JPH10190596A - Control method for broadcasting send-out system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the enlargement of the constitution of the entire broadcasting send-out system and to prevent an operation from being stopped even when a failure is generated in the system. SOLUTION: The broadcasting send-out system controls a plurality of equipments (encoders 41 and 42, recording and reproducing devices 51-54 and decoders 61-66, etc.) for generating the broadcasting programs of output channels ch1 -ch5 from the broadcasting materials of input channels ch1 -ch4 based on an instruction from computers 11-13. By sub ID controllers 31-34, the using state, fatal errors, non-fatal errors and alarms, etc., of the respective equipments grouped for respective functions are detected. By a system controller 21, the using state, using number and fatal errors, etc., of the plural equipments inside respective groups are managed and on optimum equipment is selected and allocated for an equipment using request from the computers 11-13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling a broadcast transmission system for controlling a plurality of devices for generating a broadcast program from a plurality of broadcast materials.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a broadcasting station has generated and transmitted a broadcast program from a plurality of broadcast materials. For example, a broadcasting station that performs television broadcasting has various systems for performing the television broadcasting. Among them, a broadcasting transmission system, which is a central system, includes a plurality of broadcasting materials including video and audio. A plurality of encoders for encoding; a plurality of control devices for controlling these encoders; a plurality of recording / reproducing devices for recording / reproducing a plurality of broadcast materials encoded by the encoders; and a plurality of recording / reproducing devices for controlling these recording / reproducing devices, respectively. There is a system including a plurality of control devices, a plurality of decoders for decoding a plurality of broadcast materials reproduced from the recording and reproducing devices, and a plurality of control devices for controlling the respective decoders.

[0003]

As described above, a broadcast transmission system of a broadcasting station is provided with a large number of devices, and various operations using these large numbers of devices are required. In other words, in a system including a large number of devices and requiring various operations, such as a broadcast transmission system of the broadcasting station, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of devices as many as necessary for each operation.

[0004] Further, in the broadcast transmission system,
In order to improve the safety of the system, it is necessary to prepare a spare device corresponding to each operation.
In other words, for example, when a failure occurs, it is necessary to temporarily stop the operation and physically replace the device,
A spare device corresponding to each operation is required.

[0005] Providing such a large number of devices requires
A large scale broadcast transmission system is required, and a great deal of labor, cost and space are required for the system configuration.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and has been made to prevent an increase in labor, cost, and space by preventing the overall configuration of the broadcast transmission system from being increased in size, and to prevent a failure in the system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method of a broadcast transmission system that enables inspection, replacement, maintenance, and the like of devices without stopping operation even if a problem occurs.

[0007]

According to a control method of a broadcast transmission system of the present invention, a plurality of devices are grouped according to their functions, at least a use state of each device in each group is detected, and a plurality of devices in each group are detected. The above-mentioned problem is solved by managing at least the use state and the number of used devices, and selecting and allocating an optimum device in response to a device use request from a higher-level control device.

Here, in the control method of the broadcast transmission system according to the present invention, a fatal failure of a plurality of devices in each group is also detected, and the device in which the fatal failure is detected is isolated. Further, in the control method of the broadcast transmission system according to the present invention, a failure and / or a warning state of a plurality of devices in each group are also detected, and the selection of the devices is weighted according to the degree of the failure and / or the warning state. I also do it.

