JP2006050656A - Stream transmitting device and receiving device, and transmission/reception method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems of color shift and distortion of a decoded image caused by delay fluctuation by enabling an error of a time standard reference value by the delay fluctuation to be corrected and transmitted to a decoding device with respect to a multiplexed stream transmitted via a digital transmission network. <P>SOLUTION: A synchronous timer 210 operable by receiving a common clock is provided in a transmitting device 2 and a receiving device. In the transmitting device 2, the time of the synchronous timer 210 is added to a time standard reference value involved in the multiplexed stream and is transmitted as additional information. In the receiving device, the time standard reference value involved in the multiplexed stream is rewritten on the basis of a difference between the time indicated by the additional information and the time of the self synchronous timer 210. Further, a clock counter included in the synchronous timer 210 comprises a base part and an extension part counted up by a signal divided by the common clock. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention transmits time-series data in which moving images, audio, or other digital signals are encoded and multiplexed according to, for example, the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) system, via a transmission path such as a digital network. The present invention relates to a stream transmission device, a reception device, and a transmission / reception method.

  Conventionally, a combination of media signals, for example, moving images, voices and other digital signals constituting one television program are multiplexed into one multiplexed stream, such as digital satellite broadcasting or ATM / IP network. Systems exist that transmit over digital transmission media. For example, MPEG-2 encoded video, audio and other signals are accommodated in 188-byte fixed-length packets (transport stream packets), and these packets are mixed to form one multiplexed stream (transport). Stream) is defined in ISO / IEC13818-1, and systems that multiplex-transmit MPEG-2 encoded information using this transport stream are widely used.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a general system for transmitting a multiplexed stream in the related art.
In the encoding device 1, video, audio and other additional information signals are compressed and encoded by the corresponding encoders 101 to 103. The multiplexer 104 packetizes and multiplexes these elementary streams (streams for each medium), and outputs the result as one multiplexed stream.
At this time, the value of the clock counter 106 driven by the oscillator 105 is used as time information for synchronizing each medium. In the first usage method, the current value of the clock counter 106 is embedded in the multiplexed stream as a time base reference value. Second, the time at which each medium is to be decoded and the time at which it is to be presented are added as time stamps.

Upon receiving the multiplexed stream from the encoding device 1, the transmission device 2 stores this in the packet or cell payload and transmits it to the reception device 4 via the digital transmission network 3. The receiving device 4 extracts the multiplexed stream from the received packet or cell payload and supplies it to the decoding device 5.
The decoding device 5 receives the multiplexed stream, separates it into elementary streams for each medium by the separator 504, and supplies them to the corresponding decoders 501 to 503. Further, the separator 504 supplies the time base reference value to the reference time regenerator 507 at the moment when the time base reference value embedded in the multiplexed stream arrives.

The decoders 501 to 503 sequentially refer to the clock counter 506, and at the moment when the value of the clock counter 506 becomes the same as the above-described time stamp (indicating the time when the media should be decoded and the time when the media should be presented) Decrypt and present media. Therefore, the value of the clock counter 506 must be an accurate reproduction of the value of the clock counter 106 in the encoding device 1. For example, if the value of the clock counter 506 is gradually delayed as compared with the value of the clock counter 106, the decoding and display of media by the decoders 501 to 503 are gradually delayed, and the buffers in the receiving device 4 and the decoding device 5 are stored in the buffers. Undecoded streams accumulate gradually and eventually overrun the buffer. In the opposite case, a buffer underrun occurs.
Therefore, the reference time regenerator 507 performs control so that the value of the clock counter 106 in the encoding device 1 is accurately reproduced by the clock counter 506 based on the time reference reference value supplied from the separator 504. I do.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the reference time regenerator in FIG.
The difference between the time base reference value supplied from the separator 504 and its own clock counter 506, that is, the error is calculated, and the analog signal is output by the D / A converter 509 through the low-pass filter 508 for preventing abrupt frequency fluctuation. The voltage signal is converted and supplied to the VCO 505. The VCO 505 is a voltage-controlled oscillator that can control the oscillation frequency by the applied voltage. When the clock counter 506 is delayed compared to the time base reference value, the VCO 505 increases the oscillation frequency. Are controlled to reduce the oscillation frequency. In this way, the same time as the clock counter 106 of the encoding device 1 is reproduced in the clock counter 506 of the decoding device 5. Such a time reproduction mechanism is generally called a PLL (Phase Locked Loop).

In the MPEG-2 transport stream defined by ISO / IEC13818-1, a time base reference value is added as a PCR (Program Clock Reference) to a transport stream packet (hereinafter referred to as a TS packet) and within 100 milliseconds. It is prescribed to transmit at intervals of
The PCR displays a time value with a time resolution of 27 MHz in 42 bits. The 33 bits of the basic part of the PCR indicate a value with a time resolution of 90 kHz, and the 9 bits of the extension part indicate a value of a time resolution of 27 MHz with a value of 0 to 299. That is, when the value of the extension part counted up at 27 MHz reaches 300, the value of the extension part is reset to 0, and the value of the basic part is incremented by one.

