KR0129100B1 - Automatic broadcasting control system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a television (TV) program automatic transmission system which can sufficiently guarantee advantages of TV transmission automation. This system includes a central processing computer holding a system program; a control unit directly managing plural broadcasting equipments under the control of the central processing computer; a switcher selecting one output for program transmission from the plural broadcasting equipments' outputs under the control of the central processing computer; and a remote control computer for monitoring each equipment's operation and remote control. According to this system, 2 CPU modules are constituted as a dual running system sharing the information via a common memory device, and two processors are self-monitored to automatically convert hot/standby operation.

Description

Broadcasting automatic control system

1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a television program automatic delivery system

2 is an overall block diagram of a broadcasting device control apparatus having two CPU modules according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the coupling logic between shared memories of each module in the control device of FIG.

4 is a flowchart showing a self-diagnostic operation program executed by the control device according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: computer for central processing 20: broadcasting device control device

30 switcher device 40 remote control computer

21: CPU 24: shared memory

29: machine interface device 200: switching device

240: dual port ram 241: bus transceiver

245 Busy Checker 247 Master / Slave Checker

The present invention relates to an automatic control system for broadcasting operation, and in particular, two CPU modules combined with a plurality of broadcasting apparatuses serving as audio and video signal sources to provide safety and reliability in a control apparatus that performs an automatic switching function for program transmission. The present invention relates to a control device configured as a dual learning system employing a dual learning system, and that two processors self-diagnose each other's abnormal state and automatically switch hot / standby operation.

In general, the main control room of a television station manages the final quality of various signals processed at a performance station and makes various video and audio sources into a single output for program transmission through a switcher device.

Technical efforts have been undertaken to automate the switching of the signal source in the main control room, the core of which is the broadcast equipment having the video and / or audio source at the correct time in accordance with the given time schedule. Play a videotape recorder, character generator, or sub-controller outputs during live broadcasts), and select the input crosspoint of the main switcher whose output is inherited.

As an example of a conventional program automatic delivery method, a sequence of VCRs to be played on a broadcast tape is determined, a schedule is created, and the schedule is input to an event stacker composed of a computer. Thereafter, the computer controlled the switcher device in units of time so that the switcher generated a relay contact signal for playing the corresponding VCR and connected the input cross point.

Such a system simply plays a desired VCR to obtain broadcast output and cannot satisfy additional automation function requirements such as monitoring the current operation state of each VCR device. It is desirable to allow the computer software to perform more than just play and play, such as automatic cueing, automatic standby, automatic post-processing operations, and VCR operational status continuous monitoring.

Accordingly, the present invention is to provide a television program automatic delivery system capable of fully utilizing the advantages of TV delivery automation in a main control room in response to the above-described demands.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a program picture in conjunction with a plurality of broadcast equipment that is a video light audio signal source

A television program automatic transmission system that performs an automatic switching function, comprising a dual running system for safety and reliability, and two processor self-diagnosing abnormal conditions of each other to automatically switch the hot / standby operation. To provide.

In order to achieve the above object, a program automatic delivery system according to the best embodiment of the present invention uses a predetermined bus protocol through a communication port of a central processing computer and a central processing computer for controlling the system according to a program management program (APM). And a switcher device that receives a plurality of video inputs and selects one image output, and comprises two identical CPU systems, and controls, via communication, broadcasting devices comprising a plurality of video and audio sources through communication. And a remote control device that performs self-diagnosis of each other's abnormal conditions and automatically switches the hot / standby operation when it is determined that the abnormal state is detected, and performs remote control in addition to monitoring the status of individual broadcasting devices through the broadcast device control device. Consists of a fixed computer.

Preferably, the broadcasting device controller has two CPU blocks connected to the storage device ROM and RAM and a plurality of input / output interface devices through a bus line in the same configuration, and two for hot / standby operation of the two CPU blocks. It includes a shared memory device that stores information to be shared by each module so that two modules can operate exactly the same without interference from each other, and a switching device for connecting a module, which is a master of two modules, with an external input / output port. do.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a program automatic delivery system according to the present invention.

The program automatic transmission system includes a central processing computer 10 having a program embedded therein, and a control device 20 which directly manages a plurality of broadcasting devices MM1, MA2, ..., MA32 under the control of the computer 10. And a switcher device 30 which selects one output for program transmission from the plurality of broadcast device outputs under the control of the central processing computer, and the operation of an annoying individual broadcast device through the broadcast device control device 20. It consists of a remote control computer 40 for status monitoring and remote control.

