JP4309013B2 - Digital broadcast program transmission system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital broadcast program transmission system for transmitting a digital broadcast program information signal based on a composition time in a digital broadcast system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In analog broadcasting that has been conventionally performed, a broadcasting system uses a program transmission system as shown in FIG.
[0003]
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 11 denotes a switcher that selectively derives an arbitrary program information signal to be broadcast from a plurality of program information signals in accordance with a switching instruction given from an automatic program transmission control unit (hereinafter referred to as APC) 12. It is. The APC 12 causes the switcher 11 to connect an arbitrary input system and output system according to the composition control data given from the data server 13.
[0004]
By the way, in recent years, the practical use of satellite digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital broadcasting has been promoted. In these digital broadcasting, video signal encoding and synchronization using MPEG2 (Moving Picture Coding Experts Group 2) encoding method, Studio equipment that performs signal processing such as multiplexing is indispensable.
[0005]
Therefore, in digital broadcasting, it is considered to use a digital broadcast program transmission system as shown in FIG.
[0006]
That is, the digital broadcast program transmission system is a switcher 21 as a transmission system for a program information signal to be broadcast as a digital broadcast signal, and an encoder (hereinafter referred to as ENC) 22 that encodes the program information signal output from the switcher 21. And a multiplexer (hereinafter referred to as MUX) 23 that multiplexes the encoded signal encoded by ENC 22 with another encoded signal, and the multiplexed signal generated by MUX 23 is modulated into a digital broadcast signal and transmitted. And a modulator 24.
[0007]
Also, as a control system, APC 25 that switches program information to switcher 21 based on provided composition control data, and ENC 22 encoding process and MUX 23 multiplexing process are controlled based on provided composition control data. And an encoding multiplex control unit (hereinafter referred to as EMC) 26.
[0008]
By the way, in the digital broadcast program transmission system, it is necessary to perform the program information signal transmission control processing by the APC 25 and the program information signal transmission control processing by the EMC 26 in real time so that the program information signal is correctly transmitted at the composition time. is there. For this reason, conventionally, the APC 25 and the EMC 26 are connected via the Ethernet 27, and the composition control data including the control time and the control content is passed from the APC 25 to the EMC 26 in advance via the Ethernet 27, and the ENC 22 is set at the composition time in the EMC 26. Measures are taken so that the MUX 23 can be controlled.
[0009]
However, when a sudden event such as a change in the broadcast time of the program information signal on the switcher 21 side, a change in the program content, a manual interruption such as TAKE occurs, the EMC 26 changes the broadcast time of the program information signal on the switcher 21 side. It is difficult to cope with manual interruption such as TAKE.
[0010]
In order to solve this, the design of the processor of the APC 25 must be changed to a processor designed to increase the transfer speed of the composition control data, and the cost will be greatly increased.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the digital broadcasting program transmission system that has been conventionally considered, when there is a change in the broadcast time of the program information signal or a manual interruption such as TAKE by the switcher, EMC performs control processing corresponding to this in real time. It has the problem that it is difficult to do.
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast program transmission system capable of performing transmission control of program information signals in real time in response to a change in broadcast time of program information signals to be broadcast and interruption of program information signals. .
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A digital broadcast program transmission system according to the present invention is a digital broadcast program transmission system that transmits a digital broadcast program information signal based on a composition time. A plurality of program information that sequentially processes a program information signal to be transmitted as a digital broadcast signal A first program information transmission control unit that controls processing of a program information signal based on a given organization control signal for a processing unit and a program information processing unit at the forefront among the plurality of program information processing units; A second program information transmission control unit for controlling processing of a program information signal based on a given organization control signal for at least a part of the program information processing unit other than the first stage; and a first program information transmission control unit And a first network used for transferring a first signal for which real-time property is required, and a first network independent of the first network A second network used for connecting a group information transmission control unit and a second program information transmission control unit and transferring a second signal that does not require real-time characteristics compared to the first signal; An inter-network connection unit having a function of directly connecting the first network and the second program information transmission control unit, and performing a conversion from the first signal to the second signal and vice versa. And the first program information transmission control unit transfers the composition control signal separately provided to the second program information transmission control unit, the first network and the inter-network connection unit, or the second network. This is done selectively.
