JP2014110532A - Undulating signal distribution device and signal processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a variety of desired processing to be applied flexibly with high accuracy to an undulating signal generated or observed at a plurality of different sites pertaining to an undulating signal distribution device for generating or observing an undulating signal and distributing it to a host device together with an absolute time of day indicating a period in which the undulating signal was generated or observed, and a signal processing device for applying prescribed processing to a string of instantaneous values of the undulating signal individually delivered from the undulating signal distribution device.SOLUTION: The undulating signal distribution device comprises: undulating signal acquisition means for generating or observing an undulating signal; and transmission means for transmitting the undulating signal to a network in correlation with an absolute time of day indicating a point of time or a period in which the undulating signal was generated or observed and for which the accuracy of processing applied to the undulating signal can be secured, and with a string of instantaneous values of the undulating signal.

Description

  The present invention generates and observes a wave signal, and distributes the wave signal to a host device together with an absolute time indicating a period during which the wave signal was generated or observed, and the wave signal distribution device individually. The present invention relates to a signal processing device that performs a predetermined process on a sequence of instantaneous values of a wave signal.

  Conventionally, a sequence of instantaneous values of sound waves and voices that have arrived individually at sites that are geographically separated from each other can be observed or generated on the time axis, even if they are collected synchronously via a communication channel or transmission. In many cases, it is technically difficult to grasp the absolute time and the following processing cannot be performed with sufficient accuracy due to cost constraints.

(1) Blind sound source separation, noise reduction, spatial diversity
(2) Source estimation and detection
(3) Encryption and recording

In addition, there existed patent document 1 and patent document 2 which are listed below as prior art relevant to this invention.
(1) “In a global synchronization unit (GSU) for time and interval (TS) stamping of input data elements, the global time synchronization system is configured such that at each data sampling instant that occurs in the GSU, the GSU for the global reference system Receive GPS signals from signal sources associated with a GPS system symbolically embedded within a global reference system to automatically generate time and interval (TS) stamp data element representatives of time and interval coordinates A GPS receiver and associated antenna for processing the received GPS signal, a central processing unit operably connected to the GPS receiver, and at each data sampling instant, a data input device and the central processing A data input port operably connected to the device and receiving an input data element from the data input device; The central processing unit (i) associates an input data element received at the data input port at each data sampling instant with a TS stamp data element generated at the sampling instant, Compensate for variable network communication latency experienced by client machines used by competitors by generating data elements and (ii) storing individual said TS stamped input data elements in memory A global time synchronization system characterized in that it enables a time restraint competition on the Internet between competitors' millions in a fair and safe manner ... Patent Document 1

(2) In the multi-radar system in which a plurality of radar sites that detect the position of one or more aircraft and a control station that includes an information processing device that receives the aircraft position from the radar site are connected via a communication line. The site includes a clock receiver that receives a clock signal from a GPS radio wave or a standard radio wave for a radio clock, a signal processor that calculates the aircraft position from a radar echo signal reflected from the aircraft, and a time at which the radar echo signal is received. A time stamp generation unit for adding a time stamp, calibrates its own system clock by a clock signal received by the clock receiver, and the time stamp is converted into aircraft position information based on time information of the own system clock. The clock signal, the aircraft position and the A time stamp is transmitted to the information processing device, and the information processing device periodically calibrates a system clock based on the clock signal, and calibrates the aircraft position and the time stamp received from the radar site. By comparing the current time and the time when the aircraft was detected with its own system clock, calculating the transmission delay time, determining the current position of the aircraft, and displaying it on the radar display section, "Accurately acquire the time when the aircraft was present at the position where it was detected, and send the absolute time obtained from GPS to the information processing device, thereby reducing the calculation error and accurately calculating and displaying the aircraft position" Multi-radar system with ... Patent Document 2

Special table 2003-526833 JP-T-2004-508538

  In the conventional technology, in particular, when the propagation delay time of the section from the individual site to the device for performing the above processing is different and fluctuates, generally, the amount of processing for absorbing the fluctuation is enormous. Therefore, it has been difficult to perform a desired process with high accuracy on a sequence of instantaneous values distributed from these sites.

  Further, such improvement and maintenance of accuracy are even more difficult when the above-described site is provided on the moving body.

  Note that the above-described sequence of instantaneous values of voice can be transmitted as a sequence of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) packets, for example.

