JPH11196393A - Signal transmission method, and system, receiver and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easy discriminate a video signal format which is difficult to discriminate by means of a difference in synchronizing signal frequency alone. SOLUTION: A vertical blanking interval VBI signal that is added information including a signal to discriminate a format of each video signal is inserted to a same position of each video signal and the resulting video signal is transmitted. For example, a common VBI signal is inserted at a position apart by a same distance T on a time base from a vertical synchronizing signal V. Sync1 for a vertical blanking period (V.BLK1) of a 525 p signal and a vertical synchronizing signal V.Sync2 for a vertical blanking period (V.BLK2) of a 1125i signal. The receiver extracts the VBI signal from a luminance (Y) signal of the received video signal to discriminate its format. Or the video signal to which the VBI signal as above is inserted is recorded and used on a recording medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a signal transmission method for transmitting a video signal, a receiver for receiving the video signal, and a recording medium on which the video signal is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a signal format of a video signal is an NTSC system having 525 scanning lines for performing interlaced scanning and a field frequency of 60 Hz (hereinafter referred to as 52 NTSC system).
It is called 5/60 interlace or 525i. ) Was mainstream.

In recent years, 1,125 scanning lines for performing interlaced scanning / field frequency 60 Hz (1
Various video signal formats such as 125i) so-called Hi-Vision and 525 scanning lines for performing sequential (non-interlaced) scanning / field frequency of 60 Hz (hereinafter referred to as 525/60 non-interlaced or 525p) are emerging. In addition, various formats in digital television (DTV) are also considered.

[0004] The video signal of each of the above formats is transmitted mainly in the form of a component signal, that is, a luminance / chrominance signal format. 525/60 interlaced signals are also transmitted in the form of component signals from the viewpoint of improving image quality.

[0005]

A television (TV) receiver which receives video signals transmitted in various signal forms as described above is configured to receive these various signals at a common terminal. Thus, it is desired to reduce the number of input terminals. For this purpose, it is necessary for the TV receiver to automatically distinguish the format of the input video signal.

At this time, for example, a 525 / 60i (i represents an interlace) signal and a 1125 / 60i signal are easily distinguished because the frequency of the synchronization signal is significantly different.

However, for example, 112 shown in Table 1
When the 5 / 60i signal is compared with the 525p (p indicates progressive-non-interlace) signal, both the horizontal frequency f _H and the vertical frequency f _V are close to each other, and depending on only the difference in the frequency of the synchronization signal, There is a problem that it is difficult to determine each other. For this reason, especially when it is necessary to consider the time deviation when the video signal is reproduced at variable speed, sufficient caution is required for the circuits and algorithms for determining these video signals. I was

[0008]

[Table 1]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a signal transmission method, a receiving apparatus, and a signal processing method capable of easily distinguishing a format (format) of a video signal which is difficult to distinguish only by a difference in frequency of a synchronization signal. And a recording medium.

[0010]

According to a signal transmission method of the present invention proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, additional information including a signal for determining a format of a video signal is stored in a vertical blanking interval of a video signal. And transmitting the signal by inserting it at a position separated by a predetermined time from the predetermined synchronization signal.

Further, a signal transmission apparatus according to the present invention proposed to solve the above-mentioned problem comprises a separating means for separating a predetermined synchronization signal from a vertical blanking interval of a video signal, and a vertical blanking interval of the video signal. Signal generating means for generating an additional information signal including information for determining the format of the video signal, which is inserted into the vertical blanking interval, and inserted at a position separated by a predetermined time from the separated synchronization signal in the vertical blanking interval Timing determining means for determining the timing for transmitting the video signal, and inserting means for inserting the additional information signal into the vertical blanking interval of the video signal at the determined timing. .

Another signal transmission apparatus according to the present invention proposed to solve the above-mentioned problem is an encoding means for compressing and encoding a video signal, and an encoding means inserted into a vertical blanking interval of the video signal. An additional information signal generating means for generating an additional information signal including information for determining a format of the video signal, and inserting and transmitting the additional information signal at a position separated by a predetermined time from the separated synchronization signal in the vertical blanking interval And a multiplexing means for multiplexing the compression-encoded video signal with the timing signal and the additional information signal.

[0013] In addition, a receiving apparatus according to the present invention proposed to solve the above-described problem includes a separating unit that separates a predetermined synchronization signal from a vertical blanking interval of a video signal, and the separating unit that separates the vertical blanking interval. A timing detecting means for detecting a timing for extracting additional information including a signal for determining the format of the video signal, which is inserted at a position separated from the synchronization signal by a predetermined time and transmitted, and Data extraction means for extracting the additional information at a timing, and determination means for determining a format of the video signal using the extracted additional information are provided.

