JP6439698B2 - Stream monitoring system, program, recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stream monitoring system, a program, and a recording medium. More specifically, the present invention relates to a stream monitoring system that detects whether or not a video stream or an audio stream is stopped, and allows a computer system to function to realize the stream monitoring system. And a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 is a television system that can switch a plurality of channels by a remote controller and outputs moving image content received via a network to a television, because it is an empty channel for which broadcasting is not set by a TV tuner. A set top box to which a channel selection button is assigned, and an output unit for outputting a pre-selected video content in response to the set top box receiving a switching signal of the channel selection button from the remote controller. A television system comprising a television provided is disclosed.

JP 2011-135159 A

When transmitting a video stream (video stream) or an audio stream (audio stream) from the transmission side (for example, a broadcasting station (transmitting station), a relay station, a CATV (CAble TeleVision) station, etc.), The audio stream may stop.
Therefore, conventionally, a video / audio monitoring device is used to monitor whether the video stream or the audio stream is stopped.

As this video / audio monitoring device, the present applicant (Traffic Sim Co., Ltd.) manufactures and sells ““ Alert Magic ”(registered trademark) T & S (Alert Magic T & S) TS (Transport Stream) monitoring system”.
This “Alert Magic T & S” has already been actually used in broadcasting stations, CATV stations, etc., and has greatly contributed to improving the quality of broadcasting.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional stream monitoring system 800.
The stream monitoring system 800 includes a video / audio monitoring apparatus 810, a set top box (STB) 30, and a PC (Personal Computer) 40 for notifying error information. The stream monitoring system 800 is installed in a CATV station, a relay station, etc. 50.

The STB 30 receives an RF (Radio Frequency) signal transmitted from the CATV network 50 while switching the reception channel (monitoring channel) in accordance with the reception channel switching control of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 810, and performs RF for each reception channel. A video stream and an audio stream are generated from the signal and output.
Note that the switching of the reception channel in the STB 30 is made to circulate the channel by returning to the first channel after the last channel.

The video / audio monitoring device 810 switches the reception channel of the STB 30 in order, detects whether the video stream and the audio stream output from the STB 30 are stopped, and stops them when they are stopped. Outputs stop error information indicating the status.
The error information notification PC 40 is connected to the video / audio monitoring device 810 using a LAN (Local Area Network), and displays the stop error information of the video stream or audio stream output from the video / audio monitoring device 810. While being displayed on 40a, it outputs as a sound from the speaker 40b.

Incidentally, there may be a still image period in which the motion of the video is stopped (still) in the video stream, and there may be a silent period in which the audio output is stopped in the audio stream.
Therefore, in the conventional stream monitoring system 800, in order to reliably detect whether or not the video stream is stopped, the stop time of the video stream is measured, and when the stop time is equal to or longer than a predetermined period (stop confirmation period). Only the video stream stop error information is output.
Also, in order to reliably detect whether or not the audio stream is stopped, the audio stream stop time is measured, and only when the stop time is longer than the stop confirmation period, the audio stream stop error information is output. I have to.

Here, assuming that the stop confirmation period is 20 seconds, the time required for switching the reception channel in the STB 30 is about 2 seconds, and the margin time required for the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 810 is about 1 second, the video / audio monitoring apparatus The total time required for detecting the stop of the video stream and the audio stream in 810 is about 23 seconds.
The number of reception channels is 30.
Then, it takes about 690 seconds (= {20 seconds + 2 seconds + 1 second} × 30 channels) to detect whether the video stream and the audio stream are stopped for all the reception channels.

That is, in the conventional stream monitoring system 800, the operation of detecting whether or not the video stream and the audio stream are stopped for 30 reception channels is circulated in a cycle of about 690 seconds.
Therefore, after confirming that the video stream and audio stream of an arbitrary reception channel are not stopped and are normal and the STB 30 switches to the next reception channel of the arbitrary reception channel, the video of the arbitrary reception channel If a stream or audio stream is stopped, the stop cannot be detected for about 690 seconds.

As described above, the conventional stream monitoring system 800 has a problem that the time required to detect whether the video stream or the audio stream is stopped increases as the number of reception channels increases.
For this reason, adopting the conventional stream monitoring system 800 has not been a realistic choice for broadcasters who provide multi-channel programs.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional stream monitoring system 900.
The stream monitoring system 900 includes an error information notification PC 40, a video / audio monitoring device 910, an STB 920, an RF distributor 930, and a LAN changeover switch 940. The stream monitoring system 900 is installed in a CATV station or a relay station and connected to the CATV network 50. Yes.

The RF distributor 930 receives the RF signal transmitted from the CATV network 50, distributes the RF signal by the number of reception channels, and outputs it.
The STB 920 is provided for each reception channel, and the reception channel of each STB 920 is fixedly set. Therefore, each STB 920 generates and outputs a video stream and an audio stream of one reception channel fixedly set for the RF signal output from the RF distributor 930.

The video / audio monitoring device 910 is provided for each reception channel, and each video / audio monitoring device 910 detects whether the video stream and audio stream output from the connected STB 920 are stopped. If stopped, stop error information indicating the stop state is output.
The error information notification PC 40 is connected to each video / audio monitoring device 910 using a LAN switch 940 and a LAN, and a video stream or audio stream output error output from each video / audio monitoring device 910 is stopped. The information is displayed on the display 40a and output as sound from the speaker 40b.

  Thus, since the conventional stream monitoring system 900 is provided with the dedicated STB 920 and the video / audio monitoring device 910 for each reception channel, the operation for monitoring whether or not the video stream and the audio stream are stopped is circulated. Therefore, it is possible to detect in a short time whether or not the video stream and the audio stream are stopped for all the reception channels.

However, in the conventional stream monitoring system 900, it is necessary to provide the STB 920 and the video / audio monitoring device 910 corresponding to the number of reception channels, and it is also necessary to provide the RF distributor 930 and the LAN changeover switch 940. However, there is a problem that the installation space, the installation work cost, the equipment cost, and the electricity cost are all increased and the cost becomes high.
For this reason, for broadcasters who provide multi-channel programs, the high cost may be a barrier when adopting the conventional stream monitoring system 900.

When the maintenance management of the conventional stream monitoring system 900 is outsourced to a specialist such as an external data center, the maintenance management cost becomes very high.
That is, according to the rack standard used in general broadcasting equipment, it is possible to mount about 40 units of equipment in one rack.
Here, it is assumed that two units are required to mount one STB 920 and one unit is required to mount one video / audio monitoring device 910. A rack of units (= {2 units + 1 unit} × 30 channels) is required, and at least three racks must be installed.
In addition, the maintenance cost for specialists may include about 3 million yen per rack, including electricity bills. In this case, if 3 racks are installed, the maintenance cost will be 9 million yen per year. Will occur.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has the following objects.
(1) A stream monitoring system capable of detecting in a short time whether a video stream or an audio stream is stopped for a plurality of reception channels is provided at low cost.
(2) A program for causing a computer system to function so as to realize the stream monitoring system of (1) is provided.
(3) Provided is a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer system to function is realized so as to realize the stream monitoring system of (1).

  As a result of intensive studies in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have arrived at each aspect of the present invention as follows.

<First aspect: see first embodiment>
The first aspect is
First receiving means for receiving a transmission signal for each reception channel while sequentially switching a plurality of reception channels, and generating and outputting a video stream and an audio stream for each reception channel from the transmission signal;
After detecting whether the video stream or audio stream output by the first receiving means is stopped and the video stream or audio stream is stopped, after outputting stop error information indicating the stop state, First monitoring means for switching the receiving channel of the first receiving means to the next receiving channel;
Based on the video stream output by the first receiving means, it is detected that the motion of the video is not stopped, and it is detected that the audio output is not stopped based on the audio stream output by the first receiving means. In this case, the stream monitoring system includes a second monitoring unit that switches the reception channel of the first reception unit to the next reception channel after canceling the operation of the first monitoring unit.

The video stream may have a still image period in which the motion of the video is stopped (still), and the audio stream may have a silent period in which the audio output is stopped.
Therefore, the first monitoring means measures the stop time of the video stream in order to reliably detect whether or not the video stream is stopped, and only when the stop time is equal to or longer than a predetermined period (stop confirmation period). Output video stream stop error information.
The first monitoring means measures the stop time of the audio stream to reliably detect whether or not the audio stream is stopped, and stops the audio stream only when the stop time is equal to or longer than the stop confirmation period. Output error information.
Therefore, in the first aspect, when only the first monitoring unit is provided and the second monitoring unit is not provided, the time required for switching the reception channel of the first reception unit to the next reception channel is the stop confirmation period. It will be longer by

On the other hand, in the first aspect, when both the video motion and the audio output are not stopped by the second monitoring unit, the operation of the first monitoring unit is canceled and the reception of the first receiving unit is performed. Since the channel is switched to the next reception channel, the time required for switching the reception channel can be shortened compared to the case where only the first monitoring means is provided.
In particular, when the operation of detecting whether or not the video stream and the audio stream are stopped is repeatedly performed for a large number of reception channels, according to the first aspect, the circulation cycle of the monitoring operation is greatly increased. It can be shortened.

And in 1st aspect, since the whole structure of a stream monitoring system becomes small compared with the case where a 1st receiving means and 1st monitoring means for exclusive use are provided for every receiving channel, cost reduction can be aimed at. it can.
Therefore, according to the first aspect, it is possible to provide a stream monitoring system capable of detecting in a short time whether or not the video stream or the audio stream is stopped for a plurality of reception channels. .

<Second aspect: see eighth embodiment>
The second aspect is the first aspect,
When the first monitoring unit detects that the video stream or the audio stream is stopped, the first monitoring unit includes an additional operation executing unit that causes the first receiving unit to perform a preset additional operation;
The additional operation is for grasping the stop state of the video stream or the audio stream.

  In the second aspect, since the first receiving unit is caused to perform an additional operation for grasping the stop state of the video stream or the audio stream, it is possible to reliably grasp the stop state of the video stream or the audio stream.

<Third Aspect: See Eighth Embodiment>
According to a third aspect, in the second aspect, the additional operation is at least selected from the group consisting of displaying a program guide, displaying a maintenance screen, switching audio, switching to another reception channel, and displaying data broadcasting. One operation.

In the third aspect, when the additional operation is display of the program guide, the program name when the video stream or the audio stream is stopped (when a failure occurs) is investigated, or whether the failure occurs during broadcasting suspension Can be confirmed.
In addition, in the third aspect, when the additional operation is a display of a radio wave reception status screen that is a maintenance screen, it is determined whether or not the cause of the stop (failure occurrence) of the video stream or the audio stream is due to the radio wave failure. Can be confirmed.
Also, in the third aspect, when the additional operation is voice switching, it is confirmed whether or not the stop of the audio stream (silence failure) is limited to the first voice or occurs also in the second voice. Can do.
Further, in the third aspect, when the additional operation is switching to another reception channel, it is confirmed whether or not the cause of the stoppage (failure occurrence) of the video stream or the audio stream is a problem specific to the reception channel. can do.
Further, in the third aspect, when the additional operation is display of data broadcasting, it is possible to confirm whether or not a failure has occurred in which the data broadcasting is stopped in addition to the stop of the video stream or the audio stream. .

<Fourth aspect: see second embodiment>
The fourth aspect is the first to third aspects,
When a still image is generated from the video stream output by the first receiving means and the still image is the same as the specific still image registered and set in advance, the operation of the first monitoring means is canceled, and the first Third monitoring means for outputting reception failure error information indicating that the receiving means cannot receive normally is provided.

When the transmission signal cannot be normally received, the first reception unit may have a function of outputting a video stream of a still image including a message to that effect (specific message).
In this case, the first monitoring unit and the second monitoring unit detect that the motion of the video is stopped when the video stream output from the first receiving unit relates to a still image including a specific message. End up.
As a result, when the movement of the video is stopped despite the normal reception by the first receiving means (when the video stream is stopped), the first receiving means cannot receive normally. It is impossible to determine when the motion of the video is stopped (when reception has failed).

Therefore, in the fourth aspect, when the movement of the video is stopped because the first receiving unit cannot receive normally, the third monitoring unit cancels the operation of the first monitoring unit and performs the first reception. The reception failure error information indicating that the means cannot be received normally is output.
Thereby, the motion of the video is stopped despite the normal reception of the first receiving means, and the motion of the video is stopped because the first receiving means cannot receive normally. Can be reliably determined.