That is, according to the present invention, a plurality of devices are grouped to manage the use state and the number of uses, so that the higher-level control device does not sense the use state and the number of use of the individual devices, and is able to determine the optimum condition. It becomes possible to select a device and generate a broadcast program. Further, according to the present invention, by detecting a fatal failure of each device, until the failure is recovered, by disabling the use of the device in which the fatal failure has occurred to the host control device, Faulty devices are automatically and logically isolated from the system to improve system security. Further, according to the present invention, a failure or warning state of each device is detected, and weighting is performed based on the degree of the failure or warning, making it difficult to select a device. It also automatically reduces the chances that equipment will be used and increases the security of the system.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a main part of a broadcast transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a broadcast transmission system according to the present embodiment includes a system control unit (GW) 21, computers 11 to 13 which are higher-level control units for sending commands to the system control unit 21, and a material supply unit. an encoder 41 for encoding the broadcast material (ie video and audio data) is the example of four input channels ch ₁ to cH ₄ fed from 71 to 74, the broadcast material data encoded by the encoder 41 Recording / reproducing devices 51-5 for recording / reproducing on / from a hard disk drive (HDD)
4, decoders 61-66 for decoding the encoded broadcast material data reproduced from the recording / reproducing devices 51-54, a router 91 for switching the flow of broadcast material data between devices, and the system control device. 21
ID controller (RootIDC) 31 for controlling commands from the real time, and the encoders 41 and 4
2, a sub-ID controller (Sub ID controller) for controlling each device such as the recording / reproducing devices 51 to 54 and the decoders 61 to 66.
IDC) 32 to 34, and a sub ID controller 35 for controlling the router 91 in response to a request from the computer 11 to 13;
One of delivering a broadcast program output channels ch ₁ ~ch _5.
Each of the computers 11 to 13 is provided with application software for realizing a so-called GUI (Graphical User Interface). An instruction such as a broadcast order and an order of recording / reproducing the broadcast material on the recording / reproducing apparatus is given.

The system controller 21 of the broadcast transmission system shown in FIG. 1 includes the encoders 41 and 42 as one group, the recording / reproducing devices 51 to 54 as one group, and the decoders 61 to 66 as one group. One group is managed for each group. That is,
The system control device 21 includes, for example, the computer 11
When a request (declaration) to use a required number of devices in each of the above groups is sent from, an appropriate device is selected from each group and assigned to the computer 11. Similar assignments are made to the other computers 12, 13. However, the system controller 21 at this time, for example, for each device assigned to the computer 11, the computer 11 explicitly terminates the use of the device by the system controller 21.
, The use of those devices is not assigned to other computers 12 and 13. The same applies to devices assigned to the other computers 12 and 13.

As described above, the system controller 21
FIG. 2 shows an algorithm for assigning devices in each group to a computer.

In FIG. 2, a system control unit 21
First, as step ST1, devices that are not in use among devices belonging to the group whose use has been requested by the computer are listed as allocation candidates. Also,
At the time of listing, as step ST2, it is determined whether or not an allocation candidate exists. If it is determined in step ST2 that there is no allocation candidate, the process proceeds to step ST6, and in step ST6, the computer is informed that the device could not be secured, that is, the device cannot be allocated.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step ST2 that there is an allocation candidate, the process proceeds to step ST4, in which one device is selected from the allocation candidate devices, and the device is in use in a management table described later. A mark indicating that there is is set (the in-use flag described later is set to “1”). Thereafter, the system control device 21 returns a handle indicating the selected device to the computer. Thereby, the device is assigned to the computer.

In the algorithm shown in FIG. 2, when allocating each device, only the condition that the device has already been allocated or has not been allocated yet is considered. However, there are devices that have not been actually assigned yet but cannot be assigned to the computers 11 to 13. It is the equipment that is out of order.

For this reason, the sub ID corresponding to each group
Each of the controllers 32 to 34 constantly monitors the state of each device in each group, and when a fatal error occurs in each device, the controller 32 to the system control device 21 via the route ID controller 31. Notification (error status described later). The system control device 21 stores the information (“1” as an error flag to be described later) in a management table to be described later, and excludes the device in which the error has occurred from the allocation candidates when selecting each device.

Further, the sub-ID controllers 32 to 34 corresponding to the respective groups also continuously monitor the state of the device which has detected a fatal error. For example, when a fatal error of the device is resolved by repair or replacement, each of the sub ID controllers 32 to 34 notifies the system controller 21 via the route ID controller 31 (error clear status described later). Notify. The system control device 21 erases the content stored as an error state of the device in advance based on information (error clear status) indicating that the fatal error has been resolved (error flag described later is set to “1”). From "0"). As a result, from the next time a device is selected, that device is restored as an allocation candidate.

