JP2000295638A - Broadcasting equipment monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To almost surely store stream data when a fault takes place and to make an operation efficient by acquiring fault notification information showing a prescribed fault situation, recording data for broadcast within prescribed recording capacity in a circulating manner and stopping a recording operation based on the fault notification information. SOLUTION: A stream fetching device 311 fetches a stream for broadcast according to a start command CMD1 and records it in a storage device 311a circulatingly. When a monitoring controller 301 receives fault notification information INF1 and INF2 from broadcasting equipment 200 and a stream data monitoring device 310, the controller 301 refers to a fault list file in a storage device 309, and when there is a matching fault, the controller 301 decides a fault as serious and transmits a stop command CMD2 to the device 311. Thus, the device 311 stops the recording operation that has been carried out so far.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a monitoring device for monitoring the operation status of broadcasting equipment for performing digital broadcasting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital satellite broadcasting has been widely used. Digital satellite broadcasting is more resistant to noise and fading than, for example, existing analog broadcasting, and can transmit high-quality signals. Further, the frequency use efficiency is improved, and it is possible to increase the number of channels. Specifically, in the case of digital satellite broadcasting, one satellite can secure several hundred channels. In such digital satellite broadcasting, a large number of specialty channels for sports, movies, music, news, etc. are prepared, and in these specialty channels, programs corresponding to the respective special contents are broadcast.

[0003] On the broadcasting station side of such a digital satellite broadcasting system, maintenance of the broadcasting equipment is performed so that normal broadcasting is performed. For this purpose, the broadcasting equipment is constructed. A monitoring system is provided to monitor various devices and the like for any abnormality or failure. In the case of a monitoring system as a digital satellite broadcasting system, for example, the operation status of various devices that construct a broadcasting facility is monitored by a monitor or the like. In parallel with this, stream data for digital broadcasting generated by broadcasting equipment is cyclically recorded in a storage device (storage device).

[0004] If a failure occurs in a certain device in a broadcasting facility, for example, this information is displayed and output on a monitor of a monitoring system. Here, for example, if the operator who is monitoring the monitor of the monitoring system only sees a display informing that the fault has occurred, it is possible to know that a fault has occurred in the broadcast facility. In this way, the operator who has learned that there is some failure performs, for example, an operation for stopping the stream data recording operation by the storage device described above.

At this time, the storage device stores the stream data transmitted from the broadcast facility at the time of the occurrence of the failure. Then, for example, at a later time, the operator identifies the cause of the failure by analyzing the stream data at the time of the failure stored in the storage device,
It is also possible to determine future countermeasures.

[0006]

However, in the above-described monitoring system, it is impossible to know that a failure has occurred unless the operator always looks at the monitoring monitor. Therefore, in reality, the recognition of the occurrence of the failure by the operator may often be delayed.
Here, as described above, the storage device that records the stream data performs an operation of recording cyclically using a certain limited recording capacity.
For this reason, if the recognition of the occurrence of the failure is delayed by the operator as described above, the stream data at the time of the failure
There is a possibility that inconvenience such as overwriting and erasing by new stream data has already occurred.

For example, as a measure for avoiding the above-mentioned inconvenience, as long as the delay time for confirming the occurrence of a fault is considered to be an average, the stream data at the time of the fault is not overwritten and erased. In addition, it is conceivable to increase the recording capacity of the storage device.

However, when the recording capacity of the storage device is increased, the actual cost associated with the increase is considerable. In addition, since the amount of stream data recorded on the storage device can increase and become enormous, the work of extracting the data necessary for analysis from this becomes more troublesome and hinders the actual analysis work. It will come. That is, it is not practical to solve the problem by increasing the storage capacity of the storage device.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention does not depend on the operator when monitoring digital broadcasting equipment, and stream data at the time of occurrence of a failure is almost certainly stored without depending on the operator. It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to operate digital broadcasting equipment more efficiently.

[0010] For this reason, broadcast data to be broadcast as digital broadcast is provided in a broadcast facility that generates and outputs the broadcast data using predetermined broadcast material information, and monitors the operation of a required device in the broadcast facility. Is configured as follows as a monitoring device that performs the following. In other words, failure notification information acquisition means, which is capable of acquiring failure notification information indicating a predetermined failure situation for the operation of each required device unit in the broadcast facility or predetermined information output from the predetermined device unit, It is determined that a failure has occurred based on the recording unit configured to fetch broadcast data and perform recording cyclically within a predetermined recording capacity and the failure notification information acquired by the failure notification information acquiring unit. Recording operation control means capable of executing control so as to stop the recording operation of the recording means when the recording operation is stopped.

[0011] According to the above configuration, when any trouble occurs in the broadcast equipment or the broadcast data transmitted from the broadcast equipment, the broadcast data is cyclically recorded within a predetermined recording capacity. The control is performed so as to stop the recording operation of the recording means. As a result, the data recorded in the recording means is such that the broadcast data at the time of the failure occurrence is overwritten by the broadcast data after the failure occurrence It will remain without being.

[0012] The broadcast equipment is provided in broadcast equipment for generating and outputting broadcast data to be broadcast as digital broadcast using predetermined broadcast material information, and monitors the operation of required equipment in the broadcast equipment. As a monitoring device to be performed, failure notification information acquisition that enables acquisition of failure notification information indicating the operation of each required device unit in the broadcast facility or a predetermined failure condition for predetermined information output from the predetermined device unit Means,
A plurality of recording means for receiving broadcast data and cyclically recording the data within a predetermined recording capacity. When it is determined that a failure has occurred based on the failure notification information acquired by the failure notification information acquiring means, at least one of the one or more recording means that has performed the recording operation Is performed so that the recording operation is stopped so that the recording operation of at least one of the remaining recording units is started even after the stop control is executed. Is provided with a recording operation control means for executing the control.

According to the above arrangement, when any trouble occurs in the broadcast equipment or in the broadcast data transmitted from the broadcast equipment, at least one of the recording means for recording the broadcast data so far. When the recording operation is stopped, the data content recorded in the recording means is that the broadcast data at the time of occurrence of the failure remains without being overwritten by the broadcast data after the occurrence of the failure. . After the recording of a certain recording unit is stopped as described above, the recording operation is performed in one of the recording units other than the stopped recording unit, so that a failure occurs. Recording of broadcast data after time is also performed.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The broadcasting equipment monitoring apparatus according to the present embodiment broadcasts a program using digital satellite broadcasting, and allows the receiving apparatus to download information such as music data (audio data) related to the program. , And is provided on the broadcasting station side of such a digital satellite broadcasting system.

The following description will be made in the following order. 1. Digital satellite broadcasting system 1-1. Overall configuration 1-2. Operation on GUI screen 1-3. Ground station 1-4. Transmission format 1-5. IRD 2. Monitoring system according to present embodiment 2-1. First example 2-2. Second example 2-3. Monitoring display

1. Configuration of Digital Satellite Broadcasting System 1-1. Overall Configuration First, prior to describing a broadcast facility monitoring apparatus according to the present embodiment, a digital satellite broadcasting system to which the present embodiment corresponds will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a digital satellite broadcasting system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the ground station 1 for digital satellite broadcasting includes a material for television program broadcasting from a television program material server 6, a material for music data from a music material server 7, and a sound additional information server 8 , And the GUI data from the GUI data server.

The television program material server 6 is a server that provides a material of a normal broadcast program. The music broadcast material sent from the television program material server is a moving image and a sound. For example, in the case of a music broadcast program, using the video and audio materials of the TV program material server 6,
For example, a moving image and sound for promotion of a new song are broadcast.

The music material server 7 is a server that provides an audio program using an audio channel. The material of this audio program is only audio. The music material server 7 transmits materials of audio programs of a plurality of audio channels to the ground station 1. In the program broadcast of each audio channel, the same music is repeatedly broadcast for a predetermined unit time. Each audio channel is independent, and various usages can be considered. For example, one audio channel repeatedly broadcasts some of the latest Japanese pops for a certain period of time, and another audio channel repeatedly broadcasts some of the latest foreign pops for a certain period of time. .

The audio additional information server 8 is a server that provides time information of the music output from the music material server 7 and the like.

The GUI data server 9 provides "GUI data (broadcast content data)" for forming a GUI screen used by the user for operation. For example, in the case of a GUI screen related to downloading music as described below, image data, text data, and data for forming a still image of an album jacket for forming a list page of distributed music and an information page of each music. And so on. Further, on the receiving equipment 3 side, a so-called EPG (E
EPG data used for displaying a program guide called an electrical program guide is also provided from this. The “GUI data” is, for example, MHEG (Multi
media Hypermedia Information Coding Experts Group)
The method is adopted. MHEG is an international standard for scenario description for creating multimedia information, procedures, operations, etc. and their combinations as objects, encoding these objects, and producing them as titles (eg, GUI screens). Is done. In this embodiment, MHEG-5 is adopted.

The ground station 1 has the above-mentioned television program material server 6,
Music material server 7, audio additional information server 8, and GUI
The information transmitted from the data server 9 is multiplexed and transmitted. In the present embodiment, the video data transmitted from the television program material server 6 is MPEG (Moving Picture Expe
(rts Group) 2 system, and the audio data is compression-encoded by the MPEG2 audio system. The audio data transmitted from the music material server 7 corresponds to, for example, the MPEG2 audio system and the ATRAC (Adoptive
It is compressed and encoded by either one of the Tranform Acoustic Coding) method and the other method. These data are encrypted using key information from the key information server 10 at the time of multiplexing. An example of the internal configuration of the ground station 1 will be described later.

