JP4911216B2 - IP video system, IP video switcher device, and IP video stream distribution method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an IP video switcher device for delivering an IP video stream of one channel or more to a decoder device that is a delivery destination and an IP video stream delivery in an IP video delivery system that delivers a video stream using an IP network. Regarding the method.

  There is an IP video distribution system that distributes a video stream using an IP network. For example, in an IP video distribution system for distributing an IP video stream of one channel (ch) or more to a decoder device which is a distribution destination, a video signal input from a camera device or the like to which a channel number or the like is assigned for identification. Using the encoder device, each is converted into an IP video (encoded and further converted into an IP packet) and transmitted onto the IP network. IP video continuous video signals (hereinafter referred to as IP video streams) sent over an IP network are sequentially selected and received by a decoder device as a delivery destination, reconstructed as a video stream, and appropriately monitored. By performing a decoding process for decoding into a video signal that can be output in (1), it is possible to display on a monitor device or the like connected to the video signal.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of an IP video distribution system. In an IP video distribution system 900 shown in FIG. 12, two decoder devices (Dec 5-1 and 5-2 in FIG. 12) that are 4 channel IP video streams are selected and received.

  In such an IP video distribution system for selecting and receiving an IP video stream of a desired channel by a decoder device, the IP video transmission specification has been standardized and the interoperability of the IP video decoder device has become relatively easy. It is popular.

  Regarding interoperability of decoder devices in IP video transmission or switching reception of a video stream, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for switching without disturbing a composite image when a switching request occurs for a digitally compressed video stream. Is described. Further, for example, Patent Document 2 describes a technique for minimizing image quality degradation to a minimum period and minimum when switching a plurality of video signals encoded by the MPEG method.

JP 2000-013788 A JP-A-10-191355 (paragraphs [0010]-[0017], FIG. 1)

  However, although the IP video transmission specifications have been standardized and the interoperability of the IP video decoder device has become relatively easy, the current situation is that the control specifications of each decoder device are not compatible with each other. For this reason, in a system that performs video switching in the decoder device, it is necessary to perform different control depending on the control specifications of the decoder device as indicated by the control device 92 in FIG.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a control instruction given to the decoder device. FIG. 13A shows an example of the channel designation command of the decoder device of company α. FIG. 13B shows an example of the channel designation command of the decoder device of β company. As described above, when the control specifications such as stream selection differ depending on the decoder device, it is necessary to incorporate a control logic for each device to be used for the control part by the control device 92 or the like.

  Also, in the camera device and the encoder device, the video stream and the control method are often different for each company, and it is difficult to use the equipment between different manufacturers. That is, depending on the combination of the camera device and the encoder device, there is a method that supports IP video conversion only for a method (E method in the example of FIG. 12) that is not supported by a decoder device that the system wants to use. In such a case, there has been a problem that an IP video stream converted into IP video by the camera device and the encoder device cannot be used in the system.

Here, the format of IP video transmission will be briefly described. Data used for IP video transmission is often configured by the following hierarchical structure.
・ Transmission method (IP header, etc.)
-Container section (MPEG2-PS, MP4, 3GPP, etc.)
・ Video data (codec: MPEG2, H.264, JPEG, etc.)

  The method focused on in the present invention indicates a container format applied to this container part. Some container formats are standardized and some are not. For example, in some container formats, information such as subtitles, chapters (captures), subtitles, and metadata is added along with the synchronization information necessary to replay the streaming. In some container formats, some of them are added. There is not. Also, the storage position and size of the video data are different.

  For example, if the device described in Patent Document 1 is provided in the preceding stage of the decoder device, it is possible to prevent the decoder device from performing switching control. However, since the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 only switches and joins two input streams in which switching position data is stored, a plurality of streams having different container specifications cannot be mixedly used. For example, it is not possible to input data in MPEG2-PS format to input 1 and MPET2-TS format to input 2 and output the data in MPEG2-PS format while switching between input 1 and input 2.

  In the device described in Patent Document 2, it is possible to convert and output a stream having a configuration different from the input by re-encoding inside, but only to change the GOP (Group of Picture) configuration. There is no function to change the format itself. Therefore, the problem of the system that performs switching in the decoder device is not completely solved in that the format of the input stream is limited.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to realize an IP video distribution system that distributes an IP video stream of 1ch or more to a decoder device as a distribution destination easily and at low cost. More specifically, it is an IP video distribution system that distributes an IP video stream of 1ch or more to a decoder device that is a distribution destination, and it is possible to mix decoder devices with different control methods for each product and to input them. It is an object of the present invention to provide an IP video distribution system capable of making a stream format independent of a decoder device, an IP video switcher for realizing the IP video distribution system, and an IP video stream distribution method.