<Fifth aspect: see sixth embodiment>
The fifth aspect is the first to fourth aspects,
Second receiving means for switching a plurality of reception channels, receiving a transmission signal for each of the switched reception channels, and generating and outputting a video stream and an audio stream for each reception channel from the transmission signal;
Stop error information recording means for recording stop error information output by the first monitoring means;
Switching means for switching the receiving channel of the second receiving means to the same channel number as the receiving channel of one piece of stop error information selected from the plurality of pieces of stop error information recorded in the stop error information recording means; .

  In the fifth aspect, one stop error information receiving channel selected from a plurality of stop error information recorded in the stop error information recording means (stop error information of a video stream or an audio stream is generated in the past) The video and audio currently being broadcast on the received channel can be viewed by the administrator of the stream monitoring system using the second receiving means, and the motion and audio output of the video are still present. It is possible for the administrator to quickly confirm whether or not the stop state continues, or whether or not the failure has been recovered and the motion of the video and the sound output are normal.

<Sixth aspect: see seventh embodiment>
The sixth aspect is the fifth aspect,
Stream recording means for recording the video stream and audio stream output by the first receiving means;
A video stream and audio stream matching the reception channel and date / time included in the selected single stop error information, or a video stream and audio stream for a predetermined time before and after the date / time are read out from the stream recording means and reproduced. Playing means.

  According to the sixth aspect, the manager of the stream monitoring system quickly confirms the current failure recovery status as in the fifth aspect, confirms the past failure status, and before and after the failure occurrence date and time. By checking the video and audio together, it is possible to accurately recognize and properly manage the abnormality of the broadcasting system.

<Seventh aspect: see the third embodiment>
The seventh aspect is the first to sixth aspects,
Comprising a mode setting means for setting, in a normal mode or an abnormal mode, a circulation cycle in which the first receiving means switches a predetermined reception channel;
In abnormal mode, the lap cycle is set shorter than in normal mode,
The mode setting means
The first monitoring means sets the circulation cycle of the reception channel that has detected that the video stream or the audio stream is stopped to the abnormal mode,
When the first monitoring unit detects that the video stream or the audio stream has not stopped for the reception channel that has been set to the abnormal mode in the past, the cycle of the reception channel is returned to the normal mode.

  In the seventh aspect, it is possible to quickly detect that the video stream and the audio stream have normally returned from the stop state to the non-stop state for the reception channel in which the video stream or the audio stream is stopped.

<Eighth Aspect: See [3-2] in Third Embodiment>
In an eighth aspect, in the seventh aspect, when there are a plurality of reception channels in which the first monitoring unit detects that the video stream or the audio stream is stopped, the mode setting unit sets all the reception channels. Set the lap cycle to normal mode.

When the video stream or the audio stream is stopped for a plurality of reception channels, there is a low possibility that the cause is in the individual reception channels, and there is a high possibility that the cause is in the entire broadcasting system.
Therefore, when the cause of the stop of the video stream or the audio stream is in the entire broadcasting system, it is not necessary to change the channel switching cycle period to the abnormal mode for each individual reception channel, as in the eighth aspect. For the receiving channel, it is possible to check the abnormality (failure status) of the entire broadcasting system by setting the channel switching cycle to the normal mode.

<9th aspect: See 4th Embodiment>
In a first aspect to an eighth aspect, the ninth aspect changes the setting so that the circulation cycle in which the first reception unit switches the reception channel is shortened as the reception channel is likely to stop the video stream or the audio stream. Circulation cycle changing means is provided.

In the ninth aspect, for a reception channel in which the video stream or the audio stream has never been stopped after the stream monitoring system has been operated for a certain period, whether the video stream and the audio stream are stopped for each reception channel. The cycle of repeating the operation of detecting and monitoring this is set longer.
In addition, for reception channels that need to be monitored intensively (for example, newly established reception channels, reception channels that have just started operation), and reception channels that have stopped video or audio streams in the near future Is focused monitoring by changing the setting of the cycle of the monitoring operation to be short.

Therefore, according to the ninth aspect, the reception channel, the video stream, or the audio stream that needs to be monitored intensively for the time required for the monitoring operation of the reception channel where the video stream or the audio stream is difficult to stop easily stops. It is possible to automatically assign the reception channel monitoring operation, and the stream monitoring system can be efficiently operated.
Further, according to the ninth aspect, since the cycle period of the monitoring operation for each reception channel is automatically changed and optimized, the administrator of the stream monitoring system can set the cycle period of the monitoring operation for each reception channel. Compared to setting each of them individually by hand, it is possible to save the administrator's trouble.

<10th aspect: See [4-2] of 4th Embodiment>
In a ninth aspect, a tenth aspect includes notification means for informing a reception channel that is highly likely to stop the video stream or the audio stream.
In the tenth aspect, the administrator of the stream monitoring system can be alerted to the administrator by notifying the reception channel where the video stream or the audio stream is likely to stop.

<Eleventh aspect: See [1-2] in the first embodiment>
The eleventh aspect is the first to tenth aspects,
A notification means having a display screen;
The notifying means displays the stop error information by displaying the still image generated from the stopped video stream detected by the first monitoring means and the information related to the stop of the video stream side by side on the display screen. Notice.

The eleventh aspect is particularly useful when a multi-channel program is provided or when the first to third monitoring units installed at a plurality of bases are managed simultaneously or by switching.
The information related to the stop of the video stream includes, for example, the name of the base where the first to third monitoring units are installed, the name of the reception channel where the video stream is stopped, the date and time when the video stream was stopped, and the video There are times when the stopped state of the stream continues.

<Twelfth aspect: see ninth embodiment>
In a twelfth aspect, in the second to eleventh aspects,
The additional operation is the display of the reception status screen, which is a maintenance screen,
Recognizes the character string displayed at the reception level numerical value display location displayed on the radio wave reception status screen, and displays the numeric string displayed at the BER numerical value display location displayed on the radio wave reception status screen. A determination unit that recognizes characters and determines whether the reception level and the BER value are normal values set in advance is provided.

  According to the twelfth aspect, the administrator of the stream monitoring system can confirm whether or not the cause of the failure is due to radio wave interference due to reception level or BER abnormality.

<13th aspect: See 10th and 11th embodiments>
A thirteenth aspect includes transmission means for transmitting a still image generated from a video stream output from the first receiving means by an additional operation in an electronic mail attached to the e-mail in the second to twelfth aspects.

  In the thirteenth aspect, even when the administrator is away from the stream monitoring system, the abnormality of the broadcasting system can be accurately recognized by viewing the still image generated from the video stream output by the first receiving means by the additional operation. Can be managed appropriately.

<Fourteenth aspect: see tenth and eleventh embodiments>
In a fourteenth aspect, in the second to twelfth aspects, the video stream and the audio stream output from the first receiving means by the addition operation are uploaded to the web server, and the message body explaining the uploading is added to the web server. Transmission means for creating and transmitting an e-mail in which the URLs of the video stream and audio stream uploaded above are written together is provided.

  According to the fourteenth aspect, even when the administrator is away from the stream monitoring system, the video stream and the audio stream output by the first receiving means by the addition operation according to the URL described in the received e-mail are displayed on the web. It is possible to check the video and audio related to the video stream and the audio stream downloaded from the server, and to accurately recognize and properly manage the abnormality of the broadcasting system.

<15th aspect: See <3> of another embodiment>
In a fifteenth aspect based on the first to fourteenth aspects, the receiving means receives a television broadcast.
In the fifteenth aspect, it is possible to detect and monitor whether or not the video stream or audio stream of the television broadcast is stopped, with respect to the television broadcast.

<16th aspect: See <3> of another embodiment>
In a sixteenth aspect based on the first to fourteenth aspects, the receiving means receives a radio broadcast.
In the sixteenth aspect, it is possible to detect and monitor whether or not an audio stream of radio broadcast is stopped, with radio broadcast as a monitoring target.

<17th aspect: See <3> of another embodiment>
According to a seventeenth aspect, in the first to fourteenth aspects, the video stream output by the receiving unit is a video stream of a video material used by a broadcaster to create a broadcast program, and the audio stream output by the receiving unit Is an audio stream of audio material used by a broadcaster to create a broadcast program.
In the seventeenth aspect, it is possible to detect and monitor whether the video stream of the video material or the audio stream of the audio material is stopped.

<18th and 19th aspects>
An eighteenth aspect is a program for causing a computer system to function as the monitoring unit in the stream monitoring system of the first to seventeenth aspects.
A nineteenth aspect is a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer system to function as the monitoring means in the stream monitoring system of the first to seventeenth aspects is recorded.

According to the eighteenth aspect, it is possible to provide a program for causing a computer system to function so as to realize the monitoring means of the stream monitoring system of the first to seventeenth aspects.
According to the nineteenth aspect, it is possible to provide a computer-readable recording medium on which the program of the eighteenth aspect is recorded.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the stream monitoring system 10,60,70,80,90 of 1st-5th embodiment which actualized this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in 1st, 3rd, 4th embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the stop error information displayed on the display screen of the display 40a of PC40 for error information notification in 1st Embodiment. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the second and fourth embodiments. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the specific message displayed on screen PT of the display connected to STB30 in 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in 4th Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in 4th Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in 5th Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in 5th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the stream monitoring system 100 of 6th Embodiment which actualized this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the stream monitoring system 200 of 7th Embodiment which actualized this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the stream monitoring system 300 of 8th-11th embodiment which actualized this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in 8th, 10th embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in 8th, 10th embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the addition operation at the time of the video stream stop performed by S810 (refer FIG. 14) of 8th, 10th embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the additional operation at the time of the audio | voice stream stop performed by S810 (refer FIG. 14) of 8th, 10th embodiment. FIG. 18A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of additional operation script data when a video stream is stopped in the eighth embodiment. FIG. 18B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the additional operation script data when the audio stream is stopped in the eighth embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the electromagnetic wave reception condition screen which is a specific example of the maintenance screen displayed on the display screen of the display 220a of the television receiver 220 for simultaneous recording systems in 8th-10th embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the additional operation script data at the time of the video stream stop in 10th Embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional stream monitoring system 800. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional stream monitoring system 900. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In each embodiment, the same components and components as those of the conventional stream monitoring system 800 shown in FIG. 21 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description of the same contents as those of the conventional technology is omitted.
Further, in each embodiment, the same constituent members and constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description of the same contents is omitted.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a stream monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment.
The stream monitoring system 10 includes a video / audio monitoring device 20, an STB 30, and an error information notification PC 40 (display 40a, speaker 40b), and is installed in a CATV station or a relay station and connected to the CATV network 50.

The video / audio monitoring device 20 includes a computer main body 21 and an input device 22.
The computer main body 21 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 21b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 21c, an input / output device (I / O) 21d, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 21e, and the like. It is constituted by a known microcomputer system.
The video / audio monitoring device 20 performs the operations described later by loading a software computer program stored (recorded) in the ROM 21b or the HDD 21e into the CPU 21a and executing various arithmetic processes according to the computer program.

  By the way, the computer program is recorded (stored) in a backup RAM (not shown) built in the computer main body 21 or an external recording device (external storage device) (not shown) provided with a computer-readable recording medium, instead of the ROM 21b or HDD 21e. In addition, the computer program may be loaded from the backup RAM or an external recording device to the CPU 21a as needed.

Incidentally, the computer-readable recording medium includes, for example, semiconductor memory (USB memory, SD memory card, etc.), HD (Hard Disk), optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray disc, etc.), magneto-optical disk (MO, etc.). Etc.), phase change disk, magnetic disk, magnetic tape and the like. The names of specific examples of the recording medium include registered trademarks.
Further, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 may be connected to an Internet line (not shown), and the computer program may be loaded from the Internet line to the CPU 21a and used as necessary.

  The input device 22 includes, for example, a keyboard and a pointing device. The input device 22 converts an instruction command from an administrator (operator, user) of the stream monitoring system 10 into a data signal, and the data signal is input to the computer main body 21. The data is transferred to the CPU 21a via the output device 21d.

The STB 30 receives the RF signal transmitted from the CATV network 50 while switching the reception channel according to the reception channel switching control of the video / audio monitoring device 20, and receives the video stream and the audio stream from the RF signal for each individual reception channel. Generate and output.
Note that the switching of the reception channel in the STB 30 is made to circulate the channel by returning to the first channel after the last channel.

  The error information notification PC 40 is connected to the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 using a LAN, and displays the stop error information of the video stream or audio stream output from the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 on the display 40a. The voice is output from the speaker 40b (for example, voice guide, warning sound, etc.).

2 and 3 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the first embodiment.
The video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 circulates and repeats the processes of the following steps (hereinafter referred to as “S”) in the flowchart.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 first determines whether or not a predetermined time t1 or more has elapsed since the execution of S110 in the cycle of the previous flowchart (the cycle of the previous monitoring operation) in S110. When the predetermined time t1 or more has not elapsed (S110: No), the process proceeds to S130, and when the predetermined time t1 or more has elapsed (S110: Yes), the period for switching the reception channel to be monitored And the process proceeds to S120.