The ground station 1 is provided with a monitoring system 300 for monitoring the operation status of each device for forming digital stream data for broadcasting, as described later.

The signal from the ground station 1 is received by the receiving equipment 3 of each home via the satellite 2. The satellite 2 has a plurality of transponders mounted thereon. One transponder has a transmission capacity of, for example, 30 Mbps. As the receiving equipment 3 of each home, a parabolic antenna 11 and an IRD (Int
egrated Receiver Decorder) 12, a storage device 13, and a monitor device 14 are prepared. In this case, a remote controller 64 for operating the IRD 12 is shown.

A signal broadcasted via the satellite 2 by the parabolic antenna 11 is received. This received signal is transmitted to the LNB (Low Noize Blo
ck Down Converter) 15
It is supplied to RD12.

As a schematic operation in the IRD 12, a signal of a predetermined channel is selected from a received signal, and video data and audio data as a program are demodulated from the selected signal to obtain a video signal and an audio signal. Output as In the IRD 12, a GUI multiplexed with data as a program and transmitted is transmitted.
An output as a GUI screen is also performed based on the data. The output of the IRD 12 is supplied to, for example, the monitor device 14. As a result, in the monitor device 14, I
The RD 12 performs image display and audio output of the program selected and received, and also allows a GUI screen to be displayed in accordance with a user operation as described later.

The storage device 13 is for storing audio data (song data) downloaded by the IRD 12. The type of the storage device 13 is not particularly limited.
An MD (Mini Disc) recorder / player, a DAT recorder / player, a DVD recorder / player, or the like can be used. In addition, a personal computer device is used as the storage device 13, and in addition to a hard disk,
It is also possible to store audio data in a recordable medium such as a CD-R.

As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving equipment 3 according to the present embodiment uses the IEEE standard as a data transmission standard.
M with data interface compatible with 1394
The D recorder / player 13A can be used as the storage device 13 shown in FIG. An IEEE 1394-compliant MD recorder / player 13A shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the IRD 12 via an IEEE 1394 bus 16. Thus, in the present embodiment, audio data (download data) as music received by the IRD 12 can be directly captured and recorded in a state where compression processing has been performed by the ATRAC method. When the MD recorder / player 13A and the IRD 12 are connected via the IEEE 1394 bus 16, it is possible to record not only the audio data but also jacket data (still image data) of the album and text data such as lyrics. Have been.

The IRD 12 can communicate with the accounting server 5 via the telephone line 4, for example. An IC card in which various information is stored is inserted into the IRD 12 as described later. For example, if audio data of a music piece is downloaded, history information relating to the download is stored in the IC card. The information of the IC card is sent to the charging server 5 via the telephone line 4 at a predetermined opportunity and timing. The accounting server 5 sets an amount according to the sent history information, performs accounting, and charges the user.

As can be understood from the above description, in the system to which the present invention is applied, the ground station 1 includes the video data and audio data serving as the music program broadcast material from the TV program material server 6 and the music material server. Audio data as the material of the audio channel from 7,
The voice data from the voice additional information server 8 and the GUI data from the GUI data server 9 are multiplexed and transmitted. Then, when this broadcast is received by the receiving equipment 3 of each home, for example, the program of the selected channel can be viewed by the monitor device 14. First, an EPG (Electrical Program Guide) screen is displayed as a GUI screen using GUI data transmitted together with program data, and a program search or the like can be performed. Second, for example, by performing a required operation using a GUI screen for a specific service other than a normal program broadcast, in the case of the present embodiment, a normal service provided in a broadcast system is provided. Services other than viewing programs can be enjoyed. For example, if a GUI screen for a download service of audio (song) data is displayed and an operation is performed using this GUI screen, the audio data of the song desired by the user is downloaded and recorded in the storage device 13. It becomes possible to save.

In the present embodiment, a data service broadcast that provides a specific service other than a normal program broadcast, which involves an operation on the GUI screen as described above, may have interactivity. Broadcast ".

1-2. Operation on GUI screen Here, the above-mentioned use example of interactive broadcasting,
That is, an operation example on the GUI screen will be schematically described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Here, a case in which music data (audio data) is downloaded will be described.

First, the main operation keys of the remote controller 64 for the user to operate the IRD 12 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 shows an operation panel surface on which various keys are arranged in the remote controller 64. here,
Among these various keys, the power key 101, the numeric key 10
2. The screen display switching key 103, the interactive switching key 104, the EPG key panel unit 105, and the channel key 106 will be described.

The power key 101 is a key for turning on / off the power of the IRD 12. Numeric keys 102
These keys are used to switch channels by designating a number, or to operate, for example, when a numerical input operation is required on a GUI screen. The screen display switching key 103 is a key for switching between a normal broadcast screen and an EPG screen, for example. For example, EPG is pressed by the screen display switching key 103.
While the screen is being called, the EPG key panel unit 10
By operating the keys arranged in 5, a program search using the display screen of the electronic program guide can be performed. Also,
The arrow keys 105a in the EPG key panel unit 105 can be used for moving a cursor on a GUI screen for a service to be described later. The interactive switching key 104 is provided to switch between a normal broadcast screen and a GUI screen for a service accompanying the broadcast program. The channel key 106 is a key provided for sequentially switching the selected channel in the IRD 12 in ascending order and descending order of the channel number.

The remote controller 64 of the present embodiment is configured to be capable of performing various operations on the monitor device 14, for example, and is provided with various keys corresponding thereto. Here, the description of the keys and the like corresponding to the monitor device 14 is omitted.

Next, a specific example of an operation on the GUI screen will be described with reference to FIG. When a desired channel is selected by receiving a broadcast by the receiving equipment 3, the display screen of the monitor device 14 displays a moving image based on the program material provided from the TV program material server 6 as shown in FIG. An image is displayed. That is, normal program contents are displayed. Here, it is assumed that, for example, a music program is displayed. It is assumed that the music program is accompanied by a download service (interactive broadcast) for audio data of the music. Then, for example, if the user operates the interactive switching key 104 of the remote controller 64 in a state where the music program is displayed, the display screen displays the audio data download screen as shown in FIG. Is switched to the GUI screen.

In this GUI screen, first, the TV program display area 21A at the upper left of the screen is displayed as shown in FIG.
The image based on the video data from the television program material server 6 displayed in (a) is reduced and displayed.
Also, a list 21B of music pieces of each channel being broadcast on the audio channel is displayed in the upper right part of the screen. A text display area 21C is located at the lower left of the screen.
And the jacket display area 21D are displayed. further,
On the right side of the screen, a lyrics display button 22, a profile display button 23, an information display button 24, a reservation recording button 2
5. Reserved list display button 26, recording history display button 2
7, and a download button 28 are displayed.

The user searches for a song of interest while looking at the song name displayed in the list 21B.
Then, when a musical piece of interest is found, the arrow keys 105a of the remote controller 64 (EPG key panel unit 10)
5) to move the cursor to the position where the music is displayed, and then perform an enter operation (for example, press the center position of the arrow key 105a). As a result, it is possible to listen to the music piece with the cursor. That is, in each audio channel, the same music is repeatedly broadcast during a predetermined unit time.
The screen of the TV program display area 21A remains unchanged, and the IR
By switching to the audio channel of the music selected by the above operation by D12 and outputting the sound, the music can be heard. At this time, a still image of the MD jacket of the music is displayed in the jacket display area 21D.

Further, for example, the cursor is moved to the lyrics display button 22 in the above state, and an enter operation is performed (hereinafter, referred to as “enter”).
When the cursor is moved to the button display and the enter operation is performed ("button is pressed"), the lyrics of the music are displayed in the text display area 21C at the timing synchronized with the audio data. Similarly, when the profile display button 23 or the information display button 24 is pressed, an artist profile or concert information corresponding to the music is displayed in the text display area 21C. In this way, the user can know what kind of music is currently being distributed, and can also know detailed information about each music.

The user presses the download button 28 when he wants to purchase the auditioned music. When the download button 28 is pressed, the audio data of the selected music is downloaded and stored in the storage device 13. Along with the audio data of the music, lyrics data, artist profile information, jacket still image data, and the like can also be downloaded. Each time the audio data of the music is downloaded in this manner, the history information is stored in the IC card in the IRD 12. The information stored in the IC card is taken in by the accounting server 5 once a month, for example, and the user is charged according to the usage history of the data service. Thereby, the copyright of the downloaded music can be protected.

When the user wants to make a reservation for download in advance, he presses a reservation recording button 25. When this button is pressed, the display of the GUI screen is switched, and a list of music that can be reserved is displayed on the entire screen. For example, this list can display music searched for in units of one hour, one week, or channel. When the user selects a song to be reserved for download from this list, the information is registered in the IRD 12. Then, when the user wants to confirm a music piece for which a download reservation has already been made, the user can press the reserved list display button 26 to display it on the entire screen. The music piece reserved in this way is downloaded by the IRD 12 at the reserved time and stored in the storage device 13.

When the user wants to check the downloaded music, the recording history button 27 can be pressed to display a list of already downloaded music on the entire screen.

As described above, in the receiving facility 3 of the system to which the present invention is applied, a list of music pieces is displayed on the GUI screen of the monitor device 14. When a song is selected according to the display on the GUI screen, the song can be previewed, and the lyrics of the song, the artist profile, and the like can be known. Further, it is possible to perform downloading of music and reservation thereof, display of a download history and a list of reserved music, and the like.

