23 Network information generator
24 Modulator
Voluntary broadcast headend
26 Transmitter
27 Receiver

Claims (1)

A first receiver for receiving BS digital satellite broadcast waves and creating BS digital broadcast stream packets;
A second receiver that receives a CS digital satellite broadcast wave, receives a desired plurality of channels in the CS digital satellite broadcast wave, and creates a CS digital broadcast stream packet that is one transport stream unit for each channel;
A third receiver that receives one transport stream that collectively transmits long-term event information for all channels in the CS digital satellite broadcast wave in the CS digital satellite broadcast wave, and creates a digital broadcast stream packet;
Transport stream identification number and channel number from the first packet detector of the first network information generator to be described later, and transport stream identification number from the second packet detector of the second network information generator to be described later And a CATV program information setting unit that replaces all transport stream identification numbers reconstructed for the digital CATV network based on the channel number and the channel number in the transport identification number;
A first packet detection unit that detects a packet in which a transport stream identification number and a channel number that need to be converted are output from the first receiver, and an output from the first packet detection unit is detected. A first packet replacement unit that replaces a packet with content converted based on a transport stream identification number and a channel number that are output from the CATV program information setting unit, and a packet that is output from the first packet replacement unit is a BS A first network information generator comprising a packet sending unit multiplexed with a digital broadcast stream;
A second packet detection unit for detecting a packet in which a transport stream identification number and a channel number that need to be converted with respect to an output of the second receiver are detected, and detected as an output of the second packet detection unit A second network information generator comprising a second packet replacement unit that replaces the packet with the content converted based on the transport stream identification number and the channel number that are the outputs of the CATV program information setting unit;
Service information related to its own transport stream identification number based on the CS digital broadcast stream packet output from the second receiver and the transport stream identification number and channel number output from the CATV program information setting unit; A service / event information selector for selecting only event information;
An information element related to a channel number in its service information which is an output of the service / event information selection unit and a channel number to which its event information belongs are a transport stream identification number which is an output of the CATV program information setting unit, and Service / event information construction part that converts according to the channel number;
Of the long-term event information of all channels at the transmission source that is the output of the third receiver
A program information analysis unit that extracts only long-term event information that matches a transmission source channel number that is selected and used in a digital CATV network that is an output of the CATV program information setter;
The information elements in the long-term event information, which is the output of the program information analysis unit, are converted from the program element contents expressed in the original CS digital table and descriptor to the BS digital program element contents based on the program information prepared in advance. And a program information construction storage unit for converting and storing long-term event information corresponding to all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers set in the digital CATV network,
Based on the long-term event information that is output from the program information construction storage unit, currently being broadcast updated at every program end / start for all channel numbers in all transport stream identification numbers during the period in the long-term event information An update program information generation unit for creating and storing a program update of short-term event information in which the program information and the next scheduled program information are written,
Information elements related to the channel number in the converted service information of each channel which is the output of the service / event information construction unit, the channel number to which the event information belongs, and the BS which is the output of the program information construction storage unit Digital program element contents and long-term event information and the program update of the short-term event information which is the output of the program information generator for updating are output, and then service information and short-term event information other than self in the digital CATV network are constructed. Service event information reconstruction unit to output,
Each program information input that is an output of the service / event information reconstruction unit and a network information input that is an output of the network information generator are multiplexed on a CS digital broadcast stream that is an output of the second receiver, Network information, service information, short-term event information, and basic event information in long-term event information are output only in the transport stream of the long-term event information, and the extended event information in long-term event information is included in the channel included in each transport stream. A transmitter that outputs only the corresponding part;
A first digital modulator that maps an output of the first network information generator to a modulation scheme and sends the modulated signal to a CATV network as a digital modulation wave;
A second digital modulator that maps the output of the transmitter to a modulation scheme and sends the modulated digital wave to a CATV network;
A digital CATV retransmission apparatus.

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