JPH09224205A - Parallel storage device for plural video images - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a parallel storage device for plural video images in which the registration time of a video image is not limited by the storage capacity of a coder and the registration of the video image is finished after a prescribed time even when a long time is required for the input of the video image. SOLUTION: Three analog video signals 1 are outputted to four optional coders 2 by using a video path changeover device 5. While the three coders 2 encode each analog video signal and store tentatively the video information to each disk device 3, the remaining one coder transfers the video information stored tentatively to a video image storage section 6. A control section 4 selects the coders 2 for coding and temporary storage operation or transfer of the video information stored tentatively to the video image storage section 6. In this case, the control section 4 selects the transfer operation in a prescribed time after the coding operation so that the three analog video signals are continuously coded and transferred to the video image storage section 6, the video path changeover device 5 is used to connected the analog video signals 1 to an idle coder and then the coding and tentative storage are stored. The operations above are repetitively controlled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for simultaneously encoding n analog video signals and storing them in parallel as video information, and simultaneously storing television images of a plurality of channels in a center for communication lines. Video that can be used for inputting video information to the center in the video-on-demand system (delayed television broadcasting service) that interactively reproduces information between the center and terminals through the center, and for inputting video to the center of a multipoint remote monitoring system It concerns storage technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional apparatus for parallelly storing a plurality of video images of this type is shown in FIG. 7-1, 7
Reference numerals -2, 7-3 are analog video signals of a video camera or the like, 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 are encoders for encoding video by an encoding method such as MPEG, 9-1 , 9-2,
Reference numeral 9-3 is a disk storage device connected to the encoders 8-1, 8-2, and 8-3, and 10 is a video storage unit for storing the coded video information in a magnetic disk device or the like. .

Each of the three encoders 8-1, 8-2, and 8-3 performs an operation of temporarily storing the encoded video information therein while encoding each analog video signal. Alternatively, only the operation of transferring the video information temporarily stored inside to the outside can be executed temporarily.

A video input procedure in the conventional device will be described below.

The analog video signal 7-1 is an encoder 8-1.
Is encoded. The encoded video information is encoded by the encoder 8-
The data is stored in the disk storage device 9-1 connected to 1. When the encoding of the analog video signal 7-1 is completed, the encoder 8-1 transfers the encoded information from the disk storage device 9-1 connected to the encoder to the video storage unit 10. To do. Similarly, the analog video signal 7-2 is transmitted to the encoder 8
-2, and 7-3 is encoded by the encoder 8-3. The encoded video information is transmitted to each encoder 8-
Disk storage devices 9-2, 9-3 connected to 2, 8-3
Is accumulated in When the encoding of the analog video signals 7-2 and 7-3 is completed, the encoders 8-2 and 8-3 are
The disc storage information 9-2 and 9-3 connected to the encoder that stores each encoded information is transferred to the video storage unit 10.

[0006]

In the conventional multiple video parallel storage device described above, one analog video signal is coded by one encoder until the end regardless of the length of the video input time from the video camera or the like. Therefore, the longer the input time of the video (reproduction time in a video source for video reproduction), the larger the capacity of the storage device mounted in the encoder is required. However, the storage capacity is not infinite. For example, video 1.
When encoded with 2 Mbit / s and audio 192 kbit / s, a file of about 1.25 GByte is created by encoding for 2 hours. Therefore, even with an 8 GByte hard disk, there is a limit for a continuous input of less than 13 hours. as a result,
It has been a problem that the continuous registration time of video information is limited by the capacity of the storage device installed in the encoder.

Another problem with the conventional multi-video parallel storage device is that the video input time cannot be started because the data transfer from the encoder to the video storage unit cannot be started until the video information is completely encoded. This means that the transfer start of the data from the encoder to the video storage is delayed in proportion to the increase in the length. As a result, the longer the image input time is, the longer it takes to store the final image. For example, when a video of 10 hours is registered, an encoding time (10 hours) and a transfer time (less than 2 hours when transferring at 8 Mbps) are required, and it takes more than 10 hours until the final video storage. I have to wait.