Although the details will be described later, FIG.
The display of the GUI screen as shown in, the change of the display on the GUI screen in response to the user's operation on the GUI screen, and the voice output are defined by the scenario description based on the MHEG method described above. Is realized by: The object referred to here is
Image data as parts corresponding to the buttons shown in FIG. 2B and material data displayed in each display area. In this specification, the relationship between objects is defined by a scenario (script) description, such as the GUI screen, so that information is output according to a certain purpose (image display, audio output, etc.). An environment in which is realized is referred to as a “scene”. It is also assumed that the objects forming one scene include the scenario description file itself.

As described above, in the digital satellite broadcast system to which the present invention is applied, a broadcast program is distributed, and audio data of music is distributed using a plurality of audio channels. Then, the user can search for a desired music by using a list of the distributed music and the like, and can easily store the audio data in the storage device 13. As services other than the program provision in the digital satellite broadcasting system, various other than the above-described downloading of the music data can be considered. For example, it is conceivable that after broadcasting a product introduction program called so-called television shopping, a GUI screen that allows a purchase contract to be concluded is prepared.

1-3. Ground Station The outline of the digital satellite broadcasting system according to the present embodiment has been described above, but this system will be described in more detail hereinafter. Therefore, the configuration of the ground station 1 will be described first with reference to FIG.

In the following description, the following is assumed. In the present embodiment, a satellite 2
In transmitting to the receiving equipment 3 via the DSM-CC, at least the GUI data is a DSM-CC (Digital Storage Media Command and Control; Di
gital Strage Media-Command and Control) protocol. As is already known, the DSM-CC (MPEG-part6) method extracts, for example, an MPEG encoded bit stream stored in a digital storage medium (DSM) via some network.
(Retrieve) or a command and control method for storing a stream in the DSM. In the present embodiment, this DSM
-The CC system is adopted as a transmission standard in a digital satellite broadcasting system. And DSM-
In order to transmit content (a set of objects) of a data broadcasting service (for example, a GUI screen) by the CC system, it is necessary to define a description format of the content. In the present embodiment, the above-described MHEG is adopted as the definition of the description format.

In the configuration of the ground station 1 shown in FIG. 5, the TV program material registration system 31 registers the material data obtained from the TV program material server 6 in the AV server 35. The material data is sent to the television program transmission system 39, where the video data is compressed by, for example, the MPEG2 system, and the audio data is packetized by, for example, the MPEG2 audio system. The output of the television program transmission system 39 is sent to the multiplexer 45.

The music material registration system 32 supplies material data from the music material server 7, that is, audio data, to the MPEG2 audio encoder 36A and the ATRAC encoder 36B. MPEG2 audio encoder 36A, ATRAC encoder 36
In B, the supplied audio data is encoded (compressed and encoded), and then registered in the MPEG audio server 40A and ATRAC audio server 40B. MPEG audio server 40A
Is transmitted to the MPEG audio transmission system 43A, packetized here, and then transmitted to the multiplexer 45. AT
ATRAC registered in RAC audio server 40B
The data is transmitted to the ATRAC audio transmission system 43B as quadruple-speed ATRAC data, where it is packetized and transmitted to the multiplexer 45.

The additional audio information registration system 33 registers additional audio information as material data from the additional audio information server 8 in the additional audio information database 37.
The additional audio information registered in the additional audio information database 37 is transmitted to the additional audio information transmission system 41,
Similarly, the packetized data from the multiplexer 4
5 is transmitted.

In the GUI material registration system 34, the GUI data server 9
The I data is registered in the GUI material database 38.

The GUI material data registered in the GUI material database 38 is stored in the GUI authoring system 42.
Here, the data is processed so as to be in a data format that can be output as a GUI screen, that is, a “scene” described with reference to FIG.

That is, the GUI authoring system 42
For example, in the case of a GUI screen for downloading music, still image data of an album jacket, text data such as lyrics, audio data to be output in response to an operation, etc. It is. Each of the above-mentioned data is called a so-called mono-media.
Using an authoring tool, these mono-media data are encoded and treated as objects. Then, for example, a scenario description file (script) defining the relationship between the objects so that the display mode of the scene (GUI screen) and the output mode of image and sound according to the operation as described with reference to FIG. Together with the MHEG-5 content. FIG.
On the GUI screen as shown in (b), image / audio data (M
PEG video data, MPEG audio data)
MPEG based on music material data of music material server 7
Audio data and the like are also displayed on the GUI screen, and an output mode according to the operation is given. Therefore, as the scenario description file, in the GUI authoring system 42, the image / audio data based on the material data of the TV program material server 6 and the MPEG audio data based on the music material data of the music material server 7 are used. Further, the audio additional information based on the audio additional information server 8 is also treated as an object if necessary, and the MHEG script defines the object.

The data of the MHEG content transmitted from the GUI authoring system 42 includes a script file, various still image data files and text data files (and audio data files) as objects. The data is, for example, data of 640 × 480 pixels compressed by a JPEG (Joint Photograph Experts Group) method, and the text data is a file of, for example, 800 characters or less.

The data of the MHEG content obtained by the GUI authoring system 42 is transmitted to the DSM-CC encoder 44. The DSM-CC encoder 44 converts the data into a transport stream (hereinafter abbreviated as TS (Transport Stream)) in a format that can be multiplexed with a data stream of video and audio data in accordance with the MPEG2 format.
5 is output.

In the multiplexer 45, the video and audio packets from the television program transmission system 39 and the MPEG audio transmission system 43
A, a 4 × speed audio packet from the ATRAC audio transmission system 43B, an audio additional information packet from the audio additional information transmission system 41, and a G from the GUI authoring system 42.
The UI data packet and the UI data packet are time-division multiplexed and encrypted based on the key information output from the key information server 10 (FIG. 1). The information multiplexed in this way is obtained as stream data as a TS. Further, in the multiplexer 45, the PSI,
Information about channels and programs such as SI is added.
Note that PSI and SI will be described later.

The stream data as TS obtained by the multiplexer 45 is transmitted to a radio wave transmission system 46, where the data is subjected to processing such as addition of an error correction code, modulation, and frequency conversion. 2 for transmission output.

1-4. Transmission Format Next, a transmission format according to the present embodiment defined based on the DSM-CC scheme will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of data transmitted and output from the ground station 1 to the satellite 2. As described above, each data shown in this figure is actually time-division multiplexed. Also, in this figure, as shown in FIG. 6, one event is from time t1 to time t2, and the next event is from time t2. The event referred to here is, for example, a unit for changing a set of a lineup of a plurality of music pieces in the case of a music program channel, and is about 30 minutes or 1 hour in terms of time.

As shown in FIG. 6, from time t1 to time t2
In the event (1), a program having a predetermined content A1 is being broadcast in a normal video program broadcast. In the event starting from time t2, a program as content A2 is being broadcast. What is broadcast in this ordinary program is moving images and audio.

MPEG audio channels (1) to
(10) is prepared, for example, for ten channels CH1 to CH10. At this time, the same music is repeatedly transmitted on each of the audio channels CH1, CH2, CH3,..., CH10 while one event is being broadcast. That is, during the event period from time t1 to time t2, the music B1 is repeatedly transmitted on the audio channel CH1, and the audio channel CH1 is transmitted.
2, the music C1 is repeatedly transmitted, and similarly, the music K1 is repeatedly transmitted on the audio channel CH10. This is common to the quadruple-speed ATRAC audio channels (1) to (10) shown below.

That is, in FIG. 6, those having the same number in parentheses which are the channel numbers of the MPEG audio channel and the 4 × -speed ATRAC audio channel are the same music. The number in parentheses, which is the channel number of the additional audio information, is the additional audio information added to the audio data having the same channel number.
Still image data and text data transmitted as GUI data are also formed for each channel. These data are time-division multiplexed and transmitted in an MPEG2 transport packet as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (d), and transmitted in the IRD 12 as shown in FIGS. 7 (e) to 7 (h). It is reconstructed using the header information of each data packet.

Of the transmission data shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, at least GUI data used for a data service (broadcast of MHEG contents synchronized with TV broadcasting (or audio broadcasting) or interactive broadcasting) , Is logically formed as follows in accordance with the DSM-CC system. Here, DSM-CC
The description is limited to the transport stream data output from the encoder 44.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the data broadcasting service of the present embodiment transmitted by the DSM-CC system is all included in a root directory named Service Gateway. Service
Objects included in the Gateway include a directory (Directory) and a file (Fil).
e), a stream (Stream), and a stream event (Stream Event).

Of these, the files are individual data files such as still images, sounds, texts, and scripts described by MHEG. The stream is, for example, another data service or an AV stream (TV
MPEG video data and audio data as program material, MPEG audio data as music material, A
TRAC audio data). The stream event also includes link information and time information. A directory is a folder that stores related data.

In the DSM-CC system, FIG.
As shown in (b), these unit information and Serv
The Ice Gateway is regarded as a unit called an object, and each is converted into a format of a BIOP message. In the description relating to the present invention, the distinction between the three objects of file, stream, and stream event is not essential, and therefore, in the following description, these objects will be represented by the object as a file.

In the DSM-CC system, FIG.
A data unit called a module shown in (c) is generated. This module is a variable-length data unit formed by adding one or more objects converted into a BIOP message shown in FIG. 8B and adding a BIOP header thereto. It is the unit of buffering the received data on the side. Also, DSM-C
In the C method, when one module is formed by a plurality of objects, the relationship between the objects is not particularly defined or limited. In other words, at the extreme, even if one module is formed by two or more objects between completely unrelated scenes, DS
It does not violate the rules under the M-CC system.