The central processing computer 10 uses the IBM PC compatible model as a basic system and controls the broadcasting device control device 20 and the switcher device 30 according to the built-in automatic program management program (APM).

In addition, the central processing computer 10 is mutually associated with a TV add-on signal generator (KBPS) module 50 with a built-in Korean reservation recording system for simple reservation recording of a home VCR and a voice signal control device 60 for voice multiplexing. Works.

The Automatic Program Management Program (APM) allows users to select certain tasks from the initial menu screen on the monitor, for example, to create, modify and edit program event lists, to modify communication ports with various connected broadcast equipment, and to operate the APM in actual operation mode. Allow to run In the APM running screen, status indications such as automatic and manual driving statuses and communication status abnormalities, and operation states of respective broadcasting devices connected to the device control apparatus 20 are shown. As a dialog box and a main screen with the user, the time schedule of the broadcast program can be edited in a list format in the same manner as the contents displayed in the event stacker of the conventional switcher device 30.

The switcher device 30 typically uses a master control switcher manufactured by GVG Corporation as an image switcher receiving 16 video inputs. This switcher is controlled using the standardized ES-bus protocol via the serial communication port of the central processing computer 10.

The broadcasting device control device 20 is a broadcasting source machine control device composed of two CPU systems according to the present invention. Up to 32 broadcasting devices, for example, 29 VCRs and three character generators (including a PC-type character generator) and It can be connected and communicates with each device through RS-232C (or RS-422) method. Control of the VCR is done using SONY's serial communication protocol. As will be described in detail later, the same two CPU modules are engaged with the central processing computer to self-diagnose each other's abnormal state and automatically switch the hot / stand-by operation when it is determined that there is an error.

Control data is transmitted and received with the central processing computer 10 in an RS-232C manner.

The remote control computer 40 performs remote control in addition to monitoring the status of individual broadcast devices through the broadcast device control device 20.

In addition, the central furnishing computer 10 includes a display monitor 70 for monitoring the progress of a program separately from the data display monitor, for which it has an ISA type PC embedded card.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the broadcast device control apparatus 20 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

According to the present invention, the control device 20 is composed of two CPU modules (module A and module B) so as to have the safety and reliability of the automatic program delivery system, and the two processors self-diagnose each other's abnormal state to provide hot / Switch the standby operation automatically.

The two modules each include a CPU, a memory device, and a plurality of interface devices of the same configuration.

The CPU block 21 is a part that controls all functions of the control device, and is connected to the data retrieval and storage memory devices ROM 22 and RAM 23 through bus lines. The ROM 22 incorporates a program for monitoring and emulating a control device itself in addition to a program for controlling a broadcast device.

APM interface device 26 is provided as a connection device with the central processing computer 10 to receive information for controlling the broadcast device or to transmit status information related to the broadcast device.

In addition, a time code interface device 25 is installed to interpret a time code input from the outside to inform the CPU of the current time in 1/30 second units, or an external time code is not input using an internal timer, or the CPU specifically requests it. If time is informed.

The terminal interface device 27 is installed for debugging the control device 20 and is connected with the emulation computer through this.

In addition, the central processing computer 10 and the MSRC (Machine Status Romate Controller) interface device 28 and a log printer connected to the computer 40 for monitoring and remotely controlling the status of individual broadcasting devices through the control device 20. It is provided with a printer interface device.

The machine interface device 29 connects 32 broadcasting devices and a CPU and controls the broadcasting device or reads the status information of the device under the instruction of the CPU.

The two modules in the control unit 20 are provided with respective shared memories 24 and 24 '. The shared memory is configured for hot / standby operation of two modules, and stores information that each module must share so that the two modules can operate exactly the same. As will be described in detail later, the two modules use shared memory 24, 24 ′ without interfering with each other.

In addition, the control device 20 includes a switching device 200 for connecting a module operating as a master among two modules with an external input / output port.

The two modules perform a back-up operation with respect to each other so that the two modules continuously maintain the exact same operating state even in an abnormal state. In other words, if the module currently operating as a master determines that there is a problem in operating the device, it automatically transfers the control right to the module in the slave mode so that the previous operation is continuously performed.

At this time, since any broadcast device controlled can be connected to only one (master) of two modules, the unconnected module (slave) cannot obtain information related to the device. In order to solve this problem, the slave side must transfer the communication information with the device from the master side, and the shared memory (24, 24 ') is used for this purpose.