  An IP video switcher device according to the present invention is an IP video switcher device for delivering an IP video stream of one or more channels to a decoder device as a delivery destination, and generates an IP video stream and transmits it on an IP network. One or more encoder devices assigned identification information as input channels, one or more decoder devices assigned identification information as output channels and receiving an IP video stream via the IP switcher device, respectively An IP video stream is received from an encoder device that is connected via an IP network and assigned to the input channel for each input channel, and a video container included in the received IP video stream is adopted as the video container. IP video switch from the specified method A stream input conversion unit for each channel that performs conversion processing for conversion to a unified method, which is a predetermined method commonly used for input channels in the apparatus, and a conversion process of the stream input conversion unit for each channel for each input channel. Switching processing means for setting an output channel for a unified video container that is a unified video container, and output channel setting for a unified video container for a certain input channel by the switching processing means For each output channel, the unified method video container is converted into a predetermined method defined in association with the output channel set from the unified method, and the IP network is directed to the decoder device associated with the output channel. A stream conversion delivery means for each channel to be sent out. To.

  An IP video distribution system according to the present invention is an IP video distribution system that distributes an IP video stream of one or more channels to a decoder device that is a distribution destination, and generates an IP video stream and transmits it to an IP network. An IP video switcher device connected via an IP network, and one or more encoder devices assigned identification information as an output channel, one or more decoder devices assigned identification information as output channels, The IP video switcher device receives an IP video stream from an encoder device to which a corresponding input channel is assigned for each input channel, and a video container included in the received IP video stream is used as the predetermined video container. In the IP video switcher device Stream input conversion means for each channel that performs conversion processing to convert to a unified system, which is a predetermined method commonly used for channels, and a unified method generated by the conversion processing of the stream input conversion means for each channel for each input channel Switching processing means for setting an output channel for a unified video container that is a video container, and when an output channel is set for a unified video container for a certain input channel by the switching processing means, for each output channel The unified method video container is converted into a predetermined method determined in association with the output channel set from the unified method, and is sent over the IP network to the decoder device associated with the output channel. A stream conversion delivery means for each channel, and the decoder device Characterized by receiving an IP video stream via the switcher apparatus.

  An IP video stream delivery method according to the present invention is an IP video stream delivery method for delivering an IP video stream of one or more channels to a decoder device that is a delivery destination. Between one or more encoder devices assigned identification information as an input channel and one or more decoder devices assigned identification information as an output channel. An IP video switcher device is provided, the IP video switcher device receives an IP video stream from an encoder device to which a corresponding input channel is assigned for each input channel, and the video container included in the received IP video stream is The IP video from the predetermined method adopted for the video container Performs conversion processing to convert to a unified method, which is a predetermined method commonly used for input channels in the Itcher device, and the IP video switcher device uses a unified method video container generated by the conversion processing for each input channel. When an output channel is set for a certain unified video container and the IP video switcher device sets an output channel for the unified video container of a certain input channel, the unified video container is set for each output channel. Is converted to a predetermined method determined in association with the output channel set from the unified method, and is transmitted to the decoder device associated with the output channel on the IP network. .

  According to the present invention, an IP video distribution system that distributes an IP video stream of 1ch or more to a decoder device as a distribution destination can be realized easily and at low cost.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the IP video delivery system of 1st Embodiment. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an IP video switcher device 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a system setting in the IP video switcher apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the setting method of the system in the IP video switcher apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of switching and distribution of a delivery destination by the switching process part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of designation | designated of the connection destination of a channel. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of designation | designated of the connection destination of the channel accompanying a scheduling. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a video stream distribution operation in the IP video switcher device 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the IP video delivery system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the IP video switcher apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of an IP video delivery system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example from which control specifications differ for every decoder apparatus.

Embodiment 1. FIG.
Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of an IP video distribution system according to the first embodiment of this invention. An IP video distribution system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes an IP video switcher device 1, a control device 2, a camera device 3 (more specifically, camera devices 3-1 to 3-4), and an encoder device 4 (more specifically, Specifically, the concoder devices 4-1 to 4-4), the decoder device 5 (more specifically, the decoder devices 5-1 to 5-2), and the monitor device 6 (more specifically, the monitor device 6). -1 to 6-2).

  The camera device 3 and the encoder device 4, and the decoder device 5 and the monitor device 6 are connected in a one-to-one relationship. In addition, the IP video switcher device 1 is connected to the control device 2, each encoder device 4, and each decoder device 5 via an IP network 200.

  In addition, although the example provided with the four camera apparatuses 3 and the encoder apparatuses 4 is shown in FIG. 1, each should just be 1 or more. In addition, FIG. 1 shows an example in which two decoder devices 5 and a monitor device 6 are provided.

  In FIG. 1, the IP network 200 is divided into three parts, but may be constructed as a common IP network. A configuration in which two of them are constructed as a common IP network and one is constructed as a different IP network physically or logically (by an IP address system or the like) is also possible.