Further, according to the recording medium of the present invention proposed to solve the above problem, the additional information including the signal for determining the format type of the video signal is fixed from a predetermined synchronization signal in the vertical blanking interval. A video signal inserted at a position separated by time is recorded.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily determine the format of the video signal, which is difficult to distinguish from each other only by the difference in the frequency of the synchronization signal.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

According to the signal transmission method of the present invention, it is possible to easily determine the signal formats of a plurality of video signals having different formats which are difficult to distinguish from each other only by the difference in the frequency of the synchronization signal. Specifically, the vertical blanking interval (VBI: Vert
Additional information (hereinafter, referred to as a VBI signal) including a signal for determining a format is inserted into an ical blanking interval.

The VBI signal can be used not only for discriminating the video signal format but also for transmitting various kinds of information as described later.

FIG. 1 shows that a common V is located at the same position in the vertical blanking interval (V.BLK1) of the 525p signal and the vertical blanking interval (V.BLK2) of the 1125i signal.
An example in which a BI signal is inserted is shown.

FIG. 1A shows a state where the VBI signal is inserted into the 52
FIG. 1B shows a 1125i signal into which a common VBI signal is inserted. Note that the numbers in the figure ..., 525, 1, 2, 3, ..., and
.., 1121, 1122, 1123,... Represent scanning line (line) numbers of the respective signals.

More specifically, a common synchronization signal (V. Sync1) of the 525p signal and a vertical synchronization signal (V. Sync2) of the 1125i signal are provided at a position separated by the same constant distance T on the time axis. The VBI signal is inserted.

Since both the 525p signal and the 1125i signal have approximately the same horizontal line width of about 30 μs, a common VBI signal can be inserted. However, the waveforms of the synchronization signals are different from each other. Also, 52
The horizontal synchronization signal (H. Sync1) of the 5p signal is
While a negative pulse similar to that used in the TSC system or the like is used, the horizontal synchronization signal (H. Sync) of the 1125i signal is used.
2) uses a ternary waveform on the negative side and the positive side.

FIG. 2 shows a common VB inserted at the same position of the 525p signal and the 1125i signal illustrated in FIG.
9 shows a specific example of an I signal waveform.

One horizontal period between the horizontal synchronization signal 21 of the 525p signal shown in FIG. 2A and the next horizontal synchronization signal 22 is 31.75 μs, and 1125i shown in FIG. 2B.
One horizontal period between the horizontal synchronization signal 26 of the signal and the next horizontal synchronization signal 27 is 29.63 μs.

As described above, when one horizontal period of two video signals is substantially equal, a common VBI signal 29 can be inserted at the same position in the vertical blanking interval.

However, since the formats of the various video signals as described above are generally different from each other, the standards of the vertical blanking period are not the same. Therefore, a VBI signal is defined in which the temporal position from a predetermined synchronization signal as a reference of the video signal is constant in both the horizontal and vertical directions and the waveform is the same.

FIG. 3 shows an example of bit assignment of a VBI signal for determining the format of a video signal.

In this example, the VBI signal is composed of a total of 22 bits of digital data including the reference bit as shown in FIG. The determination of the video signal format may be performed using any of these bits. For example, when the first 4 bits of the above 22 bits except for the undefined “0000” are allocated for format determination of a video signal, a total of 16 types of signals as shown in FIG. Format can be determined.

If the format of the video signal can be distinguished to some extent due to a difference in horizontal frequency or the like, only the format that is difficult to distinguish may be distinguished using the VBI signal.

As described above, the VBI signal inserted as additional information in the vertical blanking interval of the video signal is
In addition to the information for determining the video signal format, it can be transmitted including other information such as the aspect ratio.

For example, if it is sufficient that the 1125i signal and the 525p signal can be distinguished, the first two bits of the VBI signal are used for transmitting the aspect ratio information in accordance with the video ID format of the 525i signal.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the format of the 525p signal and the format of the 1125i signal are determined by a part of the two bits for determining the aspect ratio. V as shown in FIG.
The first two undefined bits of the BI signal are (1, 1)
, The video signal is a 525p signal and 4: 3, letterbox (Letter Bo).
x), aspect ratio information such as 16: 9 is transmitted.
When the first two bits of the VBI signal are (1, 1), it indicates that the video signal is a 1125i signal. Since the aspect ratio of the 1125i signal is only 16: 9, such a VBI
The use of signals is possible.