In S120, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 switches the reception channel of the STB 30 to the next reception channel by the reception channel switching control, and proceeds to S130.
Here, the predetermined time t1 is a total time of a stop confirmation period t2, which will be described later, a time t3 required for switching the reception channel in the STB 30, and a margin time t4 required for the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 shown in this flowchart. Yes (t1 = t2 + t3 + t4).

In S130, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 executes a video stream capturing process, captures two consecutive frames of video streams from the video stream output from the STB 30, and proceeds to S140.
Here, in order to confirm whether or not the motion of the video is stopped (still), it is only necessary to capture a video stream for two consecutive frames. In the standard of Integrated Digital Broadcasting Service (ISDB) 29.97 frames / second (during interlace scanning), the time required to capture a video stream for two consecutive frames is approximately 66 msec (= {1 / 29.97 frames / second} × 2).
If the operation time of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in S130 is about 30 msec, the time required for the processing in S130 is about 100 msec (= about 66 msec + about 30 msec).

In S140, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 executes an audio stream capturing process, captures an audio stream for a predetermined time t5 from the audio stream output from the STB 30, and proceeds to S150.
Here, in order to confirm whether or not the audio output is stopped, since the lower limit of the human audible band is about 20 Hz, the audio stream output from the STB 30 is about 50 msec (= 1/20 Hz) or more. Can be imported.
In consideration of the synchronization between video and audio, the predetermined time t5 may be set to be the same as the time required for capturing the video stream for two consecutive frames in S130 (about 66 msec).
If the operation time of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in S140 is about 30 msec, the time required for the processing in S140 is about 100 msec as in S130.

  In S150, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines whether or not the process of S140 is completed (whether or not an audio stream for a predetermined time t5 is captured from the audio stream output from the STB 30), and the process of S140 Is completed (S150: Yes), the process proceeds to S160.

In S160, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines whether or not the volume in the audio data of the audio stream captured in S140 is equal to or higher than a predetermined volume. If the volume is equal to or higher than the predetermined volume (S160: Yes), the audio / video monitoring apparatus 20 It is determined that the output is not stopped, and the process proceeds to S170.
Here, the predetermined volume may be set by experimentally finding an optimum value so that it can be reliably detected whether or not the sound output is stopped.

In S170, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 describes two consecutive frames of still images (hereinafter referred to as “first still image” and “second still image”) from the two consecutive frames of the video stream captured in S130. ) To detect the difference (luminance difference) between the luminance of each pixel constituting the first still image and the luminance of each pixel constituting the second still image, and the average value of the absolute values of the luminance differences is It is determined whether or not it is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and if it is greater than or equal to the predetermined value (S170: Yes), the first still image and the second still image are different still images, and the motion of the video has not stopped. The process proceeds to S180.
In S180, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 switches the reception channel of the STB 30 to the next reception channel, and returns to S130.

When the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines in S150 that the process of S140 has not been completed (S150: No), the process proceeds to S190.
If the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines in S160 that the volume in the audio data of the audio stream captured in S140 is less than the predetermined volume (S160: No), the audio output is stopped. And the process proceeds to S190.

In step S170, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 generates two continuous frames of still images (first still image and second still image) from the continuous two frames of video stream captured in step S130. Detects the difference (brightness difference) between the luminance of each pixel constituting the still image and the luminance of each pixel constituting the second still image, and whether the average absolute value of the luminance difference is a predetermined value or more If it is less than the predetermined value (S170: No), it is determined that the first still image and the second still image are the same still image, and the motion of the video is stopped. Migrate to
Here, the predetermined value of the average value of the absolute value of the luminance difference may be set by finding an optimum value experimentally so that it can be reliably detected whether or not the motion of the video is stopped.

As shown in FIG. 3, in S190, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 measures the stop time of the video stream, and proceeds to S200.
Here, in order to measure the stop time of the video stream, a continuous two-frame still image (first still image, second still image) is generated from the continuous two-frame video stream captured in S130. A difference (luminance difference) between the luminance of each pixel constituting the first still image and the luminance of each pixel constituting the second still image is detected, and the average absolute value of the luminance difference is less than a predetermined value. What is necessary is just to measure the state as the stop state of the video stream, and the time during which the stop state continues as the stop time.
In S190, the determination result in S170 may be used.

  In S200, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines whether or not the stop time of the video stream measured in S190 is equal to or longer than a predetermined period (stop confirmation period) t2, and if it is less than the predetermined period t2 (S200: No) The process proceeds to S220, and if it is equal to or longer than the predetermined period t2 (S200: Yes), it is determined that the video stream is stopped, and the process proceeds to S210.

Incidentally, there may be a still image period in which the motion of the video is stopped (still) in the video stream, and there may be a silent period in which the audio output is stopped in the audio stream.
The still image period of the video stream is about 10 seconds in the case of a program (for example, a sports program) in which the video is easy to move and the still image period is short, and a program (for example, a Go program in which the video hardly moves) For example, if the stop confirmation period t2 is set to 1 minute, for example, most programs can be handled.

In S210, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 outputs video stream stop error information, and proceeds to S220.
Then, the error information notifying PC 40 displays the stop error information of the video stream output from the video / audio monitoring device 20 on the display 40a and outputs it as audio from the speaker 40b, thereby managing the stream monitoring system 10. The person in charge.

In S220, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 measures the stop time of the audio stream, and proceeds to S230.
Here, in order to measure the stop time of the audio stream, the state in which the volume in the audio data of the audio stream captured in S140 is less than the predetermined volume is set as the stop state of the audio stream, and the time during which the stop state continues is stopped. What is necessary is just to measure as time.
In S220, the determination result in S160 may be used.

In S230, the video / audio monitoring device 20 determines whether or not the stop time of the audio stream measured in S220 is equal to or longer than a predetermined period (stop confirmation period) t2, and if it is less than the predetermined period t2 (S230: No) The process returns to S110, and if it is equal to or longer than the predetermined period t2 (S230: Yes), it is determined that the audio stream is stopped, and the process proceeds to S240.
Here, in consideration of video and audio synchronization, the video stream stop confirmation period and the audio stream stop confirmation period may be set to the same period t2.

In S240, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 outputs audio stream stop error information, and returns to S110.
Then, the error information notification PC 40 displays the stop error information of the audio stream output from the video / audio monitoring device 20 on the display 40a and outputs it as audio from the speaker 40b, thereby managing the stream monitoring system 10. The person in charge.

[Operations and effects of the first embodiment]
According to the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.

  [1-1] The video / audio monitoring device 20 of the stream monitoring system 10 outputs the video stream or audio stream output by the STB 30 (first receiving means) by the processing of S110, S120, S190 to S240 (first monitoring means). When the video stream or the audio stream is stopped, the stop error information indicating the stop state is output, and then the reception channel of the STB 30 is switched to the next reception channel. .

  Further, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 detects that the motion of the video is not stopped based on the video stream output by the STB 30 by the processing of S150 to S180 (second monitoring means), and the STB 30 outputs When it is detected that the audio output is not stopped based on the audio stream, the processing of S110, S120, S190 to S240 (operation of the first monitoring means) is canceled, and the reception channel of the STB 30 is set next. Switch to the receiving channel.

  Then, the error information notification PC 40 (notification means) visually displays the stop error information output by the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 (first monitoring means) to the administrator of the stream monitoring system 10 using the display 40a. And aurally using the speaker 40b.

Therefore, in the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment, the time required for switching the reception channel can be shortened compared to the case where only the processing of S110, S120, S190 to S240 (first monitoring means) is provided.
In particular, when the operation of detecting whether or not the video stream and the audio stream are stopped is repeatedly performed for a large number of reception channels, the circulation cycle of the monitoring operation can be significantly shortened. .

For example, the number of reception channels H of STB 30 is set to 30 channels, the stop confirmation period t2 is set to 20 seconds, the time t3 required for switching the reception channels in STB 30 is set to about 2 seconds, and the margin time required for the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 t4 = about 1 second.
Then, in order to detect whether or not the video stream and the audio stream are stopped for all reception channels, it takes about 110 seconds (= {t3 + t4} × H + t2 = {2 seconds + 1 second} × 30 channels + 20 seconds). It takes time.
That is, in the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment, the operation of detecting whether or not the video stream and the audio stream are stopped for the 30 reception channels is circulated at a cycle of about 110 seconds. Yes.

As described above, the conventional stream monitoring system 800 shown in FIG. 21 detects about 690 seconds (= {t2 + t3 + t4}) for detecting whether the video stream and the audio stream are stopped for all the reception channels. × H = {20 seconds + 2 seconds + 1 second} × 30 channels).
That is, in the conventional stream monitoring system 800, the operation of detecting whether or not the video stream and the audio stream are stopped for 30 reception channels is circulated in a cycle of about 690 seconds.

  Therefore, according to the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment, compared with the conventional stream monitoring system 800, the operation of detecting and monitoring whether the video stream and the audio stream are stopped for each reception channel is repeated. Can be significantly shortened from about 690 seconds to about 110 seconds.

And in the stream monitoring system 10 of 1st Embodiment, since the whole structure of a system becomes small compared with the conventional stream monitoring system 900 shown in FIG. 22, cost reduction can be achieved.
As described above, in the rack standard used in general broadcasting facilities, it is possible to mount about 40 units of equipment in one rack.
Here, it is assumed that two units are required to mount one STB 30 and one unit is required to mount one video / audio monitoring device 20, and the first implementation is performed when the number of reception channels is 30. In the stream monitoring system 10 of the embodiment, since only three units of racks are required, it is only necessary to install one rack.
On the other hand, the conventional stream monitoring system 900 requires 90 units of racks as described above, and at least three racks must be installed.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the stream monitoring system 10 capable of detecting in a short time whether or not the video stream or the audio stream is stopped for a plurality of reception channels is provided at low cost. can do.

[1-2] FIG. 4 shows an example of stop error information displayed on the display screen of the display 40a of the PC 40 for error information notification.
The stop error information includes the still image generated from the “stopped video stream” captured in S130 shown in FIG. 2 and the name of the base where the video / audio monitoring device 20 is installed (the name of the base where the error occurred) “Nagoya. "City transmission center", receiving channel name (error occurrence channel name) where video stream is stopped "502ch sports channel", date and time when video stream was stopped (error occurrence date) "October 20, 2013 14:52 : 20 ", error content" video stop error ", and the time during which the video stream has been stopped (error duration)" continues for 60 seconds ".

In this way, the still image generated from the “stopped video stream” (still image at the time of error occurrence) and information related to the stop of the video stream (error occurrence base name, error occurrence channel name, error occurrence date, Error content and error duration) are displayed side by side on the display screen of the display 40a, and a multi-channel program is provided, or the video / audio monitoring devices 20 installed at a plurality of locations are managed simultaneously or by switching. It is particularly useful in cases.
A reception channel logo or the like may be arranged on a still image displayed as stop error information.

[1-3] The error information notification PC 40 is connected to the Internet line (not shown), and the stop error information of the video stream or the audio stream is attached to the e-mail addressed to the administrator of the stream monitoring system 10, An electronic mail may be transmitted from the error information notification PC 40 to the Internet line.
Further, the error information notification PC 40 is connected to a telephone line (not shown), and the stop error information of the video stream or the audio stream is transmitted to the administrator of the stream monitoring system 10 using SMS (Short Message Service). You may transmit to a telephone and PHS (Personal Handy-phone System).
In this way, even when the administrator of the stream monitoring system 10 is away from the error information notification PC 40, the stop error information can be notified to the administrator.

[1-4] In the stop confirmation period t2 used in S160, S170, S200, and S220, the input device 22 of the video / audio monitoring device 20 is capable of reliably detecting video motion stop and audio output stop. Using this, the administrator of the stream monitoring system 10 may set a desired period (time).
In addition, if the stop confirmation period t2 is individually set for each reception channel, regardless of the length of the still image period, any program (a program in which the video is easy to move and a short still image period, a still image period in which the video is difficult to move) Even if it is a long program), it can be reliably detected whether or not the motion of the video has stopped.

Second Embodiment
The configuration of the stream monitoring system 60 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
2 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the second embodiment.
The flowchart of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 differs from the flowchart of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 only in that S310 and S320 are added.