The TS packet is a 188-byte fixed-length packet in which code information is stored for each medium. When adding a PCR, a TS packet dedicated for PCR is prepared, or a TS packet such as video is added with a PCR and transmitted. The criterion for PCR information included in the TS packet is:
(1) The PID (packet ID) of the TS packet is a PID that indicates in advance that PCR is to be added;
(2) The upper 1 bit of the adaptation field control (2 bits) is “1”.
(3) The value of the adaptation field length is 1 or more,
(4) The PCR flag is “1”,
The PCR is included in the TS packet that satisfies the above conditions.
FIG. 16 is an example of an arrangement diagram showing the position of each field in the TS packet.
In this example, a PCR-dedicated TS packet is used. There is a packet dedicated to PCR in TS packets (188 bytes) for each medium. Each field in the packet including the PCR has a configuration as shown in the figure.

As described above, in a multiplexed stream encoding / decoding system represented by MPEG-2, a method of synchronizing the times of the encoding device 1 and the decoding device 5 is prepared.
However, in order for this synchronization method to operate effectively, the transmission delay from the encoding device 1 to the decoding device 5 must always be constant. In other words, the multiplexed stream output from the encoding device 1 needs to be input to the decoding device 5 while maintaining the same time interval. For example, ISO / IEC13818-1 stipulates that PCR transmission delay fluctuations should not exceed ± 0.5 μsec.
However, it is generally known that when a packet or a cell is transmitted through the digital transmission network 3, a so-called delay fluctuation is generated in which the delay time is not constant but varies irregularly. When the multiplexed stream subjected to these delay fluctuations is input to the decoding device 5 as it is, the oscillation frequency of the VCO 505 fluctuates irregularly by the PLL circuit described above, and the clock counter 506 cannot reproduce the exact time. Further, since the oscillation frequency of the VCO 505 is also used as a reference clock for a circuit that generates an analog video output, it has been pointed out that as a result, problems such as distortion and color misregistration of an output image are caused.

Therefore, in order to absorb this irregular delay fluctuation, for example, it is conceivable to use a PLL circuit. However, if a large delay fluctuation is absorbed only by the PLL circuit, the time constant must be increased, and there is a problem that a long time is required for synchronization.
Various methods have been proposed in which the receiving device 4 has a buffer and smoothes delay fluctuations and then transmits the smoothed delay to the decoding device 5. As a representative smoothing method, an adaptive clock method is known.
In the adaptive clock method, data received from the network is temporarily stored in a FIFO buffer. Then, the reading speed from the FIFO buffer is adjusted so that the data staying in the FIFO buffer is always kept at a constant amount (usually half of the total buffer amount). In this way, the delay fluctuation is smoothed. As a result, the short-cycle delay fluctuation is only averaged and output, and the long-period component of the delay fluctuation remains. As a result, there is a problem that the PCR transmission delay fluctuation cannot be suppressed to ± 0.5 μsec.

In addition, ITU-TH 222.0 Annex J describes a technique in which a buffer is provided on the receiving device side to absorb jitter, and the fluctuation is absorbed and then transmitted to the decoding device. However, a specific control method for removing jitter is not described.
A method using a network common clock supplied via an ATM line or the like is also conceivable. The network common clock is simultaneously distributed from one clock oscillation source to all terminals, and does not cause fluctuations or errors. Using this network common clock, for example, each terminal generates a clock having the same time resolution (27 MHz) as PCR based on the network common clock, and the transmission device puts the difference between this clock and PCR on the multiplexed stream. By sending, the receiving apparatus can absorb the delay by the buffer based on the difference information, and can correct the jitter by rewriting the PCR value. However, a PLL circuit is required to generate a clock having the same time resolution as that of PCR, and in order to cope with a plurality of PCRs of a plurality of channels, it is necessary to identify packet ID numbers and manage information individually. If the encoder is reset or the PCR becomes discontinuous, the jitter correction device of the transmission device and the reception device must be reset and the initial operation must be repeated. There was a problem that the operation became unstable.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve these conventional problems and correct fluctuations in the time base reference value due to delay fluctuations in a transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus that transmit a multiplexed stream in packets or cells and transmit them through a digital transmission network. Another object of the present invention is to provide a stream transmission device and a reception device, and a transmission / reception method capable of realizing the mechanism for supplying the decoding device with a small device scale.

