JP4181383B2 - Terrestrial digital broadcasting network system, packet conversion processing device, control / monitor information transmission method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a terrestrial digital broadcasting network system that performs multistage relay transmission of terrestrial digital broadcasting, and more particularly to an STL / TTL transmission packet structure, a packet conversion processing device, and a control / monitor information transmission method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In Japan, the operation of digital terrestrial broadcasting is scheduled to start recently. In relay transmission in this terrestrial digital broadcasting, unlike conventional analog broadcasting, broadcast waves are not used, but STL (Studio to Transmitter Link) or TTL (Transmitter to Transmitter) using a separate line such as a microwave line or an optical line. Multi-stage relay is assumed using (Link).
[0003]
In such a broadcast network system that performs multi-stage relay transmission, studies on the format structure between TS (Transport Stream) packets and STL / TTL transmission packets are currently underway. In this examination content, how to transmit control / monitoring information to the relay stage is an issue. At the present stage, TS-STL / TTL transmission has been studied in units of one line (one-sided), but the specification of simultaneous transmission of control / monitoring information in multistage relay is an issue.
[0004]
That is, in the station that performs the relay, the received STL / TTL transmission packet must be once converted into the broadcast TS packet format, and the control / monitoring information must be extracted once. For this reason, when sending control monitoring information to a relay station in the subsequent stage, it is necessary to superimpose control / monitoring information again when converting a broadcast TS packet into a TTL transmission packet. Therefore, in the control monitoring information transmission in units of one line, the delay time due to the re-superimposition process is accumulated as the number of relay stages increases.
[0005]
In this specification, “relay station” means a station that relays and transmits information. For example, not only the relationship between a master station and a slave station but also a relay station that relays information between parent stations. Shall be included.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when performing multistage relay transmission of digital terrestrial broadcasting, control / monitoring information for any relay stage is simultaneously transmitted while suppressing processing delay time in the relay stage. An object of the present invention is to provide a terrestrial digital broadcasting network system, an STL / TTL transmission packet structure, a packet conversion processing device, and a control / monitor information transmission method.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the digital terrestrial broadcasting network system according to the present invention converts a broadcast TS (Transport Stream) packet into a transmission packet defined by STL (Studio to Transmitter Link) / TTL (Transmitter to Transmitter Link). Thus, the present invention is applied to a system that performs multi-stage relay by transmission between a plurality of stations connected by an STL / TTL line.
[0008]
In the transmission packet, a specific area to which control / monitor information for an arbitrary station is assigned is defined in advance.
[0009]
The plurality of stations receive and demodulate a transmission packet from the STL / TTL line, and control / monitoring information superimposed on the specific area from the transmission packet demodulated by the reception processing unit. In addition to reading, the control / monitoring information is assigned to a predetermined AC (Aux Channel) area in a TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control) area defined by the broadcast TS packet, and the transmission packet is converted into a broadcast TS packet. 1 packet converting means.
[0010]
In addition, at least a relay station among the plurality of stations receives a broadcast TS packet output from the first packet conversion means, and performs control / monitoring assigned to a predetermined AC area in the TMCC area. Second packet converting means for allocating information to the specific area and converting the information into the transmission packet; and transmission processing means for modulating the output of the second packet converting means and sending it to the STL / TTL line. Features.
[0011]
The specific area defined in the transmission packet is assigned simultaneously or selectively to the control and monitoring information for simultaneous use and individual use, and the station receiving the transmission packet from the STL / TTL line The control information and the monitoring information for simultaneous use and individual use superimposed on the specific area are read out.
[0012]
The station that transmits the transmission packet to the STL / TTL line replaces individual control / monitoring information assigned to the specific area as necessary when converting the broadcast TS packet into a transmission packet. And
[0013]
The control / monitoring information is at least one of transmitter on / off control, transmission system switching, transmission delay time adjustment, modulator parameter, TTL transmission system switching, TTL transmitter and receiver reset, reception system switching, or status (Status) information.