The hot / standby automatic switching operation is performed by dividing the software switching and the hardware switching. Software conversion occurs when the module currently acting as the master determines itself to have trouble controlling the broadcast devices. In other words, if an internal clock error, a communication delay with the central processing computer, or a communication error with the broadcasting device is detected, it immediately switches to a slave (standby) operation state.

In addition, hardware switching occurs when the module operating as a master is turned off, or when an error occurs in the memory or a software error is detected. At this time, the master module automatically switches to slave operation.

On the other hand, if an error occurs in the module acting as a slave, a warning message is generated in the central processing computer. In this case, of course, master / slave switching is not performed.

Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrating the coupling logic between shared memories of two modules is shown.

In FIG. 3, each identical dual port RAM 240, 240 'owned by module A and module B is connected to its CPU via a data and address bus, and the respective bus transceivers 241, 241' are connected. It has a structure connected to the other dual port RAM through the bus, the busy checker (245, 245 ') coupled with each dual port RAM, and the master / slave checkers (247, 247') coupled to each of the bus transceiver Doing.

The dual port RAMs 240 and 240 'of each module constituting the shared memory shown in FIG. 2 store data to be shared by the master and the slave, and the CPU of the module designated as the master stores data in its dual port RAM. Writes the same data to the slave device's port RAM at the same time.

The master module can read / write data to its dual port RAM arbitrarily. At the same time, the same data is written to the dual port RAM of the slave module, but the slave module can read only its dual port RAM. Therefore, the slave module can operate with the data of the same dual port RAM as the master.

The bus transceivers 241 and 241 'redirect data and address buses depending on whether each module is in master mode or slave mode to enable data write operations from the master module to the slave module.

Busy checkers 245 and 245 'check whether the dual port RAM of each module is being accessed by the other CPU, generate an occupancy signal (busy alarm), and send it to its own CPU. Thus, two CPUs access a single address at the same time to prevent conflicts.

The master / slave checker 247 is coupled with the bus transceiver 241 to detect whether the current module is acting as a master or a slave, and generates a mastership signal SM when operating as a master module. Transfer to the CPU.

Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 4, a self-diagnostic operation program executed by each CPU module of the control device to provide a backup system as described above is as follows.

When the power switch is turned on and started from the two CPU modules in turn, it is determined in step 101 whether the own module will operate as a master or a slave.

As mentioned above, since the two modules are identical, there is no distinction of master / slave in terms of hardware or software at all, but only the module that was first powered up is recognized as the master.

In order to know if it is master in software, it reads output port provided in hardware.

If its own module is found to be the master, it clears its own shared memory (dual port RAM) in step 102 and initializes it.

If it is found to be a slave, a change interrupt is generated in hardware to make one copy (COPY) of the state of the master module through the shared memory in step 103.

At this time, the state of the slave may occur because the power-on is slightly later than the master module. However, since the operation state of the master module and the slave module may be different from each other, such as when the slave module recovers after failure, At module startup, the master module requests one copy of the information stored by the shared memory.

The master module executes the main routine for the device control operation and copies the data stored in its shared memory as needed.

In step 104, the slave module waits for one copy to complete and takes the necessary data from the shared memory information of the master to make its own state in the same operation state as the master.

Since the slave module is dual running in the same state as the master module in a standby state, the slave module can continuously perform its function exactly when an abnormal state occurs in the master.

After the initializing step, the master or slave module performs operations such as control of a broadcasting device according to the event list under the control of the central processing computer in the main routine (step 105).

While the main routine is in progress, the master module periodically checks whether the slave module has recovered after an abnormal condition has occurred (step 106).

When the slave module detects that a change interrupt is generated at some point, it generates a specific flag signal and reads and rewrites the shared memory information one byte at a time without interfering with other tasks while rotating the main routine (step 107).

If the master module reads and rewrites its shared memory information by 1 byte, the information is written not only to the shared memory but also to the shared memory of the slave, so that the information can be transferred to the slave side.

Thereafter, it is checked whether one copy of the shared memory information is completed (step 108). If the information transfer is completed, the specific flag is cleared to perform the main routine operation to release the change interrupt occurrence (step 109).

On the other hand, when the power of a module operating as a master is intentionally or accidentally turned off, a change interrupt is generated to switch roles between the master and the slave.