  The IP video switcher device 1 regards each IP video packet transmitted from one or more encoder devices 4 as an IP video stream for each channel, and one or more decoder devices that are distribution destinations from the IP video stream of 1ch or more. 5 redistributes the desired IP video stream. This re-delivery processing includes automatic or manual selection / switching of input channels and conversion to a method corresponding to each output channel. Details of the IP video switcher device 1 will be described later.

  The control device 2 requests the IP video switcher device 1 to switch channels and designate setting information. The control device 2 is realized by a personal computer that can be connected to the IP network 200, for example.

  The camera device 3 (camera devices 3-1 to 3-4) inputs a video signal generated by shooting to the encoder device 4 (any one of the encoder devices 4-1 to 4-4) to be connected.

  The encoder device 4 (encoder devices 4-1 to 4-4) encodes a video signal input from the camera device 3 in a predetermined format and converts it into an IP packet to form an IP video stream 1 Generate one or more IP packets. Hereinafter, each of IP packets generated by the encoder device 4, more specifically, an IP packet including data in a video container encoded in a predetermined format may be expressed as an IP video packet. Then, the generated one or more continuous IP video packets are sequentially transmitted onto the IP network 200 of the connection destination. Note that sending one or more consecutive IP video packets sequentially onto the IP network 200 of the connection destination means sending an IP video stream onto the IP network 200.

  At that time, the encoder device 4 may give each IP packet the input channel number assigned by the IP video distribution system. If the IP video packet from which decoder device 4 can be identified by the source address or the like, it may not be given.

  The decoder device 5 (decoder devices 5-1 to 5-2) receives an IP video stream transmitted to itself or from a designated address, and from there receives a video container (data in a container part in IP video transmission). The video stream is reconstructed by appropriately decoding according to the encoding format, and a video signal that can be displayed on the monitor device 6 is generated. Note that receiving an IP video stream means receiving one or more consecutive IP video packets that are sequentially transmitted. The decoder device 5 may obtain from the video container information included in the IP video packet which encoding format is used by the received IP video stream, but can also perform fixed processing. This is because the IP video switcher device 1 to be described later encodes and IP packetizes the data using a method supported by each decoder device 5 serving as a distribution destination.

  The monitor device 6 (monitor devices 6-1 to 6-2) reproduces the video signal input from the decoder device 5.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the IP video switcher device 1. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the IP video switcher device 1 includes a channel-specific stream input unit (channel-specific stream input unit) 11, a switching processing unit 12, a channel-specific stream distribution unit (channel-specific stream distribution unit) 13, And a simple delivery scheduler 14.

  In this embodiment, the channel-specific stream input unit 11 is used as a general term for the stream input units 11-1 to 11-N. Note that each channel-specific stream input unit 11 (stream input units 11-1 to 11-N) selectively implements input stream conversion processing for a method determined for each input channel by setting. . Here, the input stream conversion processing means that the video container included in the IP video stream (one or more IP video packets) encoded and IP packetized by a predetermined method is unified in the IP video switcher device. This is a process of conversion (reconstruction) into a method.

  For example, a video container is taken out from an IP video packet, a decoding process is performed on the extracted video container using a decoding method according to the encoding method of the video container, and the data obtained as a result is unified again. It may be a process of encoding with. Depending on the combination of the input method and the unified method, a process of directly reconverting without decoding can be considered.

  The unified method is preferably a format that can hold the information about the video held in the IP video packet as accurately as possible, but the information depending on each method is not limited to this. Although it is not necessary to re-IP packetize as a unified method, if information such as the transmission source is required at the time of distribution, a format that acquires information from IP packets and retains it is adopted. Alternatively, a unified method including IP packetization may be adopted. In the unified method, information that can be used to determine whether or not a video container after conversion can be a video container that starts switching is given. The information that can determine whether or not the video container can start switching may be, for example, the frame type (I frame or the like) of the included video data. Hereinafter, a unified video container generated by input stream conversion processing may be expressed as a unified stream container.

  In addition, the implementation method of input stream conversion processing is not ask | required. At least each channel-specific stream input unit 11 receives an IP video stream from an input channel assigned to itself (hereinafter, referred to as the own channel), from among input stream conversion processing groups 110 prepared in advance. It is only necessary that the input stream processing for the method set for the own channel is called. For example, the program code may be implemented by selecting a call destination by determination logic, may be implemented by class inheritance, or may be implemented by including a function call.

  In the present embodiment, the channel-specific stream distribution unit 13 is also used as a general term for the stream distribution units 13-1 to 13-M. Note that each channel-specific stream distribution unit 13 (stream distribution units 13-1 to 13-M) selectively implements an output stream conversion process for a method determined for each output channel by setting. . Here, the output stream conversion process is a process of converting a unified stream container generated by the input stream conversion process into an IP video stream (one or more IP video packets) of a predetermined method.