This module is mechanically divided into data units of a fixed length in principle called "blocks" as shown in FIG. 8 (d) in order to transmit the data in a format called a section defined by the MPEG2 format. You.
However, the last block in the module does not need to have a prescribed fixed length. The reason why the block division is performed is that there is a rule in the MPEG2 format that one section must not exceed 4 KB. In this case, the data unit as a block and the section are synonymous.

The block obtained by dividing the module in this manner is converted into a message format called DDB (Download Data Block) with a header added as shown in FIG. 8 (e).

In parallel with the conversion to DDB,
SI (Download Server Initiate) and DII (Download
Indication Information) is generated. The DSI and DII are on the receiving side (IRD1
The information required when acquiring a module from the received data in 2), and the DSI mainly includes an identifier of the carousel (module) described below and information related to the entire carousel (time during which the carousel makes one rotation, carousel rotation) Timeout value). In addition, the root directory of the data service (Service Ga
The information also has information for knowing the location of the keyword (object carousel system).

DII is information corresponding to each module included in the carousel, and has information such as the size and version of each module and a timeout value of the module.

Then, as shown in FIG.
Three types of messages, DB, DSI, and DII, are transmitted periodically and repeatedly in correspondence with the data unit of the section. As a result, the receiver can always receive, for example, a module including an object necessary for obtaining a target GUI screen (scene). In this specification, such a transmission method is referred to as a “carousel method” by comparing it to a carousel, and FIG.
The data transmission mode schematically represented as shown in FIG. Here, a plurality of modules may be included in one carousel. For example, a plurality of modules required for one data service may be transmitted by one carousel. The “carousel method” is divided into a “data carousel method” level and an “object carousel method” level. Especially in the object carousel method, files, directories, streams,
This is a method of transferring objects having attributes such as service gateways as data using a carousel, and differs greatly from the data carousel method in that a directory structure can be handled. The system of the present embodiment adopts the object carousel method.

FIG. 9 shows a file (MHEG application) as a data service conforming to the MHEG method.
2 shows an example of a directory structure of the application file.
As described above, the object carousel method is characterized in that it can handle this directory structure. Usually Se
to become the entry of the service domain (MHEG
application file) must be a Ser
app0 / s, just below the visit Gateway
This will be a file called startup. Basically, Se
service Domain (Service Gate
application) under application way
ory (app0, app1... appN),
An application called startup under it
File and each SC that makes up the application
ene's directory (scene0, scene
e1...). Further scene d
The MHEG scene f
content fi that constitutes ile and scene
le is to be placed.

The broadcast data including the GUI data transmitted by the carousel as described above, that is, the data output from the multiplexer 45 in FIG. 5, is output in the form of a transport stream. This transport stream has a structure shown in FIG. 10, for example. FIG. 10A shows a transport stream. The transport stream is a bit string defined in the MPEG system, and is formed by connecting fixed-length packets (transport packets) of 188 bytes as shown in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 10B, each transport packet includes a header, an adaptation field for including additional information in a specific individual packet, and a payload (video / audio data or the like) indicating the contents of the packet (video / audio data, etc.). Data area).

The header is actually 4 bytes, for example. As shown in FIG. 10 (c), there is always a synchronization byte at the beginning, and the identification information of the packet is provided at a predetermined position after this. A certain PID (Packet_I
D), scramble control information indicating the presence / absence of scrambling, and adaptation field control information indicating the presence / absence of a subsequent adaptation field and payload.

Based on these pieces of control information, the receiving apparatus can descramble packets in packet units, and can use a demultiplexer to separate and extract necessary packets such as video / audio / data. In addition, time information serving as a reference for synchronous reproduction of video / audio can be reproduced here.

As can be seen from the above description,
A single transport stream is multiplexed with video / audio / data packets for a plurality of channels.
In addition, a signal for controlling channel selection called PSI (Program Specific Information), information (EMM / ECM) necessary for conditional access (reception function for deciding whether or not pay channels can be received or not according to individual contract status), SI (Service Information) for realizing services such as EPG
Are multiplexed simultaneously.

The PSI is composed of four tables as shown in FIG. Each table is
It is expressed in a section format, which is compliant with the MPEG System. FIG. 11A shows NIT (Net
work Information Table) and CAT (Conditional Acc
ess Table) is shown. In the NIT, the same content is multiplexed on all carriers. Transmission specifications for each carrier (polarization plane, carrier frequency, convolution rate, etc.)
And a list of channels multiplexed there. The PID of the NIT is PID = 0x0010.

The CAT also has the same content multiplexed on all carriers. The PID of an EMM (Entitlement Management Message) packet, which is identification information of the conditional access system and individual information such as contract information, is described. As PID, PID
= 0x0001.

FIG. 11B shows a PAT as information having specific contents for each carrier. The PAT describes channel information in the carrier and the PMT PID indicating the content of each channel. PID
Is indicated by PID = 0x0000.

As information for each channel in the carrier, a PMT (Program Map T
able) table. In the PMT, contents for each channel are multiplexed. For example, as shown in FIG. 11D, components (video / audio, etc.) configuring each channel and an ECM (E
The PID of the PMT in which the PID of the (ncryption Control Message) packet is described is specified by the PAT.

Although SI is not shown, PSI
It is a table in section format in the same way as
Information about G is described. On the IRD side, necessary information is extracted from this table and displayed on the screen. As a typical table of this SI, SDT (Service Description Table) and EI
T (Event Information Table). SDT
Represents channel information, and describes a channel number, a channel name, channel contents, and the like. The PID is indicated by PID = 0x0011. The EIT indicates program information, and describes a program name, a program start time, a synopsis of a program, a genre, and the like. The PID is indicated by PID = 0x0012.
The information as the PSI and the SI is added to the data in the format of the TS in the multiplexer 45 shown in FIG.

1-5. IRD Next, an example of the configuration of the IRD 12 provided in the receiving facility 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the IRD 12 shown in this figure, a reception signal converted to a predetermined frequency by the LNB 15 of the parabolic antenna 11 is input to the input terminal T 1 and supplied to the tuner / front end unit 51. In the tuner / front end unit 51, a CPU (Central Processing Uni
t) On the basis of a setting signal in which transmission parameters and the like are set from 80, a carrier (reception frequency) determined by the setting signal is received and subjected to, for example, Viterbi demodulation processing, error correction processing, or the like, thereby achieving a transformer. You get to get the port stream. The transport stream obtained by the tuner / front end unit 51 is supplied to a descrambler 52. Further, the tuner / front end unit 51 obtains a PSI packet from the transport stream, updates the channel selection information, obtains the component PID of each channel in the transport stream, and transmits it to, for example, the CPU 80. CP
In U80, the acquired PID is used for reception signal processing.

In the descrambler 52, the IC card 65
The descramble key data stored in the CPU 8
0, and the PID is set by the CPU 80. Then, a descrambling process is performed based on the descrambling key data and the PID, and transmitted to the transport unit 53.

The transport section 53 comprises a demultiplexer 70 and a queue 71 composed of, for example, a DRAM or the like. The queue (Queue) 71 is formed such that a plurality of memory areas corresponding to each module are arranged in a row. For example, in the present embodiment, a memory area of 32 columns is provided. That is, information of up to 32 modules can be stored simultaneously.

The general operation of the demultiplexer 70 is as follows: according to the filter conditions set by the DeMUX driver 82 of the CPU 80, necessary transport packets are separated from the transport stream supplied from the descrambler 52, and if necessary, Using the queue 71 as a work area, data in the format as shown in FIGS. 7 (e) to 7 (h) is obtained and supplied to the necessary functional circuit units. The MPEG video data separated by the demultiplexer 70 is input to the MPEG2 video decoder 55, and the MPEG audio data is input to the MPEG audio decoder 54. M separated by these demultiplexers 70
The individual packet of PEG video / audio data is P
The data is input to each decoder in a format called ES (Packetized Elementary Stream).

The data of the MHEG content in the transport stream is separated and extracted from the transport stream by the demultiplexer 70 in the unit of the transport packet, and is written into a required memory area of the queue 71 to be written in the module 71 in the unit of the module. It is formed so that it may be put together. And
The data of the MHEG content collected in the module unit is transmitted to the DSM-CC buffer 91 in the main memory 90 via the data bus under the control of the CPU 80.
Is written and held.

Also, 4 × speed ATRAC data (compressed audio data) in the transport stream is
For example, data necessary for each transport packet is separated and extracted by the demultiplexer 70 and the
Output to the 94 interface 60. Also,
Through the IEEE 1394 interface 60, it is possible to transmit video data and various command signals in addition to audio audio data.

In the MPEG2 video decoder 55 to which the MPEG video data in the PES format has been input, the MPEG5 video decoder 55
The decoding process is performed according to the G2 format. The decoded video data is supplied to the display processing unit 58.

The display processing unit 58 stores the video data input from the MPEG2 video decoder 55 and the MHEG buffer 92 of the main memory 90 as described later.
, Video data such as a GUI screen for a data service obtained by the user is input. The display processing unit 58 performs necessary signal processing on the video data thus input, converts the video data into an analog audio signal according to a predetermined television system, and outputs the analog audio signal to the analog video output terminal T2. Thereby, the analog video output terminal T2
By connecting the monitor and the video input terminal of the monitor device 14, for example, the display as shown in FIG. 4 is performed.

In the MPEG2 audio decoder 54 to which the MPEG audio data by PES is input, the MPEG4 audio decoder 54 uses the memory 54A as a work area and
The decoding process is performed according to the G2 format. The decoded audio data is supplied to the D / A converter 56 and the optical digital output interface 59.