That is, the video / audio monitoring device 20 of the second embodiment proceeds to S310 if a negative determination is made in S150 shown in FIG. 2 (S150: No).
If the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 of the second embodiment makes a negative determination in S160 shown in FIG. 2 (S160: No), the process proceeds to S310.
Moreover, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 of the second embodiment proceeds to S310 if a negative determination is made in S170 shown in FIG. 2 (S170: No).

  As shown in FIG. 5, in S310, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 extracts a still image (second still image) from the video stream of the subsequent frame among the two continuous video streams captured in S130 shown in FIG. Image) and whether or not the still image is the same as the registered specific still image (specific still image pattern) is determined, and if it is the same (S310: Yes), the process proceeds to S320. If they are not the same (S310: No), the process proceeds to S190.

In S320, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 outputs reception failure error information, and returns to S110.
Then, the error information notification PC 40 displays the reception failure error information output from the video / audio monitoring device 20 on the display 40a and outputs it as audio from the speaker 40b, thereby allowing the administrator of the stream monitoring system 60 to Notice.

[Operation and Effect of Second Embodiment]
Normally, when the STB 30 cannot normally receive the RF signal transmitted from the CATV network 50, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a specific message “broadcast pause” is displayed on the screen PT of a display (not shown) connected to the STB 30. It has a function of displaying a still image including "Inside or the antenna is not properly connected".

Therefore, when the video stream output from the STB 30 relates to a still image including the specific message shown in FIG. 6, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 stops the video motion in S170 and S200. It will be judged.
As a result, when the motion of the video is stopped although the STB 30 is normally received (when the video stream is stopped), the motion of the video is stopped because the STB 30 cannot be received normally. (When a still image including a specific message is displayed, that is, when reception has failed) cannot be determined.

  Therefore, in the stream monitoring system 60 of the second embodiment, the administrator previously registers and sets the still image including the specific message shown in FIG. 6 as the specific still image, and the still image generated from the video stream is the specific still image. If it is determined that they are the same (S310: Yes), it is determined that the motion of the video has stopped because the STB 30 cannot be received normally, and reception failure error information corresponding to the specific message is output (S320). ), The administrator of the stream monitoring system 60 is notified using the error information notification PC 40.

That is, in the stream monitoring system 60 of the second embodiment, when the motion of the video is stopped because the STB 30 cannot be received normally, the processing of the video / audio monitoring device 20 in S310 and S320 (third monitoring means) ) Cancels the processing of S110, S120, S190 to S240 (operation of the first monitoring means).
The error information notification PC 40 (notification means) uses the display 40a to display the reception failure error information output from the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 (first monitoring means) to the administrator of the stream monitoring system 60. In addition to visually informing, the speaker 40b is used to audibly notify.

  As a result, in the second embodiment, when the motion of the video is stopped even when the STB 30 is normally received (when the video stream is stopped), the STB 30 cannot be normally received. The administrator of the stream monitoring system 60 can reliably determine when the motion of the video is stopped (when a still image including a specific message is displayed, that is, when reception has failed). it can.

In the second embodiment, S310 is executed after S190, but S310 may be executed after S140 (see FIG. 2).
That is, when the motion of the video is stopped because the STB 30 cannot be normally received, the processing of S110, S120, S190 to S240 is performed by the processing (third monitoring means) of S310 and S320 of the video / audio monitoring device 20. In addition to canceling the processing (operation of the first monitoring unit), the processing of S150 to S180 (operation of the first monitoring unit) may be canceled.
In this way, the flowchart goes around quickly, which is advantageous for the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20.

<Third Embodiment>
The configuration of the stream monitoring system 70 of the third embodiment is the same as that of the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The stream monitoring system 70 of the third embodiment differs from the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment only in the processing contents of S120 and S180 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the third embodiment, in S120 and S180, when the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 switches the reception channel of the STB 30 to the next reception channel by the reception channel switching control, the cycle of the previous flowchart (the previous monitoring operation) If no video stream stop or audio stream stop is detected for all reception channels, the channel switching cycle for all reception channels (the cycle in which the order is cycled by channel switching). ) Is set to the normal mode, and the process proceeds to S130.

  In the third embodiment, in S120 and S180, when the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 switches the reception channel of the STB 30 to the next reception channel by the reception channel switching control, in the circulation of the previous flowchart, For the reception channel in which the stop of the video stream or the stop of the audio stream is detected, the channel switching cycle is changed to the abnormal mode, and the process proceeds to S130.

  That is, when the STB 30 switches N reception channels from channel number “0ch” to channel number “(N−1) ch”, the channel number is changed from 0ch → 1ch → 2ch in the normal mode of the cycle period of channel switching. ... → (N-2) ch → (N-1) ch → 0ch → 1ch ... Incrementing and so on, the first channel number “(N-1) ch” is followed by the first channel number “ By switching back to “0ch”, the channel is switched.

  On the other hand, in the abnormal mode, the channel switching cycle is set shorter than that in the normal mode. For example, the channel of the reception channel in which the stop of the video stream or the stop of the audio stream is detected in the cycle of the previous flowchart. When the cycle number of the channel switching of channel number “3ch” is set short when the number is “3ch”, the channel number is changed from 0ch → 1ch → 2ch → 3ch → 4ch → 5ch → 3ch → 6ch → 7ch → 3ch → For example, 8ch …………… Only channel number “3ch” is switched in a cycle of 3 channels.

  In the third embodiment, in S120 and S180, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 performs the cycle of the previous flowchart for the reception channel in which the stop of the video stream or the stop of the audio stream is detected in the cycle of the previous flowchart. If no video stream stop or audio stream stop is detected in step 1, it is confirmed that the video stream and audio stream have returned normally, and the channel switching cycle is returned from the abnormal mode to the normal mode. Then, the process proceeds to S130.

[Operation and Effect of Third Embodiment]
According to the stream monitoring system 70 of the third embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.

[3-1] The video / audio monitoring device 20 of the stream monitoring system 70 sets the circulation cycle in which the STB 30 (first receiving unit) switches a predetermined reception channel in the normal mode by the processing of S120 or S180 (mode setting unit). Or set to abnormal mode. Here, in the abnormal mode, the circulation cycle is set shorter than in the normal mode.
In the processing of S120 or S180, the circulation cycle of the reception channel in which the video stream or the audio stream is detected to be stopped by the processing of S110, S120, S190 to S240 (first monitoring means) is set to the abnormal mode. Set.
Further, in the processing of S120 or S180, when it is detected by the processing of S110, S120, S190 to S240 that the video stream or the audio stream has not been stopped for the reception channel set in the abnormal mode in the past, Set the loop period of the receiving channel back to normal mode.

Therefore, according to the third embodiment, with respect to the reception channel in which the video stream or the audio stream is stopped, the video stream and the audio stream are normally returned from the stop state to the non-stop state, compared to the first embodiment. It can be detected quickly.
Here, the channel switching cycle in the abnormal mode may be set to a desired cycle by the administrator of the stream monitoring system 70 using the input device 22 of the video / audio monitoring device 20.
For example, in the above example, the channel number “3ch” is switched at a cycle of 3 channels. However, the channel number “3ch” may be switched at an appropriate cycle cycle of 2 channel cycles or 4 channel cycles or more.

[3-2] In the third embodiment, when the stop of the video stream or the stop of the audio stream is detected for a plurality of reception channels, the cycle period of channel switching is set to the normal mode for all the reception channels. May be.
That is, in S120 and S180, when the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 switches the reception channel of the STB 30 to the next reception channel by the reception channel switching control, the video stream is stopped or audio is circulated in the previous flowchart. If there are a plurality of reception channels in which the stop of the stream is detected, the channel switching cycle is set to the normal mode for all reception channels, and the process proceeds to S130.

  In other words, in S120 and S180, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines that the number of reception channels in which the stop of the video stream or the stop of the audio stream has been detected in the cycle of the previous flowchart is less than the predetermined number, and the cycle of the previous flowchart. If the number of reception channels for which a video stream stop or audio stream stop is detected exceeds the specified number, return the channel switching cycle from the abnormal mode to the normal mode for all reception channels. , The process proceeds to S130.

As described above, when the video stream stop or the audio stream stop is detected for a plurality of reception channels, the reason for setting the normal mode is that if the video stream or the audio stream is stopped for a plurality of reception channels, This is because there is a low possibility that the cause is in the reception channel, and there is a high possibility that the cause is in the entire broadcasting system including the CATV network 50.
Therefore, when the cause of the stop of the video stream or the audio stream is in the entire broadcasting system, the channel switching cycle is set for all the reception channels rather than changing the channel switching cycle period to the abnormal mode for the individual reception channels. If the cycle is set to the normal mode, it becomes possible to check the abnormality (failure status) of the entire broadcasting system.
Here, the predetermined number of reception channels in which the stop of the video stream or the stop of the audio stream is detected in the lap of the previous flowchart is experimentally set to an optimum value so that the abnormality of the entire broadcasting system can be reliably confirmed. Find and set.

[3-3] In general, in the cable television network 50, a group consisting of a plurality of (for example, 5 to 10) reception channels is called a "system", and a transmitter is divided for each "system".
Here, when the video stream or the audio stream is stopped for a plurality of “system” reception channels, it is unlikely that the individual reception channel has the cause, and another cause (for example, antenna failure, etc.) Since there is a high possibility, it is easy to elucidate the cause by setting the cycle period of channel switching to the normal mode for all reception channels.

<Fourth embodiment>
The configuration of the stream monitoring system 80 of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
7 and 8 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 first reads the channel number of the reception channel into the channel number table set in the HDD 21e in S410, and proceeds to S420.
In S420, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 initializes (resets) the switching excitation variable set for each reception channel for all reception channels, and sets the variable value of the switching excitation variable for all reception channels to zero. , The process proceeds to S430.
In S430, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 initializes the excitation increment variable set for each reception channel for all reception channels, and substitutes the initial value p into the variable values of the excitation increment variables for all reception channels (excitation). The increment variable is set to the initial value p), and the process proceeds to S440.

In S440, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 substitutes the predetermined variable value q for the excitation increment variable of the receiving channel that needs to be monitored intensively (sets the excitation increment variable to the predetermined variable value q), and proceeds to S450. To do.
Here, the reception channels that need to be monitored intensively include, for example, newly established reception channels, reception channels that have just been started, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 8, in S450, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 adds the variable value of the excitation increment variable to the variable value of the switching excitation variable for each reception channel, and proceeds to S460.
In S460, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 finds the largest variable value from among the variable values of the switching excitation variables of all the reception channels, and the channel number of the reception channel having the largest variable value of the switching excitation variable. And moves to S470.
Here, when there are a plurality of reception channels having the largest variable value of the switching excitation variable, the channel number of any one of the reception channels is found.

In S470, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 sets the channel number found in S460 in the channel number table, and proceeds to S480.
In S480, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 performs the video / audio monitoring process (S110 to S240) of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 or the second embodiment shown in FIGS. The video / audio monitoring process (S110 to S240, S310, S320) is executed, and after the video / audio monitoring process is completed, the process proceeds to S490.

In S480, in S120, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 switches the reception channel of the STB 30 to the reception channel of the channel number set in S470 by reception channel switching control.
In S480, the process of S180 is omitted, and when a negative determination is made in S170 (S170: No), the video / audio monitoring process is terminated and the process proceeds to S490.
In S480, if a negative determination is made in S230 (S230: No), the video / audio monitoring process is terminated instead of returning to S110, and the process proceeds to S490.
In S480, instead of returning to S110 after the execution of S240 and S320, the video / audio monitoring process is terminated after the execution of S240 and S320, and the process proceeds to S490.

In S490, when the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 does not output the stop error information of the video stream or the audio stream in S480 (when the video stream or the audio stream is not stopped), the channel number set in S470 is displayed. For the receiving channels, the variable value of the excitation increment variable is changed to a change value r smaller than the initial value p (p> r).
In addition, when the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 outputs the stop error information of the video stream or the audio stream in S480 (when the video stream or the audio stream is stopped), the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines the reception channel of the channel number set in S470. The variable value of the excitation increment variable is multiplied by a coefficient k of 1 or more (k> 1), and the variable value of the excitation increment variable is changed.
In S500 following S490, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 assigns zero to the variable value of the switching excitation variable for the reception channel having the channel number set in S470 (sets the variable value of the switching excitation variable to zero), and Return to S450.

[Operations and effects of the fourth embodiment]
According to the stream monitoring system 80 of the fourth embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.

  [4-1] The video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 of the stream monitoring system 80 performs the processing of S410 to S470, S490, and S500 (circulation cycle changing means) for a reception channel that is likely to stop the video stream or the audio stream. , STB 30 (first receiving means) changes the setting so that the circulation cycle for switching the reception channel is shortened.

