JPH0241978Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to an automatic program transmission device that is applied to an automatic program transmission device of a broadcasting station.

[Summary of the idea]

In this invention, in an automatic program sending device that controls video signal playback devices such as multiple VTRs so that the playback operation starts from a predetermined time, a video signal of the program and a code signal corresponding to the playback start time are recorded on the magnetic tape. This code signal is read by a code reading circuit of an automatic program sending device that individually corresponds to multiple VTRs, and the read code signal is stored, and the stored code signal and reference time signal are combined. The playback operation of the corresponding video signal playback device is controlled in accordance with the detection signal generated by the comparison.

[Conventional technology]

When broadcasting broadcast materials such as TV programs or TV commercials using a VTR,
It is necessary to control the operation of the system in synchronization with time. Conventionally, a single computer centrally managed multiple VTRs that played back magnetic tapes on which broadcast material was recorded.

[The problem that the idea attempts to solve]

In the conventional configuration, if even one VTR breaks down,
It becomes necessary to rewrite the computer control data. Also, if you replace the VTR you are using and its performance changes, you will have to completely change the computer program. An example of the difference in performance is that the delay time from when a start signal is given to when a reproduced video signal is obtained varies depending on the VTR model. In this way, unlike in the past, one computer can handle multiple
Automatic program playout devices that control the operation of VTRs have the drawback of requiring a great deal of effort to deal with malfunctions and VTR changes.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic program sending device that can individually control a plurality of video signal playback devices such as VTRs, and allows the VTRs to automatically perform playback operations at preset times. It is in.

[Means to solve the problem]

This invention includes a plurality of video signal reproducing devices 4A, 4B, and 4C for reproducing a magnetic tape on which a video signal of a predetermined program and a code signal for specifying the sending time of the program are recorded; and a video signal reproducing device. Code reading circuit 1 that reads code signals reproduced by 4A, 4B, and 4C
0, a storage circuit that stores the output from the code reading circuit 10, and a comparison circuit that compares the output from the storage circuit with a reference time signal. and a control device 3A, 3B, 3C.
The playback operations of B and 4C are controlled.

[Effect]

A code signal such as an SMPTE time code reproduced by the VTRs 4A, 4B, and 4C is read by a code reading circuit 10 in the control devices 3A, 3B, and 3C provided for each VTR, and is read by a microcomputer in the control devices 3A, 3B, and 3C. 8 memory circuits. On the other hand, a reference time signal (current time signal) from the time code generation circuit 7 is supplied to the control devices 3A, 3B, and 3C. A comparison circuit within the microcomputer 8 compares the stored code signal with the reference time signal and generates a detection signal. When this detection signal is generated, a control signal is generated from the control devices 3A, 3B, and 3C to control the corresponding VTR to start playback operation.

In this invention, a code signal for specifying the playback start time of each VTR is recorded on the magnetic tape, and control devices 3A, 3B, 3C
are provided for each VTR 4A, 4B, and 4C, so distributed control is possible, and even if the VTR in use breaks down, there is no need to rewrite data, and if the performance of the VTR changes. Even in this case, it only requires a partial change to the program, which is actually useful.

〔Example〕

An embodiment in which this invention is applied to an automatic program transmission device of a broadcasting station will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an embodiment of this invention, where 1 represents a host computer and 2 represents a data bus. The host computer 1 stores data on the order of all programs for one day.
Reference numerals 3A, 3B, and 3C indicate automatic program sending devices, and rotary head type VTRs 4A, 4B, and 4C are provided corresponding to each automatic program sending device. These VTR4A, 4B,
The respective output signals of the 4C are supplied to a switch circuit 5, and the output signal of one VTR is selected by the switch circuit 5 and taken out to an output terminal 6. Furthermore, 7 indicates a time code generation circuit that generates a time code corresponding to the current time, and this time code is supplied to the host computer 1 and the automatic program sending devices 3A, 3B, and 3C.

The VTRs 4A, 4B, and 4C reproduce video signals recorded as inclined tracks on a magnetic tape and code signals recorded as longitudinal tracks on a magnetic tape. This code signal is, for example, an SMPTE time code, and this time code has a portion called a user bit in addition to a time code that makes the position on the magnetic tape correspond to real time. As the user bits, code signals corresponding to the program name, broadcast start time, and broadcast end time are recorded in advance. The time code played by VTR 4A, 4B, 4C is the program automatic sending device 3A, 3
B and 3C are respectively supplied.

The program automatic sending devices 3A, 3B, 3C are
The configuration is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, 8 is a microcomputer and 9 is a data bus. The time code reproduced by the VTRs 4A, 4B, and 4C prior to video signal reproduction is supplied to the code reading section 10, where it becomes time code data including user bit data, and then sent to the microcomputer 8 via the data bus 9. Supplied. User bit data such as broadcast start time and broadcast end time are stored in the storage circuit in the microcomputer 8, and at the same time, they are stored in the display circuit section 1.
1 and displayed on the screen of the CRT monitor 12. Further, the time code from the time code generation circuit 7 is supplied to the time generation circuit 13, which generates a code signal representing the current time, and this code signal is supplied to the microcomputer 8 via the data bus 9. Ru.