The D / A converter 56 converts the input audio data into an analog audio signal and outputs it to the switch circuit 57. The switch circuit 57 switches the signal path so as to output an analog audio signal to one of the analog audio output terminals T3 and T4. Here, the analog audio output terminal T3
Is provided to be connected to the audio input terminal of the monitor device 14. The analog audio output terminal T4 is a terminal for outputting the downloaded music by an analog signal. The optical digital output interface 59 converts the input digital audio data into an optical digital signal and outputs it. In this case, the optical digital output interface 59 complies with, for example, IEC958.

The main memory 90 is used as a work area when the CPU 80 performs various control processes. In the present embodiment, the main memory 90
In the above, the DSM-CC buffer 91 and the MH
An area as the EG buffer 92 is allocated. The MHEG buffer 92 is a work area for generating image data (for example, image data of a GUI screen) generated according to the description of the script in the MHEG method, and the generated image data is displayed via a bus line. It is supplied to the processing unit 58.

CPU 80 executes the overall control in IRD 12. This includes control on data separation and extraction in the demultiplexer 70. Further, by performing decoding processing on the acquired MHEG content data, processing for configuring and outputting a GUI screen (scene) according to the description content of the script is also executed.

For this reason, the CPU 80 of the present embodiment includes, for example, at least a DeMUX driver 82 and a DS
An M-CC decoder block 83 and an MHEG decoder block 84 are provided. In the present embodiment, at least the DSM-CC decoder block 83 and the MHEG decoder block 84 are configured by software. The DeMUX driver 82 sets a filter condition in the demultiplexer 70 based on the PID of the input transport stream.
The DSM-CC decoder block 83 has a DSM-Man
It has a function as an ager, and DSM-C
The module unit data stored in the C buffer 91 is reconstructed into MHEG content data. Further, according to the access from the MHEG decoder block 84, a process related to a required DSM-CC decoding or the like is executed.

The MHEG decoder block 84 has a DSM
-Data of the MHEG content obtained by the CC decoder block 83, that is, the DSM-CC buffer 91
To access the data of the MHEG content obtained in the above, and perform decoding processing for scene output. That is, a scene is formed by realizing the relationship between objects defined by the script file of the MHEG content. At this time, when forming a GUI screen as a scene, the MHEG
The buffer 92 is used to generate the GUI screen image data in accordance with the contents of the script file.

DSM-CC decoder block 83 and M
The interface between the HEG decoder blocks 84 includes a UU API (DSM-CC UU API (A
pplivation Portability Interface)).
The UU API is, for example, a client (MHEG decoder block 84) side in which a DSM Manager object (a server object that implements the function of DSM;
This is an interface for accessing the DSM-CC decoder block 83).
service Gateway, Directory,
The API is such that an object having attributes such as File, Stream, and Stream Event can be structurally accessed like a file system.

By accessing an object included in the carousel through this API, a program (client) using the carousel can access the object using the bus name without knowing the carousel receiving operation. become.

The UU API is a set of interfaces defined so that it can be used regardless of the lower layer data transfer method.
A program that uses a PI has the advantage that it can be used in any data transfer method that provides a UU API.

Here, an operation example for extracting a target object necessary to form one scene from the transport stream under the control of the CPU 80 will be described.

In DSM-CC, an IOR (Interop) is used to indicate the location of an object in a transport stream.
erable Object Reference) is used. In the IOR,
An identifier corresponding to a carousel for finding an object, an identifier of a module including the object (hereinafter, referred to as module_id), and an identifier for specifying an object in one module (hereinafter, object)
_Key) and a tag (a) for identifying a DII having information on a module including the object.
association_tag) information. In addition, the DII having module information includes information such as module_id, module size and version for each of one or more modules, and a tag (association_id) for identifying the module.
tag) information.

When the IOR extracted from the transport stream is identified in the CPU 80, the process of receiving and separating the object indicated by the IOR is as follows, for example. (Pr1) In the DeMUX driver 82 of the CPU 80, an elementary stream having the same value as the association_tag of the IOR (hereinafter referred to as ES)
From the ES loop of the PMT in the carousel to get the PID. The ES having this PID includes DII. (Pr2) This PID and table_id_exte
demultiplexer 7 with nsion as a filter condition
Set to 0. Thereby, the demultiplexer 7
At 0, DII is separated and output to CPU 80. (Pr3) Assoc of module corresponding to module_id included in the previous IOR in DII
Get the iation_tag. (Pr4) An ES having the same value as the association_tag is searched for from the ES loop (carousel) of the PMT to obtain a PID. The target module is included in the ES having this PID. (Pr5) The PID and the module_id are set as filter conditions, and filtering is performed by the demultiplexer 70. By storing transport packets separated and extracted in accordance with the filter conditions in a required memory area (column) of the queue 71, a target module is finally formed. (Pr6) object_ included in the previous IOR
An object corresponding to the key is extracted from this module. This is the target object. The object extracted from this module is, for example, D
Writing is performed in a predetermined area of the SM-CC buffer 91. For example, by repeating the above operation and collecting target objects and storing them in the DSM-CC buffer 91, MHEG contents that form a required scene can be obtained.

The man-machine interface 61 receives the command signal transmitted from the remote controller 64 and transmits it to the CPU 80. CPU80
Then, necessary control processing is executed so that the operation of the device according to the received command signal is obtained.

In the IC card slot 62, the IC card 6
5 is inserted. Then, the inserted IC card 6
5 is written and read by the CPU 80.

The modem 63 is connected to the accounting server 5 via the telephone line 4 and controlled by the CPU 80
Control is performed such that communication between the RD 12 and the billing server 5 is performed.

Here, the flow of the signal of the video / audio source in the IRD 12 having the above configuration will be supplementarily described with reference to the display form described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, when a normal program is output, MPEG video data and MPEG audio data of a required program are extracted from an input transport stream, and decoding processing is performed for each. Will be applied. The video data and the MPEG audio data are output to the analog video output terminal T2 and the analog audio output terminal T3, respectively, so that the monitor device 14 performs image display and audio output of the broadcast program.

When outputting the GUI screen shown in FIG. 4B, the MHEG content data necessary for the GUI screen (scene) is separated from the input transport stream by the transport unit 53. It is extracted and taken into the DSM-CC buffer 91. Using the data, the DSM-CC decoder block 83 and the MHEG decoder block 84 function as described above, so that the scene (G
Image data of the UI screen is created. The image data is supplied to the analog video output terminal T2 via the display processing unit 58, so that the
The I screen is displayed.

When a tune is selected from the tune list 21B on the GUI screen shown in FIG. 4B and the audio data of the tune is previewed, the MP of the tune is selected.
EG audio data is obtained by the demultiplexer 70. The MPEG audio data is M
An analog audio signal is output to the monitor device 14 via the PEG audio decoder 54, the D / A converter, the switch circuit 57, and the analog audio output terminal T3.

When the download button 28 is pressed on the GUI screen shown in FIG. 4B to download audio data, the audio data of the music to be downloaded is extracted by the demultiplexer 70 and the analog audio data is downloaded. The signal is output to the output terminal T4, the optical digital output interface 59, or the IEEE1394 interface 60.

Here, in particular, when the IEEE 1394 interface 60 is connected to the IEEE 1394 compatible MD recorder / player 13A shown in FIG. 2, the demultiplexer 70 extracts the quadruple speed ATRAC data of the downloaded music. , IEEE 1394
Recording is performed on the disk loaded in the MD recorder / player 13A via the interface 60. At this time, for example, still image data of the album jacket compressed by the JPEG system, text data such as lyrics and artist profile are also extracted from the transport stream by the demultiplexer 70, and are output to the MD recorder via the IEEE 1394 interface 60. / Player 13A. In the MD recorder / player 13A, these still image data and text data can be recorded in a predetermined area of the loaded disc.

[0112] 2. Monitoring system according to present embodiment 2-1. First Example Subsequently, a configuration as a first example will be described as a configuration of the monitoring system according to the present embodiment. The monitoring system of the present embodiment is provided, for example, for the ground station 1 shown in FIG. 1 and is provided for monitoring the operation status of various devices constituting the ground station 1.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a monitoring system as a first example. In this case, it can be seen that the illustrated broadcast facility 200 is configured by, for example, a portion indicated by a broken line in the configuration as the ground station 1 in FIG. 5 described above. That is, in FIG. 5, all the functional circuit units except the radio wave transmission system 46 are configured. And the actual broadcasting equipment 2
Reference numeral 00 denotes a device provided with various devices for realizing the function as the broadcast facility 200 shown in FIG.

In the case of such a configuration of the broadcasting equipment 200, as described with reference to FIG. 5, broadcasting stream data called TS is transmitted from the broadcasting equipment 200, and the radio wave transmission system 46 Will be supplied to

Here, the description of the broadcasting equipment 200 shown in FIG. 13 has been omitted from FIG. 5, but in practice, an operation status notification indicating the operation status is transmitted from various devices constituting the broadcasting equipment 200. The information is transmitted to the monitoring system 300. In particular, when a certain failure occurs in a certain device, failure notification information INF1 is transmitted as the operation status notification information. The fault notification information INF1 is assumed to include at least information indicating a device in which a fault has occurred and information indicating a type of the fault.

Next, the configuration of the monitoring system 300 will be described. The monitoring system 300 shown in FIG. 15 includes a monitoring control device 301 configured as a computer device, for example. This monitoring control device 301
The CPU 302 appropriately executes necessary control processing related to broadcast facility monitoring according to, for example, a monitoring program described later.