FIG. 3 shows an algorithm in the system controller 21 for excluding the failed device from the allocation candidates for the device selection.

In FIG. 3, the system controller 21
First, as step ST21, among the devices belonging to the group requested to be used by the computer, devices not in use are listed as allocation candidates. In addition, at the time of listing, as step ST22, the information of the device in which the fatal error has occurred stored in the management table (the device whose error flag is "1") is looked up. In the above selection, the device in which the error has occurred is excluded from the allocation candidates. Subsequently, the system control device 21 determines whether or not there is an assignment candidate in step ST23. This step S
In the determination at T23, when there is no allocation candidate, the process proceeds to step ST26, and in step ST26, the computer is informed that the device could not be secured, that is, the device cannot be allocated.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step ST23 that there is an allocation candidate, the process proceeds to step ST24, in which one device is selected from the allocation candidate devices, and the device is in use in the management table. (Set “1” in a busy flag described later). Thereafter, the system control device 21 returns a handle indicating the selected device to the computer. Thereby, the device is assigned to the computer.

According to the algorithm shown in FIG.
The system safety is improved by automatically removing the completely failed device from the device selection assignment candidates. However, there is a possibility that a device that has not completely failed but whose operation is unstable may be selected (assigned) by the algorithm in FIG.

For this reason, in the broadcast transmission system of the present embodiment, by making the devices in the group uniformly selected, the possibility that unstable devices are continuously allocated is reduced. This improves the security of the entire system.

FIG. 4 shows an algorithm for uniformly selecting devices in the group in the system control device 21.

In FIG. 4, the system controller 21
First, as step ST31, among the devices belonging to the group requested to be used by the computer, devices that are not being used are listed as allocation candidates. At the time of this listing, as step ST32, the information of the device in which the fatal error has occurred stored in the management table (the device whose error flag is "1") is looked at. At the time of selection, the device in which the error has occurred is excluded from allocation candidates. Subsequently, the system control device 21 determines whether or not an allocation candidate exists, as step ST33. If it is determined in step ST33 that there is no allocation candidate, the process proceeds to step ST36, and in step ST36, the computer is informed that the device could not be secured, that is, the device cannot be allocated.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step ST33 that there is an assignment candidate, the process proceeds to step ST34, in which one device having the smallest number of assignments is selected from the assignment candidate devices, and the corresponding device is added to the management table. A mark indicating that the device is in use is set (the use flag is set to "1"). Further, at this time, the system control device 21 adds 1 to the number of times of allocation described later on the management table corresponding to the allocated device, as step ST35. Thereafter, the system control device 21 returns a handle indicating the selected device to the computer as step ST36. Thereby, a device is allocated to the computer.

The algorithm shown in FIG. 4 records the number of times of allocation in the management table for each device, and selects the device with the smallest number of times of allocation at that time. ) Is averaged.

However, the danger of continuously assigning unstable equipment is dispersed by the algorithm shown in FIG. 4, but the total danger of the entire system is equal to that of the algorithm shown in FIG. It is.

Therefore, in the system of the present embodiment, in order to reduce the sum of the dangers, the selection of the device is weighted by using an error status and a warning status, which will be described later, from the device. Improves safety.

FIG. 5 shows an algorithm for weighting device selection by the error status and warning status of each device in the system controller 21.

In FIG. 5, the system controller 21
Determines whether or not a communication error has occurred in each device from the error status of each device in step ST41. If it is determined that a communication error has occurred, the process proceeds to step ST41.
As 44, 10 is added to the number of assignments corresponding to the device in the management table, and the process returns to step ST41.

When it is determined in step ST41 that no device communication error has occurred, the system controller 21 determines in step ST42 whether a non-fatal error other than a communication error has occurred in the device. However, when a non-fatal error occurs, 5 is added to the number of times of assignment corresponding to the device in the management table as step ST45, and the process returns to step ST41.