An object of the present invention is that the continuous video registration time is not limited by the capacity of the storage device mounted in the encoder, and the video input time and the video source playback time are long. An object of the present invention is to provide a multiple video parallel storage device in which video storage in a video storage unit is always completed after a slight fixed time.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the first invention of the present invention, an apparatus for simultaneously encoding n analog video signals with n being a natural number and storing them in parallel as video information is provided. Therefore, there are video path switching means capable of outputting each of the analog video signals to arbitrary n + m output ports, where n is the analog video signal as input and m is a natural number, and each output port of the video path switching means. A first operation for connecting each of the analog video signals and temporarily storing the coded video information therein, or a second operation for transferring the video signals stored therein. Do either operation of n
+ M encoding means, video storage means connected to the output ports of the n + m encoding means for storing video information transferred from each encoding means, and the first encoding means of each encoding means. Is controlled to the second operation after a lapse of a predetermined time, and in synchronization with this control, the video path switching means is controlled to perform another coding in which an analog video signal to the coding means is vacant. And a control means for repeatedly controlling the analog video signal to be output to the other encoding means without interruption so as to cause the analog video signal to perform the first operation. , As a means.

Further, as a second invention of the present invention, in the plural video parallel storage device of the first invention, the control means sets a time substantially equal to a transfer time required for the second operation in the encoding means. In order to minimize the number of encoding means, it is preferable that the first operation of each encoding means is sequentially started and the second operation is sequentially performed after a certain time. .

Further, as a third invention of the present invention, in the above-described plural video parallel storage device, n analog video signals are inputted from the multipoint remote monitoring means through the communication means, and the monitoring video signals are inputted. Is suitable for shortening the time for collecting the monitoring information from the remote monitoring means.

Further, as a fourth invention of the present invention, in the plural video parallel storage device of the first and second inventions, n
The analog video signal of the book is an n-channel video video signal from a video source, and the video storage means constitutes a part of the center of the video-on-demand system, and is connected to the terminal connected to the center by the communication means. It is preferable to apply the method to a video-on-demand system, as it is to interactively reproduce information between the points, from the viewpoint of accelerating the start of the video providing service and improving the service.

According to the present invention described above, n + m encodings are performed by using the image path switching means which enables each image to be output to any n + m encoders with respect to the input of n analog image signals. The means can be selected.

The encoding means encodes each analog video signal while n units temporarily store the encoded video information therein, while the remaining m units store the video information temporarily stored therein. Transfer to video storage means.

The control means performs an operation of encoding the analog video signal and temporarily storing it in the inside so that all the n analog video signals are encoded without interruption and transferred to the video storage means. An operation of transferring the video information temporarily stored inside to the video storing means or switching of either operation is controlled. When switching to the operation of transferring the temporarily stored video information to the video storage means, the analog video signal is transferred to another coding means by the video path switching means so that the coding of the analog video signal is not interrupted. Connect and start encoding and temporary storage inside.

By repeating this, each video can be coded without interruption while switching the coding means, which is an object of the present invention.
The continuous registration time of the video is not limited by the capacity of the storage device installed in the encoding means, and even if the input time of the video or the playback time of the video source is long, the video will always be displayed after a certain time. A multiple video parallel storage device suitable for a remote monitoring system, a video-on-demand system, or the like, in which video storage in a storage means is completed.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. The number n of images is 3 and the number of encoders is 4.
A table (thus m is 1).

Reference numerals 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 denote analog video signals such as NTSC signals, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4.
Is an encoder for MPEG1 (ISO / IEC JTC1
11172) and other encoders that perform encoding, 3-1
3-2, 3-3 and 3-4 are respectively 2-1 and 2-
A disk storage device connected to the encoders 2, 2, 3 and 2-4, 4 a control unit, 5 a video path switcher with 3 input ports and 4 output ports having a switching function of a matrix switch configuration, and 6 are many Is a video storage unit composed of the disk device of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the operation of this embodiment. It will be described with reference to FIG. 2 that the control unit 4 switches the encoders 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 to encode an image without interruption and that the image accumulation can be completed after a certain time.

In this embodiment, each analog video signal 1
-1, 1-2, 1-3 for a fixed time from the beginning (Tenc)
Encoders 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-
It encodes seamlessly while cycling through 4.

The time portion (a) of the fixed time Tenc from the beginning of the analog video signal 1-1 passes through the video path switching device 5 of the matrix switch configuration and is encoded by the encoder 2-1 while being encoded. It is temporarily stored in the disk storage device 3-1 connected to the device 2-1 (a '). After the lapse of Tenc time from the start time, the encoder 2-1 transfers the video information (a '), which has been encoded and temporarily stored, from the disk storage device 3-1 to the video storage unit 6 (a "). .
Therefore, after a certain time (a) of Tenc from the beginning of the analog video signal 1-1, the video storage in the video storage unit 6 is completed after a certain time (Twait).