In order to achieve the above object, a stream transmission device and a reception device of the present invention have a synchronous timer that operates in response to a common clock in the transmission device and the reception device, and the transmission device includes a time included in the multiplexed stream. The time reference included in the multiplexed stream is transmitted based on the difference value between the time indicated by the additional information and the time of its own synchronous timer at the receiving device. Rewrite the reference value.
The clock counter included in the synchronous timer of the transmission device and the reception device includes a basic unit that is counted up by a signal obtained by dividing a common clock and an expansion unit that is counted up by an internal oscillator.
In addition, a violation packet filter is provided that detects a packet including a bit string indicating the additional information packet in the multiplexed stream output from the encoding device and rewrites the bit string indicating the additional information packet in the packet.
In this way, the basic part of the clock counter in the synchronous timer operates based on the network common clock, and the expansion part operates based on the same internal oscillator as the PCR. The time information with the same time resolution of 27 MHz that does not occur and can be generated. Therefore, the time information of the synchronous timer can be used as an accurate clock for correcting the time reference value.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to correct an error of a time base reference value due to delay fluctuation and transmit it to a decoding apparatus for a multiplexed stream transmitted via a digital transmission network, so that a decoded image caused by delay fluctuation can be transmitted. The problem of color misregistration and distortion can be solved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multiplexed stream transmission system using a transmission device and a reception device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In the transmission apparatus 2, the multiplexed stream transmission unit 201 provides a function equivalent to that of the conventional transmission apparatus (corresponding to the transmission apparatus 2 in FIG. 14), and the additional information superimposing unit 202 is installed in the preceding stage. In the receiving device 4, the multiplexed stream receiving unit 401 provides a function equivalent to that of the conventional receiving device (corresponding to the receiving device 4 in FIG. 14), and the time reference reference value correcting unit 402 is installed in the subsequent stage. .
Hereinafter, detailed operations of the additional information superimposing unit 202 and the time reference reference value correcting unit 402 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a specific configuration diagram of the transmission apparatus in FIG.
The network common clock 211 is a clock that can be obtained in common by the transmission device 2 and the reception device 4. In FIG. 2, the network common clock 211 is supplied from the digital transmission network 3 (specifically, an ATM network) and is obtained through the multiplexed stream transmission unit 201. The synchronous timer 210 measures time at 27 MHz, which is the same time resolution as PCR, in synchronization with the network common clock 211.

FIG. 3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the synchronous timer in FIG.
In the synchronous timer 210, the clock counter extension 217e has a time resolution of 27 MHz and has the same 9-bit length as the PCR. On the other hand, the basic part 217b of the clock counter has a time resolution of 90 kHz, and the bit length is set so that the counter does not clear with respect to the maximum value of the assumed delay fluctuation. As an example, if the maximum value of delay fluctuation is ± 100 msec, 100 msec corresponds to about 13 bits at a time resolution of 90 kHz, and therefore the basic unit 217b may be prepared with about 15 bits.

  The oscillator 213 generates a frequency of 27 MHz, and counts up the expansion unit 217e of the clock counter (214). The 19.44 MHz network common clock 211 supplied from the ATM network is first divided by 1/216 in the frequency divider 212 to become a 90 kHz signal and counts up the basic part 217b of the clock counter (216). The extension unit 217e is reset to zero (215). By this series of operations, the expansion unit 217e of the clock counter repeats the timing of 27 MHz in the range of 0 to 299, and the basic unit 217b is counted up at 90 kHz.

Assuming that the deviation of the oscillation frequency of the oscillator 213 is about ± 30 ppm (parts per million) equivalent to the allowable deviation of the oscillator that generates the reference time in the MPEG-2 encoder, the error during 300 counts is 10 to stay ^-2 count, or a value extensions 217e exceeds temporarily 299 of the clock counter, never or reset to zero without reaching 299.
As described above, the basic part of the clock counter in the synchronous timer 210 operates based on the 19.44 MHz network common clock, and the expansion part operates based on the same 27 MHz internal oscillator as the PCR. It is possible to generate time information having a time resolution of 27 MHz, which is the same as that of PCR, without causing an error between the reception side and the reception side. Therefore, the time information of the synchronous timers 210 and 410 can be used as an accurate clock for correcting the time reference value.
Then, the time information 218 is read from each clock counter in response to an external reference, and is output as the current time 223.

  Now, the multiplexed stream generated by the encoding apparatus 1 is time-division multiplexed by packetizing a bit stream such as a video signal or an audio signal. In the case of an MPEG-2 transport stream defined in ISO / IEC13818-1, TS packets of 188 bytes are time-division multiplexed. The multiplexed stream receiver 220 receives this packet input and stores one packet in the buffer A 230. At the same time, the reception timing pulse 221 is output at the moment of receiving the packet. When receiving the reception timing pulse 221, the switch 222 reads the current time 223 from the synchronous timer 210 and stores it in the buffer B 231. In this way, in the buffer A230 and the buffer B231, one packet of the multiplexed stream and its input time are stored as a pair.

The time base reference value detector 240 determines whether or not the time base reference value is included in the packet stored in the buffer A 230 and outputs a determination signal 241. For TS packets:
(1) The upper 1 bit of the adaptation field control (2 bits) is “1”.
(2) The value of the adaptation field length is 1 or more,
(3) The PCR flag is “1”,
Is detected. When all of the above (1) to (3) are true, PCR is included. Otherwise, PCR is not included.