[0014]
The composition control signal transferred from the first program information transmission control unit to the second program information transmission control unit via the second network is at least a part of the program information contents scheduled to be broadcast at the composition time. The composition control signal transferred via the first network and the inter-network connection unit is an information signal related to program information contents at the time of change or interruption.
[0015]
According to this configuration, the information signal related to the content of the program information scheduled to be broadcast at the scheduled time is transferred in advance from the first program information transmission control unit to the second program information transmission control unit via the second network. When the broadcast time is changed or interrupted, the information signal related to the program information content at the time of change or interruption from the first program information transmission control unit to the second program information transmission control unit is connected between the first network and the network. The second program information transmission control unit is changed or interrupted based on the organization control signal relating to the program information content at the time of change or interruption converted at the inter-network connection unit for the second network transfer. The program information processing unit, that is, the encoding unit and the multiplexing unit, in real time It becomes so perform the transmission control of the broadcast signal. In other words, the organization control signal related to the program information content at the time of change or interruption is transferred over a dedicated network separately from the signal having sufficient real-time properties such as the organization control signal related to the program information content scheduled to be broadcast, In order to transfer the required composition control signal to the second program information transmission control unit, the first program information transmission control unit can use the first network and the inter-network connection unit to increase the data transfer speed. To achieve.
[0016]
For this reason, it can sufficiently handle the transfer processing of signals with a large amount of data such as normal knitting control signals and the transfer processing of signals requiring real-time properties such as knitting control signals at the time of change or interruption, and data transfer The processing associated with the increase in speed can be shared by the first program information transmission control unit, the first network, and the inter-network connection unit, thereby reducing the time required for processing to be performed by the first program information transmission control unit. It is possible to shorten the program information signal to be broadcast, and to improve the real-time property of the change process or interrupt process.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast program transmission system according to the present invention.
The digital broadcast program transmission system in FIG. 1 is a switcher 101 that selectively outputs any one of a plurality of program information signals in accordance with a given switching instruction as a transmission system for program information signals to be broadcast as digital broadcast signals. The ENC 102 that encodes the program information signal output from the switcher 101, the MUX 103 that multiplexes the encoded signal encoded by the ENC 102 with other program information signals, and the multiplexed signal generated by the MUX 103. And a modulator 104 that modulates the digital broadcast signal to be sent to the machine. Examples of the program information signal input to the switcher 101 include an HDTV (High Definition TV) signal and an SDTV (Standard Definition TV) signal edited in different editing rooms.
[0018]
Further, as a control system, the sub-studio node 105 and the APC operation node 106 that generate a composition control signal necessary for correctly transmitting the program information signal at the composition time, and the sub-studio node 105 and the APC operation node 106 are given. An APC 107 that controls the program information switching process for the switcher 101 based on the composition control signal, and an EMC 109 that controls the encoding process of the ENC 102 and the multiplexing process of the MUX 103 based on the composition control signal given from the APC 107 via the Ethernet 108. And.
[0019]
The APC 107 connects an arbitrary input / output system to the switcher 101 in accordance with a composition control signal from the sub studio node 105 and the APC operation node 106. At this time, when switching the input system connected to the output system, the signal phase of the program information signal of the switching source and the signal phase of the program information signal of the switching destination are determined, and each program information signal is determined based on the determination result. The switching control of the switcher 101 is performed after matching the input timing to the switcher 101.
[0020]
Further, the EMC 109 causes the MUX 103 to multiplex program information signals of an arbitrary plurality of input systems according to the organization control signal from the APC 107. At this time, it is determined whether or not the ENC 102 is connected to the input side of the MUX 103. When the ENC 102 is connected, the encoding parameter designated to the ENC 102 is analyzed from the composition control signal, and the ENC 102 is analyzed based on the analysis result. The encoding bit rate and GOP (group of picture) pattern parameters are set.