  For example, the decoding process may be performed on the unified stream container using a decoding method corresponding to the unified method, and the obtained data may be encoded by a predetermined method and then converted into an IP packet. Note that the IP packetization may be performed after the call-by-ch stream delivery unit 13 returns from the output stream conversion process.

  In addition, the implementation method of an output stream conversion process is not ask | required. At least when each channel-specific stream distribution unit 13 makes a distribution request for an IP video stream to an output channel assigned to itself (hereinafter referred to as the own channel), an output stream conversion processing group 130 prepared in advance is provided. It is only necessary that the output stream processing for the method set for the own channel is called from among the above.

  FIG. 3 shows that in the IP video switcher device 1 with the number of input channels N = 4 and the number of output channels M = 2, the A method is set for the input ch1, the B method is set for the input ch2, and the D method is set for the input ch3. In the configuration example, the E method is set for the input ch4, the C method is set for the output ch1, and the A method is set for the output ch2. In FIG. 3, for example, it is shown that the A method conversion process is implemented in the stream input unit 11-1 that is the stream input unit 11 for the input ch 1. In addition, for example, it is shown that the B system conversion process is implemented in the stream input unit 11-2 that is the stream input unit 11 for the input channel 2. Further, for example, it is shown that the C system conversion process is implemented in the stream distribution unit 13-1 which is the stream distribution unit 13 for the output ch1. The same method can be set for a plurality of input channels and output channels.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method setting method. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a method for setting a method on the input side. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for setting the output side method. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, as the setting information of the input ch1, information indicating whether or not this channel is valid, and the type of stream (strictly, a stream container) (for example, MP4, MPEG2-PS, HiE, and IPELA3G) Etc.), a stream name for convenience, and information for receiving the corresponding stream (IP address, port number, etc. of the encoder device that is the data transmission source) are set. . . These may be set in advance for each input channel based on which distribution format (stream container) the encoder device 4 used by the operator of the IP video distribution system corresponds to. Such setting information on the input side is referred to by the channel-specific stream input unit 11.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4B, as the setting information of the output channel 1, information indicating whether this channel is valid, information on components to be output (ie, IP video stream), and a decoder device serving as a distribution destination The output side method is set by determining information (for example, the port number of the data transmission destination and the own port number for binding) to be received by the terminal 5. In this example, as the information of the IP video stream, the stream type and the data length in the IP packetization are defined. These may be set in advance for each output channel based on which distribution format (stream container) the decoder device 5 used by the operator of the IP video distribution system corresponds to. Note that such setting information on the output side is referred to by the channel-specific stream distribution unit 13.

  The switching processing unit 12 switches and distributes the delivery destination of the unified stream container for each input channel. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of distribution destination switching and distribution by the switching processing unit 12. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which one input channel is distributed to two output channels. FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of switching one distribution destination of the input channel that has been distributed. As illustrated in FIG. 5, when a stream is input from an input channel, the switching processing unit 12 performs distribution to each output channel (output setting channel) set to the input channel.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of the case where the output ch1 and the output ch2 are set as the output setting ch for the input ch1. In this example, it is assumed that the switching processing unit 12 operates independently for each stream input. For example, in response to a stream input event from the channel-specific stream input unit 11, the input channel switching / distribution processing may be started. It is assumed that the IP video switcher device 1 holds distribution destination information for each input channel. For example, distribution information in which each input channel is associated with distribution destination information may be held in a storage unit (not shown).

  Based on such distribution information, the switching processing unit 12 may distribute the input unified stream container to the output setting ch assigned to the input channel. Note that there may be a plurality of output setting channels as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5B shows an example when a request is made to switch the input source of the output ch2 from the input ch1 to the input ch2 in a state where the output ch1 and the output ch2 are set as the output setting ch in the input ch1. It is. It should be noted that at the stage when the switching request is made, only the information on the presence / absence of the switching request is reflected in the distribution information at least for the input channel of the switching destination. For example, information relating to the switching request may be held as the distribution information in association with the input ch2 that is the switching destination. The information related to the switching request may include at least information on the output channel for which switching has been requested and information on the input channel from which the output channel is switched.

  When a switching request is received, the information of the output channel requested to be switched is deleted from the distribution destination information of the switching source input channel (that is, the current input channel), and no video is output to the output channel requested to be switched. When performing processing such as switching to a channel for distributing the information, the information of the input channel (ch1) of the switching source is unnecessary.