This interrupt is a hardware-generated non-maskable interrupt (NMI) that provides the services needed to switch the master and slave. That is, the read direction of the shared memory is changed by writing the master / slave checker 247 'as a master.

Such a change interrupt service is performed when the software is detected by the watchdog timer when the master power is turned off, when an error occurs in the memory, when the internal clock is abnormal, when a communication error with the central processing computer occurs, and when the control target It occurs when there is a communication error with the device.

As described above, according to the control device of the present invention, two CPU modules are configured as a dual learning system that shares information with each other via a shared memory device, and two processors self-diagnose each other's abnormal state to perform hot / standby operation. By automatically switching, it is possible to safely and reliably perform the automatic switching function for program transmission in combination with a plurality of broadcasting devices that are audio and video signal sources.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations are possible. Accordingly, the following claims are to be understood as including all modifications and variations that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

A central processing computer for controlling the system according to a program management program, a switcher device for receiving a plurality of video inputs controlled using a predetermined bus protocol through a communication port of the central processing computer and selecting one image output; It is composed of the same two CPU systems and controls broadcasting devices composed of multiple video and audio sources, meshes with the central processing computer to self-diagnose each other's abnormal conditions, and automatically performs hot / standby operation when it is determined that there is a problem. And a remote control computer configured to switch, and a remote control computer to perform remote control in addition to monitoring the status of individual broadcast devices through the broadcast device control device. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processing computer includes a graphic display monitor for monitoring the progress of a program separately from the data display monitor. The broadcast processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the central processing computer interacts with a TV additional signal generator module in which a reservation recording system for simple reservation recording of a home VCR and a voice signal control device for voice multiple broadcasting are provided. Running automatic control system. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the broadcasting device control device has two CPU blocks connected to a storage device ROM and a RAM and a plurality of input / output interface devices through a bus line in the same configuration, and a hot / standby operation of two CPU blocks. A shared memory device that stores information to be shared by each module so that two modules can operate exactly the same without interfering with each other, and a switch for connecting a module operating as a master among the two modules with an external input / output port. Broadcast operation automatic control system comprising a device. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the input / output interface device comprises a central processing computer interface device that receives information for controlling a broadcast device or transmits state information related to the broadcast device, and analyzes a time code input from an external device to determine a current time. Time code interface device that informs the CPU in 1/30 second unit or informs the time information when the external time code is not input by the internal timer or specially requested by the CPU, and is installed for debugging of the control device. A terminal interface device for connecting to an emulation computer via a remote control computer interface device connected to a computer for monitoring and remote control of individual broadcasting apparatuses through the control device separately from the central processing computer, Connect the broadcasting device to the CPU and receive the instruction from the CPU Control or broadcast station automatic control system comprising a machine interface device for reading the status information of the device. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the shared memory is comprised of dual port RAM connected to its CPU block via a data and address bus, the data and address depending on whether each module is in master mode or both slaves. A bus transceiver that changes the direction of the bus and enables data write operation from the master module to the slave module. Checks whether the dual port RAM of each module is being accessed by the CPU of the other side and generates an occupied signal (busy alarm). Busy checker to transmit to the CPU of the master, coupled with the bus transceiver to detect whether the current module is operating as a master or a slave, the master generates a mastership signal when operating as a master module and transmits to its own CPU / Operator characterized in that it further comprises a slave checker Control system. Control method for configuring two CPU modules as a dual running system that shares each other's information through a shared memory and a bus transceiver, and automatically switching the hot / standby operation by two CPU modules self-diagnosing each other's abnormal state. Determining whether the module will operate as a master or a slave at initialization, and when it turns out to be a slave, it changes the hardware to copy one state of the master module through the shared memory. Generating an interrupt; and waiting for one copy to complete, and taking the necessary data from the shared memory information of the master when the copy is completed, and creating its own state in the same operation state as the master. Control system. The method of claim 7, wherein the master module periodically checks for a change interrupt of the slave module during the initial and subsequent main routines of the master module, generates a specific flag signal in response to the interrupt signal, and performs a main routine. And rewriting the shared memory information by one byte, checking whether one copy of the shared memory information is finished, and clearing a specific flag to perform the main routine operation when the information transfer is completed. Broadcast operation automatic control system characterized in that. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the change interrupt occurs when a software error is detected by a watchdog timer when the power of a module operating as a master is intentionally or accidentally turned off. And an abnormality in the internal clock, an abnormality in communication with the central processing computer, and an abnormality in communication with the control target device.