  The additional information mixer 250 operates according to the determination signal 241. When the determination signal 241 is false (not including the time base reference value), the time information in the buffer B 231 is discarded, the packet included in the buffer A 230 is extracted, and transferred to the multiplexed stream transmission unit 201. When the determination signal 241 is true (including the time base reference value), first, an additional information packet is generated based on the time information in the buffer B231 and transferred to the multiplexed stream transmission unit 201, and subsequently included in the buffer A230. The extracted packet is taken out and transferred to the multiplexed stream transmission unit 201.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example when a null packet is used as the format of the additional information packet.
In a general null packet generated by the encoding apparatus 1, both the unit start display field and the scramble control field have a value of “0” in accordance with ISO / IEC13818-1. Therefore, while the additional information packet takes the form of a null packet (188 bytes), the value of either the unit start display field or the scramble control field is set to “1” to distinguish it from a general null packet. enable. Here, the upper 1 bit of the scramble control field is set to “1”. Then, the time information (basic part and extension part) read from the buffer B231 is accommodated in the payload part of the null packet.

FIG. 5 is an arrangement diagram showing an order relationship between the additional information packet shown in FIG. 4 and a packet including a time reference reference value.
As shown in FIG. 5, the relationship between the additional information packet and the packet including the time reference value is continuously transmitted in the order of the additional information packet and the packet including the time reference value.
When the series of operations is completed, one packet is again stored in the buffer A230 from the multiplexed stream receiver 220, and the same processing is repeated. The multiplexed stream transmission unit 201 performs channel coding on the multiplexed stream packets and sends them to the digital transmission network 3.

FIG. 6 is a specific configuration diagram of the receiving apparatus of the present invention.
Also in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the network common clock 411 is supplied from the digital transmission network 3 (specifically, the ATM network) and obtained through the multiplexed stream receiving unit 401. The synchronous timer 410 measures time at 27 MHz, which is the same time resolution as PCR, in synchronization with the network common clock 411.
The time reference reference value correction unit 402 in the receiving device 4 includes a buffer 430, an additional information packet detector 440, a multiplexed stream transmitter 480, an input switch 420, an output switch 470, a time reference reference value reader 461, a time reference. It comprises a reference value corrector 463, a time base reference value rewriter 464, a time difference calculator 450, a synchronous timer 410, and a time information register 442.

FIG. 7 is a detailed configuration diagram of the synchronous timer in FIG.
The operation is almost the same as that of the synchronous timer 210 of FIG. 3 except that it has an “initial setting” mechanism. When the value of the initial set 443 is given from the outside, the corresponding value is set in the basic part 417b of the clock counter. However, it is not set in the expansion unit 417e.

FIG. 8 is a process flowchart in the time base reference value correction unit of FIG.
The buffer 430 has a capacity capable of storing only one multiplexed stream packet (the contents of the buffer are overwritten by the input of a new packet). The input switch 420 and the output switch 470 have a function of inputting / outputting one multiplexed stream packet each time the switch is closed (turned on).
A signal arriving from the transmission device 2 via the digital transmission network 3 is channel-decoded by the multiplexed stream reception unit 401. In the multiplexed stream thus obtained, the input switch 420 is first closed, and one packet is guided to the buffer 430 (step S1). Next, the additional information packet detector 440 determines whether or not the packet stored in the buffer 430 is an additional information packet (step S2). In this example using a null packet defined in ISO / IEC13818-1, if the packet is a null packet and the upper 1 bit of the scramble control field is “1”, it is determined as an additional information packet. .

If the content of the buffer 430 is not an additional information packet, the output switch 470 is closed, the packet stored in the buffer 430 is taken out and transmitted to the multiplexed stream transmitter 480 (step S3), and the series of operations is completed. .
When the content of the buffer A430 is an additional information packet, the additional information packet detector 440 reads time information from the packet stored in the buffer 430, and stores the basic part and the extension part in the time information register 442, respectively (step S4). ).
Only when the additional information packet arrives for the first time after the reception apparatus 4 starts operating (step S5), the clock counter is "initially set" (step S6). That is, the value of the basic part in the time information register 442 is set in the basic part 417b of the clock counter, and the series of operations ends.

If the “initial setting” operation has already been completed, the input switch 420 is closed, and the next packet obtained from the multiplexed stream receiving unit 401 is stored in the buffer 430 (step S7). As shown in FIG. 5, since the additional information packet and the packet including the time base reference value are continuous, the packet stored in the buffer 430 includes the time base reference value.
However, there is a possibility that the time reference reference value is not included in the packet following the additional information packet due to the packet loss due to the transmission loss of the digital transmission network 3. Therefore, it is confirmed whether or not the time base reference value is included (step S8). If the time base reference value is not included, step S9 is skipped and the time base reference value correction operation is stopped. The output switch 470 is closed and the packet stored in the buffer 430 is taken out and transmitted to the multiplexed stream transmitter 480 (step S10), and the series of operations is terminated.
If there is no abnormality, an operation for correcting the time base reference value is performed (step S9).