  When receiving the newly requested stream, the switching processing unit 12 determines whether or not the switching can be actually performed. This determination is performed for each input channel. For example, when the switching processing unit 12 receives a stream input event from the channel-specific stream input unit 11 and starts the switching / distribution processing of the input channel, the switching processing unit 12 It may be determined from the content of the unified stream container input to the input channel whether or not the current timing may be switched. For example, if the current input stream corresponds to an I frame, it may be determined that switching is OK, and otherwise, it may be determined that switching is NG. Note that the information used as the determination material is determined in advance in the above-described unified method. Therefore, when the channel-specific stream input unit 11 converts to the unified method, it is obtained from the input method and given. The order of determination is not limited to this. For example, when an input stream corresponding to an I frame is received, it is determined whether or not a switching request is made for the input channel. If a switching request is made, it may be determined that switching is OK.

  Only when it is determined that the switching is OK, the switching processing unit 12 updates the information of the distribution destination and distributes the information to each output channel (output setting channel) set to the input channel. By updating the distribution destination information, the output channel requested to be switched is added to the output setting channel of the input channel, and as a result, a new video stream is distributed to the output channel. When updating the distribution destination information, a process of deleting the output channel from the distribution information of the switching source input channel may be performed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5B, it is indicated that the switching processing unit 12 performs switching when the input stream of the input channel 2 that is the switching destination is a frame corresponding to the I frame.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of specifying a channel connection destination. The example shown in FIG. 6 is a setting example of connection information for designating which input channel is connected for each output channel. The connection information is in units of output channels so that the user can easily set the connection information. However, it is preferable that the connection information is converted into a format in which information on the output channel of the distribution destination is stored for each input channel. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the input ch1 is specified as the input source of the output ch1, for example.

  Based on such connection information, the switching processing unit 12 holds distribution destination information. The default connection information may be read from a setting file held by the IP video switcher device 1.

  Further, when instructing the change of the connection destination (that is, channel switching) from the control device 2, the change of the connection information of the IP video switcher device 1 may be requested by socket communication using the IP network 200. If TCP / IP technology such as SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), RPC (Remote Procedure Call), or CGI (Common Gateway Interface) is used, it is possible from an external device other than the control device 2. When the switching processing unit 12 receives the connection information change request, the switching processing unit 12 may reflect the presence / absence of the switching request in the distribution information in accordance with the change content. Note that the simple distribution scheduler 14 (to be described later) may accept the connection information change request and reflect it in the distribution information. In addition, when the channel connection destination with scheduling is designated, the simple distribution scheduler 14 performs at least a part of the reflection processing to the distribution information. Note that the simple distribution scheduler 14 may perform the reflection process on the distribution information according to the schedule in response to a request from the switching processing unit 12. When the control device 2 controls scheduling, the simple delivery scheduler 14 can be omitted.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of specifying a channel connection destination with scheduling. FIG. 7 shows an example of specifying that input ch1 (IN-1) and input ch2 (IN-2) are switched every 10 seconds as an input source of output ch2. When the channel connection destination with such scheduling is designated, the simple scheduler 14 measures the period based on the designated contents, and makes a channel switching request to the switching processing unit 12 in the designated period. Good. In this example, a request for switching from input ch1 to input ch2 with output ch2 as the request source and a request for switching from input ch2 to input ch1 with output ch2 as the request source may be transmitted every 10 seconds. Instead of making a channel switching request, the setting information may be changed and a notification to that effect may be sent. In addition, only the connection information is updated by an instruction from the user, and the distribution information is not directly touched, thereby preventing an erroneous setting such that a plurality of input channels are associated with one output channel.

  As another example of distribution information, distribution destination information (output ch) for each input channel and request input source information (request input channel) for each output channel are held, and the distribution destination of the target input channel is stored. It is also possible to determine that there is a switching request (not switched) when the input channel is registered as a requested input channel for an output channel that is not in the information. In such a case, the request input source information for each output channel may be changed to reflect the distribution information accompanying the change of the connection information.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a video stream distribution operation in the IP video switcher apparatus 1. The example shown in FIG. 8 is an example of a video stream distribution operation of the IP video switcher apparatus 1 for a certain input channel, and an event of receiving an IP video packet for a certain input channel sent over the IP network 200 occurs. Shall be started. It is assumed that information about input channels is given to this reception event schematically. Note that the input channel information may be information that can identify the input channel, such as a transmission source IP address or a reception port number. Hereinafter, a case where the input ch is ch1 will be described as an example.

  When an IP video packet reception event occurs in the corresponding input channel (step S101), the stream input unit 11-1 first acquires the reached IP video packet (step S102). It is assumed that the IP packet reception process is performed by the IP communication protocol stack included in the IP video switcher device.

  The stream input unit 11-1 that has acquired the arrived IP video packet converts the video packet from a method assigned to the own channel to a unified video container using a common unified method in the apparatus (step S103). When the conversion is completed, the switching processing unit 12 is notified that there is an input stream. The notification may be performed by issuing a reception event.