  In such a case, the time placed in the timestamp field of the VoIP packet is generally not the absolute time described above, but the time given under the time measurement performed at the corresponding site. It was difficult to apply in order to perform processing with high accuracy.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a wave signal distribution device and a signal processing device that can flexibly and flexibly perform various desired processes on wave signals generated or observed at a plurality of different sites. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the wave signal acquisition means generates or observes the wave signal. The distribution means indicates a time point or period when the wave signal is generated or observed, and an absolute time at which the accuracy of processing to be performed on the wave signal can be ensured, and a sequence of instantaneous values of the wave signal Are distributed to the host device.

  That is, the wave signal distribution device according to the present invention is a case where the wave signal distribution device is physically or geographically separated or distributed in various ways together with other wave signal distribution devices to which the present invention is applied. In addition, the generated or observed wave signal can be distributed to the host device together with the period and time point when it absolutely occupies the time axis.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wave signal distribution device according to the first aspect, the wave signal is a sound wave observed by the wave signal distribution device.

  That is, a sequence of instantaneous values of sound waves that have arrived at each of a plurality of wave signal distribution apparatuses to which the present invention is individually applied is delivered to the host apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wave signal distribution device according to the first or second aspect, the absolute time is a time determined based on satellite navigation or radio navigation.

  That is, a wave signal delivered from a plurality of wave signal distribution apparatuses to which the present invention is individually applied to a host apparatus is on a time axis based on a highly accurate time determined based on a desired satellite navigation or radio navigation. In this state, the desired processing is performed.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the sorting means converts the sequence of instantaneous values of the wave signals individually delivered in correspondence with the absolute time from a plurality of sites physically or geographically separated in order of the absolute time. Sort. The signal processing means performs a predetermined process on the sequence of instantaneous values of the wave signals delivered from the plurality of sites and sorted in the order of the absolute times.

  In other words, even if the wave signals are generated or observed at sites that are physically or geographically far apart or arranged in various locations, the desired processing is performed in a time-ordered sequence. It becomes possible.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the signal processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the predetermined processing includes all of blind source separation, noise reduction, spatial diversity, signal source estimation, acoustic detection, encryption, and recording. Or part.

  In other words, even if the wave signals are generated or observed at sites that are physically or geographically far apart or arranged in various locations, the desired processing is performed in a time-ordered sequence. It becomes possible.

According to the present invention, the wave signals observed or generated individually or asynchronously at a desired location are aligned on the absolute time axis regardless of whether or not these wave signals are correlated. It becomes possible to perform a desired process in the state.
The present invention can be flexibly applied to various monitoring systems and measurement systems.
In the system to which the present invention is applied, even if each wave signal distribution device is not provided with a high-precision time measuring means, performance and reliability are improved and stable.
In the system to which the present invention is applied, even when the generation and observation of wave signals are performed asynchronously with each other, the accuracy and performance of processing are improved and maintained stably.
In a system to which the present invention is applied, desired processing is accurately and stably realized even when generation and observation of wave signals are performed asynchronously.
Therefore, according to the present invention, a distributed monitoring system, a measurement system, and a signal processing system with high reliability, performance, and accuracy can be constructed at a significantly lower cost than conventional examples, and the possibilities of various fields are expanded. .

It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, routers 11-1 to 11-n are arranged at sites 10-1 to 10-n, respectively, and the WAN terminals of these routers 11-1 to 11-n communicate with the server 30 via the Internet 20. Connected to the port.

In the site 10-1, the following components are arranged together with the router 11-1.
(1) Microphone 12-1
(2) VoIP unit 13-1 having an analog port connected to the microphone 12-1 and a communication port connected to the first LAN port of the router 11-1.

(3) GPS compatible unit 14-1 connected to the digital input port of the VoIP unit 13-1
(4) A personal computer (PC) 15-1 having a communication port connected to the second LAN port of the router 11-1.

Since the configurations of the sites 10-2 to 10-n are the same as the configurations of the site 10-1, "2" to "n" instead of "1" are added to the corresponding constituent elements as numbers. The same reference numerals are assigned, and the description thereof is omitted here.
In addition, in the following, for items that apply to any of the sites 10-1 to 10-n, subscripts “c” meaning that they can correspond to any of subscript numbers “1” to “n” are configured. It is added to the element code.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.
The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Each component provided in the site 10-c is linked to any of the sites 10-1 to 10-n asynchronously as follows.

