JP2002064747A - Signal system changeover device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a signal system changeover device, that can monitor each signal system at a low cost, independently of number of handles signal systems and can reduce trouble and effort of a supervisor. SOLUTION: An up-converter 41 is connected between a part of output terminals of a matrix switch section 111 and a part of input terminals of a matrix switch section 112 an un-converter 41 is connected between part of output terminals of the matrix switch section 112 and part of input terminals of the matrix switch section 111; and a decoder 43 is connected to an output terminal of a matrix switch section 113 and the idle input terminal of the matrix switching section 111. A controller 114 switches the matrix switch sections 111, 112, 113 to a path via the up-converter 41, a path via the down-converter 42 or a path via the decoder 43, on the basis of external operations.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signal system switching device for selectively switching input / output paths of a plurality of signals having different signal systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a broadcasting station for analog broadcasting, the quality of a video signal is checked in each editing room. The video signals handled by each editing room are
It is limited to the NTSC system or the D2 system (digital composite system) which is a simple digitalization of the NTSC system.

On the other hand, in recent years, digital broadcasting has been put into practical use. With this practical use, for example, in a broadcasting station, not only standard NTSC signals but also various kinds of video signals of various signal systems within the station are used. Is being used. As video signals with different signal formats,
For example, D1 (digital component) signal, HDTV
(High Definition TV) signal and compressed signal (transport stream etc.).

In this case, a switching device is used in which a plurality of transmission paths in which a plurality of signal systems are mixed are concentrated in one place, and selectively switched and connected. This switching device is provided with switch units corresponding to various signal systems, and performs switching (signal switching) of the input video signal of each signal system by the corresponding switch unit and outputs the video signal to a corresponding output transmission line. ing.

In the conventional switching device as described above, it is necessary to perform monitoring (monitoring) corresponding to each signal system, and it is necessary to prepare as many monitors as the number of signal systems to be handled. The observer must always determine which monitor to watch. In the future, if a new signal system can be handled, the number of monitors will further increase, and the number of monitor screens to be monitored will increase accordingly.

[0006] Therefore, the economic burden increases as the number of monitors increases, and the labor and labor of a supervisor who monitors based on the monitor images also increase.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional switching device, it is necessary to prepare as many monitors as the number of signal systems to be monitored in order to perform monitoring, so that the economic burden increases and the monitor image is increased. However, there is a problem that the labor and labor of a supervisor who monitors based on the information increase.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to make it possible to perform monitoring for each signal system at low cost regardless of the number of signal systems to be handled, and to reduce labor and labor for a supervisor. The object of the present invention is to provide a signaling system switching device.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a signal system switching device capable of automatically performing signal switching without considering a signal system handled by a supervisor.

[0010]

In order to achieve the first object, a signal system switching apparatus according to the present invention has a first signal system for switching transmission paths of a plurality of input / output systems of a first signal system.
A matrix switch unit, a second matrix switch unit for switching transmission paths of a plurality of input / output systems of a second signal system different from the first signal system, and at least a part of output terminals of the first matrix switch unit. It is connected between at least a part of the input terminals of the second matrix switch unit, converts an output signal of the first matrix switch unit into a signal of the second signal system, and converts the output signal to an input terminal of the second matrix switch unit. A first signal type / second signal type conversion unit to be supplied, connected between at least some input terminals of the first matrix switch unit and at least some output terminals of the second matrix switch unit, The second signal system / first signal system converter converts the output signal of the second matrix switch unit into a signal of the first signal system and supplies the signal to the input terminal of the first matrix switch unit. And parts, based on an external operation, first
And a switching control unit that controls the switching process of the matrix switch unit and the second matrix switch unit.

According to this configuration, the first signal type / second signal type conversion unit is provided between some output terminals of the first matrix switch unit and some input terminals of the second matrix switch unit. And the second signal type / first signal type conversion unit is connected between some output terminals of the second matrix switch unit and some input terminals of the first matrix switch unit. The observer simply operates the switching control unit so that the signal of the signal system to be monitored can be displayed on the monitor. 2 signal system / first
The path can be switched to a path via the signal format converter.