That is, in the fourth embodiment, after the stream monitoring system 80 has been operated for a certain period, the video stream and the audio stream are stopped for each reception channel for the reception channel in which the video stream or the audio stream has never stopped. The cycle of repeating the operation of detecting and monitoring whether or not is long is changed.
In addition, for reception channels that need to be monitored intensively (for example, newly established reception channels, reception channels that have just started operation), and reception channels that have stopped video or audio streams in the near future Is focused monitoring by changing the setting of the cycle of the monitoring operation to be short.

Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, the reception channel, the video stream, or the audio stream that needs to be monitored intensively for the time required for the monitoring operation of the reception channel where the video stream or the audio stream is difficult to stop easily stops. It is possible to automatically assign to the monitoring operation of the reception channel, and the stream monitoring system 80 can be operated efficiently.
In addition, according to the fourth embodiment, since the cycle of the monitoring operation for each reception channel is automatically changed and optimized, the administrator of the stream monitoring system 80 can input the video / audio monitoring device 20. Compared with the case where the device 22 is used to individually set the circulation cycle of the monitoring operation for each reception channel by hand, it is possible to save the administrator.

By the way, in S490, when the variable value of the excitation incremental variable is changed, the variable value of the excitation incremental variable may be set to fall within a predetermined limit range.
For example, when the restriction range is set to 0.5 to 2.0, the monitoring period of the reception channel (the most stable reception channel) in which the video stream or the audio stream is most difficult to stop, the video stream or the audio stream However, the difference from the cycle of the monitoring operation of the reception channel that is most likely to stop (the most unstable reception channel) is four times maximum.

Here, the limit range may be appropriately set according to the operation policy of the stream monitoring system 80.
However, the minimum value of the limit range needs to be set to a value smaller than the initial value p of the excitation increment variable set in S430.
Further, the maximum value of the limit range needs to be set to a value larger than the initial value p of the excitation increment variable.
Note that the initial value p = 1 of the excitation increment variable may be set.
Incidentally, the ratio between the maximum value of the limit range and the minimum value of the limit range is the reciprocal of the ratio between the longest monitoring operation cycle and the shortest monitoring operation cycle.

In S490, the change value r for setting and changing the variable value of the excitation increment variable may be set to any value as long as it is smaller than the initial value p.
For example, when the change value r = 0.99993 is set, when the processing of S450 to S500 circulates in an average of 1 minute, when the video stream or audio stream does not stop continuously for one week, the variable value of the excitation increment variable Converges to 0.5.

In S490, the coefficient k to be multiplied by the variable value of the excitation increment variable may be set to any value as long as it is 1 or more.
For example, if the coefficient k = 1.14142 is set, the variable value of the excitation increment variable is set to 2.0 after the video stream or the audio stream is stopped four times from the state where the variable value of the excitation increment variable is 0.5. Converge.

  In S440, the predetermined variable value q for setting the excitation increment variable may be set to any value as long as it is larger than the initial value p and is within the limit range. That's fine.

[4-2] A reception channel having a larger variable value of the excitation increment variable can be said to be a reception channel (an unstable reception channel) in which a video stream or an audio stream is likely to stop.
Then, the reception channel having a large variable value of the excitation increment variable is set and changed in a short circulation cycle in which the operation of detecting and monitoring whether the video stream and the audio stream are stopped is repeated.

Therefore, by displaying the cycle of the monitoring operation for each reception channel on the display screen of the display 40a (notification means) of the error information notification PC 40, an unstable reception channel (video stream) for the administrator of the stream monitoring system 80 is displayed. Alternatively, a reception channel that is likely to stop the audio stream) may be notified to alert the administrator.
For example, a list of channel names (channel numbers) of a plurality of reception channels is displayed on the display screen of the display 40a, and the channel names (channel numbers) are displayed more conspicuously than others for reception channels having a large monitoring cycle. do it.
Further, it is only necessary to display a plurality of reception channel images on the display screen of the display 40a and display the reception channel having a large circulation cycle of the monitoring operation such that the images are more conspicuous than others.

[4-3] In the fourth embodiment, the circulation cycle for repeatedly performing the operation of monitoring the stop of the video stream or the audio stream is automatically changed for each reception channel.
However, not only the monitoring operation for stopping the video stream or the audio stream, but also when applied to any monitoring operation to be monitored, the cycle of the monitoring operation is automatically changed as in the fourth embodiment. It is possible.

For example, when the present invention is applied to a monitoring operation of a transport stream of a digital broadcast, it can be used when a transport stream obtained by demodulating and receiving a television broadcast wave by specifying a reception channel is monitored.
In addition, when applied to an IP broadcast stream monitoring operation, it can be used for receiving while switching the multicast distribution group address.

<Fifth Embodiment>
The configuration of the stream monitoring system 90 of the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
9 and 10 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the fifth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 first initializes (resets) the video stop loop counter set for each reception channel for all reception channels in S610. The counter value of the video stop loop counter is set to zero, and the process proceeds to S620.
In S620, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 switches the reception channel of the STB 30 to the next reception channel by the reception channel switching control, and proceeds to S630.

In S630, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines whether or not the video stop loop counter of the reception channel is zero for the reception channel switched in the process of S620. If the video stop loop counter is zero (S630: In Yes), the process proceeds to S640.
In S640, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 executes a video stream capturing process, captures two consecutive frames of video streams from the video stream output from the STB 30, and proceeds to S650.

  In S650, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 describes two consecutive frames of still images (hereinafter referred to as “first still image” and “second still image”) from the two consecutive frames of the video stream captured in S640. ) To detect the difference (luminance difference) between the luminance of each pixel constituting the first still image and the luminance of each pixel constituting the second still image, and the average value of the absolute values of the luminance differences is It is determined whether or not the value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If the value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (S650: No), the first still image and the second still image are different still images, and the motion of the video is not stopped. And return to S610.

Further, in S650, when the average value of the absolute values of the luminance differences is less than the predetermined value (S650: Yes), the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 has the same still image as the first still image and the second still image. It is determined that the motion of the video has stopped, and the process proceeds to S660.
In S660, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 increments the counter value of the video stop loop counter of the reception channel for the reception channel switched in the process of S620, and returns to S610.
Also, in S630, the video / audio monitoring device 20 proceeds to S670 if the video stop loop counter of the reception channel switched in the process of S620 is not zero (S630: No).

As shown in FIG. 10, in S670, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 executes a video stream capturing process, captures a video stream for one frame from the video stream output from the STB 30, and proceeds to S680.
In S680, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 generates one frame of a still image (hereinafter referred to as “third still image”) from the one frame of the video stream captured in S670.

Then, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 continues two frames of still images generated from the two consecutive frames of video stream captured in S640 in the cycle of the previous flowchart (the cycle of the previous monitoring operation). The difference (luminance) between the luminance of each pixel constituting the still image (first still image) of the first frame and the luminance of each pixel constituting the third still image among the first still image and the second still image) Difference) is detected, and it is determined whether or not the average of the absolute values of the luminance differences is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If the average value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (S680: No), the first still image and the third still image Are different still images and it is determined that the motion of the video has not stopped, and the process proceeds to S690.
In S690, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 initializes the video stop loop counter of the reception channel switched in the process of S620, sets the counter value to zero, and returns to S610.

Further, in S680, when the average value of the absolute value of the luminance difference is less than the predetermined value (S680: Yes), the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 has the same still image as the first still image and the third still image. It is determined that the motion of the video has stopped, and the process proceeds to S700.
In S700, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 increments the counter value of the video stop loop counter of the reception channel for the reception channel switched in the process of S620, and proceeds to S710.

  In S710, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines whether or not the counter value of the video stop loop counter of the reception channel switched in the process of S620 is a predetermined counter value, and if not (S710: If No, the process returns to S620, and if it is a predetermined counter value (S710: Yes), the process proceeds to S720.

In S720, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 outputs video stream stop error information, and proceeds to S620.
Then, the error information notification PC 40 displays the video stream stop error information output from the video / audio monitoring device 20 on the display 40a and outputs it as audio from the speaker 40b, thereby managing the stream monitoring system 90. The person in charge.

[Operation and Effect of Fifth Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, a video stream capturing process is executed in S130 shown in FIG. 2, a continuous two-frame video stream is captured, and a still image (first still image) generated from the two-frame video stream is captured. , The second still image) is the same, and when it is determined that the motion of the video is stopped (S170: No), the processing of S190 to S240 shown in FIG. 3 is executed without switching the reception channel as it is. doing.
For this reason, when there are a plurality of reception channels in which the video stream is frequently stopped, there is a possibility that the circulation cycle in which the operation of detecting and monitoring whether the video stream is stopped is repeated.

  On the other hand, in the fifth embodiment, when the count value of the video stop loop counter is zero for each reception channel (S630: Yes), the video stream capturing process is executed in S640, and the continuous 2 When it is determined that the video stream for the frame is captured and the still images (first still image and second still image) generated from the video stream for the two frames are the same and the motion of the video is stopped (S650) : Yes), the counter value of the video stop loop counter is incremented (S660), and then the reception channel is switched (S620).

If the counter value of the video stop loop counter is not zero (S630: No), a video stream capture process is executed in S670, a video stream for one frame is captured, and a video stream for that one frame is captured. When it is determined that the still image generated from the third still image (third still image) is the same as the first still image generated in the circulation of the previous flowchart and the motion of the video is stopped (S680: Yes). Increments the counter value of the video stop loop counter (S700).
Further, when it is determined that the first still image and the third still image are different and the motion of the video is not stopped (S680: No), the video stop loop counter is initialized to set the counter value to zero ( S690).

  When the count value of the video stop loop counter of each reception channel reaches a predetermined counter value (S710: Yes), the first still image and the third still image are the same. Assuming that the circulation in the flowchart continues for the number of times of the predetermined counter value, video stream stop error information is output (S720).

Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, when there are a plurality of reception channels in which the video stream is frequently stopped, the cycle of repeating the operation of detecting whether or not the video stream is stopped is set as the first embodiment. It can be shortened compared to.
Here, the predetermined counter value of the video stop loop counter may be set to a desired value by the administrator of the stream monitoring system 90 using the input device 22 of the video / audio monitoring device 20.
Note that if the predetermined counter value is set to an excessively small value, video stream stop error information may be erroneously output for a program that is difficult to move and has a long still image period. is there.

  By the way, in S680, the difference between the first still image and the third still image is detected in comparison with the difference between the first still image and the second still image. This is because there is a high possibility that the difference is larger, so it is easy to detect whether or not the motion of the video is stopped.

As described above, the stream monitoring system 90 according to the fifth embodiment
STB 30 (first receiving means) that receives a transmission signal for each reception channel while sequentially switching a plurality of reception channels, generates a video stream and an audio stream for each reception channel from the transmission signal, and outputs them.
Whether or not the video stream or audio stream output from the STB 30 is stopped and the STB 30 switches the predetermined reception channel, the video stream or the audio stream is continuously stopped for a predetermined number of times (predetermined counter value). In this case, the processing of S610 to S720 (monitoring means) in the video / audio monitoring device 20 that outputs stop error information indicating the stop state of the video stream or the audio stream is provided.

<Sixth Embodiment>
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the stream monitoring system 100 according to the sixth embodiment.
The stream monitoring system 100 includes a video / audio monitoring device 20, STBs 30 and 110, an error information notification PC 40 (display 40a, speaker 40b, input device 40c), and a live viewing television receiver 120 (display 120a and speaker 120b). , Installed in a CATV station, a relay station, etc., and connected to the CATV network 50.

  The configuration of the stream monitoring system 100 of the sixth embodiment is different from the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment in that it includes an STB 110 and a live viewing television receiver 120, and the error information notification PC 40 includes an input device 40c. Is a point.

  The STB 110 has the same configuration as the STB 30. However, the STB 110 switches the reception channel in accordance with the reception channel switching control of the error information notification PC 40, not the video / audio monitoring device 20, receives the RF signal transmitted from the CATV network 50, and receives each RF channel. A video stream and an audio stream are generated from the RF signal and output.

The live-viewing television receiver 120 is a commercially available television receiver that includes a display 120a and a speaker 120b, and displays a video generated from a video stream output from the STB 110 on the display 120a and an audio output from the STB 110. The sound generated from the stream is output from the speaker 120b.
The input device 40c of the error information notification PC 40 is composed of, for example, a keyboard and a pointing device.