(1) The VoIP unit 13-c encodes an audio signal indicating an audio signal arriving at the microphone 12-c, and generates a sequence of VoIP packets including a sequence of instantaneous values of the audio signal in a predetermined format (see FIG. 2 (1)).

(2) The GPS corresponding unit 14-c calculates an absolute time by applying a predetermined satellite navigation to a radio signal arriving at the site 10-c from a GPS satellite (not shown) (FIG. 2 (2)). As for the absolute time calculated in this way, the time at which each VoIP packet is generated is indicated with sufficient accuracy at the maximum frequency at which the VoIP packet is generated. Any object and procedure may be used.

(3) The VoIP unit 13-c arranges the absolute time in a predetermined field of each VoIP packet included in the above-described VoIP packet sequence (FIG. 2 (3)). Hereinafter, a VoIP packet in which such an absolute time is arranged will be referred to as “[VoIP packet]”.

(4) The VoIP unit 13-c transmits the sequence of the [VoIP packet] (FIG. 2 (4)) to the server 30 via the router 11-c and the Internet 20.
The personal computer 15-c has a function of appropriately accessing the server 30 and other communication devices and servers via the router 11-c and the Internet 20, for example, a predetermined function related to maintenance and operation of the site 10-c. Fulfill.

  On the other hand, the server 30 takes in a sequence of individual [VoIP packets] transferred from the sites 10-1 to 10-n via the Internet 20, and transmits the respective source sites (sites 10-1 to 10-n). A database is constructed by sorting in order of absolute time arranged in the above-mentioned predetermined field every), and arranged in a predetermined storage area (not on the main memory but on the external storage device) (FIG. 2 (5)).

  In such a database, the sequence of instantaneous values of the audio signal that has arrived at the microphone 12-c is aligned on the time axis by being associated with the absolute time at which the audio signal has arrived, and for each source site. It is integrated in correspondence with.

  Moreover, even if the sites 10-1 to 10-n are located at geographically separated points, these instantaneous values are the absolute times obtained with high accuracy based on the satellite navigation. Stable in order.

  Therefore, in the server 30, even if the sites 10-1 to 10-n are widely distributed geographically or are located at remote points, high accuracy and responsiveness that cannot be achieved by the conventional example. With stability, the following various processes can be performed in real time (FIG. 2 (6)).

(1) “Blind sound source separation” that separates a plurality of sound waves that have arrived through different propagation paths from a plurality of different sound sources whose locations are unknown to the microphone 12-c.
(2) “Noise reduction” achieved by subtracting the noise separated using the “blind sound source separation” from the noise-mixed sound wave arriving at the microphone 12-c.

(3) Since the interval between the microphones 12-1 to 12-n is set to be equal to or more than half the wavelength of the incoming sound wave, the correlation between the sound waves coming to these microphones 12-1 to 12-n Is set to a sufficiently low level, and "diversity" is realized based on one of the following methods:

(3-1) “Space Diversity” applied to the measurement of sound waves that correspond to multiple sites among sites 10-1 to 10-n

(3-2) “Selective diversity” in which a specific site having a maximum level of sound waves (exceeding a predetermined threshold) among the sites 10-1 to 10-n is applied to the sound wave measurement.

(3-3) “Maximum ratio synthesis” in which the phases of sound waves arriving at a plurality of sites in which the level of the corresponding sound wave exceeds a predetermined threshold among the sites 10-1 to 10-n are synthesized.

(4) These factors are obtained by varying the coefficients by which the sound waves individually arriving at the sites 10-1 to 10-n (microphones 12-1 to 12-n) are multiplied in a complex space based on a predetermined algorithm. "Beam forming" or "null forming" that realizes the overall directivity (gain and interference reduction) by the microphones 12-1 to 12-n in a desired form.

(5) Estimation and detection of sound wave sources observed by microphones 12-1 to 12-n arranged in a wide area or arranged in large numbers

(6) Recording in a form and format suitable for analysis of sound waves observed by microphones 12-1 to 12-n arranged in a wide area or arranged in large numbers

  In the present embodiment, the “absolute time” is not limited to a time that arrives at the GPS corresponding unit 14-c from a GPS satellite and is simply obtained in real time based on a radio signal. For example, the “absolute time” is converted into a VoIP packet by a VoIP unit. The time when the audio signal to be incorporated is captured by the microphone 12-c may be used.