For this reason, the monitor can monitor signals of a plurality of types of signals using one monitor, which greatly reduces the labor and labor of the monitor and reduces the number of monitors. Can greatly contribute to cost-effectiveness as compared to conventional systems.

Further, in the above configuration, a third matrix switch for switching the transmission paths of the coded signals of the plurality of input / output systems, an output terminal of the third matrix switch, and first and second switches are provided. A third matrix switch unit connected to an input terminal to which one of the first signal system / second signal system converter or the second signal system / first signal system converter of the matrix switch unit is not connected; And a decoding unit that decodes the output signal of the third matrix switch unit and supplies the decoded signal to one of the input terminals of the first and second matrix switch units. The switching processing is controlled. By doing so, for example, when monitoring a compressed and encoded transport stream,
It is only necessary to prepare a matrix switch unit and a decoding unit corresponding to the transport stream, and if there is an empty input terminal of the first or second matrix switch unit,
A decoding unit is connected between an output terminal of the third matrix switch unit and an empty input terminal of the first or second matrix switch unit, and the switching control unit switches the path to a path passing through the decoding unit. Thus, the monitor does not need to prepare a new monitor, and can monitor the transport stream using the existing monitor, which can improve cost-effectiveness.

Further, in the above configuration, the first, second, and third
Is characterized in that the matrix switch unit and the switching control unit are integrally integrated. By doing so, the size of the device can be reduced.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, a signal system switching device according to the present invention includes: a first matrix switch unit for switching transmission paths of a plurality of input / output systems of a first signal system; A second matrix switch unit that switches transmission paths of a plurality of input / output systems of a second signal system different from the one-signal system, at least a part of output terminals of the first matrix switch unit and a second matrix switch unit; Connected between at least some of the input terminals;
A first signal system / second signal system conversion unit for converting an output signal of the matrix switch unit into a signal of the second signal system and supplying the signal to an input terminal of the second matrix switch unit; A signal is connected between at least some of the input terminals and at least some of the output terminals of the second matrix switch, converts the output signal of the second matrix switch into a signal of the first signal system, and A second signal type / first signal type conversion unit to be supplied to the input terminal of the matrix switch unit, and a signal type of a plurality of input system transmission path signals input to the first and second matrix switch units are determined. A signal system determination unit, and a switching process of the first matrix switch unit and the second matrix switch unit based on the determination result of the signal system determination unit and predetermined request information. It is obtained as a control for the switching control unit.

According to this configuration, the signal format of the signals input to the first and second matrix switch units is determined by the signal format determination unit, and the switching control unit determines the monitoring request and the determination result by the signal determination unit. Is configured to execute the switching process of the first matrix switch unit and the second matrix switch unit based on the above, so that the monitor simply notifies the switching control unit of a monitoring request or the like, and the switching control unit performs monitoring. Is switched to a route via the first signal format / second signal format converter or a route via the second signal format / first signal format converter in accordance with the model of.

For this reason, there is no need to consider the signal system handled by the observer, and a single monitor can monitor signals of a plurality of signal systems by a simple operation such as monitoring request notification.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a signal system switching apparatus according to the present invention, and a switching apparatus main body 11 is a core. This switching device body 11
Are a matrix switch unit 111 for switching the transmission path of the input / output system of the D1 signal system and a matrix switch unit 11 for switching the transmission path of the input / output system of the HD signal system.
2, a matrix switch unit 113 for switching the transmission path of the transport stream input / output system, and matrix switch units 111, 112,
Controller 11 that controls the switching process of 113 in a comprehensive manner
4 is provided.

In this embodiment, input terminals 21, 22, and 23 are connected to input systems of the matrix switch units 111, 112, and 113, respectively.
Output terminals 31 and 32 are connected to output systems 1 and 112, respectively. Further, an output signal of the matrix switch unit 111 is provided between the output system to which the output terminal 31 of the matrix switch unit 111 is not connected and the input system to which the input terminal 22 of the matrix switch unit 112 is not connected.
A matrix is connected between an output system to which an up converter (U / C) 41 for converting to a signal is connected and the output terminal 32 of the matrix switch unit 112 is not connected and an input system to which the input terminal 21 of the matrix switch unit 111 is not connected. A down converter (D / C) 42 for converting an output signal of the switch unit 112 into a D1 signal is connected. Further, a decoder (DE) for decoding the output signal of the matrix switch unit 113 is provided between the output system of the matrix switch unit 113 and the input system to which the input terminal 21 and the down converter 42 of the matrix switch unit 111 are not connected.
C) 43 is connected.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below by taking as an example a case where the invention is applied to an intra-station transmission system in a broadcasting station.