The ROM 303 includes a rewritable nonvolatile memory element such as a flash memory, and stores, for example, necessary information to be referred to when the CPU executes various control processes. RAM30
Reference numeral 4 denotes an area in which application software to be executed by the CPU 302 is read and information generated in accordance with various processes of the CPU 302 is held. For example, according to the present embodiment, the application software as a monitoring program stored in the storage device 309 described below is stored in the RAM 304.
Loaded on and activated. By executing the monitoring program, the operation of the monitoring system according to the present embodiment is controlled.

The interface 305 is mainly used as a data interface with an external device. In this example, the failure notification information INF1 transmitted from the above-described broadcast equipment 200 and the stream data monitoring device 310 described later are transmitted. Failure notification information INF2
Has been received.

On the other hand, the interface 306 is provided for communicating with peripheral devices forming the monitoring system 300. In this case, the operation unit 307 and the display 3
08, a storage device 309, and a stream data capture device 311 are connected.

The operation unit 307 includes, for example, operating elements such as a mouse and a keyboard, and transmits operation information corresponding to an operation performed on these operating elements to the CPU in the monitoring control device 301.
Output to 302.

The display 308 performs various displays according to the operation of the monitoring control device 301 under the control of the CPU 302. In the present embodiment, in particular, a GUI screen for monitoring (monitoring screen) according to the monitoring program ) Is displayed and output. Here, particularly in the present embodiment, the display of the monitoring screen under the control of the CPU 302 includes the received failure notification information (INF1, INF2).
In response to this, a display indicating the failure status is also performed. In addition,
The device adopted as the display 308 is not particularly limited here, but may be a CRT, a liquid crystal display, or the like.

In the case of this embodiment, the storage device 309 is a CPU such as a monitoring program.
Various application software to be executed by the application 302 is stored. Further, for example, various files created by executing application software and the like are also stored here. In particular, in this embodiment, a failure list file 309a is stored as information accompanying the monitoring program. The failure list file 309a includes, for example, failure notification information INF1 and INF2.
Among the contents of the faults that are transmitted, when the broadcast wave is received and decoded and output on the receiving side, the types of relatively serious faults that can be recognized on the receiving side are listed and created in advance. Things. Of course, as the contents of the failure list file 309a, for example, the type of a failure that has newly occurred during monitoring can be additionally registered. It is also possible to delete from the list. Although the specific configuration of the storage device 309 is not particularly limited here, it is generally considered that, for example, at present, the storage device 309 is configured by a hard disk or a magneto-optical disk and a drive device corresponding thereto. .

The stream data capturing device 311 branches and inputs the broadcast stream data (TS) transmitted from the broadcasting equipment 200 to the radio wave transmission system, and receives the predetermined data, which is assumed to be internally provided. It is provided for recording on the storage device 311a. In the case of the present embodiment, the recording start and stop of the stream data capture device 311 are controlled by a start / stop command (CMD) output from the CPU 302 via the interface 306.
1, 2). Then, as will be described later, for example, when it is determined that some trouble has occurred in the broadcasting equipment, the stream data capturing device 311
The recording operation is stopped, and at the time of occurrence of the failure, the broadcast stream data recorded in the storage device 311a is analyzed to find the symptom and cause thereof and to take a countermeasure.

Incidentally, the recording medium provided in the storage device 311a has a certain finite recording capacity, but the storage device 311a treats this recording medium as a circular buffer and stores the input broadcast stream data in a cyclic manner. To be recorded. In consideration of the purpose of analyzing a failure as described above, the actual capacity of the recording medium is preferably set to a capacity capable of cyclically recording stream data in units of minutes and hours, for example. In addition, the type of the recording medium is not particularly limited here, and may be determined in consideration of easily securing a required capacity, actual use conditions, and the like.

The stream data monitoring device 310 also
The broadcast stream data (TS) transmitted from the broadcast equipment 200 to the radio wave transmission system is branched and input. Then, by monitoring the state of the input broadcast stream data and detecting, for example, the occurrence of any failure, failure notification information INF2 for notifying that there is an abnormality in the broadcast stream data is provided. Output. This failure notification information INF2 is
05, and is received by the CPU 302. Here, there are several possible methods for monitoring the status of the stream data in the stream data monitoring device 310, and it is conceivable to use the PSI (see FIG. 11) and the SI described above as the transmission format. .

That is, for example, a process for extracting the PSI and SI inserted in the input broadcast stream data (TS) is performed, and the presence / absence of the PSI and SI is determined. By detecting an abnormality or the like, it is configured to determine whether the broadcast stream data currently transmitted from the broadcast facility 200 is normal or a failure has occurred.

It should be noted that the side that notifies the failure status may be, for example, only the broadcast facility 200 or only the stream data monitoring device 310. For example, the broadcast facility 200 sends broadcast stream data to the broadcast facility. Does not appear, but a serious failure that cannot be ignored as the state of the device can be notified. On the other hand, the stream data monitoring device 310 does not notify or recognize the devices of the broadcast facility 200, but can recognize and notify a failure that appears for the first time when the format of the broadcast stream data is used. Things. That is,
By receiving the fault notification information from both the broadcast facility 200 and the stream data monitoring device 310, consideration is given to obtaining as much fault information as possible.

Then, the monitoring system 30 having the above configuration is used.
In the case of 0, the start / stop control of the recording operation of the stream data capturing device 311 is performed as described below. The flowchart of FIG. 14 shows a control process for the stream data acquisition device 311 executed by the CPU 302 according to the monitoring program.

Here, for example, when the monitoring program is started and the monitoring operation by the monitoring control device 301 is to be started, or when the monitoring operation is already being executed, If it becomes necessary to restart the recording operation of the stream data capturing device 311 that has once stopped the recording operation, the CPU 202 executes the processing after step S101. Here, in the stage before step S101 and thereafter,
If the monitor image has not yet been displayed on the display 308, a control process for starting this display is also performed.

In step S101, a start command CMD1 is transmitted to the stream capture device 311. As a result, thereafter, the stream capturing device 311 performs an operation of capturing the broadcast stream data and cyclically recording on the recording medium.

Then, by proceeding to the next step S102, for example, the state of the broadcasting equipment is continuously monitored thereafter. As the state monitoring of the broadcasting equipment, for example, first, as shown in step S103, whether or not at least one of the failure notification information INF1 and INF2 transmitted from the broadcasting equipment 200 and the stream data monitoring device 310 has been received is determined. Is determined.

If it is determined in step S103 that neither of the fault notification information INF1 and INF2 has been received, the process proceeds to step S105, where the broadcast equipment functions normally as the monitoring image currently being displayed. The display control is executed so that the content indicating the execution is displayed, and the process returns to step S102.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that at least one of the fault notification information INF1 and INF2 has been received, the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, the content of the failure notified as the failure notification information INF1 and INF2 and the content of the failure list file 309a stored in the storage device 309 are referred to. Then, it is determined whether or not any of the list contents of the failure list file 309a matches the failure type notified as the failure notification information INF1, INF2 this time.

If a negative result is obtained in step S106, it is determined that the failure that has occurred this time is a minor one, and that the failure is not particularly large enough to be verified, and the process returns to step S102.

As described above, if no failure has occurred in the broadcast facility 200 and if a failure has occurred, it is considered to be minor, and
102 → S103 → S105 processing or step S1
02->S103->S104-> S106 are repeated. When this process is repeated, the recording operation by the stream capturing device 311 started in step S101 is continued.

On the other hand, the case where an affirmative result is obtained in step S106 is a case where the fault that has occurred this time is severe and should be verified. In this case, the CPU 302 transmits the stop command CMD2 to the stream capture device 311 by proceeding to step S107. As a result, the recording operation of the stream capturing device 311 that has been performed so far is stopped. Then, when it is determined that the process of step S107 has been executed, the processing routine for the stream capturing device 311 ends.

Thereafter, for example, the stream capturing device 3
When the recording of the broadcast stream data to the recording data 11 is restarted, the operator may perform an operation so that the processing from step S101 is executed again.

For example, the monitoring system 300 of the present embodiment
When the processing shown in FIG. 14 is not performed, the operator using the monitoring system 300 always monitors the monitoring image displayed on the display 308, When it is displayed that a failure has occurred, it is necessary to determine the degree of the failure and stop the recording operation of the stream capture device 311 by manual operation. In this case, for example, in a case where the operator has overlooked the display of the failure occurrence on the monitoring image or happened to be away from the place and cannot see it, the stream capture device 311 , The broadcast stream data once recorded at the time of the occurrence of the failure may be overwritten and erased. If the broadcast stream data is overwritten and erased, even if the operator later realizes that a failure has occurred, the cause of the failure is that the broadcast stream data at this time has already been lost. The inconvenience of not being able to check is generated.

On the other hand, if the stop operation of the recording operation for the stream capture device 311 is executed as shown in FIG. 14, even if the operator overlooks the failure occurrence message appearing in the monitoring image. In any case, the recording operation of the stream capture device 311 is automatically stopped in accordance with the timing at the time of the failure. As a result, the broadcast stream data recorded at the time of occurrence of a failure recorded in the stream capture device 311 can be reliably saved and retained without being overwritten and erased.

2-2. Second Example Next, a configuration of a monitoring system according to the present embodiment as a second example will be described. FIG. 15 shows a configuration of a monitoring system 300A as a second example. In this figure, the same parts as those in FIG.

In the monitoring system 300A shown in FIG.
The point that two stream capturing devices, a first stream capturing device 311-1 and a second stream capturing device 311-2, are provided is different from the monitoring system 300 of the first example shown in FIG. different. These first stream capturing devices 31
1-1, the second stream capture device 311-2,
The configuration may be the same as that of the stream capturing device 311 described with reference to FIG.
Storage devices 311a-1 and 311a-2 for cyclically recording broadcast stream data on a recording medium
Is provided. Then, the first stream capture device 311
−1, the second stream capture device 311-2
Start / stop command (CMD
The start / stop of the recording operation is controlled by (1) and (2).