[0014]
That is, in the terrestrial digital broadcast network system according to the present invention, control / monitoring information is allocated to the STL / TTL transmission packet and transmitted to the subsequent stage as it is or after replacement, and the relay station at the subsequent stage transmits the control / monitoring information in the received transmission packet. The monitoring information is transferred to the AC area superimposed on the dummy byte in the broadcast TS packet, and at the same time, the control information is input to the controlled device in the station. Further, the above-mentioned broadcast TS packet is again converted into a transmission packet and transmitted to the relay station at the subsequent stage.
[0015]
As a result, simultaneous and individual control to each broadcast relay station, TTL relay station, etc. on a broadcast network connected in multiple stages by STL / TTL (including wireless and optical transmission), which was impossible in the past, with low delay Can be done. For example, it is possible to perform control and monitoring at the same time and in units of individual stations from a performance place represented by operation control of a broadcast transmitter and delay adjustment control of radio wave emission timing. Furthermore, control / monitoring information from the preceding stage to the succeeding relay station can be transmitted by replacement or the like. In that case, by transmitting the status information of the own station including the information up to the previous stage to the relay station in the subsequent stage, it is possible to collect and transmit the monitoring information.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
First, the relationship between the broadcast TS packet used for the current intra-station transmission and the STL / TTL transmission packet according to the present invention will be described.
[0018]
FIG. 1A shows the format structure of a broadcast TS packet used in intra-station transmission, and FIG. 1B shows the format structure of a transmission packet used in inter-station transmission using an STL / TTL line.
[0019]
The broadcast TS packet (204 bytes) includes a program TS storage area (188 bytes), a TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control) storage area (8 bytes), and a parity storage area (8 bytes). In the TMCC storage area, four AC (Aux Channel) areas AC1 to AC4 for storing arbitrary control information in addition to basic information are defined.
[0020]
On the other hand, the STL / TTL transmission packet (210 bytes) according to the present invention includes a waveform equalization signal storage area (1 byte), a program TS storage area (188 bytes), a TMCC storage area (5 bytes), and arbitrary additions. It is defined that two CC (Control Channel) storage areas CC1 and CC2 for storing information and a parity storage area are provided. In the TMCC storage area, in addition to basic information, an AC1 area (1 byte) assigned to the AC1 area of the broadcast TS packet is defined. Note that CC (Control Channel) is defined for convenience of explanation of the present invention, and the name may be changed in the future.
[0021]
The AC1 area in the TMCC in the transmission packet can be used, for example, for transmission of control / monitoring information (hereinafter referred to as simultaneous information) for controlling and monitoring the relay stages simultaneously. In this case, the simultaneous information stored in the AC1 area in the TMCC of the transmission packet is automatically assigned to the AC1 area in the TMCC area when converted into the broadcast TS packet, and is converted into the transmission packet after intra-station transmission. Since it is automatically assigned and transmitted to the AC1 area in TMCC in the transmission packet, it is automatically distributed to all the relay stages, and there is no need to re-superimpose at each relay stage.
[0022]
The CC1 and CC2 areas in the transmission packet can be used for transmission of control / monitoring information (hereinafter, individual information) for individually controlling / monitoring any relay stage, for example. In this case, individual information can be replaced in order to perform control and monitoring of the next stage at each relay stage.
[0023]
The CC1 and CC2 areas of the transmission packet are arbitrary, and the number and usage method are also arbitrary. For example, it is conceivable that different information is assigned to each area, and a plurality of pieces of information are used in a time division manner for one area. Moreover, the area information of CC1 and CC2 may be automatically assigned to predetermined areas AC2 to AC4 existing in the TMCC storage area of the broadcast TS packet at each relay stage.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a relay station using the TS-STL / TTL packet.