  Also, the “absolute time” does not have to be included for each VoIP packet, and a predetermined number of VoIPs can be provided if desired signal processing accuracy and responsiveness to be applied to a series of VoIP packets are ensured. Each packet sequence may be associated with each other and delivered to the server 30.

  Furthermore, such “absolute time” does not necessarily have to be arranged on the VoIP packet, and may be delivered to the server 30 as a packet different from the VoIP packet, for example.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the sites 10-1 to 10-n are widely distributed geographically. However, in the present invention, these sites 10-1 to 10-n are the same buildings or The same applies to the case of being located on the floor.

Further, in the present embodiment, the sequence of the [VoIP packet] between the sites 10-1 to 10-n and the server 30 is performed via the Internet 20.
However, such delivery is not limited to a computer network, and may be performed based on any communication method or transmission method.

  In the present embodiment, the processing described above includes “blind sound source separation”, “noise reduction”, “diversity”, “space diversity”, “selective diversity”, “maximum ratio combining”, “beamforming”, “ Null forming ”, estimation and detection of sound wave source, recording in a form and format suitable for sound wave analysis, estimation of direction of arrival that can be applied to various wave signals other than voice, etc. Any processing may be used.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sequence of instantaneous values of sound waves that have arrived at the microphone 12-c is not a sequence of VoIP packets, but is a server as a voice file in a predetermined format such as WAV format, MP3 format, or WMA format. 30 may be delivered.

  In this embodiment, a sequence of VoIP packets is transmitted based on RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol), but a sequence of instantaneous values of sound waves arriving at the microphone 12-c is obtained with desired accuracy and real-time characteristics. If transmission is possible, transmission may be performed based on any communication procedure.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the “absolute time” does not have to be obtained based on satellite navigation applied to a radio signal arriving from a GPS satellite. The time obtained by using satellite navigation or standard radio waves adapted to the navigation satellite, or the time given by the atomic clock individually provided at the site 10-c may be substituted.

  Further, the present invention makes it possible to perform desired signal processing in a lump by sorting wave signals arriving at a plurality of geographically or physically separated sites in order of time series. For example, a suitable site is installed in a place where there is little noise to be excluded from such a signal processing target (not limited to a point on the earth, but may be on a geosynchronous orbit or on a planet or satellite) Thus, the accuracy and reliability of the signal processing can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, since a plurality of sites are installed at positions that are physically separated from each other, similarly to a radio telescope, the transmission capacity, real-time performance, and reliability between these sites and the server 30 are improved. It is possible to realize signal processing with a high resolution up to the local limit within a range of such limits.

In the present embodiment, the instantaneous value of the voice signal arriving at the microphone 12-c is arranged in the VoIP packet sequence delivered to the server 30 via the Internet 20.
However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, instead of the instantaneous value of the audio signal, a sequence of instantaneous values of the wave signal generated by an oscillator or the like replacing the microphone 12-c is included in the VoIP packet. It may be arranged.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various configurations can be made within the scope of the present invention, and any improvement may be applied to all or some of the components.

10 Site 11 Router 12 Microphone 13 VoIP unit 14 GPS compatible part 15 Personal computer (PC)
20 Internet 30 server

Claims (5)

Wave signal acquisition means for generating or observing a wave signal;
The absolute time at which the wave signal is generated or observed and indicates the time or period and the accuracy of the processing to be performed on the wave signal can be ensured is associated with the sequence of instantaneous values of the wave signal A wave signal distribution device comprising: distribution means for distributing to a host device. The wave signal distribution device according to claim 1,
The wave signal is
The wave signal distribution device is a sound wave observed by the wave signal distribution device. In the wave signal distribution apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The absolute time is
A wave signal distribution device characterized in that the time is obtained based on satellite navigation or radio navigation. Sorting means for sorting a sequence of instantaneous values of wave signals individually delivered in correspondence with absolute time from a plurality of sites physically or geographically separated, in order of the absolute time;
A signal processing device comprising: signal processing means for performing predetermined processing on a sequence of instantaneous values of wave signals delivered from the plurality of sites and sorted in the order of the absolute times. The signal processing device according to claim 4,
The predetermined process is:
A signal processing apparatus characterized by being all or part of blind sound source separation, noise reduction, spatial diversity, signal source estimation, acoustic detection, encryption, and recording.