A detailed flow of the operation for correcting the time base reference value will be described below.
(1) The time base reference value reader 461 reads the time base reference value of the packet stored in the buffer 430 and outputs it. Specifically, the PCR value is read from the PCR field of the TS packet.
(2) The time difference calculator 450 subtracts the value of the time information register 442 from the value of the current time 415 obtained from the synchronous timer 410 and outputs it as a difference value 451. Since each value is composed of a basic part and an extension part, the calculation of the difference value is performed considering that 1 of the basic part corresponds to 300 of the extension part. The difference value 451 is a signed value and corresponds to the delay fluctuation (measured with a time resolution of 27 MHz) received during transmission of the multiplexed stream, as will be described later.
(3) The time base reference value corrector 463 adds the difference value 451 to the time base reference value 462 (specifically, the PCR value).
Since each value is composed of a basic part and an extension part, this calculation is also performed in consideration that 1 of the basic part corresponds to 300 of the extension part. As a result, the time base reference value 462 is corrected corresponding to the delay fluctuation received during transmission of the multiplexed stream.

In addition to this, the time base reference value corrector 463 may be added with a function of always subtracting a constant value from the time base reference value 462. This has the effect of increasing the amount of the stream staying in the buffers of the decoders 501 to 503 in the decoding device 5 and making the buffer underrun difficult to occur. This operation will be described below.
In a stream in which a plurality of pieces of media information such as video and audio are multiplexed, there is a time stamp that specifies the timing for decoding or presenting each piece of media information in order to synchronously reproduce the plurality of media. For example, in an MPEG-2 stream, decoding time stamp (DTS) and presentation time stamp (PTS) are added to video information and audio information, respectively.

  The clock counter 506 (see FIG. 14) of the MPEG-2 decoding device 5 has a reference time (decoder system clock) reproduced based on the time reference reference value PCR. The reference time value is DTS or PTS. This means that the corresponding video information and audio information is decoded or presented at the moment when the value becomes. In this way, synchronized playback of a plurality of media is possible without shifting the mouth movement and the voice in a scene where people talk, for example. During the period until the value of the reference time (decoder system clock) reaches the value indicated by DTS or PTS, the multiplexed stream stays in the buffers of the decoders 501 to 503 and waits for the start of decoding.

Here, when a constant value is always subtracted from the PCR value, the interval between the PCR value and the DTS and PTS values becomes wider. That is, in order to wait for the value of the reference time (the system clock of the decoder) to become a value indicated by DTS or PTS, the amount of multiplexed streams staying in the buffers of the decoders 501 to 503 increases.
The influence of the transmission delay fluctuation on the decoding device 5 is, firstly, the problem that the system clock fluctuates due to the PCR fluctuation described above, and secondly, the temporary arrival of the multiplexed stream. Due to the delay, the buffers of the decoders 501 to 503 are emptied (buffer underrun), and there is a problem that the encoding has to be stopped because the data to be decoded has not arrived. Here, if the amount of multiplexed streams staying in the buffers of the decoders 501 to 503 is increased, the possibility of buffer underrun can be reduced.
In this way, by always subtracting a constant value from the PCR value, the possibility of buffer underrun in the decoding device is reduced, and as a result, the influence of delay fluctuation can be suppressed.

(4) The time base reference value rewriter 464 writes the corrected time base reference value back to the time base reference value field (specifically, the PCR field of the TS packet) of the packet stored in the buffer 430. .
Returning to FIG. 8, finally, the output switch 470 is closed, the packet stored in the buffer 430 is taken out and transmitted to the multiplexed stream transmitter 480 (step S10), and the series of operations ends. Note that a configuration in which the processing time is constant (such as a configuration using hardware) is employed after the time difference calculator 450 until the packet is output from the multiplexed stream transmitter 480.
When the series of operations is completed, the process returns to step S1, and one packet is stored in the buffer 430 from the input switch 420, and the same processing is repeated.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a mechanism for correcting the influence of delay fluctuation from the time base reference value in the present invention.
In FIG. 9, for example, when the time information is written as “100: 10”, it means that the basic part of the time information is 100 and the extension part is 10.
FIG. 9A shows a case where the first additional information packet is sent.
In FIG. 9A, it is assumed that a TS packet including a PCR value “0: 0” is input when the transmission-side clock counter 212 is “100: 0”. As a result, on the digital transmission network 3, two additional information packets “100: 0” and a TS packet including the PCR “0: 0” are transmitted.
On the receiving side, since it is the first received additional information packet, “100” is initially set in the basic part of the clock counter 412 (443). The extended portion of the clock counter 412 is determined to be reset at 90 kHz obtained by dividing the network common clock by 216 because of its structure, and therefore the extended portion cannot be initially set. Here, it is assumed that the value of the extension part when the initial setting is performed happens to be 10. This effect will be described later.
The basic part of the clock counter 412 is counted up by 90 kHz obtained by dividing the network common clock 411 by 216 from the initial value “100” as a starting point. The TS packet including the PCR “'0: 0” is output to the decoding device 5 as it is.