On the other hand, in video signals other than the 1125i signal and the 525p signal, such as the 1125p signal, the horizontal line width is halved.
The BI signal cannot be inserted in common with video signals of other signal formats.

However, even in such a case, by defining bits for format discrimination in the front several bits of the VBI signal, at least the format discrimination can be performed without the latter half of the VBI signal. Just can do it.

Further, in the signal transmission method according to the present invention, the format of the video signal may be determined using a data area other than the aspect ratio information of the VBI signal.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the bit assignment of the VBI signal for determining the format of the video signal in the data area other than the aspect ratio information.

In the VBI signal illustrated in FIG. 5A, the first two bits are used as the aspect ratio information, and the following 12 bits are used.
The bits are used for other data transmission, and the remaining 6-bit error check code CRCC (Cyclic Redundancy Gheck Code)
It has been.

FIG. 5B shows the contents of the 12-bit data area for data transmission of FIG. 5A. As described above, the first 4 bits are used as a header indicating the contents of the subsequent 8-bit data. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5C, four bits from bit 3 to bit 6
8-bit data such as copyright information, recording date, recording time,... Are defined in correspondence with the header composed of bits. Among these, for example, the header “010”
Information for determining the signal format is defined as the content of the data indicated by "0". The information for determining the signal format is specifically shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the bits are represented by 8 bits from bit7 to bit14.

By the way, depending on the signal format of the video signal, even if an attempt is made to insert the VBI signal in the vertical blanking interval, the entire waveform of the VBI signal cannot be accommodated because the temporal positional relationship between the video signals does not match. Is also assumed.

In such a case, by defining bits for determining the video signal format in the first few bits of the VBI signal, the video signal format can be determined even if the latter half of the VBI signal is missing. So that there is no problem. In this case, bits for an error check function such as CRCC may be defined in the first half of the VBI signal, or a redundant code such as a Hamming code may be used.

FIG. 6 shows the 1125i signal and the 1125p signal.
5 shows an example of a VBI signal inserted into a signal in consideration of the above points.

FIG. 6A shows a 1125p signal into which a VBI signal similar to that shown in FIG. 2B is inserted, and FIG. 6B shows a VBI signal consisting of 7 bits. 1125p signal is shown.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a bit assignment for which format determination is completed up to the first 7 bits of the VBI signal.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the format determination of a video signal is completed using up to the first 7 bits of a VBI signal consisting of 20 bits, for example, format determination data of 4 bits is used. The format may be determined by a total of 5 bits composed of 1-bit parity 1, or the format may be determined by a Hamming code obtained by adding 3 bits of check bits to 4-bit format determination data. .

FIG. 7B shows a specific example of bit assignment when the format of a video signal is determined using a total of 7 bits from bit 1 to bit 7 as described above.

Next, a receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

This receiving apparatus is for receiving a plurality of video signals having different formats, and has a vertical blanking interval (VBI).
rval), the format of the video signal is determined using additional information (VBI information) including a signal for determining the signal format. This makes it possible to easily determine the formats of a plurality of video signals that are difficult to distinguish from each other only by the difference in the frequency of the synchronization signal.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the video signal format determination unit of the receiving apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

This receiving apparatus is, for example, a TV receiver to which a plurality of video signals conforming to mutually different formats are inputted, and when the above-mentioned VBI signal is inserted in the inputted video signal, the video signal is used by using the VBI signal. The format of the signal can be automatically determined.

The luminance (Y) signal of the video signal into which the VBI signal has been inserted is input to a clamp circuit 81 and a sync separation circuit 84. Y input to the clamp circuit 81
The signal is clamped at a predetermined level and the slicer circuit 82
And is supplied to the gate circuit 83 after being sliced at a predetermined level.

On the other hand, the horizontal synchronizing signal H and the vertical synchronizing signal V are separated and extracted from the Y signal input to the synchronizing separation circuit 84.

The horizontal synchronizing signal H is supplied to the in-line timing generation circuit 85, and the generated in-line timing signal is supplied to the gate circuit 83. The horizontal synchronizing signal H and the vertical synchronizing signal V are both supplied to a line counter 86, and a count signal generated by counting the number of lines is supplied to a gate circuit 83.

Gate circuit 83 determines the format of the video signal based on slicer circuit 82, the signal from line timing generator 85 for detecting the timing for extracting the VBI signal, and the signal from line counter 86. A VBI signal including format determination data for the VBI is extracted, and the content is sent to a format determination circuit 88. The horizontal synchronizing signal H is also supplied to a line frequency measuring circuit 87, and the measured line frequency is sent to a format determining unit 88.