At the same time that the encoder 2-1 finishes encoding the time (a) of Tenc from the beginning, in order not to discontinue the information of the analog video signal 1-1, the next part of the analog video signal 1-1 The time portion (b) of Tenc is connected to the encoder 2-4 by controlling the video path switching device 5. The encoder 2-4 uses the next Ten of the analog video signal 1-1.
While encoding the time portion (b) of c, it is temporarily stored in the disk storage device 3-4 connected to the encoder 2-4 (b '). After a lapse of Tenc time from the start of the encoding, the encoder 2-4 finishes the encoding and temporarily stores the video information (b ′) from the disk storage device 3-4 to the video storage unit 6.
(B ″). Therefore, the analog video signal 1-1 is transmitted.
For a time (b) of Tenc following the beginning (a) of the above, the video storage in the video storage unit 6 is completed after a certain time (Twait).

In this way, the encoder 2-1 and the encoder 2
-4, the encoder 2-3, and the encoder 2-2 alternately repeat the encoding and the temporary storage, and the transfer and the storage of the video information to and from the video storage unit 6, resulting in an analog result. It can be seen that the video signal 1-1 is encoded without interruption and the video storage is completed after a certain time (Twait).

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2, with respect to the analog video signals 1-2 and 1-3, the phase is shifted by an amount corresponding to the transfer time to the video storage unit 6, and four encoders are provided. By continuously operating, each analog video signal is eventually encoded without interruption, and after a fixed time (Twait)
It can be seen that the video storage is completed.

As described above, the analog video signals of the quantity 3 are divided at a constant time (Tenc) from the beginning of each, and are encoded without interruption while circulating 3 + 1 encoders. Each of the 3 + 1 encoders repeats the operation of either encoding the analog video signal and storing the video information as video information or transferring the stored video information to the video storage unit. The video storage unit stores the quantity 3 of video information that is transferred out of phase without interruption,
The storage is completed after a certain time (Twait).

The encoder may be one that performs compression encoding or predictive encoding, or may be one that simply performs digital encoding. The present invention is particularly suitable for remote monitoring systems and video-on-demand systems, but can be effectively applied to other systems as well.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, each video can be sequentially registered in the video storage means at regular intervals without waiting for the end of video input. Therefore, the continuous registration time of the video is not limited by the capacity of the storage device mounted in the encoding means, and even if the input time of the analog video signal or the reproduction time of the video source is long, it is always small. After a certain period of time, it becomes possible to complete the video registration in the video storage means. Furthermore, after a certain period of time from the start of registration, the stored video can be taken out and used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a multiple video parallel storage device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing an operation example of the embodiment described above.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional multiple video parallel storage device in which a video encoder is encoded to the end of input, and then transferred and stored; It is a block diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1, 1-2, 1-3 ... Analog video signal 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 ... Encoder 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4 ... Disk storage device connected to the encoder 4 ... Control unit 5 ... Video path switcher 6 ... Video storage unit a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h ... Analog video signal 1
A part obtained by dividing -1 by a fixed time (Tenc) A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H ... Analog video signal 1
-2 is the part divided by a fixed time (Tenc). It is analog video signal 1
-3 divided by fixed time (Tenc)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akira Uemori 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A device for simultaneously encoding n analog video signals, where n is a natural number, and storing them in parallel as video information, wherein each of the analog video signals receives the n analog video signals as an input and m is a natural number. A video path switching unit capable of outputting the video signal to any of n + m output ports, and connected to each output port of the video path switching unit,
Either the first operation of internally storing the encoded video information while encoding each analog video signal at a time, or the second operation of transferring the video signal stored therein. N + m encoding means for performing such operations, video storage means connected to output ports of the n + m encoding means for storing video information transferred from each encoding means, and each encoding The first operation of the means is controlled to the second operation after a lapse of a predetermined time, and the video path switching means is controlled in synchronization with this control to empty an analog video signal to the encoding means. Control means for causing the other encoding means to output the signal to the other encoding means and to repeatedly control the analog image signal to perform the first operation without interruption. Multiple video parallel storage devices to. 2. The control means sequentially starts the first operation of each encoding means at a time substantially equal to the transfer time required for the second operation in the encoding means, and after a certain time, sequentially performs the second operation. 2. The multiple video parallel storage device according to claim 1, wherein the multiple video parallel storage device is controlled periodically so as to perform. 3. A plurality of video images according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the n analog video signals are video signals for monitoring input from remote monitoring means at multiple points via communication means. Parallel storage device. 4. The n analog video signals are n-channel video video signals from a video source, and the video storage means constitutes a part of the center of the video-on-demand system, and the communication means connects to the center. The multiple video parallel storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information is interactively reproduced with a connected terminal.