  When the switching processing unit 12 receives notification that there is an input stream, the switching processing unit 12 determines whether or not there is a request for switching a channel whose switching destination is the input channel, the frame type of the current input stream (in this case, the unified stream container), and the like. Whether switching is possible is determined according to the contents (steps S104 and S105). If it is determined that it is time to switch, channel switching control is performed (step S106). For example, the switching processing unit 12 updates the distribution destination information associated with the input channel, thereby distributing the input stream from the input channel to the output channel requested to be switched in the migration process. You may do it.

  If it is determined that the timing may be switched (No in step S104, No in S105), the process in step S106 is not performed.

  Next, the switching processing unit 12 causes the corresponding channel-specific stream distribution unit 13 to perform distribution processing based on the distribution destination information (output setting ch) associated with the input channel. For example, the switching processing unit 12 may notify each corresponding channel-specific stream distribution unit 13 that there is an input stream and a pointer of a buffer in which the input stream is held. Instead of the pointer notification, the input stream (in this case, the unified stream container) may be transferred to a buffer managed by each corresponding channel-specific stream distribution unit 13.

  Receiving the notification that there is an input stream, the channel-specific stream distribution unit 13 assigns the contents of each input stream (here, the unified stream container) to the own channel from a common unified method in the apparatus. (Step S109). At this time, IP packetization is also performed. Then, the converted video stream is transmitted via the IP network 200 to the decoder device 5 that is the distribution destination of the output channel (step S110). Note that the processing of steps S109 to S110 is performed for the number of output setting channels set for the input channel when viewed as the entire apparatus (step S108). Note that the processing by the channel-specific stream distribution unit 13 may be sequential for each channel or may be performed simultaneously in parallel.

  For example, when output ch1 and output ch2 are set as the output setting ch of input ch1, the stream distribution unit 13-1 and the stream distribution unit 13-2 respectively perform the processing of steps S109 to S110. Will do.

  As described above, in this IP video distribution system 100, the IP video switcher device 1 uses a common stream container (unified stream container) in which the channel-specific stream input unit 11 does not depend on internal data (video data) inside the device. By switching to, the switching processing unit 12 can handle the switching and distribution of distribution destinations in a unified manner. Further, the channel-specific stream distribution unit 13 returns the common stream container at the outlet of the apparatus to the container format that can be used by the external apparatus (decoder apparatus 5), and distributes the stream container. In addition, decoder devices having different control methods can be used together.

  For example, even if an encoder device that sends out a video stream that is not supported on the decoder device side as shown in FIG. 12 is used, the IP video switcher device 1 can absorb the difference in the system. In addition, if the channel-specific stream distribution unit 13 performs conversion processing including not only the stream container but also the network protocol part according to each output channel, the maximum received data length and the like, and between devices with different IP video transmission methods higher than the IP layer IP video can be transmitted and received on the Internet. In addition, when a new device is introduced, it is possible to cope with the problem by simply updating the conversion process of the IP video switcher device 1.

  Note that in an environment in which a video stream that is not supported on the decoder device side is not transmitted, it is possible to omit the conversion process to the unified method at the time of reception and the conversion process from the unified conversion at the time of transmission. In such a case, the switching processing unit 12 may refer to or determine information that is a material for determining whether or not to switch according to the method set for each input channel. In addition, even if it does not perform conversion to a unified system, it is determined for each input channel whether or not switching to the input channel is possible by using the information of the input stream of the input channel, so that a plurality of different container specifications. Mixed use of streams is possible. In addition, an input stream from an encoder apparatus or IP camera apparatus (camera apparatus with a built-in encoder apparatus) that only outputs unicast video can be distributed in a multicast manner, which increases the choice of devices to be used for the multicast system.

  Further, each decoder device 5 simply receives and decodes the video transmitted from the IP video switcher device 1, and does not require channel switching control. For this reason, conventionally, even if the channel control logic is not prepared for each decoder device, the display channel can be switched only by mounting the channel control logic for the IP video switcher device 1.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of the IP video distribution system according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, compared with the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a new network concentrator (hub device) 7 is provided, and the IP video switcher device 1 has a redundant configuration. In this example, the IP video switcher device 1-1 and the IP video switcher device 1-2 are connected to the hub device 7.

  In such a redundant configuration, each IP video switcher device 1 transmits information in the life and death monitoring communication with each other, and when a failure of the current IP video switcher device 1 is detected, the other IP video switcher device 1 The device 1 takes over the operation. In this embodiment, the hot standby system is adopted, and the IP video switcher device 1 that is not currently used is operated as a standby device. For example, information sharing may be performed by file sharing or TCP / IP communication between applications. The redundancy technology may be a general server cluster technology or the like.

  As described above, in the IP video distribution system including the IP video switcher device 1, it is possible to easily realize the redundancy of the video switching unit, which is difficult to construct in the video distribution system using the analog switcher device. In other words, in an analog switcher device, it is necessary to prepare a line for each number of video channels, so that the wiring scale becomes very large if it is duplicated, and a special circuit device is required in an analog system with many-to-one connection. However, in the present system in which video transmission is performed on the IP transmission technology, it can be easily realized by using the network device redundancy technology of the IP technology.