Here, the switching device main body 11, the up-converter 41, the down-converter 42 and the decoder 43 are installed in, for example, a network management room, from which an SDTV is provided.
(Standard Definition TV) A transmission path is laid to a studio, an HDTV studio, an MPEG editing room, etc., and input terminals 21, 22, 23 and output terminals 31, 32 for connecting necessary connection equipment in each room to the terminal. It is attached.

For example, in an SDTV studio, an SDTV
A camera or the like is connected to the input terminal 21, and a monitor or a communication device is connected to the output terminal 31. The SDTV camera output (D1) is input to the matrix switch unit 111 of the switching device main body 11 via the input terminal 21, is switched out by the matrix switch unit 111, and is supplied to the monitor connected to the output terminal 31. Therefore, the monitor of the SDTV studio can check the quality of the SDTV camera output by looking at the monitor. Similarly, in an HDTV studio, an HDTV camera or the like is connected to the input terminal 22 and a monitor or a communication device is connected to the output terminal 32.
The quality of the V camera output can be confirmed.

By the way, conventionally, when it is desired to check the quality of an HDTV signal in an SDTV studio, it is necessary to lay a transmission line of an output system of the matrix switch section 112 and attach an HDTV monitor to a terminal of the transmission line. there were. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the empty output terminal of the matrix switch unit 112 and the matrix switch unit 111
A down converter 42 for converting an HDTV signal to an SDTV signal is provided between the input terminals of the SDTV studio and the controller 114 to switch the matrix switch units 111 and 112 to a path passing through the down converter 42. It is not necessary to lay a new transmission line or prepare a monitor for HDTV, and the quality of the HDTV signal can be confirmed with one monitor.

Also, when a transport stream is handled in the SDTV studio, the transport stream is transmitted between an empty output terminal of the matrix switch unit 113 and an empty input terminal of the matrix switch unit 111.
It is only necessary to provide the decoder 43 for decoding the DTV signal, and to switch the matrix switch units 111 and 113 by the controller 114 to a path passing through the decoder 43.
There is no need to lay a new transmission line or prepare a monitor for TS on the SDTV studio side, and the quality of the transport stream can be confirmed with one monitor.

When it is desired to check the quality of an SDTV signal in an HDTV studio, the SDTV signal is converted into an HDTV signal between an empty output terminal of the matrix switch unit 111 and an empty input terminal of the matrix switch unit 112. An up converter 41 is provided, and the controller 1
It is only necessary to switch the matrix switch units 111 and 112 to a path passing through the up-converter 41 by using the H.14.
There is no need to prepare a monitor for the DTV, and the quality of the SDTV signal can be confirmed on one monitor.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the up-converter 41 is connected between some output terminals of the matrix switch unit 111 and some input terminals of the matrix switch unit 112, and Since the down converter 42 is connected between some of the output terminals and some of the input terminals of the matrix switch unit 111, the observer can display the signal of the signal system to be monitored on the monitor. By simply operating the controller 114 or notifying an operator near the switching device main body 11, the controller 114 can switch the matrix switch units 111 and 112 to a path via the up converter 41 or a path via the down converter 42. become.

[0028] For this reason, the monitor uses one monitor to monitor the SDT.
It is possible to monitor signals of a plurality of signal types such as a V signal and an HDTV signal, which greatly reduces the labor and labor of a supervisor and also reduces the number of monitors. Cost effectiveness will be greatly improved.

In the above embodiment, for example, the SDTV
When monitoring the transport stream subjected to compression encoding in the studio, the matrix switch unit 113 and the decoder 4 corresponding to the transport stream are monitored.
3 only needs to be prepared.
If there is an empty input terminal of the matrix switch unit 11
3 is connected between the output terminal of the controller 3 and an empty input terminal of the matrix switch unit 111, and the controller 1 is connected.
By switching the matrix switch units 111 and 113 to paths via the decoder 43 by the use of the monitor 14, the observer does not need to prepare a new monitor, and can monitor the transport stream on the existing monitor. In this regard, cost effectiveness can be improved.