The code signal representing the current time supplied to the microcomputer 8 is compared with user bit data representing the broadcast start time stored in a memory circuit within the microcomputer 8, and the current time is determined to be t1 seconds before the broadcast start time. (t1 is a time delay, for example, about 3 seconds), a detection signal is generated from the microcomputer 8, and this detection signal is transmitted to the VTR.
The signal is supplied to the control circuit 14 and the control pulse generation circuit 15.

After reading the user bit of the time code, the VTR control circuit 14 runs the magnetic tape to the start position of the program, and then generates an operation command to control the tape to a stop state. As described above, when the detection signal is generated, the VTR control circuit 14 generates an operation command for controlling the corresponding VTR to the playback state. VTR4A,
4B and 4C, after the regeneration operation command is given,
Playback starts after t1 seconds. Further, the control pulse generating circuit 15 generates a pulse to control the switch circuit 5. When the VTR starts playing, the switch circuit 5 selects this playback output, and the output terminal 6 is connected to the playback output. A signal appears.

Furthermore, when the comparison circuit in the microcomputer 8 detects that the current time matches the user bit data representing the broadcast end time stored in the memory circuit in the microcomputer 8, the playback operation of the corresponding VTR is stopped. An operation command for this purpose is generated from the VTR control circuit 14. This operation command causes the VTR to stop playing.

Furthermore, key inputs from the keyboard 16 are supplied from the key circuit section 17 to the microcomputer 8 via the data bus 9. Normally, the operation of a VTR is controlled based on data reproduced from magnetic tape. However, it is possible to invalidate this read data and input data with different contents from the keyboard 16. Such control switches control of program transmission from automatic to manual, and is required in emergencies.

The above-mentioned operations of each of the automatic program sending devices 3A, 3B, and 3C can be expressed by the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the time code reproduced by the VTRs 4A, 4B, and 4C is read by the code reading section 10 (step 21). This time code is supplied to the microcomputer 8 as broadcast control data,
The data is stored in the memory circuit within the microcomputer 8 (step 22). The broadcast control data includes broadcast start time data, broadcast end time data, and the like.

In the next judgment step 23, it is checked whether there is any input from the keyboard 16. If there is any keyboard input, the data in the memory circuit is changed (step 24), and if there is no keyboard input,
The process moves to the next step 25. This step 25
Now, move VTR4A, 4B, 4C to the start position.
is run and placed on standby. and,
Coincidence between the current time data from the time generation circuit 13 and the broadcast start time data is detected in step 26. If both match, VTR4A, 4B, 4C
enters the playback state (step 27). Further, it is determined in step 28 whether the current time data and the broadcast end time data match, and if a match is detected, the playback state is changed to a stop state (step 29).

Each microcomputer 8 of the automatic program sending device 3A, 3B, 3C has a data bus 2.
It is coupled to the host computer 1 via. The host computer 1 stores the data of the entire program order for one day, and the data read by each of the automatic program sending devices 3A, 3B, and 3C is supplied to the host computer 1, and the data is collated. Ru. This is to improve the reliability of the entire system. The host computer 1 also has the role of monitoring failures in the VTRs 4A, 4B, and 4C.

Note that the VTRs 4A, 4B, and 4C are capable of reproducing not only the video signal of one program but also the video signals of a plurality of programs. In this case, data such as broadcast start time, broadcast end time, and program name for each program are recorded on the magnetic tape.

In addition, in order to record data such as broadcast start time, broadcast end time, program name, etc. on magnetic tape, SMPTE
In addition to the time code, a time code data area called a VITC signal inserted into the vertical blanking period of the video signal may be used.

Furthermore, a video signal reproducing device other than a VTR, such as a video disc reproducing device, may be used.

[Effect of idea]

According to this invention, reproduction of a video signal can be started at a predetermined time based on data prerecorded on a magnetic tape. In this invention, distributed control is performed by providing an automatic program sending device for each VTR, so if one VTR malfunctions, the magnetic tape can simply be loaded into another VTR that is not malfunctioning. Also, use
If you change the VTR and its performance (for example, the delay time from when a playback operation command is given until it starts playback) changes, you can change the program of the microcomputer 8 or rewrite the data. In general, there is no need to change the program or rewrite the data, which is a great practical advantage.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an embodiment of this invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of the structure of an embodiment of this invention, and Fig. 3 is an explanation of the operation of an embodiment of this invention. This is the flowchart used. Explanation of main symbols in the drawings: 1: host computer, 3A, 3B, 3C: automatic program sending device, 4A, 4B, 4C: VTR, 8: microcomputer, 10: code reading section.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A plurality of video signal reproducing devices for reproducing a magnetic tape on which a video signal of a predetermined program and a code signal for specifying the sending time of the program are recorded; and the video signal. a code reading circuit that reads the code signal reproduced by the reproduction device; a storage circuit that stores the output from the code reading circuit;
a comparison circuit that compares the output from the storage circuit with a reference time signal, and a plurality of control devices provided corresponding to the plurality of video signal playback devices, the control device comprising the comparison circuit 1. An automatic program sending device, characterized in that the playback operation of the corresponding video signal playback device is controlled according to the output of the above-mentioned video signal playback device.