The video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 of the sixth embodiment records the stop error information of the video stream in the HDD 21e of the computer main body 21 when outputting the stop error information of the video stream in S210 shown in FIG.
The video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 of the sixth embodiment records the audio stream stop error information in the HDD 21e of the computer main body 21 when outputting the audio stream stop error information in S240 shown in FIG. .
Then, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 of the sixth embodiment outputs a plurality of past stop error information (video stream or audio stream stop error information) recorded in the HDD 21e.
Then, the error information notification PC 40 of the sixth embodiment displays a list of a plurality of stop error information output from the video / audio monitoring device 20 on the display 40a.

The administrator of the stream monitoring system 100 uses the input device 40c of the error information notification PC 40 to obtain one piece of stop error information from among a plurality of stop error information listed on the display 40a of the error information notification PC 40. select.
Then, the error information notification PC 40 of the sixth embodiment sets the reception channel of the STB 110 to the same channel number as the reception channel number (see FIG. 4) included in the stop error information selected by the administrator of the stream monitoring system 100. To switch.
The live viewing television receiver 120 displays the video currently being broadcast on the reception channel of the STB 110 switched according to the reception channel switching control of the error information notification PC 40 and outputs the sound.

  In this way, in the stream monitoring system 100 of the sixth embodiment, past stop error information (video stream or audio stream stop error information) is recorded in the HDD 21e of the computer main body 21 of the video / audio monitoring device 20, and The past stop error information is displayed in a list on the display 40a of the error information notification PC 40, and the STB 110 (second receiving means) is set to the same channel number as the reception channel of the stop error information selected by the administrator from the list display. The reception channel is switched, and the video currently being broadcast on the reception channel of the STB 110 is displayed and the audio is output by the television receiver 120 for live viewing.

  Therefore, according to the sixth embodiment, a reception channel in which stop error information of a video stream or an audio stream has been generated in the past (a reception channel in which video motion or audio output has been stopped due to some trouble) The video and audio being broadcast can be viewed by the administrator using the STB 110 (second receiving means), and the motion of the video and the audio output are still stopped, or there is a failure at present. It is possible for the administrator to quickly confirm whether or not video motion and audio output are normal after restoration.

<Seventh embodiment>
FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a stream monitoring system 200 according to the seventh embodiment.
The stream monitoring system 200 includes a video / audio monitoring device 20, STBs 30 and 110, an error information notification PC 40 (display 40 a, speaker 40 b, input device 40 c), live viewing television receiver 120 (display 120 a and speaker 120 b), and the like. A recording system 210 and a television receiver 220 for the recording system (display 220a, speaker 220b) are installed in a CATV station or a relay station and connected to the CATV network 50.

The configuration of the stream monitoring system 200 according to the seventh embodiment is different from the stream monitoring system 100 according to the sixth embodiment in that a recording system 210 and a television receiver 220 for the recording system are provided.
The recording system 210 records the video stream and audio stream output from the STB 30 for a predetermined period in the past from the present, and automatically deletes the old video stream and audio stream from the old video stream and audio stream for a predetermined period after the predetermined period has elapsed. And keep the audio stream.
Here, the predetermined period for recording the video stream and the audio stream may be appropriately set by the administrator of the stream monitoring system 200 according to the recording capacity of a recording apparatus (not shown) built in the recording system 210.

The recording system 210 is connected to the error information notification PC 40 using a LAN, and can be operated using the input device 40 c of the error information notification PC 40.
As the recording system 210, the present applicant (Traffic Sim Co., Ltd.) manufactures and sells the “TS recording system TSR-1000”. It is actually used in CATV stations.

  The recording system television receiver 220 is a commercially available television receiver including a display 220a and a speaker 220b, and displays a video generated from the video stream output from the recording system 210 on the display 220a. Audio generated from the audio stream output from the system 210 is output from the speaker 220b.

As in the sixth embodiment, the error information notification PC 40 of the seventh embodiment displays a list of a plurality of stop error information output from the video / audio monitoring device 20 on the display 40a.
The administrator of the stream monitoring system 200 uses the input device 40c of the error information notification PC 40 to obtain one piece of stop error information from a plurality of stop error information displayed in a list on the display 40a of the error information notification PC 40. select.

  In the stream monitoring system 200 according to the seventh embodiment, the past stop error information (video stream or audio stream stop error information) is converted into the HDD 21e of the computer main body 21 of the video / audio monitoring device 20 as in the sixth embodiment. The past stop error information is listed on the display 40a of the error information notification PC 40, and the STB 110 has the same channel number as the reception channel of the stop error information selected by the administrator from the list display. The reception channel is switched, and the video currently being broadcast on the reception channel of the STB 110 is displayed and the audio is output by the television receiver 120 for live viewing.

Also, the error information notification PC 40 of the seventh embodiment receives a video stream and an audio stream that match the reception channel and date and time (see FIG. 4) included in the stop error information selected by the administrator of the stream monitoring system 200. It is read from the recording system 210 and output.
Then, the simultaneous recording system television receiver 220 relates to the video stream and the audio stream for the video stream and the audio stream that match the reception channel and the date and time included in the stop error information selected by the administrator of the stream monitoring system 200. Displays video and outputs audio.

  Therefore, according to the seventh embodiment, regarding the stop error information of the video stream or the audio stream generated in the past, the past video and audio related to the stop error information are transferred to the recording system 210 (stream recording unit) and the same. By playing back using the television receiver 220 for the recording system, the video and audio can be viewed by the administrator, and the administrator confirms the failure status together with the stop error information (see FIG. 4). can do.

Further, the administrator of the stream monitoring system 200 operates the input device 40c of the error information notification PC 40, so that the reception channel and the date and time included in the selected stop error information are for a predetermined time before and after the date and time. Are read out from the recording system 210 and output, and the video and audio before and after the date and time included in the stop error information are reproduced using the television receiver 220 for the recording system. And can listen to audio.
Here, the predetermined time before and after the date and time included in the stop error information may be set to a desired time by the administrator of the stream monitoring system 200 using the input device 22 of the video / audio monitoring device 20.

In the seventh embodiment, as in the sixth embodiment, the administrator can view the video and audio currently being broadcast on the reception channel in which stop error information of the video stream or audio stream has been generated in the past. It is.
For this reason, the administrator of the stream monitoring system 200 quickly confirms the current failure recovery status and confirms the past failure status together with the video and audio before and after the failure occurrence date and time. It is possible to accurately recognize and properly manage abnormalities in the broadcasting system.

<Eighth Embodiment>
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a stream monitoring system 300 according to the eighth embodiment.
The stream monitoring system 300 includes a video / audio monitoring device 20, an STB 30 (remote control receiver 30a), an error information notification PC 40 (display 40a, speaker 40b, input device 40c), a recording system 210, and a television receiver for the recording system. 220 (display 220a, speaker 220b) and remote control device 310 (infrared LED 310a, remote control transmitter 310b) are installed in a CATV station, a relay station, etc., and are connected to the CATV network 50 and the Internet network 320.

  The configuration of the stream monitoring system 300 of the eighth embodiment is different from the stream monitoring system 10 of the first embodiment in that it includes a recording system 210, a recording system television receiver 220, and a remote control device 310. The STB 30 is a remote controller. The video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 includes a receiver 30a and is connected to the Internet network 320 via an Internet line (not shown).

The remote control device (remote control device, remote controller) 310 includes an infrared LED 310a and a remote control transmitter 310b, and is connected to the video / audio monitoring device 20.
The remote control transmitter 310b controls the light emission state of the infrared LED 310a based on the control signal output from the video / audio monitoring device 20, and emits the light emission signal from the infrared LED 310a.

A commercially available STB 30 is usually provided with an infrared remote control transmitter (not shown), and has a built-in remote control receiver 30a for receiving a light emission signal of the infrared remote control transmitter.
The remote control device 310 emits a light emission signal of the same standard as that of the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30.
Then, the remote control receiver 30a of the STB 30 receives the light emission signal emitted from the remote control device 310.
Therefore, by using the remote control device 310, the video / audio monitoring device 20 can cause the STB 30 to perform the same operation as operating the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30.

14 and 15 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the eighth embodiment.
The flowchart of the eighth embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is different from the flowchart of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 only in that S810 is added.
The flowchart of the eighth embodiment shown in FIG. 15 differs from the flowchart of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 only in that S820 and S830 are added.

That is, if the video / audio monitoring device 20 makes an affirmative determination in S110 shown in FIG. 14 (S110: Yes), the video / audio monitoring device 20 proceeds to S810.
In S810, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 executes an additional operation (addition process) when the video stream is stopped or the audio stream is stopped if the additional operation reservation flag is set when the video stream is stopped or when the audio stream is stopped. After that, the additional operation reservation flag when the video stream is stopped or when the audio stream is stopped is reset, and the process proceeds to S120.

When the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 outputs the video stream stop error information in S210 shown in FIG. 15, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 proceeds to S820.
In S820, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 sets an additional operation reservation flag when the video stream is stopped, and proceeds to S220.
If the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 outputs the audio stream stop error information in S240 shown in FIG. 15, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 proceeds to S830.
In S830, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 sets an additional operation reservation flag when the audio stream is stopped, and returns to S110.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the additional operation at the time of stopping the video stream executed in S810 (see FIG. 14) of the eighth embodiment.
First, in S910, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 reads one line of the script file from the additional operation script data when the video stream is stopped, which is recorded in advance in the HDD 21e of the computer main body 21, and proceeds to S920.
In S920, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines whether or not all script files have been read from the additional operation script data at the time of video stream stop recorded in advance in the HDD 21e of the computer main body 21, and all the script files are stored. If it has been read (S920: Yes), the additional operation at the time of stopping the video stream is completed and the process proceeds to S120 (see FIG. 14). If not all script files have been read (S920: No), the process proceeds to S930. Transition.
In S930, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 executes the script file read in S910, and returns to S910.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the additional operation at the time of stopping the audio stream, which is executed in S810 (see FIG. 14) of the eighth embodiment.
First, in S940, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 reads one line of the script file from the additional operation script data when the audio stream is stopped, which is recorded in advance in the HDD 21e of the computer main body 21, and proceeds to S950.
In S950, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines whether or not all script files have been read from the additional operation script data at the time of stopping the audio stream recorded in advance in the HDD 21e of the computer main body 21, and all the script files are stored. If it has been read (S950: Yes), the additional operation at the time of stopping the audio stream is completed, and the process proceeds to S120 (see FIG. 14). If not all script files have been read (S950: No), the process proceeds to S960. Transition.
In S960, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 executes the script file read in S940, and returns to S940.

FIG. 18A shows an example of the additional operation script data when the video stream is stopped in the eighth embodiment.
In the example shown in FIG. 18A, the additional operation script data when the video stream is stopped is configured by a script file of four lines.
The script file “PRESS REMCON <BANGUMIHYO>” on the first line emits the same light emission signal from the remote control device 310 as when the “program guide button” of the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30 is pressed, so that the STB 30 The STB 30 is made to perform the same operation as the operation of pressing the “program guide button” of the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30.
The script file “WAIT 5S” on the second line causes the STB 30 to perform an operation for displaying the program guide only for a time (5 seconds in this example) when the administrator of the stream management system 300 can visually check the program guide.

The script file “PRESS REMCON <MENTE MENU>” on the third line is generated by emitting the same light emission signal from the remote control device 310 as when the “maintenance menu button” of the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30 is pressed. The STB 30 is caused to perform the same operation as the operation of pressing the “maintenance menu button” of the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30.
The commercially available STB 30 usually has a function of displaying a maintenance screen for a CATV station engineer to confirm the operation status of the STB 30, and this function is secret to general users.
The script file “WAIT 3S” on the fourth line causes the STB 30 to perform an operation for displaying the maintenance screen only for a time during which the administrator of the stream monitoring system 300 can visually check the maintenance screen (3 seconds in this example). is there.

FIG. 19 shows an example of a radio wave reception status screen which is a specific example of the maintenance screen displayed on the display screen of the display 220a of the television receiver 220 for the recording system.
On the radio wave reception status screen, a channel number “327”, a physical channel number “C40 327 MHz”, a reception level “75 dBuV”, and a BER (Bit Error Ratio) “1.0E-6” are displayed.

FIG. 18B shows an example of the additional operation script data when the audio stream is stopped in the eighth embodiment.
In the example shown in FIG. 18B, the additional operation script data when the audio stream is stopped is configured by a script file of 6 lines.
The script file “PRESS REMCON <AUDIO CHANGE>” on the first line emits the same light emission signal from the remote control device 310 as when the “voice switch button” of the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30 is pressed. The STB 30 is caused to perform the same operation as the operation of pressing the “voice switching button” of the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30.
The script file “WAIT 10S” on the second line causes the STB 30 to perform an operation for maintaining the audio output only for a period of time during which the administrator of the stream monitoring system 300 can confirm that the audio has been switched (in this example, 10 seconds). It is.