[0025]
In FIG. 2, a transmission packet (RF) from the STL / TTL line received by the receiving antenna 11 is received by the receiving unit 12, converted into an intermediate frequency (IF), sent to the demodulating unit 13, and demodulated. The transmission packet demodulated here is sent to the reception side packet conversion unit 14.
[0026]
The receiving side packet converting unit 14 converts the transmission packet having the format shown in FIG. 1B into a broadcast TS packet having the format shown in FIG. At this time, it is assumed that the control / monitoring information superimposed on the AC1, CC1, and CC2 areas of the transmission packet is read out and sent to the controlled device 15 to appropriately perform control / monitoring processing. Also, the control / monitor information superposed on the AC1, CC1, and CC2 areas of the transmission packet is directly assigned to the AC1 to AC3 areas provided in the TMCC storage area of the broadcast TS packet.
[0027]
The broadcast TS packet converted as described above is sent to the transmission side packet conversion unit 16 through the intra-station transmission path. In the transmission side packet conversion unit 16, the broadcast TS packet is converted into a transmission packet format, contrary to the reception side. At this time, the control / monitoring information stored in the AC1 area in the TMCC storage area of the broadcast TS packet is automatically assigned to the AC1 area of the transmission packet. The control / monitoring information stored in the other AC2 and AC3 areas is assigned to the CC1 and CC2 areas of the transmission packet as necessary, and stored in place of the other control / monitoring information in some cases.
[0028]
The transmission packet converted as described above is modulated by the modulation unit 17 to be an IF band transmission packet, frequency-converted to the RF band by the transmission unit 18, and power amplified, and transmitted from the transmission antenna 19 to the subsequent relay station. Are sent out.
[0029]
According to the above configuration, when performing simultaneous control and monitoring for each relay station, by superimposing the simultaneous information on the AC1 area of the transmission packet, it is automatically assigned to the broadcast TS in each relay station. Since it is placed in the AC1 area of the transmission packet, it is possible to read out the simultaneous information at each relay station and appropriately control and monitor. Further, when it is desired to control / monitor an arbitrary relay station, it can be realized by using the CC1 and CC2 areas of the transmission packet. In this case, it is not necessary to once extract retransmission information when converting into a broadcast TS packet in the station, and to re-superimpose when converting into a transmission packet, so a low delay can be realized.
[0030]
A specific operation example will be described below.
[0031]
FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a digital terrestrial broadcasting network system to which the present invention is applied. Here, digital terrestrial broadcasting programs are arranged in the order of a performance station A, a transmitting station B, an intermediate relay station C, and a final relay station D. The description will be made assuming that the transmission is relayed.
[0032]
In the performing place A, the STL transmitter A1 converts the broadcast TS packet carrying the broadcast program into an STL transmission packet having the above-described format and transmits it to the transmitting station B through the STL line. At the time of packet conversion, control / monitoring information transmitted simultaneously to each station is placed on the AC1 area in the TMCC area of the transmission packet. Here, the control information is assumed to be on / off control, system switching, delay time control, etc. with respect to the broadcast transmitter of each relay station, and the monitoring information is alarm information (here defined as one of status information). Etc. are assumed.
[0033]
At the transmitting station B, the STL receiver B1 receives and demodulates the STL transmission packet from the playing station A, converts it into a broadcast TS packet, and outputs it to the transmission path within the transmitting station. At this time, the control / monitoring information is read from the AC1 area in the TMCC of the STL transmission packet and given to the transmission control device (corresponding to the controlled device in FIG. 2) B2, and remote control / monitoring from the performance A side is executed Make it possible. In addition, when converting an STL transmission packet into a broadcast TS packet, control / monitoring information placed in the AC1 area in the TMCC of the STL transmission packet is automatically assigned to the AC1 area in the TMCC in the broadcast TS packet.