Next, FIG. 9B shows a case where the second additional information packet is sent. In FIG. 9B, it is assumed that a TS packet including PCR “100: 0” is inputted when the clock counter 212 on the transmission side is “200: 0”. As a result, the additional information packet “200: 0” and the TS packet including the PCR “100: 0” are transmitted on the digital transmission network 3. Here, it is assumed that the arrival of the packet is delayed by 10: 0 due to delay fluctuation on the digital transmission network 3.
In this case, if the TS packet is transferred to the decoding device 5 while the PCR is “100: 0”, the decoding device 5 is affected by delay fluctuation. Therefore, in order to correct the delay fluctuation, it is necessary to correct the delay of the arrival of the packet, add 10: 0 to the PCR, and transfer it to the decoding device 5 as “'110: 0”.
Since the arrival of the packet is delayed by 10: 0, the value of the clock counter 412 is “210: 10”. As a result, the time difference calculator 450 subtracts the value of the additional information packet from the value of the clock counter 412 to obtain the value “10:10”. The time base reference value corrector 463 adds “10:10” to the read PCR value “100: 0” to make “110: 10”, and writes it back. In this way, the time base reference value with the delay fluctuation corrected is transmitted to the decoding device 5.

  Here, what is supposed to be transferred to the decoding device 5 as “′ 110: 0” correctly is changed to “′ 110: 10” ”in FIG. 9A in the clock counter 412. The effect is that the extension is not set. However, as shown in FIG. 9C, in the processing of all additional information packets after the second, this error continues at a constant value. Since the error is always a constant value, for the purpose of the present invention to remove the delay fluctuation, the error does not adversely affect the second and subsequent processes.

In the above description, it is assumed that both the PCR generated by the oscillator inside the encoding device 1 and the current time generated by the synchronous timer 210 are exactly 27 MHz. In practice, however, these are not exact 27 MHz and may contain some errors. This effect is described below.
The network common clock supplied by the ATM network assumes that the ATM network having a highly reliable clock supply source such as an atomic clock is used, and an almost accurate 27 MHz is obtained. On the other hand, in the regulation of ISO / IEC13818-1, the oscillator of the encoding device is allowed to have a deviation within ± 30 ppm, that is, 27 MHz ± 810 Hz.

Now, it is assumed that the deviation of the oscillator included in the encoding device is 27 MHz ± 810 Hz which is the maximum within the regulation. At this time, in the apparatus of the present invention, if delay fluctuation of j (second) occurs and the PCR value is rewritten by j (second), the error included in the rewritten PCR value is (810/27 × 10 ⁶ ). Xj (seconds).
In order to suppress this error within ± 0.5 μsec as defined in ISO / IEC13818-1,
(810 / (27 × 106)) × j ≦ 0.5 × 10 ⁻⁶
j ≦ 0.016
Thus, with respect to delay fluctuations within 16 milliseconds, the delay fluctuations satisfying the standard of ISO / IEC13818-1 can be absorbed by the method according to the present invention.

  Even in a network that causes a delay fluctuation within 16 milliseconds, a delay fluctuation absorbing mechanism based on the above-described adaptive clock system, for example, is provided between the multiplexed stream reception unit 401 and the time base reference value correction unit 402. Can do. The delay clock is smoothed down to several hundred microseconds by the adaptive clock system, and then the time base reference value correction unit 402 according to the present invention rewrites the PCR value, so that the system according to the present invention is applied even to a network that causes a large delay clock fluctuation. Can be applied.

  In the above embodiment, a system for supplying one multiplexed stream supplied from one encoding device 1 to one decoding device 5 has been described. However, in the actual transmission device 2 and reception device 4, There may be a case where a plurality of connectors for connecting the encoding device 1 and the decoding device 5 are provided so that a plurality of multiplexed streams can be transmitted. At that time, in order to provide a delay fluctuation correction function for each of a plurality of multiplexed streams, it is generally necessary to have a plurality of the additional information superimposing unit 202 and the time reference reference value correcting unit 402 described above. However, in the present invention, only one synchronous timer 210 and 410 is required for each device, and the hardware cost can be reduced accordingly.