Then, the format determining circuit 88 determines the format of the input video signal based on the data and the line frequency.

In this receiving apparatus, since it is not known what format of the video signal is input, it is important to be able to synchronize first.
Synchronization is achieved only with c. In this case, in order to easily determine the format, the VBI signal is arranged at a fixed position from the negative Sync in any video signal format.

Next, a signal transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

This signal transmission device is an encoder for inserting a VBI signal containing additional information for discriminating a plurality of video signals having different formats into a vertical blanking interval (VBI) and transmitting the VBI signal.

For the configuration of the encoder for this purpose, for example, the following two types are assumed. One is an inserter that adds a VBI signal to an existing video signal, and the other is a VB signal when generating a video signal.
It generates an I signal.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a main part of a signal transmission device (encoder) according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is configured by a VBI inserter.

The luminance (Y) signal of the video signal into which the VBI signal is to be inserted and transmitted is input to the clamp circuit 91 and the sync separation circuit 94. The Y signal input to the clamp circuit 91 is clamped at a predetermined level, and is supplied to the switching circuit 98.

On the other hand, the horizontal synchronizing signal H and the vertical synchronizing signal V are separated and extracted from the Y signal input to the synchronizing separation circuit 94.

The horizontal synchronizing signal H is supplied to an in-line timing generation circuit 95, and the generated in-line timing signal is supplied to a VBI signal generation circuit 97. The horizontal synchronizing signal H and the vertical synchronizing signal V are both supplied to a line counter 96, and a count signal generated by counting the number of lines is supplied to a VBI signal generating circuit 97 together with additional information data. . This allows
The insertion line and the insertion position where the additional information data for determining the format of the video signal is inserted are determined.

VBI signal generation circuit 97 supplies VBI signal switching circuit 98 including additional information data based on signals from in-line timing generation circuit 95 and line counter 96 for detecting the timing for inserting the VBI signal. I do.

On the other hand, FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of a main part of another signal transmission device (encoder) according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is constituted by an encoder for simultaneously generating a VBI signal in a video signal generator. FIG.

The synchronization generation circuit 103 generates a horizontal synchronization signal H and a vertical synchronization signal V based on the supplied master clock. Sync generation circuit 104 and V. This is supplied to the Sync generation circuit 105.

H. The sync generation circuit 104 generates a horizontal synchronization signal waveform H. based on the horizontal synchronization signal H supplied from the synchronization generation circuit 103. Sync is generated and the multiplex circuit 108 is generated.
To supply. V. Sync generating circuit 105 generates a vertical synchronizing signal waveform V.V. based on horizontal synchronizing signal H and vertical synchronizing signal V from sync generating circuit 103. Sync is generated and supplied to the multiplexing circuit 108.

The horizontal synchronizing signal H from the synchronizing circuit 103
And the vertical synchronizing signal V together with the additional information data
The signal is also supplied to the signal generation circuit 106. The VBI signal generation circuit 106 determines an insertion line and an insertion position from the horizontal synchronization signal H and the vertical synchronization signal V, and similarly determines [? ] A VBI signal waveform is generated.

Then, MPEG (Moving Picture Exper)
ts Group) luminance (Y) data output from the decoder 100; The horizontal synchronizing signal waveform H. Sync. Sync generation circuit 105
Vertical synchronization signal waveform V. Sync and the multiplexing circuit 1
08 and multiplexed by the D / A conversion circuit 109.
The signal is converted into an analog signal and output as a Y signal.

This may be, for example, an analog broadcast or a signal generator itself.
It is also used in VD players and the like. That is, MPE
When a video signal digitally transmitted or reproduced in a format such as G is output as an analog signal, it is necessary to encode the video signal itself. At this time, the main processing is to add a synchronization signal to the video signal.
Also generate I signals, add them on digital data,
Finally, A / D conversion is performed and output.

Of course, the present invention can be applied to an output circuit of an analog MUSE decoder. In the case of the MUSE decoder, the transmission itself is analog, but in reality, digital processing is mainly performed, and the MUSE decoder is used instead of the MPEG decoder in the figure.
What is necessary is just to replace a decoder.

Thus, using the above-described receiving apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to easily determine the formats of a plurality of video signals that are difficult to distinguish from each other only by the difference in the frequency of the synchronization signal. .