  Next, the outline of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an outline of the present invention. An IP video switcher device 10 shown in FIG. 9 is an IP video switcher device for distributing an IP video stream of one channel or more to a decoder device as a distribution destination, and generates an IP video stream and transmits it on the IP network. One or more encoder devices assigned identification information as input channels, and one or more decoder devices assigned identification information as output channels and receiving an IP video stream via the IP switcher device; Are connected via an IP network. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a channel-specific stream input conversion means (ch-specific stream input conversion means) 101, a switching processing means 102, and a channel-specific stream conversion / distribution means (ch-specific stream conversion / distribution means) 103 are provided. . 9 shows an example in which two channel-specific stream input conversion units 101 and one channel-specific stream conversion distribution unit 103 are provided. However, the channel-specific stream input conversion unit 101 depends on the number of input channels. The channel-specific stream conversion / distribution means 103 may be provided according to the number of output channels.

  The channel-specific stream input conversion means 101 (for example, the channel-specific stream input unit 11) receives an IP video stream from an encoder apparatus to which a corresponding input channel is assigned for each input channel, and is included in the received IP video stream. A conversion process is performed to convert the video container from a predetermined method adopted for the video container to a unified method which is a predetermined method commonly used for input channels in the IP video switcher device.

  In addition, the switching processing unit 102 (for example, the switching processing unit 12) performs, for each input channel, a unified method video container that is a unified method video container generated by the conversion processing of the channel-specific stream input conversion unit 101. Set the output channel.

  Further, the channel-specific stream conversion / distribution unit 103 (for example, the channel-specific stream distribution unit 13) sets the output channel for the unified video container of a certain input channel by the switching processing unit 102, for each output channel. The unified method video container is converted into a predetermined method determined in association with the output channel set from the unified method, and is transmitted to the decoder device associated with the output channel on the IP network.

  With this configuration, it is possible to easily realize IP video distribution output in which one input IP video is distributed to a plurality of request decoder devices.

  In addition, for example, when a channel switching request is made, the switching processing unit 102 determines at least a part of the output destination of the input channel based on the content of the unified video container of the input channel in the input channel of the switching destination. The channel may be switched by determining whether or not to change to the output channel for which switching is requested.

  In such a case, the IP video can be distributed and output without causing the IP video to break down by a simple process.

  Further, the channel-specific stream input conversion means 101 may convert a predetermined method that is not supported by a decoder device as a distribution destination into a unified method in any input channel.

  In such a case, even an IP video stream input by a method not supported by the decoder device that is the distribution destination can be distributed to the request decoder device.

  Further, the channel-specific stream conversion / distribution means 103 may convert the unified method into a predetermined method that is not supported by the encoder device that is the IP video stream generation source in any output channel.

  In such a case, an IP video stream that is not supported by the encoder device that is the generation source of the IP video stream can be distributed to the request decoder device.

  The channel-specific stream conversion / distribution means 103 may convert the unified method video container into a predetermined method including a network protocol layer method defined in association with an output channel set from the unified method. .

  In such a case, not only the IP video transmission method in which the encoder device that is the generation source of the IP video stream is adopted, but it is possible to distribute the IP video transmission method that is optimal for each request decoder device.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the IP video switcher device 10 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the IP video switcher device 10 may further include schedule control means 104.

  The schedule control means 104 (for example, the simple delivery scheduler 14) makes a channel switching request to the switching processing means 102 in accordance with a schedule set from an external device.

  In such a case, the IP video switcher device 10 can autonomously switch without sending a periodic switching request or the like from the external device every time.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, as an example including a plurality of decoder devices, three channel-specific stream input conversion units 101 corresponding to three input channels and two channel-specific stream conversion distributions corresponding to two output channels are provided. Although the example provided with the means 103 is shown, the numbers of the ch-by-ch stream input conversion means 101 and the ch-by-ch stream conversion distribution means 103 are not limited to this.

  The present invention can be suitably used for a monitoring system in which, for example, a video signal input from a monitoring camera or the like is confirmed by a plurality of monitor devices in a large-scale facility. This is because there is a demand for using various types of management camera devices according to the installation location. Note that the present invention is not limited to the monitoring system, and can be suitably applied to any application for distributing an IP video stream of 1ch or more to a decoder device that is a distribution destination.