[0034]
At the transmitting station B, the TTL transmitter B3 converts the broadcast TS packet into a TTL transmission packet and transmits it to the relay station C at the subsequent stage through the TTL line. At the time of the packet conversion, control / monitoring information placed in the AC1 area of the TMCC area of the broadcast TS packet is automatically assigned to the AC1 area in the TMCC of the TTL transmission packet. Also, alarm information is placed in the CC1 or CC2 area of the TTL transmission packet.
[0035]
In the intermediate relay station C, the TTL receiver C1 receives and demodulates the TTL transmission packet from the transmitting station B, converts it to a broadcast TS packet, and outputs it to the transmission path in the station. At this time, the control / monitoring information is read from the AC1 area in the TMCC of the TTL transmission packet, is given to the relay broadcaster (corresponding to the controlled device in FIG. 2) C2, and remote control / monitoring from the performance A side is executed. Make it possible. Also, when converting a TTL transmission packet into a broadcast TS packet, control / monitoring information carried in the AC1 area in TMCC of the TTL transmission packet is automatically assigned to the AC1 area in TMCC in the broadcast TS packet.
[0036]
In the intermediate relay station C, the TTL transmitter C3 converts the broadcast TS packet into a TTL transmission packet and transmits it to the subsequent relay station D through the TTL line. At the time of the packet conversion, control / monitoring information placed in the AC1 area in the TMCC of the broadcast TS packet is automatically assigned to the AC1 area in the TMCC of the TTL transmission packet. In the alarm monitoring device C4, the alarm information from the preceding stage is read from the CC1 or CC2 area of the received TTL transmission packet, and the alarm information in the CC1 or CC2 area of the transmission TTL transmission packet including the alarm information of the local station Change.
[0037]
In the final-stage relay station D, the TTL receiver D1 receives and demodulates the TTL transmission packet from the preceding-stage relay station C, converts it to a broadcast TS packet, and outputs it to the transmission path in the station. At this time, the control / monitoring information is read from the AC1 area in the TMCC of the TTL transmission packet, is given to the relay broadcaster (corresponding to the controlled device in FIG. 2) D2, and remote control / monitoring from the performance A side is executed. Make it possible. Further, when converting a TTL transmission packet into a broadcast TS packet, control / monitoring information carried on AC1 in the TMCC area of the TTL transmission packet is automatically assigned to the AC1 area in TMCC in the broadcast TS packet. Further, the alarm monitoring device D3 reads the alarm information from the previous stage from the CC1 or CC2 area of the received TTL transmission packet, and notifies the management station (not shown) through the telephone line including the alarm information of the own station. .
[0038]
According to the system configured as described above, it is possible to remotely control and monitor the performing station A to the transmitting station B and the relay stations C and D. In addition, it becomes possible to transmit alarm information to the subsequent stage while including the local station information in each station, thus enabling centralized monitoring.
[0039]
In the above embodiment, the control information is assumed to be on / off control, system switching, delay time control, etc. for the broadcast transmitter of each relay station, and alarm information is assumed as the monitoring information. Is also conceivable.
[0040]
First, as control information, various parameter control of the STL / TTL modulator, switching of the TTL transmission system, reset control of the TTL transmitter / receiver (you may specify how many seconds later to reset), reception system switching (of the TTL reception system) Switching and broadcast wave reception switching (the TTL control may be performed even when the broadcast wave is received)).
[0041]
Moreover, status information transmission trigger transmission can be considered as monitoring information. This is a technique of sending a trigger for instructing the subsequent station to transmit status information when the status cannot be grasped due to an abnormality in the telephone line when the relay station fails. That is, the relay station that has received the trigger superimposes the status information on the TTL transmission packet and sends it to the subsequent station. If the subsequent station can report an abnormality on another line such as a telephone line, it is possible to report to the management center via that line.