Note that the transport stream is HDT
In the case of a stream obtained by compressing and encoding a V signal, the output of the decoder 43 may be input to the matrix switch unit 112.

Further, even if a new signal system appears in the future, it is only necessary to prepare a matrix switch unit and a signal converter corresponding to the new signal system, and it is not necessary to add a dedicated monitor and one existing monitor can be used. Thus, the monitoring of the signal system can be performed, and also in this respect, the labor and labor for the monitor can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the signal system switching apparatus according to the present invention. However, in FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different parts will be described here.

The device shown in FIG. 2 is different from the device shown in FIG. 1 in that the matrix switch units 111, 112, 113 and the controller 114 are physically integrated. Therefore, according to this configuration, the size of the switching device main body 11 itself can be reduced.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the signal system switching apparatus according to the present invention. However, in FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different parts will be described here.

In FIG. 3, some monitors can monitor a plurality of methods. In this case,
By connecting a monitor to the output terminal 33, monitoring can be performed by directly switching the matrix switch units 111 and 112 without using an up-converter or a down-converter.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment of the signal system switching apparatus according to the present invention. However, in FIG. 4, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different parts will be described here.

The device shown in FIG. 4 is different from the device shown in FIG.
1, 112, and 113 are provided with a determination unit 115 that determines the signal system of the input signal.

In this configuration, the result of the determination by the determining unit 115 is sent to the controller 114. Here, for example, when an HDTV monitoring request is issued from the SDTV studio including the monitor connected to the output terminal 31 to the controller 114 via a telephone line or the like, the controller 114 determines the type of monitor corresponding to the studio for which the monitoring request has been issued, and Based on the determination result by the determination unit 115, the matrix switch units 111 and 112 are switched to paths that pass through the down converter 42. Also, SD
Controller 11 from TV studio via telephone line etc.
4, when the TS monitoring request is issued, the controller 114
Switches the matrix switch units 111 and 113 to a route via the decoder 43 based on the type of monitor and the determination result by the determination unit 115 in the same manner.

It should be noted that, even when an SDTV monitoring request is issued to the controller 114 through a telephone line or the like from an HTDV studio having a monitor connected to the output terminal 32,
The controller 114 switches the matrix switch units 111 and 112 to a route via the up-converter 41 based on the type of monitor corresponding to the studio for which the monitoring request has been issued and the determination result by the determination unit 115.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment,
The signals input to the matrix switch units 111, 112, and 113 are determined by the determination unit 115 for the signal system, and the controller 114 determines the matrix switch 111 based on the determination result by the determination unit 115 and the monitoring request notification result from the outside. , 112, and 113, the monitor simply notifies the controller 114 of a monitoring request or the like using a telephone line or the like. The path is switched to a path via one of the down converter 42 and the decoder 43.

Therefore, it is not necessary to consider the signal system to be handled by the observer, and a single monitor can monitor signals of a plurality of signal systems by a simple operation such as notification of a monitoring request.

(Other Embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the present invention can be applied to a system in which a switching device main body is installed in one studio and various signal systems are handled in one studio. In this case, the monitor can check the quality of a plurality of types of signal systems on one monitor by operating the controller according to the signal system whose quality is to be checked. Further, if the operation can be performed by the remote controller, the observer can control the switching of various matrix switch units so that the display can be performed on the monitor even at a remote place.

In addition, the configuration of the switching device main body, the type of the signal system to be handled, the type of the signal converter such as the up-converter and the down-converter, etc. can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0044]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a signaling system switching device which enables monitoring of each signaling system at a low cost regardless of the number of signaling systems to be handled, and further reduces labor and labor for a supervisor.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a signal system switching apparatus capable of automatically performing signal switching without considering a signal system handled by a supervisor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a signaling system switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the signaling system switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the signaling system switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the signaling system switching device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Switching device main body, 21-23 ... Input terminal, 31, 32 ... Output terminal, 41 ... Up converter (U / C), 42 ... Down converter (D / C), 43 ... Decoder (DEC), 111-113 ... Matrix switch section 114. Controller 115. Judgment section