[0021]
By the way, in this embodiment, as a means for performing an interrupt process for a program information signal in real time, in addition to the Ethernet 108, a SECNET (Studio Equipment Control Network) 110 signal for which real-time property is required is transferred. A network is provided, and the APC 107 and the EMC 109 are connected via the Ethernet 108 and the SECNET 110. Note that an EMC gateway 111 is interposed between the SECNET 110 and the EMC 109. The EMC gateway 111 has a function of converting a signal for SECNET transfer into a signal for Ethernet transfer and vice versa.
[0022]
In addition, a sub studio node 105, an APC operation node 106, and a switcher 101 are connected to the SECNET 110.
[0023]
The APC 107 includes an SCP (Scheduling and Control Processor) 1071 and an RTP (Real Time Processor) 1072. The SCP 1071 has a communication function with the Ethernet 108, and the RTP 1072 has a communication function with the SECNET 110. The RTP 1072 outputs a control signal corresponding to the corresponding time on the SECNET 110 based on the CDT (Control Data Table) from the SCP 1071. The CDT describes control time and control contents.
[0024]
Next, a program information signal transmission control operation for the EMC 109 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the program information signal transmission control operation procedure at the normal time and interrupt time, and FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing the data transfer procedure between the APC 107 and the EMC 109 at that time. These are the flowcharts which show the operation | movement procedure and content in APC107 at that time.
[0025]
First, when the RTP 1072 of the APC 107 receives a TAKE interrupt from the sub studio node 105 or the APC operation node 106 at the NEXT untime, the RTP 1072 is finalized at the time when the NEXT event record in the CDT is received, and is shown in FIG. A NEXT record like this is found, its untimed time is fixed at the time when the interrupt is accepted, and all event control times of the NEXT record are rewritten as shown in FIG. 2A and 2B, V1 indicates one program, and L1 indicates a program broadcast after V1.
[0026]
After rewriting all the control times, the RTP 1072 sends the OA time of the event due to the interrupt to the EMC gateway 111 as a TAKE request as shown in FIG. When the EMC gateway 111 receives a TAKE request from the SECNET 110, it returns control data to the EMC 109 by returning ACK (response) data to the RTP 1072 and notifying the EMC 109 of OA time 3 seconds after receiving the TAKE request. I try to do it. In this case, the EMC gateway 111 converts the TAKE request transferred via the SECNET 110 into an Ethernet packet, that is, an EMC control command, and transfers it to the EMC 109 via TCP / IP.
[0027]
Thereafter, the EMC 109 returns ACK data to the EMC gateway 111 and performs control at the time notified to the ENC 102 and the MUX 103.
[0028]
Next, a detailed operation of the APC 107 until the APC 107 sends a TAKE request to the EMC gateway 111 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0029]
That is, when the RTP 1072 receives a TAKE request from the sub-studio node 105 or the APC operation node 106 via the SECNET 110 (step 4a), the RTP 1072 refers to the CDT of the SCP 1071 (step 4b) and determines whether or not TAKE can be performed based on the reference result. (4c). If it is determined that TAKE is possible (YES), the RTP 1072 expands the command into an encoder control TAKE request and a PSI / SI control TAKE request (step 4d), and transmits the command to the EMC gateway 111 ( Step 4e).
[0030]
If it is determined in step 4c that TAKE is not possible (NO), the contents of the NEXT record in the CDT are maintained as they are.
[0031]
As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the information signal related to the program information content scheduled to be broadcast from the APC 107 to the EMC 109 at the scheduled time is transferred in advance via the Ethernet 108, and when an interrupt such as TAKE is interrupted, the APC 107 to the EMC 109 A TAKE request regarding the program information content at the time of interruption is transferred via the SECNET 110 and the EMC gateway 111. The EMC 109 can immediately grasp the interrupt based on the EMC control command related to the program information content at the time of the interrupt converted into the Ethernet packet by the EMC gateway 111, and based on the grasp result, the ENC 102 and the MUX 103 in real time. Program information signal transmission control can be performed.