When it is determined in step ST42 that no fatal error has occurred, the system controller 21 determines in step ST43 whether or not a device warning has occurred. In step ST46, 3 is added to the number of times of assignment corresponding to the device on the management table, and the process returns to step ST41.

In the algorithm shown in FIG. 5, communication errors, non-fatal errors other than communication errors, and warnings are divided into three types. , 3 points each. As a result, each time an error or warning occurs in each device, the value of the number of times of allocation of the device increases, and the frequency (allocation frequency) at which the device is automatically selected over other stably operating devices is automatically selected. Lower. Therefore, as a system, the frequency at which unstable devices are assigned is reduced, so that the system is stabilized as a whole.

Next, how to detect an error occurring in the above-described device and how to update the management table in the system control device 21 will be described below.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show that a sub ID controller (SubIDC) corresponding to each group of the system of FIG. 1 detects errors and warnings of each device in each group, and the status of these errors and warnings. Is notified to a root ID controller (RootIDC), and the status is reflected in a management table in the system control device (GW).

First, in FIG. 6, a sub ID controller (SubIDC) corresponding to each group is transmitted to each device (recording / reproducing device (SDC) in the example of FIG. 6) for each frame (every 1/30 second). Inquire about status. This inquiry is made by sending a status sense command to each device. CPU (central processing unit) 15 in the device (SDC) that has received the status sense command
1 searches the status table 152 provided therein and notifies the sub ID controller of the status generated based on the table information obtained by the search.
The status table is formed as a bit map on the memory, and stores, for example, a hard disk drive abnormality, a reference abnormality, and the like as table information.

The sub ID controller (SubIDC) compares the status received from the device with the status received in the previous frame, and sets the error status / warning status bit from “0” to “1”.
When the status has changed to, the respective error status / warning status is notified to a higher order, that is, the root ID controller (RootIDC). When the error status / warning status bit changes from "1" to "0", the sub ID controller (SubIDC) notifies the error clear status / warning clear status to the upper level, respectively (root ID controller (Root IDC)). )).

As shown in FIG. 7, the root ID controller (RootIDC) collects the error status / warning status / error clear status / warning clear status that is notified from each sub ID controller (SubIDC) for each frame. Notify the control device (GW).

As shown in FIG. 7, the system controller (G
W) Internally, there is an EMT (Execution M
anager Task) 121, that is, an upper computer (AP)
L) and a task for executing each command requested from the L) and a resource management (RIMT) for managing resource information.
mation management task) 122, that is, a task having a management table. Various statuses notified from the root ID controller (RootIDC) are once passed to the EMT 121. The EM
T121 notifies each status such as error / warning / error clear / warning clear to the host computer and also notifies the RIMT 122 at the same time. RIMT122
Updates the management table based on this status.

This management table shows the names of the devices in each group, that is, the names of the devices corresponding to the respective sub ID controllers (SubIDC), and the number of times these devices are selected, that is, the number of times assigned to the computer (APL). And an error flag that indicates whether a fatal error has occurred in each of these devices ("1" when an error has occurred,
A flag that is set to “0” when no error has occurred)
A flag indicating whether or not each device is currently in use, that is, whether or not each device is currently assigned to a computer (a flag that is “1” when in use and “0” when not in use). Things.

Next, the manner in which the system control device 21 controls the allocation of devices based on the management table will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 8, first, the system control device
(GW), the computer (APL) issues a device allocation request by group designation.

The assignment request from the computer (APL) is received by the EMT 121 in the system control unit (GW), and the EMT 121 requests the RIMT 122 to assign a device by group designation. RIMT1
Reference numeral 22 denotes a device in which a fatal error has not occurred (a device in which an error flag is “0”) and is not in use (a device in use flag) from a list of devices to be assigned candidates with reference to the management table. Is "0")
And selects the device with the smallest number of assignments (the number of selections) from the found devices, that is, the devices that are candidates for assignment, and notifies the EMT 121 of this. The in-use flag corresponding to the selected device is set to “1”.