  The script files “PRESS REMCON <BANGUMIHYO>”, “WAIT 5S”, “PRESS REMCON <MENTE MENU>”, and “WAIT 3S” on the 3rd to 6th lines are added operations when the video stream is stopped as shown in FIG. This is the same as the script file in the first to fourth lines in the script data.

[Operation and Effect of Eighth Embodiment]
In the stream monitoring system 300 according to the eighth embodiment, when the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines that the video stream is stopped (S200: Yes), the processing of S810, S820, S910 to S930 (additional operation) The execution unit) executes an additional operation when the video stream is stopped.
If the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 determines that the audio stream is stopped (S230: Yes), the process of S810, S830, S940 to S960 (additional operation execution means) is performed when the audio stream is stopped. Perform an add operation.

In the example of the additional operation at the time of stopping the video stream shown in FIG. 18A, the program screen is displayed on the STB 30 for 5 seconds, and then the maintenance screen is displayed for 3 seconds.
In the example of the additional operation at the time of stopping the audio stream shown in FIG. 18B, the audio is switched to STB 30 and the audio output is maintained for 10 seconds. Subsequently, the program guide is displayed for 5 seconds, and then the maintenance screen 3 is displayed. Display for seconds.

As described above, the operation performed by the STB 30 by the additional operation when the video stream is stopped or when the audio stream is stopped is recorded in the recording system 210.
Therefore, according to the eighth embodiment, the video and audio related to the additional operation when the video stream or the audio stream recorded in the recording system 210 is stopped (when a failure occurs) is transmitted to the television receiver 220 for the recording system. It is possible for the administrator to view the video and audio by playing back, and even if the video stream or audio stream stops when the administrator is absent, the administrator can check the failure status. it can.

In other words, in the eighth embodiment, the program list at the time when the video stream or the audio stream is stopped (when a failure occurs) is recorded in the same recording system 210 so that the program name at the time of the failure can be investigated or the failure occurs. It is possible to check whether the time is during the suspension of broadcasting.
Here, when the stop of the video stream and the audio stream corresponds to the suspension of the broadcast, it is understood that no failure has occurred and the video stream and the audio stream have been stopped simply because the broadcast is suspended.

In the eighth embodiment, a radio wave reception status screen (see FIG. 19) displayed by the STB 30 when a video stream or an audio stream is stopped (when a fault occurs) is recorded in the recording system 210, thereby generating the fault. It can be confirmed whether or not the cause is caused by radio interference.
In the eighth embodiment, by recording the audio switching at the time of stopping the audio stream (when the silence failure occurs) in the recording system 210, the silence failure is limited to the first sound or also occurs in the second sound. It can be confirmed whether or not.

  Here, the additional operation when the video stream is stopped or when the audio stream is stopped is for the purpose of allowing the administrator who encountered the stop status (failure status) of the video stream or audio stream to understand the stop status in more detail. The same operation as that which would be executed using the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30 is automatically performed on the STB 30, and the additional operation shown in FIG. 18 is an example.

In addition to the example shown in FIG. 18, examples of the additional operation when the video stream is stopped or when the audio stream is stopped include the following examples.
[First Example] The remote controller 310 emits the same light emission signal as when the preset “channel button” of the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30 is pressed, thereby attaching to the STB 30. The STB 30 is caused to perform the same operation as the operation of pressing the preset “channel button” of the infrared remote control transmitter. That is, the reception channel of the STB 30 is switched to another preset channel number.

In CATV, a plurality of channels are often bundled and transmitted within the same frequency radio wave, so when video or audio stops on a certain channel, the symptom is another channel within the same frequency radio wave. However, by checking whether or not it has occurred, it is possible to determine whether the video or audio stoppage is a problem of the entire frequency or a problem specific to the channel.
For example, three channels 201ch, 202ch, and 305ch are bundled within the frequency 327MHz of the reception channel, and 203ch, 402ch, and 508ch are bundled within the frequency 333MHz of the reception channel. When it is detected that video or audio has stopped at 201ch, 202ch and 305ch are confirmed by additional operation, and 203ch is confirmed.
At this time, if 202ch, 305ch, and 203ch are normal, it can be assumed that the stop of the video or audio is a failure limited to 201ch.
Further, when only 203ch is normal, it can be assumed that the stop of video or audio is a problem of the entire frequency of 327 MHz including 201ch.
If video or audio is stopped on all channels confirmed by the additional operation, it may be possible that there is a failure in the entire broadcasting system including other frequencies.

  [Second Example] By emitting the same emission signal from the remote control device 310 as when the “data broadcast button (d button)” of the infrared remote control transmitter attached to the STB 30 is pressed, the infrared light attached to the STB 30 is transmitted. The STB 30 is caused to perform the same operation as the operation of pressing the “data broadcasting button” of the remote control transmitter. That is, the data broadcast is displayed on the STB 30.

In an ordinary digital broadcasting system, video and audio are generated by a dedicated encoder, data broadcast is generated by a data broadcast generation device, and video and audio and data broadcast are generally synthesized by a multiplexer. is there.
Therefore, by checking the status of data broadcasting, whether there is a failure that stops only video or audio, or whether there is a failure that stops data broadcasting in addition to stopping video or audio Judgment is possible.
Here, when both video or audio and data broadcasting are stopped, it can be assumed that the multiplexer is malfunctioning.
Further, when only video or audio is stopped and data broadcasting is normally displayed, it can be assumed that an encoder that generates video and audio is malfunctioning.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the procedure of the additional operation when the video stream is stopped or when the audio stream is stopped is defined using the script file. However, it may be incorporated in the program in advance.
Incidentally, when a script file is used, it is easy to change to another additional operation by exchanging additional operation script data recorded in advance in the HDD 21e.

<Ninth Embodiment>
The configuration of the stream monitoring system 400 of the ninth embodiment is the same as that of the stream monitoring system 300 of the eighth embodiment shown in FIG.
In the ninth embodiment, similarly to the eighth embodiment, a radio wave reception status screen displayed by the STB 30 when the video stream or the audio stream is stopped (when a failure occurs) is recorded in the recording system 210.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 19, the video / audio monitoring device 20 of the ninth embodiment displays the numeric character string displayed at the reception level numeric display location Pa on the radio wave reception status screen displayed by the STB 30 as characters. In addition to recognizing (image recognition), the number string displayed at the BER value display location Pb is character-recognized to determine whether the reception level and the BER value are normal values set in advance.
Then, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 of the ninth embodiment outputs information on the determination result whether the reception level and the numerical value of BER are normal values, and records the information on the determination result in the HDD 21e of the computer main body 21. To do.

Here, since the reception level is normally in the range of 45 to 85 dBuV, the reception level “75 dBuV” illustrated in FIG. 19 is a normal value.
Further, since the normal value range of BER is generally less than 1.0E-4, BER “1.0E-6” illustrated in FIG. 19 is a normal value.

The error information notification PC 40 according to the ninth embodiment displays information about the reception level and the determination result whether the numerical value of BER output from the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 is normal or not on the display 40a and the speaker 40b. Is output as audio from the system to notify the administrator of the stream monitoring system 400.
As a result, the administrator can confirm whether or not the cause of the failure is due to a radio wave failure due to reception level or BER abnormality.

It is to be noted that information on the determination result of whether the reception level and the BER value are normal values is attached to an e-mail addressed to the administrator of the stream monitoring system 400, and the e-mail is sent from the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 to the Internet line. It may be transmitted to the Internet network 320 via the Internet.
Further, the error information notification PC 40 is connected to the Internet line (not shown), and information on the determination result of whether the reception level and the numerical value of the BER are normal values is sent to the e-mail addressed to the administrator of the stream monitoring system 400 And the electronic mail may be transmitted from the error information notification PC 40 to the Internet line.

In addition, the error monitoring PC 40 is connected to a telephone line (not shown), and information on the determination result of whether the reception level and the numerical value of the BER are normal values is managed by the SMS. It may be transmitted to the person's mobile phone or PHS.
In this way, even if the administrator of the stream monitoring system 400 is away from the error information notification PC 40, information on the determination result of whether the reception level and the numerical value of the BER are normal values is notified to the administrator. be able to.

<Tenth Embodiment>
The configuration of the stream monitoring system 500 of the tenth embodiment is the same as that of the stream monitoring system 300 of the eighth embodiment shown in FIG.
14 to 17 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 20 shows an example of the additional operation script data when the video stream is stopped in the tenth embodiment.
In the example shown in FIG. 20, the additional operation script data at the time of stopping the video stream is configured by an 8-line script file.
The script files “PRESS REMCON <BANGUMIHYO>”, “WAIT 5S”, “PRESS REMCON <MENTE MENU>”, and “WAIT 3S” on the second, third, fifth, and sixth lines are shown in FIG. This is the same as the script file in the first to fourth lines in the additional operation script data when the video stream is stopped.

The script file “CAPTURE SCREEN <IMG01>” on the first line records the still image generated from the “stopped video stream” captured in S130 shown in FIG. 2 on the HDD 21e of the computer main body 21 as “IMG01”. Is.
The script file “CAPTURE SCREEN <IMG02>” on the fourth line records the program table displayed by the STB 30 on the HDD 21e as a still image “IMG02”.
The script file “CAPTURE SCREEN <IMG03>” on the seventh line records the radio wave reception status screen (see FIG. 19) displayed by the STB 30 as a still image “IMG03” in the HDD 21e.

  The script file “RESERVEEMAIL“ video stop error ”, IMG01, IMG02, IMG03” on the 8th line uses an e-mail transmission module (not shown) built in the video / audio monitoring device 20 and the stream monitoring system 500 As an e-mail addressed to the administrator, three still images “IMG01”, “IMG02”, and “IMG03” are attached to the message body of “video stop error”, and the e-mail is sent from the video / audio monitoring device 20 via the Internet line. To the Internet 320.

According to the tenth embodiment, even when the administrator of the stream monitoring system 500 is away from the television receiver 220 for the recording system, the information (“stopped”) when the video stream is stopped (when a failure occurs). The still image “IMG01” generated from the “video stream”, the still image “IMG02” of the program guide, and the still image “IMG03” of the radio wave reception status screen) can be notified to the administrator.
Therefore, the administrator can accurately recognize and appropriately manage the abnormality in the broadcasting system by viewing the still image generated from the video stream output from the STB 30 by the additional operation.

<Eleventh embodiment>
The configuration of the stream monitoring system 600 of the eleventh embodiment is the same as that of the stream monitoring system 300 of the eighth embodiment shown in FIG.
The video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 according to the eleventh embodiment receives a video stream and an audio stream for a predetermined time before and after the date / time (failure occurrence date / time) included in the stop error information of the video stream or audio stream from the recording system 210. The video stream and the audio stream are read out and output, transmitted to the Internet network 320 via the Internet line, and uploaded to a web server set in advance using a communication protocol.
For example, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), FTPS (File Transfer Protocol over SSL / TLS), or SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) may be used as the communication protocol.

  In addition, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 according to the eleventh embodiment is a video stream for a predetermined time before and after the date / time included in the stop error information of the video stream or the audio stream as an e-mail addressed to the administrator of the stream monitoring system 600. And an e-mail in which the video stream uploaded on the web server and the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the audio stream are written in the message body explaining that the audio stream has been uploaded to the web server. Transmission from the voice monitoring device 20 to the Internet network 320 via the Internet line.

  Therefore, even when the administrator of the stream monitoring system 600 is away from the recording system television receiver 220, it is included in the stop error information of the video stream or audio stream according to the URL described in the received e-mail. It is possible to download a video stream and audio stream for a predetermined time before and after the date and time from the web server, check the video and audio related to the video stream and audio stream, and accurately recognize abnormalities in the broadcasting system. It can be managed appropriately.

  Further, instead of reading out the video stream and the audio stream from the recording system 210, the video stream and the audio stream output from the STB 30 by the additional operation when the video stream or the audio stream is stopped are directly connected to the Internet network via the Internet line. You may transmit to 320 and upload to the web server set beforehand using the communication protocol.

<Another embodiment>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be embodied as follows. Even in this case, operations and effects equivalent to or higher than those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

  <1> A method for detecting whether or not the audio output is stopped at S160, a method for detecting whether or not the audio stream is stopped at S220, and the motion of the video is stopped at S170, S650, and S680. The method for detecting whether or not the video stream is stopped and the method for detecting whether or not the video stream is stopped in S200 are not limited to the method of each of the embodiments described above, and any method may be used.