In the above description, an example is assumed in which a video signal is transmitted via a transmission path.
The same applies to the case where the video signal is recorded on a recording medium. That is, when a plurality of video signals having different formats are recorded on one recording medium, additional information including a signal for determining a signal format of the video signals is inserted into a vertical blanking interval. Accordingly, it is possible to automatically determine a plurality of video signals reproduced from the recording medium and easily extract a desired video signal.

[0073]

According to the present invention, additional information including a signal for determining the format of a video signal is provided in a vertical blanking interval of a plurality of video signals having different formats recorded on a transmission or recording medium. Since the insertion is performed, it is possible to provide a signal transmission method and apparatus, a receiving apparatus, and a recording medium that can easily determine a video signal that is difficult to determine only by the frequency of the synchronization signal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a common VBI signal is inserted at the same position in a vertical blanking interval of a video signal having a different format and a vertical blanking interval of a 1125i signal.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a common VBI signal waveform.

FIG. 3 shows a VBI for determining the format of a video signal.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of bit assignment of a signal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a format of a video signal is determined based on a part of two bits for determining an aspect ratio.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a VB adapted to determine a format of a video signal using a data area other than the aspect ratio information.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a bit assignment of an I signal.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a VBI signal inserted into the 1125i signal and the 1125p signal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a VBI signal in which the format of a video signal is determined using up to the first 7 bits.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video signal format determination circuit of the receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of a signal transmission device (encoder) configured by a VBI inserter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of a signal transmission device (encoder) including an encoder that simultaneously generates a VBI signal in a video signal generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

81 Clamp circuit, 82 Slicer circuit, 83
Gate circuit 84 Synchronization separation circuit 85 In-line timing generation circuit 86 Line counter 87
Line frequency measurement circuit, 88 format judgment circuit

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A method of transmitting additional information including a signal for determining a format of a video signal by inserting the additional information at a position separated by a predetermined time from a predetermined synchronization signal in a vertical blanking interval of the video signal. Signal transmission method. 2. The signal transmission method according to claim 1, wherein each of the predetermined synchronization signals is a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal of a negative polarity, or a negative polarity portion of a bipolar synchronization signal. . 3. The signal transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the signal for determining the format of the video signal is assigned to a front bit of the additional information. 4. Separation means for separating a predetermined synchronization signal from a vertical blanking interval of a video signal;
Signal generating means for generating an additional information signal including information for determining the format of the video signal; and transmitting the vertical blanking section by inserting the vertical synchronizing signal at a position separated from the separated synchronization signal by a predetermined time. A signal transmission device comprising: timing determination means for determining a timing for the video signal; and insertion means for inserting the additional information signal into a vertical blanking interval of the video signal at the determined timing. 5. The signal transmission device according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined synchronization signal is a negative-side vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal, or a negative-polarity portion of a bipolar synchronization signal. . 6. An encoding means for compressing and encoding a video signal, wherein said encoding means is inserted into a vertical blanking interval of said video signal.
An additional information signal generating means for generating an additional information signal including information for determining a format of the video signal; and an additional information signal generating means for inserting the video signal at a position separated by a predetermined time from a predetermined synchronization signal in the vertical blanking interval for transmission. And a multiplexing means for multiplexing the compression-encoded video signal, the timing signal, and the additional information signal. 7. The signal transmission device according to claim 6, wherein each of the predetermined synchronization signals is a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal having a negative polarity, or a negative polarity portion of a bipolar synchronization signal. . 8. A separation means for separating a predetermined synchronization signal from a vertical blanking interval of a video signal, and a signal inserted and transmitted at a predetermined time from the separated synchronization signal in the vertical blanking interval. A timing determining means for determining a timing for extracting additional information including a signal for determining a format of the video signal; a data extracting means for extracting the additional information at the determined timing; A receiving unit that determines a format of the video signal using information. 9. The image processing apparatus further comprises a measuring unit for measuring a line frequency of the video signal, wherein the determining unit determines a format of the video signal using the additional information and the measured line frequency. The receiving device according to claim 8, wherein 10. The receiver according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined synchronization signal is a vertical synchronization signal of negative polarity. 11. The receiving apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a signal for determining a format of said video signal is assigned to a preceding bit of said additional information. 12. A video signal in which additional information including a signal for determining a format of a video signal is recorded at a position separated from a predetermined synchronization signal in a vertical blanking interval by a predetermined time is recorded. Characteristic recording medium. 13. The recording medium according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined synchronization signal is a vertical synchronization signal of negative polarity. 14. The recording medium according to claim 12, wherein a signal for determining a format of said video signal is assigned to a preceding bit of said additional information.