Further, when the synchronous timers 210 and 410 are configured to operate in synchronization with the time base reference value included in the multiplexed stream (for example, the first obtained time base reference value is set in the clock counters 212 and 412). If the time base reference value is interrupted or becomes discontinuous in the multiplexed stream, the delay fluctuation absorbing operation must be stopped and the synchronous timers 210 and 410 must be resynchronized. Furthermore, in the case of a multiplexed stream having a plurality of time base reference values in a plurality of channels, each of them must be identified (for example, identified by the packet ID number of the TS packet), and individual processing must be performed. Don't be.
On the other hand, since the synchronous timers 210 and 410 according to the present invention operate independently of the time base reference value included in the multiplexed stream, the time base reference value becomes discontinuous in the multiplexed stream. In addition, the delay fluctuation absorbing operation can be continued. In addition, even for a multiplexed stream in which a plurality of time base reference values exist in a plurality of channels, it is not necessary to distinguish individual channels by an ID number or the like, and delay fluctuation correction can be collectively processed.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the additional information packet and the packet including the time base reference value according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Comparing FIG. 10 with FIG. 5 of the first embodiment, the transmission order of the packets output from the additional information mixer 250 of FIG. 2 is reversed. That is, it is assumed that the packet including the time base reference value and the additional information packet are transmitted in this order.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a receiving apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
Comparing FIG. 11 with the receiving apparatus 4 shown in FIG. 6 of the first embodiment, only the following three points are different. That is,
(A) The number of buffers for storing multiplexed stream packets is increased to two, that is, a buffer A430 and a buffer B431,
(B) A selection function for switching the two buffers and inputting / outputting packets is added to the input switch 420 and the output switch 430.
(C) The additional information packet filter 475 is installed, and this filter has a function of determining whether or not the packet output from the buffer A 430 is an additional information packet, and discarding the packet if it is an additional information packet.

FIG. 12 is an operation flowchart of the receiving apparatus in FIG.
A signal arriving from the transmission device 2 via the digital transmission network 3 is channel-decoded by the multiplexed stream reception unit 401. In the multiplexed stream thus obtained, the input switch 420 is first closed, and one packet is guided to the buffer 430 (step S21). Next, the additional information packet detector 440 determines whether or not the packet stored in the buffer 430 includes a time base reference value (step S22). In this example using a null packet defined in ISO / IEC13818-1, if the packet is a null packet and the upper 1 bit of the scramble control field is “1”, it is determined as an additional information packet. . In the case of an additional information packet, the packet is output from the buffer 430 and discarded by the filter 475 (step S23).

The subsequent packet is stored in the buffer B 431 (step S24). The additional information packet detector 440 determines whether or not the content of the buffer B431 is an additional information packet (step S25). In the case of an additional information packet, the additional information packet detector 440 reads time information from the packet stored in the buffer 431 and stores the basic part and the extension part in the time information register 442 (step S28). If it is not an additional information packet, the packet is output from the buffer A 430 (S 26) and the packet is also output from the buffer B 431 (step S 27). Only when the additional information packet arrives for the first time after the reception apparatus 4 starts operating (step S29), the value of the basic part of the time information register 442 is initially set in the clock counter 412 (step S30). If it is not an additional information packet, the time base reference value is corrected (step S31).
Next, the packet is output from the buffer A 430 (step S32).

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a part of a transmission apparatus showing a third embodiment of the present invention.
The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment in FIG. 2 only in that a violation packet filter 225 is provided between the multiplexed stream receiver 220 and the buffer A230. ing.
The violation packet filter 225 has a function of forcibly rewriting a packet that is confused with the additional information packet in the multiplexed stream packet input from the encoding device 1.

As an example, as in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a case where a null packet in which the upper 1 bit of the scramble control field is “1” is used as the additional information packet. The scramble control field of the null packet output from the encoding device 1 is “00” in accordance with ISO / IEC13818-1 regulations. However, there is a possibility that the encoding apparatus 1 generates a null packet whose scramble control field is not “00” contrary to the standard of ISO / IEC13818-1. In this case, the receiving device 4 cannot distinguish from the additional information packet, and the operation of the device becomes abnormal.
Therefore, when a null packet whose scramble control field is not “00” is input from the encoding device 1, the violation packet filter 225 forcibly rewrites the field to “00”. Thereby, confusion with the additional information packet in the receiving apparatus 4 can be prevented, and the apparatus can be operated stably.
In the third embodiment, the other operations of the transmission apparatus are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

It is a block diagram of the multiplexed stream transmission system using the transmitter and receiver which show the 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the transmitter in FIG. It is a detailed block diagram of the synchronous timer in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the additional information packet produced | generated by the additional information mixer in FIG. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the additional information packet output by the additional information mixer of FIG. 2, and the packet containing a time base reference value. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the receiver in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the synchronous timer in FIG. FIG. 7 is a processing flowchart of the receiving apparatus in FIG. 6. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the procedure in which a time reference reference value is corrected by the receiver of FIG. It is a positional relationship figure of the additional information packet which shows the 2nd Example of this invention, and the packet containing a time base reference value. It is a block diagram of the receiver which shows the 2nd Example of this invention. 12 is a processing flowchart of the receiving apparatus in FIG. 11. It is a block diagram of the principal part of the transmitter which shows the 3rd Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the conventional multiplexed stream transmission system. It is a figure explaining the mechanism of the reference | standard time regenerator in FIG. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of PCR in an MPEG-2 transport stream packet.