FIG. 16 shows the first stream capturing device 311-1 and the second stream capturing device 3 described above as the monitoring operation corresponding to the configuration of the second example shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation | movement for control with respect to 11-2. The processing shown in this figure is also the processing executed by the CPU 302 according to the monitoring program.

Here, in the processing shown in this figure, for example, first, step S201 and subsequent step S2
With 02, initial control for the recording operation state of the first stream capturing device 311-1 and the second stream capturing device 311-2 is executed. In this case, the first stream capturing device 311-1 is determined in step S201.
CMD1 is transmitted to step S2.
02, a stop command CMD2 is transmitted to the second stream capture device 311-2. Thereby, the first stream capture device 311-1 starts recording of the broadcast stream capture device, while the second stream capture device 31-1 starts recording.
11-2 is in a stop state, and the recording of the broadcast stream capturing device is not performed.

[0144] The subsequent processes from step S203 to step S207 are the same as the processes from step S102 to S106 in Fig. 14 described above as the first example, and a description thereof will be omitted. .

Here, in step S207, the type of the notified fault is displayed in the fault list file 3
If it is determined that it is included in the list of 09a, the process proceeds to step S208. Step S2
08, the first stream capture device 311-1,
The start command CMD1 is transmitted to the currently stopped stream capturing device among the second stream capturing devices 311-2. Then, in the following step S209, a stop command CMD2 is transmitted to the stream capturing device that is currently executing the recording operation.

For example, the above steps S208 and S209
Is the first process executed as the process started from step S201, it is the first stream capture device 311-1 that has been recording until then, and the Is the second stream capture device 311
In step S208, S2
09, the first stream capture device 311-
1 is stopped, and the recording operation by the second stream capturing device 311-2 is started instead. That is, the processes of steps S208 and S209 are performed by the first stream capturing device 311-1 and the second stream capturing device 3
With respect to 11-2, the control for switching the recording and the stop operation so as to be alternated with each other is performed. Then, when the processing of steps S208 and S209 is completed, the processing returns to the processing of step S203 and thereafter.

According to such processing, when a serious failure as included in the failure list file occurs during the monitoring operation, the stream capture data for which the broadcast stream data has been recorded up to that time has been obtained. By stopping the device, the broadcast stream data recorded in response to the occurrence of the failure is stored without being overwritten and erased. On the other hand, by starting the recording by the other stream capturing device that has been stopped, the recording can be performed without missing the stream data after the occurrence of the failure. . Then, each time a serious failure occurs, the operation of changing the recording / stop between the first stream capturing device 311-1 and the second stream capturing device 311-2 is repeated. As a result, it is possible to record broadcast stream data having continuous contents, and to secure a broadcast DS corresponding to the occurrence of a failure.

In the second example, when recording is performed by a certain stream capturing device, the control is performed such that the other stream capturing device is always stopped. As an example, when the recording operation of the stream capturing device that has been performing recording has been stopped due to the occurrence of a failure, it is sufficient that a state in which recording is performed by another stream capturing device is always obtained. Things. Therefore, when a state in which a failure does not occur continues, control may be performed so that the two stream capturing apparatuses simultaneously perform the recording operation. Then, when a failure occurs, one of the stream capturing devices is stopped, and the other stream capturing device continues the recording operation.

In the second example, two stream capture devices are provided. However, at least three stream capture devices are usually provided.
The recording operation may be performed on the table, and if a failure occurs, the stream capturing device that was performing the recording may be stopped and the remaining stream capturing device may perform the recording. At this time, the recording / stopping of the three or more stream capturing devices in any pattern can be considered in various ways as the number of the devices increases. When three or more stream capture devices are provided, for example, the frequency of occurrence of a failure increases. For example, two stream capture devices secure stream data at the time of failure required for analysis. This is effective when it is impossible.

2-3. Monitoring Display Subsequently, as the monitoring system 300 of the present embodiment, a display example of a monitoring image displayed on the display 308,
An example of an operation procedure for a monitoring image will be described. FIG. 17 illustrates a display example of a main monitoring window WD1 serving as a main menu screen as a monitoring image displayed on the display screen of the display 308.

The main monitoring window WD1 shown in FIG.
First, a system status display area AR1 is arranged. In the system status display area AR1, various devices constituting the broadcast facility 200 and the monitoring system 300 are indicated by device icons Icn. In each device icon Icn, the name of the device is indicated by characters. The device icons Icn are laid out, for example, as shown in the figure, and then displayed by connecting the required device icons Icn by line display, so that the devices in the broadcast facility 200 and the devices in the monitoring system 300 are displayed. The configuration and the current usage status of the device can be visually grasped.

For example, as a supplement, if the main monitoring window WD1 shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the system configuration shown in FIG. 15, the first stream capture device 311-1
The recording operation state of the second stream capture device 311-2 is also changed to the m main monitoring window W as described below.
D1. FIG. 22 shows the first stream capturing device 311-1 and the second stream capturing device 3
The portion where the device icon Icn corresponding to 11-2 is displayed is extracted and enlarged. Here the first
Set the stream capture device 311-1 to "TSS # 1 AS
T "and the second icon
Set the stream capture device 311-2 to "TSS # 2 AS"
T "is displayed by the device icon Icn displayed. Then, the device icon Icn displaying “TSS # 1 AST” and “TSS # 2 AST”
An operation icon Icn-P indicating recording / stop is arranged as the current operation status on the right side of the device icon Icn displayed as. In this case, "TS
Since the operation icon Icn-P of “S # 1 AST” displays a triangular symbol, it indicates that the first stream capture device 311-1 is recording, and “TSS #
The operation icon Icn-P of “2 AST” is displaying a square symbol, so that the second stream capture device 3
11-2 indicates that the operation is stopped.

The actual monitoring image is displayed in color. In the main monitoring window WD1, the failure status is indicated by the color of the device icon Icn. For example, if the device icon Icn is displayed in green, it indicates that the device is normal, and if it is yellow, it indicates that a minor failure (for example, a failure not listed in the failure list file 309a) has occurred. It is. If it is red, it indicates that the fault is a serious fault (a fault listed in the fault list file 309a).

The specific contents of the fault status are to be displayed in text in the fault status list area AR2 below the system status display area AR1.

Here, when a predetermined operation such as selecting an arbitrary icon from the device icons Icn in the system status display area AR1 shown in FIG. 17 and double-clicking the same is performed, as shown in FIG. The comment registration window WD2 corresponding to the selected device can be called and displayed.

In the comment registration window WD2,
For example, as shown in the figure, a device icon Icn indicating the selected device is displayed, and a comment registration window WD is displayed.
2 visually indicates the corresponding device. Here, a device named “MAS” is shown. In an actual broadcast facility, a spare unit is provided together with a main device in case of a failure due to some trouble.
SB is in a relationship between the main device and the standby device. And
Here, the line that has exited from the MAS-A device is currently passing through the icon as a selector on the right side of the line, indicating that the MAS-A is being used for broadcasting.

[0157] On the lower side, a device name area AR3 in which a device name is indicated by characters and a selection can be made between a main device and a spare device by a pull-down menu, for example, is arranged. And a comment input field AR4.

The comment input field AR4 is an area for an operator to input a comment on a device specified by an operation on the device name area AR3. For example, in this case, the operator selects the MAS-A device in the device name area AR3 by, for example, operating a mouse, and then activates the comment input field AR4 to enable character input. In this state, an arbitrary comment is input as a character into the comment input field AR4 by, for example, operating a keyboard. Here, a state in which “standby machine” is input is shown. Further, the comment input field AR4 has a pull-down menu as a comment selection field AR7 as shown in FIG. What is presented in the comment selection field AR7 is a comment that has been presented in the comment input field AR4 of this device in the past. The operator selects this comment selection field AR7
If there is a comment that can be used this time, it is possible to select a comment from here and input it into the comment input field AR4 without performing the character input procedure.

After the comment is input in this way, when a click operation is performed on a registration button AR5 located on the right of the comment, the character input in the comment input field AR4 is determined and saved as comment information. Is supposed to be. The area displayed below the area is a failure status list area AR6, for example, MAS-A, MAS.
This is an area in which the failure status regarding SB is presented by characters.

Here, for example, as described above, the device M
It is assumed that the AS-A is confirmed by inputting a comment “spare machine”. Then, after that, when the main monitoring window WD1 shown in FIG. 17 is first displayed again, for example, the device icon Icn of the device MAS-A displayed in the system status display area AR1 of the main monitoring window WD1 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 20, a comment icon Icn-CM indicating that some comment has been given is displayed so as to be pasted. Then, when, for example, a mouse pointer is used to place a cursor pointer (not shown here) on the device icon Icn of the device MAS-A and a single click operation is performed, for example, as shown in FIG.
A comment display AR8 for presenting the currently registered comment content by a pop-up display is performed. Here, the display of “spare device” and characters is performed as a comment display AR8. Note that the comment display AR8 once displayed is the comment display A here.
It is assumed that the display is erased by single-clicking an area other than R8.

For example, in the past, there was no function of inputting comments and displaying comments on each device, and the operator was required to take measures such as when a trouble occurred on a certain device. In order to notify the other operators of such a situation, a communication is made later, or a message is written in a memo, for example. In this case, it is conceivable that other operators cannot be reached due to forgetting to contact or losing the memo. On the other hand, if a comment is input for each device and displayed on the monitoring screen as in the present embodiment, any operator can view the monitoring screen and enter a comment. Confirmation can be made, and the likelihood of miscommunication is significantly reduced.