100 IP video distribution system 1 IP video switcher device 11 Channel-specific stream input unit (channel-specific stream input unit)
12 Switching processing unit 13 Channel-specific stream distribution unit (ch-specific stream distribution unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Simple delivery scheduler 2 Control apparatus 3 Camera apparatus 4 Encoder apparatus 5 Decoder apparatus 6 Monitor apparatus 7 Hub apparatus 200 IP network 10 IP video switcher apparatus 101 Channel-specific stream input conversion means (ch-specific stream input conversion means)
102 switching processing means 103 stream conversion / distribution means for each channel (stream conversion delivery means for each channel)

Claims (10)

An IP video switcher device for delivering an IP video stream of one channel or more to a decoder device as a delivery destination,
One or more encoder devices to which identification information as an input channel is assigned, and an identification information as an output channel is assigned and generated via the IP switcher device. One or more decoder devices for receiving the video stream, each connected via an IP network,
For each input channel, an IP video stream is received from the encoder apparatus to which the corresponding input channel is assigned, and a video container included in the received IP video stream is changed from the predetermined method employed in the video container to the IP Channel-specific stream input conversion means for performing conversion processing for conversion to a unified method, which is a predetermined method commonly used for input channels in the video switcher device,
For each input channel, switching processing means for setting an output channel for the unified video container that is a unified video container generated by the conversion processing of the channel-specific stream input conversion means;
When the output channel is set for the unified video container of a certain input channel by the switching processing means, the unified video container is determined for each output channel in association with the output channel set from the unified system. An IP video switcher device comprising: a channel-based stream conversion / distribution unit that converts the data into a predetermined method and sends the data to an IP network toward a decoder device associated with the output channel. When a switching request is made for the channel, the switching processing means is requested to switch at least a part of the output destination of the input channel in the input channel of the switching destination based on the content of the unified video container of the input channel. The IP video switcher device according to claim 1, wherein channel switching is performed by determining whether or not to change to an output channel. The IP video switcher device according to claim 2, further comprising a schedule control unit that makes a switching request to the switching processing unit in accordance with a schedule set by an external device. The stream input conversion means for each channel converts from a predetermined method that is not supported by a decoder device as a delivery destination to a unified method in any one of the input channels. The IP video switcher device described. The channel-specific stream conversion / distribution means performs conversion from a unified method to a predetermined method that is not supported by an encoder device that is an IP video stream generation source in any output channel. The IP video switcher device according to claim 1. The stream conversion delivery means for each channel converts the unified method video container to a predetermined method including a network protocol layer method defined in association with an output channel set from the unified method. Item 6. The IP video switcher device according to any one of Items 5 to 6. An IP video distribution system for distributing an IP video stream of one channel or more to a decoder device as a distribution destination,
One or more encoder devices assigned with identification information as input channels, and one or more decoder devices assigned with identification information as output channels, which generate and transmit an IP video stream over an IP network; IP video switcher devices each connected via an IP network,
The IP video switcher device
For each input channel, an IP video stream is received from the encoder apparatus to which the corresponding input channel is assigned, and a video container included in the received IP video stream is changed from the predetermined method employed in the video container to the IP Channel-specific stream input conversion means for performing conversion processing for conversion to a unified method, which is a predetermined method commonly used for input channels in the video switcher device,
For each input channel, switching processing means for setting an output channel for the unified video container that is a unified video container generated by the conversion processing of the channel-specific stream input conversion means;
When the output channel is set for the unified video container of a certain input channel by the switching processing means, the unified video container is determined for each output channel in association with the output channel set from the unified system. Channel-specific stream conversion / distribution means for converting the data into a predetermined method and sending it to the decoder device associated with the output channel on the IP network,
The IP video distribution system, wherein the decoder device receives an IP video stream via the IP switcher device.   The IP video distribution system according to claim 7, comprising a plurality of IP switcher devices and having a redundant configuration. An IP video stream delivery method for delivering an IP video stream of one channel or more to a decoder device as a delivery destination,
As an IP video stream path, an IP video stream is generated and transmitted over an IP network, one or more encoder devices assigned identification information as an input channel, and 1 assigned identification information as an output channel An IP video switcher device is deployed between two or more decoder devices,
The IP video switcher device receives an IP video stream from the encoder device to which a corresponding input channel is assigned for each input channel, and a video container included in the received IP video stream is adopted as the video container. A conversion process for converting from a predetermined method to a unified method which is a predetermined method commonly used for input channels in the IP video switcher device,
The IP video switcher device sets an output channel for a unified video container that is a unified video container generated by the conversion process for each input channel,
When the IP video switcher device sets an output channel for a unified video container of a certain input channel, the unified video container is associated with an output channel set from the unified system for each output channel. A method for distributing an IP video stream, wherein the IP video stream is converted to a predetermined method defined in the above and sent to an IP network toward a decoder device associated with the output channel. Make a channel switching request to the IP video switcher device,
The IP video switcher device requests switching of at least a part of the output destination of the input channel in the switching destination input channel based on the content of the unified video container of the input channel when the channel switching request is made. The method for distributing an IP video stream according to claim 9, wherein the channel is switched by determining whether or not to change to an output channel that has been subjected to.

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