[0042]
Among the above examples, transmitter on / off control and simultaneous control and monitoring of transmission delay time adjustment must be dealt with individually in the telephone line, and are very difficult when there are many relay stages. Therefore, the control / monitoring information transmission method according to the present invention is extremely effective.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when performing multistage relay transmission of terrestrial digital broadcasting, it is possible to simultaneously transmit control / monitoring information for any relay stage while suppressing processing delay time in the relay stage. A digital broadcast network system, an STL / TTL transmission packet structure, a packet conversion processing device, and a control / monitor information transmission method can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a format structure of a broadcast TS packet used in intra-station transmission and a format structure of a transmission packet used in inter-station transmission using an STL / TTL line according to the present invention as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a relay station using the TS-STL / TTL packet described above.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terrestrial digital broadcast network system to which the present invention is applied as a specific operation example of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Reception antenna 12 ... Reception part 13 ... Demodulation part 14 ... Reception side packet conversion part 15 ... Controlled device 16 ... Transmission side packet conversion part 17 ... Modulation part 18 ... Transmission part 19 ... Transmission antenna A ... Performance place A1 ... STL Transmitter B ... Transmitting station B1 ... STL receiver B2 ... Transmission control device B3 ... TTL transmitter C ... Intermediate relay station C1 ... TTL receiver C2 ... Relay broadcaster C3 ... TTL transmitter C4 ... Alarm monitoring device D ... Final stage Relay station D1 TTL receiver D2 Relay broadcaster D3 Alarm monitoring device

Claims (16)

Broadcast TS (Transport Stream) packets are converted into transmission packets defined by STL (Studio to Transmitter Link) / TTL (Transmitter to Transmitter Link), and multistage relay is performed by transmission between multiple stations connected via STL / TTL lines In the terrestrial digital broadcasting network system
In the transmission packet, a specific area to which control / monitoring information for an arbitrary station is assigned in advance is defined,
Each of the plurality of stations
Reception processing means for receiving and demodulating a transmission packet from the STL / TTL line;
The control / monitoring information superimposed on the specific area is read out from the transmission packet demodulated by the reception processing means, and the control / monitoring information is defined by the broadcast TS packet (TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control)). A terrestrial digital broadcast network system comprising: first packet conversion means for assigning a predetermined AC (Aux Channel) area in the area and converting the transmission packet into a broadcast TS packet. Among the plurality of stations, at least a relay station is
A broadcast TS packet output from the first packet conversion means is input, and control / monitoring information assigned to a predetermined AC area in the TMCC area is assigned to the specific area and converted into the transmission packet. Two packet conversion means;
2. The digital terrestrial broadcasting network system according to claim 1, further comprising transmission processing means for modulating the output of the second packet converting means and sending it to the STL / TTL line. The specific area defined in the transmission packet shall be simultaneously or selectively assigned control and monitoring information for simultaneous use and individual use,
3. The digital terrestrial broadcasting network system according to claim 2, wherein the first packet conversion unit reads out simultaneous and individual control / monitoring information superimposed on the specific area from the transmission packet.   4. The second packet conversion means, when converting the broadcast TS packet into a transmission packet, replaces individual control / monitor information assigned to the specific area as necessary. Terrestrial digital broadcasting network system. 4. The digital terrestrial broadcasting network system according to claim 3 , wherein the specific area defined in the transmission packet includes a plurality of areas to which the simultaneous and individual control / monitoring information is assigned. 4. The digital terrestrial broadcasting network system according to claim 3 , wherein the simultaneous and individual control / monitoring information is allocated in time division to a specific area defined in the transmission packet. Broadcast TS (Transport Stream) packets are converted into transmission packets defined by STL (Studio to Transmitter Link) / TTL (Transmitter to Transmitter Link), and multistage relay is performed by transmission between multiple stations connected via STL / TTL lines Used in the in-station reception processing part of the digital terrestrial broadcasting network system
In the transmission packet, a specific area to which control / monitoring information for an arbitrary station is assigned in advance is defined,
TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control) area defined by the broadcast TS packet and reading the control / monitoring information superimposed on the specific area from the transmission packet demodulated in the station A packet converter for converting the transmission packet into a broadcast TS packet allocated to a predetermined AC (Aux Channel) area. Broadcast TS (Transport Stream) packets are converted into transmission packets defined by STL (Studio to Transmitter Link) / TTL (Transmitter to Transmitter Link), and multistage relay is performed by transmission between multiple stations connected via STL / TTL lines Used in the in-station transmission processing section of the digital terrestrial broadcasting network system
In the transmission packet, a specific area to which control / monitoring information for an arbitrary station is assigned in advance is defined,
When converting a transmission packet received and demodulated in the station into the broadcast TS packet, control and monitoring information superimposed on a specific area of the transmission packet is transmitted as TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration) defined by the broadcast TS packet. A broadcast TS packet assigned to a predetermined AC (Aux Channel) area in the control area, and control / monitoring information assigned to the predetermined AC area in the TMCC area is assigned to the specific area A packet conversion device for converting into a transmission packet. Broadcast TS (Transport Stream) packets are converted into transmission packets defined by STL (Studio to Transmitter Link) / TTL (Transmitter to Transmitter Link), and multistage relay is performed by transmission between multiple stations connected via STL / TTL lines In the control / monitoring information transmission method of the terrestrial digital broadcasting network system
When a specific area to which control / monitoring information for an arbitrary station is assigned in advance to the transmission packet is defined ,
The intra-station device of each of the plurality of stations is
A control / monitoring information reading process of reading control / monitoring information superimposed on the specific area from a transmission packet obtained by receiving and demodulating the transmission packet from the STL / TTL line ;
The transmission packet is assigned by assigning the control / monitoring information read in the control / monitoring information reading process to a predetermined AC (Aux Channel) area in a TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control) area defined by the broadcast TS packet. A broadcast TS packet conversion process for converting a packet into a broadcast TS packet ;
A transmission packet that receives a broadcast TS packet converted in the broadcast TS packet conversion process, assigns control / monitoring information assigned to a predetermined AC area in the TMCC area to the specific area, and converts it into the transmission packet The conversion process ,
A sending process for modulating the transmission packet converted in the transmission packet converting process and sending it to the STL / TTL line ;
A control / monitoring information transmission method for a digital terrestrial broadcasting network system , comprising : When specific or specific control / monitoring information is simultaneously or selectively assigned to the specific area defined in the transmission packet ,
The station that has received the transmission packet from the STL / TTL line reads out the simultaneous and individual control / monitoring information superimposed on the specific area from the transmission packet in the control / monitoring information reading process. 10. The method for transmitting control / monitoring information of a digital terrestrial broadcasting network system according to claim 9, wherein: The station that transmits the transmission packet to the STL / TTL line, when converting the broadcast TS packet into a transmission packet in the transmission packet conversion process, performs individual control / assignment to the specific area as necessary. The control / monitoring information transmission method of the digital terrestrial broadcasting network system according to claim 10 , wherein the monitoring information is replaced. 11. The control / monitoring information transmission of the digital terrestrial broadcasting network system according to claim 10 , wherein the specific area defined in the transmission packet has a plurality of areas to which the simultaneous and individual control / monitoring information is allocated. Method. 11. The control / monitoring information transmission of the digital terrestrial broadcasting network system according to claim 10 , wherein the simultaneous and individual control / monitoring information is allocated in a time division to a specific area defined in the transmission packet. Method.   The control / monitoring information is at least one of transmitter on / off control, transmission system switching, transmission delay time adjustment, modulator parameter, TTL transmission system switching, TTL transmitter and receiver reset, and reception system switching. The terrestrial digital broadcast network system according to claim 2.   The digital terrestrial broadcasting network system according to claim 2, wherein the control / monitoring information is status information. It said plurality of stations, reads the status information from the preceding stage from the received transmission packet, according to claim 15, characterized in that to replace the state information of the upper transmission transmission packet including state information of its own station to the status information Terrestrial digital broadcasting network system.

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