Subsequently, a processing procedure of the above-described comment input and comment display is shown in a flowchart of FIG. In this figure, first, in step S301, the main monitoring window WD1 is displayed. Then, in the next step S302, an operation for selecting a comment registration menu (for example, a click operation on the device icon Icn) is accepted, and in the next step S303, a comment registration window WD2 is displayed.

Then, in the next step S304,
A comment is input in response to a comment input operation on the comment input field AR4. In the next step S305, the comment input in response to a click operation on the registration button AR5 is registered.

In the following step S306, it is shown that, for example, among the device icons Icn displayed in the main monitoring window WD1, a comment is registered for the device icon Icn in which the comment has been registered in step S305. Comment icon Icn
-Paste and display CM.

Then, for example, if a (single) click operation on the device icon Icn on which the comment icon Icn-CM is displayed is received in step S307, for example, the single-clicked device icon Icn is displayed in step S308. On the other hand, the comment display AR8 shown in FIG. 20 is performed. And
For example, in the next step S309, the comment display AR
If an operation of clicking an area other than 8 has been received, the process proceeds to step S310 to delete the comment display AR8 that has been displayed so far. Then, step S3
01 is returned.

The broadcasting equipment monitoring apparatus of the present invention is applicable to digital broadcasting equipment having a configuration other than the broadcasting equipment (ground station) shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, for example. Further, the broadcast facility monitoring apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiment, but can be appropriately changed according to the actual use situation and the like. Further, the display form example and the operation form of the monitoring image as the GUI to be displayed and output as the monitoring system of the present embodiment are not limited to the contents described above.

[0167]

As described above, the present invention is directed to a broadcast equipment monitoring apparatus for monitoring the operation status of a broadcast equipment for performing digital broadcasting. Recording means (stream capture device) for cyclically recording broadcast data obtained by equipment
In this case, the recording operation is stopped. As a result, even if the operator does not know that a failure has occurred, the broadcast data recorded at the time of the failure recorded in the recording means remains without being overwritten and erased. by this,
Since it is possible to reliably analyze broadcast data at the time of occurrence of a failure, the work efficiency in operating the broadcasting equipment is improved.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of recording means (stream capture devices) are provided, and when failure notification information is transmitted from the broadcast facility side, broadcast data among the plurality of broadcast notification data has been used. The recording operation is stopped for at least one of the one or more recording units that have been recording, and the recording operation is performed by at least one of the remaining recording units. You. For example, if two recording units are provided, one of the recording units performs a recording operation,
The other recording unit stops the recording operation, and when a failure occurs, stops the recording operation of the one recording unit and starts the recording operation of the other recording unit.
With such a configuration, the broadcast data recorded in the recording unit at the time of occurrence of the failure can be left without being overwritten and erased, and the broadcast data can be recorded almost continuously without intermittent interruption. Can be. That is, the information collected for analysis is not lost even at one time.

Further, the broadcasting equipment monitoring apparatus of the present invention is a GUI capable of visually grasping the monitoring status (failure status).
After the monitoring image is configured to be displayed and output, a comment (character information) can be entered and registered for each device constituting the broadcasting equipment or the monitoring device, and then monitored as a comment display It is configured so that it can be presented on an image. By using this, operators will be able to reliably communicate messages between operators, for example.
Also in this respect, the monitoring work efficiency of the broadcasting equipment is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a digital satellite broadcast receiving system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a receiving facility according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the appearance of a remote controller for the IRD.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing switching between a broadcast screen and a GUI screen.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a ground station.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing data transmitted from a ground station.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a time division multiplexing structure of transmission data.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission format by DSM-CC.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a directory structure of a data service.

FIG. 10 is a data structure diagram of a transport stream.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a table structure of a PSI.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an IRD.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a monitoring system as a first example, which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for realizing control of the stream capturing device, which is performed in the monitoring system having the configuration as the first example;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a monitoring system as a second example, which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for realizing control of the stream capturing device, which is performed in the monitoring system having the configuration as the second example.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a main monitoring window as a monitoring image.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a comment registration window.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a comment registration window in which a comment selection field is displayed.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a comment display.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for comment registration and comment display.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a display form example of a main monitoring window for the stream capturing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ground station, 2 satellites, 3 receiving facilities, 5 billing server, 6 TV program material server, 7 music material server,
8 voice additional information server, 9 GUI data server, 1
0 key information server, 11 parabolic antenna, 13
Storage device, 13A MD recorder / player, 14 monitor device, 16 IEEE1394 bus,
21A TV program display area, 21B list, 21
C text display area, 21D jacket display area, 22 lyrics display button, 23 profile display button, 24 information display button, 25 reservation recording button,
26 reserved list display button, 27 recording history button, 2
8 download button, 31 TV program material registration system, 32 music material registration system, 33 audio additional information registration system, 34 GUI material registration system,
35 AV server, 36A MPEG audio encoder, 36B ATRAC encoder, 37 audio additional information database, 38 GUI material database, 39
TV program transmission system, 40A MPEG audio server, 40B MPEG audio server, 41
Audio additional information transmission system, 42 GUI (MHEG)
Authoring system, 43A MPEG audio transmission system, 43B ATRAC audio transmission system, 44 DSM-CC encoder, 45 multiplexer, 46 radio wave transmission system, 51 tuner / front end unit, 52 descrambler, 53 transport unit, 54 MPEG2 audio decoder, 54
A memory, 55 MPEG2 video decoder, 55A
Memory, 56D / A converter, 57 switch circuit, 58 display processing unit, 59 optical digital output interface, 60 IEEE1394 interface,
61 man-machine interface, 62 IC card slot, 63 modem, 64 remote controller, 65 IC card, 70 demultiplexer, 71
Queue, 81 control processing unit, 82 DeMUX driver, 83 DSM-CC decoder block, 84 MH
EG decoder block, 90 main memory, 91 D
SM-CC buffer, 101 power key, 102 numeric key, 103 screen display switching key, 104 interactive switching key, 105a arrow key, 105 EPG key panel section, 106 channel key, T1 input terminal, T2 analog video output terminal, T3 analog audio Output terminal, T4 analog audio output terminal, 200 broadcasting equipment, 300 monitoring system, 301
Monitoring control device, 307 operation unit, 308 display, 309 storage device, 309a failure list file, 310 stream data monitoring device, 31
1, 311-1, 311-2 Stream data capture device, 311a, 311a-1, 311a-2 Storage device

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A broadcast facility for generating and outputting broadcast data to be broadcast as a digital broadcast using predetermined broadcast material information, and monitors the operation of a required device in the broadcast facility. As a monitoring device to perform, a failure notification that enables acquisition of failure notification information indicating the operation of each required device unit in the broadcast facility or a predetermined failure condition for predetermined information output from the predetermined device unit Information acquisition means, recording means for fetching the broadcast data and performing cyclic recording within a predetermined recording capacity, and failure based on the failure notification information acquired by the failure notification information acquisition means. If it is determined that
And a recording operation control means capable of executing control so as to stop the recording operation of the recording means. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the failure notification information is generated from each required device in the broadcast facility based on the operation state of each device itself. Broadcasting equipment monitoring equipment. 3. A stream configured to monitor the status of broadcast stream data generated by the broadcast facility, and to generate the fault notification information based on the status of the monitored broadcast stream data. The broadcast equipment monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: data monitoring means. 4. Based on the fault notification information obtained by the fault notification information obtaining means, image information as a monitoring image capable of visually grasping at least a fault status of each required device in the broadcast facility is provided. Display control means capable of outputting, and input operation means capable of inputting character information in association with each of the device parts by an operation on the monitoring image, wherein the display control means includes: The broadcast equipment monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the character information input by the operation means is configured to be presented on the monitoring image in a predetermined form. 5. Broadcast equipment for generating and outputting broadcast data to be broadcast as digital broadcast using predetermined broadcast material information, and monitors operation of required device units in the broadcast equipment. As a monitoring device to perform, a failure notification that enables acquisition of failure notification information indicating the operation of each required device unit in the broadcast facility or a predetermined failure condition for predetermined information output from the predetermined device unit Information acquiring means, a plurality of recording means for fetching the broadcast data and performing cyclic recording within a predetermined recording capacity, and based on the fault notification information obtained by the fault notification information obtaining means. If it is determined that a failure has occurred, the recording operation is stopped to stop the recording operation of at least one of the one or more recording units that are supposed to have performed the recording operation. The control can be executed, and even after the stop control is executed, the recording can be executed so that the recording operation by at least one of the remaining recording units is started. A broadcast equipment monitoring device, comprising: operation control means; 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fault notification information is generated from each required device in the broadcast facility based on the operation state of each device itself. Broadcasting equipment monitoring equipment. 7. A stream configured to monitor the status of broadcast stream data generated by the broadcast facility, and to generate the failure notification information based on the status of the monitored broadcast stream data. The broadcast equipment monitoring apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: data monitoring means. 8. Based on the fault notification information obtained by the fault notification information obtaining means, image information as a monitoring image capable of visually grasping at least the fault status of each required device in the broadcast facility is provided. Display control means capable of outputting, and input operation means capable of inputting character information in association with each of the device parts by an operation on the monitoring image, wherein the display control means includes: The broadcast equipment monitoring device according to claim 5, wherein the character information input by the operation means is configured to be presented on the monitoring image in a predetermined form.