Explanation of symbols

  1: encoding device, 2: transmitting device, 3: digital transmission network, 4: receiving device, 5: decoding device, 201: multiplexed stream transmitting unit, 202: additional information superimposing unit, 401: multiplexed stream receiving unit, 402: Time base reference value correction unit, 210: Synchronous timer, 211: Network common clock, 220: Multiplexed stream receiver, 230, 231: Buffers A and B, 240: Time base reference value detector, 250: Addition Information mixer, 222: switch, 221: reception timing pulse, 212: frequency divider, 223: current time, 217b: clock counter (basic part), 217e: clock counter (expansion part), 218b: time information (basic part) ) 218e: Time information (extension unit), 411: Network common clock, 410: Synchronous timer, 442: Time information register, 441: Time information, 40: additional information packet detector, 430: buffer, 420: input switch, 470: output switch, 480: multiplexed stream transmitter, 461: time base reference value reader, 462: time base reference value, 463: time base Reference value corrector, 464: time base reference value rewriter, 450: time difference calculator, 443: initial set, 451: difference value, 415: current time, 412: frequency divider, 417b: clock counter (basic part 417e: Clock counter (expansion part), 413: Oscillator, 414, 416: Count up, 418b: Time information (basic part), 418e: Time information (extension part), 475: Additional information packet filter, 431: Buffer B, 225: Violation packet filter.

Claims (7)

In a stream transmission apparatus for transmitting a multiplexed stream to which a bit stream of one or more digital signals is packetized and time-division multiplexed and a time base reference value is added via a digital transmission network,
A synchronous timer that counts and operates a common clock signal with the receiver;
The arrival time of the packet including the time base reference value is acquired from the synchronous timer, and the value of either the unit start display field or the scramble control field is 1 in the form of a null packet defined by ISO / IEC13818-1. A stream comprising: additional information generating means for generating an additional information packet in which the arrival time is stored in a payload portion and transmitting the additional information packet continuously with a packet including the time reference value Transmitter device. In a stream receiving apparatus for receiving a multiplexed stream to which a bit stream of one or more digital signals is packetized and time-division multiplexed and a time base reference value is added via a digital transmission network,
A synchronous timer that counts and operates the clock signal common to the transmitter;
From the packet transmitted from the transmission device, it is in the form of a null packet specified by ISO / IEC13818-1, but the value of either the unit start display field or the scramble control field is 1 and the time base reference value is set in the payload portion. An additional information reading means for discarding the packet after detecting the additional information packet storing the arrival time of the included packet and reading the arrival time;
A time base reference value reading means for detecting a packet including the time base reference value and reading the time base reference value;
A time difference calculating means for calculating a difference between an arrival time obtained from the additional information reading means and a time obtained from the synchronous timer;
A time base reference value correcting means for correcting the influence of delay fluctuation by adding the difference value obtained by the time difference calculating means to the time base reference value;
A stream receiving apparatus comprising: a time base reference value write-back means for writing the corrected time base reference value back into a packet and outputting the packet. The stream transmission device according to claim 1,
A stream transmitting apparatus characterized in that a common clock signal used by the synchronous timer uses a network common clock signal. The stream receiving device according to claim 2,
A stream receiver as a common clock signal used by the synchronous timer uses a network common clock signal. The stream transmission device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein
Stream transmission comprising packet filtering means for detecting a packet including a bit string indicating an additional information packet in the multiplexed stream output from the encoding device and rewriting the bit string indicating the additional information packet in the packet. apparatus. In a stream transmission / reception method in which a bit stream of one or more digital signals is packetized and time-division multiplexed and a multiplexed stream to which a time base reference value is added is transmitted via a digital transmission network.
The synchronous timer provided in both the transmitting device and the receiving device operates by counting a common clock signal,
In the transmission apparatus, the arrival time of the packet including the time base reference value is acquired from the synchronous timer, and is in the form of a null packet defined by ISO / IEC13818-1, but either the unit start display field or the scramble control field Generating an additional information packet having the value of 1 and storing the arrival time in the payload portion, and transmitting the additional information packet continuously with the packet including the time reference value,
In the receiving apparatus, after detecting the additional information packet and reading the arrival time, discarding the additional information packet and detecting a packet including a time base reference value, reading the time base reference value, The difference between the read arrival time and the time acquired from the synchronous timer is calculated, and the difference value is added to the time base reference value to correct the influence of delay fluctuation, and the corrected time base reference value is written in the packet. A stream transmission / reception method characterized by correcting a time base reference value included in a received multiplexed stream in response to fluctuations in transmission delay caused in a digital transmission network by returning and outputting. The stream transmission / reception method according to claim 6,
The synchronous timer consists of a basic part and an extended part,
The basic part is counted up by a common clock signal or a divided signal obtained by dividing the clock signal by a constant value.
The stream transmission / reception method, wherein the extension unit is counted up by a built-in oscillator and reset by the same signal as the signal for counting up the basic unit.

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