[0032]
That is, the organization control signal related to the program information content at the time of interruption, that is, the TAKE request is transferred by the dedicated SECNET 110 separately from the signal having sufficient real time property such as the organization control signal related to the program information content scheduled to be broadcast. In order to transfer the required TAKE request to the EMC 109, the SECNET 110 and the EMC gateway 111 can be used instead of the SECNET 110 to accelerate the data transfer to be executed by the APC 107.
[0033]
For this reason, it can sufficiently cope with the transfer processing of signals with a large amount of data such as normal composition control signals and the transfer processing of signals that require real-time properties such as TAKE requests at the time of interruption, and also at high speed of data transfer Since the accompanying processing can be shared by the APC 107, the SECNET 110, and the EMC gateway 111, the time required for the processing that should originally be handled by the APC 107 can be greatly reduced, and the real-time property of the interrupt processing for the program information signal to be broadcast can be improved. it can.
[0034]
In the above embodiment, the interrupt processing by TAKE has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a time change or content change of a program information signal to be broadcast occurs on the switcher 101 side. Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the structure from the switcher 101 to the modulator 104 as a program information processing part, you may make it apply another program information processing part. In addition, the system type and configuration, the configuration of APC, EMC and EMC gateway, the type of TAKE request, the transfer procedure, and the like can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a digital broadcast program transmission system capable of performing real-time control of program information signal transmission in response to a change in broadcast time of a program information signal to be broadcast and interruption of the program information signal is provided. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast program transmission system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a time chart showing a program information signal transmission control operation procedure at normal time and interrupt time in the system shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a sequence diagram showing a data transfer procedure between APC and EMC in the system shown in FIG.
4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure and contents in APC of the system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional analog broadcast program transmission system.
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a digital broadcast program transmission system conceived in the related art.
[Explanation of symbols]
11, 21, 101 ... switcher,
12, 25, 107 ... automatic program transmission control unit (APC),
13 ... Data server,
22, 102 ... Encoder (ENC),
23, 103 ... multiplexer (MUX),
24, 104 ... modulator,
26, 109 ... Encoding multiplex control unit (EMC),
105 ... Sub studio node,
106 ... APC operation node,
108 ... Ethernet,
110 ... SECNET,
111 ... EMC gateway.

Claims (1)

In a digital broadcast program transmission system that transmits a digital broadcast program information signal based on the organization time,
A program information output switching unit that selectively outputs any one of a plurality of program information signals;
An encoding unit for encoding the program information signal output from the program information output switching unit;
A multiplexing unit that multiplexes the encoded signal encoded by the encoding unit with other signals;
A modulation unit that modulates and transmits the multiplexed signal generated by the multiplexing unit to the digital broadcast signal;
An operation unit for generating a composition control signal for correctly sending the program information signal at a composition time;
It is connected to the operating unit via a first network that is used to transfer a first signal real-time is required, to said program information output switching unit, supplied from the operating unit A first program information transmission control unit for controlling the program information switching process based on the organization control signal;
It is connected to the front Stories second via said network a first program information transmission control unit that is used to transfer the second signal real time is not required in comparison with the first signal, the first A second program information transmission control unit for controlling the encoding process of the encoding unit and the multiplexing process of the multiplexing unit based on the organization control signal given from the program information transmission control unit;
The first network and the second program information transmission control unit are connected via the second network to perform conversion from the first signal to the second signal and vice versa. An inter-network connection unit having a function,
The first program information transmission control unit sends a second program information transmission control via the second network to the organization control signal given from the operation unit and related to the program information content scheduled to be broadcast at the organization time. When the program information content change request or the interrupt request related to the program information content is received from the operation unit in advance, a composition control signal related to the program information content at the time of change or interrupt is transmitted to the first network. A digital broadcast program transmission system for transferring to the second program information transmission control unit via the inter-network connection unit and the second network .

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