The EMT 121 which has received the notification from the RIMT 122 is a root ID controller (RootIDC).
Preparations are made to make the device that is a candidate for allocation available. That is, the EMT 121 sends an initialization request for the allocated device to the sub ID controller (SubIDC) corresponding to the group including the device via the root ID controller (Root IDC). Thereby, the sub I
A reply (information indicating OK or NG) corresponding to the above initialization request is made from the D controller (SubIDC). After this preparation is completed, the EMT 121 transmits the
Formal assignment of devices to L). That is, E
The MT 121 stores the assigned device name and a handle for accessing the device by a computer (APL).
To return.

As described above, in the method of controlling the broadcast transmission system according to the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of devices are grouped, and a system control device (GW) is requested in response to a request from a computer (APL) as a host control device. ) Is dynamically allocated to the computer (APL) as many times as necessary, so that it is not necessary to separately assign a control device to devices that are not always operated at the same time. It is possible to reduce the number of necessary devices.

Further, according to the control method of the broadcast transmission system of the embodiment of the present invention, when allocating devices in each group in response to a request from a computer (APL), devices in which no error has occurred are dynamically changed. For example, even if there is a faulty device in the group, the faulty device will not be assigned. Therefore, even if all operations of the system are not stopped, Inspection, repair, replacement, etc. of the equipment being performed are possible.

[0049]

According to the present invention, a plurality of devices are grouped according to their functions, at least the use status of each device in each group is detected, and at least the use status and the number of use of the plurality of devices in each group are determined. By managing and selecting and allocating an optimal device in response to a device use request from a higher-level control device, there is no need to prepare a plurality of devices corresponding to various operations for creating a broadcast program. It is possible to prevent an increase in labor, cost, and space by preventing the overall configuration of the broadcast transmission system from increasing in size.

Also, in the present invention, a fatal failure, a non-fatal failure, and a warning of a plurality of devices in each group are detected, and the devices in which the fatal failure is detected are isolated. In addition, since the selection of devices is weighted according to the degree of non-fatal failure or warning state, there is no need to prepare spare devices corresponding to various operations for creating a broadcast program. Therefore, even if a failure occurs in the system, it is possible to inspect, replace, or maintain the device without stopping the operation, and it is possible to improve the safety of the system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a broadcast transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart used to explain a basic algorithm when assigning grouped devices.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart used to explain an algorithm for excluding a device in a fatal error state when allocating grouped devices.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart used to explain an algorithm for equalizing the number of times of assignment to each device when assigning devices in a group.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart used to explain an algorithm for weighting device selection by an error / warning.

FIG. 6 is a diagram used to explain the flow of processing between a device and a sub-ID controller when an error is detected and a management table is updated.

FIG. 7 is a diagram used to explain the flow of processing between a system control device, a route ID controller, and a computer when an error is detected and a management table is updated.

FIG. 8 is a diagram used to explain the flow of device assignment control in the system control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11-13 Computer (APL), 21 System control unit (GW), 31 Route ID controller (R
ootIDC), 32-35 Sub ID controller (SubID
C), 41, 42 encoder, 51-54 recording / reproducing device, 61-66 decoder, 71-74 broadcast material supply unit, 81-85 broadcast program transmission unit, 91
Router

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A control method for a broadcast transmission system including a plurality of devices for generating a broadcast program from a broadcast material based on a command from a higher-level control device, wherein the plurality of devices are grouped according to their functions. Detects at least the usage status of each device in each group, manages at least the usage status and the number of devices used in each group, and selects the most appropriate device in response to device usage requests from the host controller And a method of controlling a broadcast transmission system. 2. The control method for a broadcast transmission system according to claim 1, wherein a fatal failure of a plurality of devices in each of said groups is also detected, and the device in which said fatal failure is detected is isolated. . 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a fault and / or a warning state of a plurality of devices in each of the groups is also detected, and the selection of the device is weighted according to a degree of the fault and / or a warning state. A method for controlling a broadcast transmission system according to claim 1.