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A first matrix switch unit for switching transmission paths of a plurality of input / output systems of a first signaling system, and a transmission path of a plurality of input / output systems of a second signaling system different from the first signaling system. A second matrix switch unit for switching, the first matrix unit being connected between at least a part of output terminals of the first matrix switch unit and at least a part of input terminals of the second matrix switch unit; A first signal type / second signal type conversion unit that converts an output signal of the switch unit into a signal of a second signal type and supplies the signal to an input terminal of the second matrix switch unit; An output signal of the second matrix switch unit is connected between at least some input terminals and at least some output terminals of the second matrix switch unit. A second signal type / first signal type conversion unit that converts the signal into a signal of a first signal type and supplies the signal to an input terminal of the first matrix switch unit; A switching control unit for controlling switching processing of the second matrix switch unit in a comprehensive manner. 2. A third matrix switch unit for switching a transmission path of encoded signals of a plurality of input / output systems, an output terminal of the third matrix switch unit, and the first and second matrix switch units. Connected to one of the first signal type / second signal type conversion unit or the input terminal to which the second signal type / first signal type conversion unit is not connected, and the output of the third matrix switch unit A decoding unit for decoding a signal and supplying the decoded signal to one of the input terminals of the first and second matrix switch units, wherein the switching control unit performs the third control based on an external operation.
2. The signal system switching device according to claim 1, wherein the switching process of the matrix switch unit is controlled. 3. A first matrix switch unit for switching transmission paths of a plurality of input / output systems of a first signaling system, and a transmission path of a plurality of input / output systems of a second signaling system different from the first signaling system. A second matrix switch unit for switching; a third matrix switch unit for switching a transmission path of a plurality of input / output systems of encoded signals; an output terminal of the third matrix switch unit;
And the third matrix switch unit is connected between at least one input terminal of at least one of the second matrix switch unit and the third matrix switch unit.
And decodes the output signal of the matrix switch section of
A decoding unit for supplying one of the input terminals of the first matrix switch unit and the second matrix switch unit to the first matrix switch unit, the second matrix switch unit, and the third matrix switch based on an external operation. And a switching control unit that controls the switching process of the units in a comprehensive manner. 4. The signal system switching according to claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third matrix switch units and the switching control unit are integrally integrated. apparatus. 5. A first matrix switch unit for switching transmission paths of a plurality of input / output systems of a first signaling system, and a transmission path of a plurality of input / output systems of a second signaling system different from the first signaling system. A second matrix switch unit for switching, the first matrix unit being connected between at least a part of output terminals of the first matrix switch unit and at least a part of input terminals of the second matrix switch unit; A first signal type / second signal type conversion unit that converts an output signal of the switch unit into a signal of a second signal type and supplies the signal to an input terminal of the second matrix switch unit; An output signal of the second matrix switch unit is connected between at least some input terminals and at least some output terminals of the second matrix switch unit. A second signal type / first signal type conversion unit that converts the signal into a signal of a first signal type and supplies the signal to an input terminal of the first matrix switch unit; and a signal input to the first and second matrix switch units. A signal type determination unit that determines a signal type of a signal on a transmission path of a plurality of input systems; and a first matrix switch unit and the second type based on a result of the determination by the signal type determination unit and predetermined request information. A signal system switching device, comprising: a switching control unit that comprehensively controls a switching process of a matrix switch unit. 6. A third matrix switch for switching a transmission path of encoded signals of a plurality of input / output systems, an output terminal of the third matrix switch, and the first and second matrix switches. Connected to one of the first signal type / second signal type conversion unit or the input terminal to which the second signal type / first signal type conversion unit is not connected, and the output of the third matrix switch unit A decoding unit for decoding a signal and supplying the signal to one of the input terminals of the first and second matrix switch units, wherein the signal type determination unit includes an input signal to the third matrix switch unit. The switching control unit controls the switching process of the third matrix switch unit based on the signal system determination result and predetermined request information. The signal system switching device according to claim 5. 7. The first, second, and third matrix switch units, the signal system determination unit, and the switching control unit,
7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the components are integrated.
The signal system switching device according to the above.