<2> In S170 and S650, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 of each of the embodiments described above is the difference (brightness) between the luminance of each pixel constituting the first still image and the luminance of each pixel constituting the second still image. Difference) is detected, and it is determined whether or not the average of the absolute values of the luminance differences is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
However, instead of detecting the luminance difference for each pixel, the luminance of a predetermined block including a predetermined number of pixels constituting the first still image and the predetermined block including a predetermined number of pixels constituting the second still image A difference (brightness difference) from the brightness of the brightness may be detected, and it may be determined whether or not the average value of the absolute value of the brightness difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
Then, not the luminance difference but the chromaticity difference may be detected.

In S680, the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 according to the fifth embodiment calculates a difference (luminance difference) between the luminance of each pixel constituting the first still image and the luminance of each pixel constituting the third still image. It is detected and it is determined whether or not the average value of the absolute value of the luminance difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
However, instead of detecting a luminance difference for each pixel, the luminance of a predetermined block including a predetermined number of pixels constituting the first still image and a predetermined block including a predetermined number of pixels constituting the third still image A difference (brightness difference) from the brightness of the brightness may be detected, and it may be determined whether or not the average value of the absolute value of the brightness difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
Then, not the luminance difference but the chromaticity difference may be detected.

<3> In each of the above embodiments, an RF signal transmitted from the CATV network 50 is received.
However, not only the CATV network 50 but an RF signal transmitted from any broadcasting network may be received.
In addition to the RF signal, any transmission signal (analog signal, digital signal) may be received.
The broadcast network includes a wired network such as IP (Internet Protocol) broadcasting, and a wireless network such as satellite digital broadcasting, terrestrial digital broadcasting, and radio broadcasting.

Here, when the STB 30 receives a television broadcast, it can be monitored by detecting whether the video stream or the audio stream of the television broadcast is stopped with the television broadcast as a monitoring target.
Further, when the STB 30 receives a radio broadcast, the radio broadcast can be monitored and it can be detected and monitored whether or not the audio stream of the radio broadcast is stopped.

Also, the video stream output by the STB 30 may be a video stream of video material used by the broadcaster to create a broadcast program, and the audio stream output by the STB 30 is used by the broadcaster to create a broadcast program. An audio stream of audio material may be used.
In this case, it is possible to detect and monitor whether the video stream of the video material or the audio stream of the audio material is stopped.

<4> In each of the above-described embodiments, the monitoring operation of the video / audio monitoring device 20 (the operations shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 9, and 10) is circulated at a constant cycle.
However, the cycle period of the monitoring operation of the video / audio monitoring device 20 may be appropriately changed. In this case, the stop error of the video stream or the audio stream for a program in which a still image or a silent period appears at a constant time interval. It is possible to reliably prevent information from being output erroneously.
Note that when changing the circulation cycle of the monitoring operation of the video / audio monitoring device 20, the circulation cycle may be set using a random number.

  <5> In each of the above embodiments, STBs 30 and 110 are used as receiving means. However, any receiving device can be used as receiving means as long as it corresponds to the broadcast line network and transmission signal of <3>. Also good.

<6> In the above embodiments, the operation of the video / audio monitoring device 20 is realized by software processing by the computer main body 21.
However, the computer main body 21 may be replaced with a dedicated circuit provided with hardware as a dedicated circuit having a function of realizing the operation of the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20.

<7> In each of the above embodiments, the stop error information generated by the video / audio monitoring device 20 is notified to the administrator of the stream monitoring system using the error information notification PC 40.
In the second embodiment, the reception failure error information generated by the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 is notified to the administrator of the stream monitoring system 60 using the error information notification PC 40.

However, the error information notification PC 40 is omitted, and the video / audio monitoring device 20 is connected to an appropriate communication line (for example, a LAN line, the Internet line, etc.), and the stop error information generated by the video / audio monitoring device 20 is obtained. Alternatively, the reception failure error information may be transmitted and notified to a management device (upper monitoring device) provided outside the stream monitoring system via the communication line.
In this way, the stream monitoring system installed at each of the plurality of bases can be managed and monitored by a single management device.

  <8> The input device 22 is omitted from the video / audio monitoring device 20, and the setting using the input device 22 is performed using the input device 40c of the error information notification PC 40 (see FIGS. 11 to 13). May be.

  <9> The functions of the live viewing television receiver 120 of the sixth and seventh embodiments may be incorporated into the error information notification PC 40 as software, and the live viewing television receiver 120 as hardware may be omitted.

  <10> The functions of the recording system television receiver 220 of the seventh to eleventh embodiments may be incorporated into the error information notification PC 40 as software, and the recording system television receiver 220 as hardware may be omitted.

  <11> The remote control device 310 according to the eighth to eleventh embodiments is an infrared remote control device including an infrared LED 310a. However, any type of remote control device (for example, an ultrasonic type, a radio wave type, a wired type) can be used. It may be replaced.

<12> In the eighth embodiment, the specific contents of the additional operation when the video stream is stopped or when the audio stream is stopped (program table display, maintenance screen display, audio switching, etc.) are inserted into the video as telops. Thus, it may be recorded in the recording system 210.
In the tenth embodiment or the eleventh embodiment, the specific content of the additional operation when the video stream is stopped or the audio stream is stopped may be described in the mail body of the e-mail.
In this way, even if the administrator of the stream monitoring system 300 does not know the specific content of the additional operation in advance, the specific content can be accurately recognized.

  <13> The function of the video / audio monitoring device 20 may be incorporated into the error information notification PC 40 as software, and the video / audio monitoring device 20 as hardware may be omitted.

  <14> The above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate, and in that case, the combined effects and effects of the combined embodiments can be provided, or a synergistic effect can be obtained.

<Explanation of terms>
Correspondence between the constituent elements described in [Claims] and [Means for Solving the Problems] and the constituent members described in [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] is as follows.

The “first receiving unit” corresponds to the STB 30.
The “first monitoring unit” corresponds to the processing of S110, S120, S190 to S240 executed by the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the first embodiment (see FIGS. 2 and 3).
The “second monitoring unit” corresponds to the processing of S150 to S180 executed by the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2).
The “third monitoring unit” corresponds to the processing of S310 and S320 executed by the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the second embodiment (see FIG. 5).
The “mode setting means” corresponds to the processing of S120 and S180 executed by the video / audio monitoring device 20 in the third embodiment (see FIGS. 2 and 3).
The “circulation cycle changing means” corresponds to the processing of S410 to S470, S490, and S500 executed by the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the fourth embodiment (see FIGS. 7 and 8).
The “notification unit” corresponds to the display 40 a of the error information notification PC 40.
The “notification means” corresponds to the error information notification PC 40.
The “notification means display screen” corresponds to the display screen of the display 40 a of the error information notification PC 40.
The “additional operation execution means” corresponds to the processing of S810 to S830 and S910 to S960 executed by the video / audio monitoring apparatus 20 in the eighth embodiment (see FIGS. 14 to 17).
The “second receiving unit” corresponds to the STB 110.
The “stop error information recording unit” corresponds to the HDD 21 e of the computer main body 21 of the video / audio monitoring device 20.
The “switching unit” corresponds to the error information notification PC 40.
The “stream recording unit” corresponds to the recording system 210.
The “reproducing means” corresponds to the error information notification PC 40, the recording system 210, and the recording system television receiver 220.
The “determination means” corresponds to the video / audio monitoring device 20.
The “transmission means” corresponds to the video / audio monitoring device 20.

10, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 ... stream monitoring system 20 ... video / audio monitoring device 30, 110 ... STB
40 ... PC for error information notification
50 ... CATV network 210 ... Recording system 320 ... Internet network

Claims (19)

First receiving means for receiving a transmission signal for each reception channel while sequentially switching a plurality of reception channels, and generating and outputting a video stream and an audio stream for each reception channel from the transmission signal;
After detecting whether or not the video stream or audio stream output from the first receiving means is stopped, and when the video stream or audio stream is stopped, after outputting stop error information indicating the stop state First monitoring means for switching the receiving channel of the first receiving means to the next receiving channel;
It is detected that the motion of the video has not stopped based on the video stream output from the first receiving means, and that the audio output has not stopped based on the audio stream output from the first receiving means. Stream monitoring, comprising: second monitoring means for switching the reception channel of the first reception means to the next reception channel after canceling the operation of the first monitoring means when detected. system. The stream monitoring system according to claim 1,
When the first monitoring unit detects that the video stream or the audio stream is stopped, the first monitoring unit includes an additional operation executing unit that causes the first receiving unit to perform a preset additional operation;
The stream monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the additional operation is for grasping a stop state of the video stream or the audio stream. The stream monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein
The additional operation is at least one operation selected from the group consisting of displaying a program guide, displaying a maintenance screen, switching audio, switching to another reception channel, and displaying data broadcasting. Monitoring system. The stream monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When the still image is generated from the video stream output by the first receiving unit and the still image is the same as the specific still image registered in advance, the operation of the first monitoring unit is canceled, A stream monitoring system comprising: third monitoring means for outputting reception failure error information indicating that the first receiving means cannot receive normally. In the stream monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Second receiving means for switching a plurality of reception channels, receiving a transmission signal for each of the switched reception channels, and generating and outputting a video stream and an audio stream for each reception channel from the transmission signal;
Stop error information recording means for recording the stop error information output by the first monitoring means;
Switching to switch the receiving channel of the second receiving means to the same channel number as the one receiving channel of the stop error information selected from the plurality of stop error information recorded in the stop error information recording means And a stream monitoring system. The stream monitoring system according to claim 5,
Stream recording means for recording the video stream and the audio stream output from the first receiving means;
From the stream recording unit, a video stream and an audio stream that match a reception channel and date and time included in the selected one piece of the stop error information, or a video stream and audio stream for a predetermined time before and after the date and time are received from the stream recording unit. A stream monitoring system comprising playback means for reading and playing back. In the stream monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The first receiving means includes mode setting means for setting a circulation cycle for switching a predetermined reception channel to a normal mode or an abnormal mode,
In the abnormal mode, the circulation cycle is set shorter than in the normal mode,
The mode setting means includes
The first monitoring means sets the circulation period of the receiving channel that detects that the video stream or the audio stream is stopped to the abnormal mode;
For the reception channel set in the abnormal mode in the past, when the first monitoring unit detects that the video stream or the audio stream is not stopped, the circulation cycle of the reception channel is set to the normal mode. A stream monitoring system characterized by returning. The stream monitoring system according to claim 7,
When there are a plurality of reception channels in which the first monitoring unit detects that the video stream or the audio stream is stopped, the mode setting unit sets the circulation period of all the reception channels to the normal mode. A stream monitoring system. In the stream monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Stream monitoring characterized by comprising a cycle period changing means for changing the setting so that the cycle of switching the reception channel by the first receiving means is shorter for a reception channel where the video stream or the audio stream is more likely to stop. system. The stream monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein
A stream monitoring system comprising notification means for notifying a reception channel where a video stream or an audio stream is likely to stop. In the stream monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A notification means having a display screen;
The notifying unit displays the still image generated from the stopped video stream detected by the first monitoring unit and the information related to the stop of the video stream side by side on the display screen. A stream monitoring system that notifies stop error information. In the stream monitoring system according to claim 2 or 3 ,
The additional operation is a display of a radio wave reception status screen that is a maintenance screen,
In addition to recognizing the character string displayed at the reception level numerical value display location displayed on the radio wave reception status screen, the BER (Bit Error Ratio) numerical value display location displayed on the radio wave reception status screen is displayed. A stream monitoring system comprising: a determination unit that recognizes characters in a displayed numeric string and determines whether a reception level and a numerical value of BER are normal values set in advance. The stream monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 , 3 and 12,
A stream monitoring system comprising: transmission means for attaching a still image generated from the video stream output from the first receiving means by the adding operation to an e-mail. The stream monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 , 3 and 12,
The video stream and the audio stream output from the first receiving means by the adding operation are uploaded to the web server, and the URL (Uniform) of the video stream and the audio stream uploaded on the web server is added to the message body explaining the upload. A stream monitoring system comprising transmission means for creating and transmitting an e-mail including a resource locator). The stream monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
The stream monitoring system, wherein the first receiving means receives a television broadcast. The stream monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
The stream monitoring system, wherein the first receiving means receives a radio broadcast. The stream monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
The video stream output by the first receiving means is a video stream of video material used by a broadcaster to create a broadcast program,
The stream monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the audio stream output from the first receiving means is an audio stream of an audio material used by a broadcaster to create a broadcast program. The program for functioning a computer system as both the said 1st monitoring means and the said 2nd monitoring means in the stream monitoring system of any one of Claims 1-17. 18. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer system to function as both the first monitoring unit and the second monitoring unit in the stream monitoring system according to claim 1 is recorded. .

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