KR0174403B1 - Base station apparatus of a catv for video on demand service - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a central station apparatus and its operation method configured to provide a program to a plurality of distribution centers so as to provide a video program on demand in a CATV system. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first optical transmission apparatus 11 for receiving a video program, a video bank 15 for receiving and storing a video signal, and a switching means 19 for receiving and switching a video signal. And a plurality of multiplexers 21 for receiving the outputs of the switching means 19 and multiplexing them and outputting the outputs of the plurality of multiplexers 21 to the subscriber side, and outputting signals of the subscriber side including a program request command. A plurality of second optical transmission devices 22 input into the device, a main control unit 20 for outputting a switching control signal and controlling management according to charging and status information on the subscriber side, and controlling the switching of the switching means 19; It includes a switch control unit 23, and consists of a control program for controlling this.

Description

Central station device and its operation method of CATV system for video service on demand

1 is a structural diagram of an optical CATV system capable of providing on-demand video services.

2 is a signal flow diagram of an on-demand video service in an optical CATV system.

3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the central station apparatus of the optical CATV system.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a central station apparatus of an optical CATV system.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

11,22: optical transmission device 15: video bank

19: switch 21: multiplexer

23: switch control unit 20: main control unit

18: Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Array

The present invention relates to a central station apparatus applied to an optical CATV system capable of providing a desired video program while watching a menu displayed on a TV receiver in a subscriber premises, and a method of operating the same.

Analog coaxial CATV system not only could not provide on-demand video program, but also because there was no uplink channel, it could not provide other digital services.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art, provides a central station apparatus and its operation method configured to provide a program to a plurality of distribution centers to provide a video on demand in a CATV system. There is a purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the central station apparatus according to the present invention comprises a first optical transmission apparatus for receiving an on-demand video program received from a headend in an optical CATV system and a video signal of another region, and a preselected video program. A video bank for receiving and storing a portion of the video signal transmitted through the first optical transmission device, receiving other video programs on demand delivered by the first optical transmission device, and receiving a video signal from an output terminal of the video bank. A switching means for receiving and switching and outputting a plurality of multiplexers for receiving and outputting the output of the switching means, and outputting the outputs of the plurality of multiplexers to a subscriber side, and outputting a subscriber side signal including a program request command into the device Multiple second optical transmissions to input A main control unit for receiving a program request command from a subscriber through the plurality of second optical transmission devices, outputting a switching control signal, and controlling a management according to charging and status information of the subscriber, and a switching control signal of the main control unit. It includes a switch control unit for receiving the input to control the switching of the switching means.

In addition, the operating method of the central station apparatus according to the present invention, when the signal of the subscriber side including the charging, status and program request signal is input, the first step of checking what information the input signal, the inspection result, the charging information or In the second step of storing charging and status recognition according to the status information of the subscriber indoor device, and storing the result, if it is a test result and a program request signal, the program search command is transmitted to the video bank, and the corresponding program is transmitted from the video bank. A third step of performing a search to find a message; a fourth step of determining whether a program exists in the search result video bank; and if a program exists, an exchange command is transmitted to a switch controller so that the program is switched and transmitted to the subscriber. Step 5, if the program does not exist in the video bank, A sixth step of transmitting a RAM request command through a headend or other region video network, and a waiting state for receiving a program; and a seventh step of performing a process of the fifth step if a requested program is received through an optical transmission device. It includes.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of the present invention;

1 is a structural diagram of an optical CATV system capable of supplying a video on demand application to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in the drawing, a system for optical CATV to which the present invention is applied includes a head end (2) which stores a large number of video programs, multiplexes with a video program that receives and stores a broadcast type TV program, and transmits the same through a transmission network (2). ), The multiplexed video signal through the headend (2) and the communication signal through the telephone network (1), the video signal through the other local video network (3) is received through the transmission network and these signals and stored therein The central station apparatus 5 which selects a certain amount of video signal according to the subscriber's request, switches for each region and outputs it through the optical transmission network 6, and the video signal and communication transmitted from the central station connected to the optical transmission network 6 The channel signal and a certain amount of video programs stored in the channel are selected according to the subscriber's request, and the subscriber network 8 is connected to each subscriber indoor device 9 through the subscriber network 8. It includes a plurality of class distribution center 7 for.

In addition, the NT abbreviation NT shown in the figure, M is the number of video programs on demand, N is a natural number, STB is a set-top, TA-A is a telephone network matching unit, TA-D is a comprehensive information network matching unit, VOD SERVER Represents a video server, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a signal processing flowchart of the optical CATV system shown in FIG. 1, showing the entire process of providing an on-demand video service.

In the subscriber premises, when the subscriber is powered on to receive the video service on demand, the switch control unit of the distribution center 7 detects it through the subscriber network 8 and the video buffer which is a video storage bank. After the control command is sent to the unit 2 for searching, the menu of the stored video program is supplied to the subscriber premises through the distribution switch unit. Accordingly, when the subscriber selects a menu and transmits a program request signal in the subscriber premises, the switch control unit of the distribution center 7 recognizes this and first determines whether the program is stored in the subscriber premises. If it is determined that the program is stored in itself, the video buffer unit 2 is provided to the subscriber through the distribution switch. If it is not a program stored in itself, the distribution center transmits a program request command to the central station 5 through the optical transmission network 6, and the central station checks whether the corresponding program is stored in the video buffer unit 1, which is its video bank. As a result of the check, if the video program is stored in the mobile station, the video program is supplied to the subscriber premises apparatus 9 through the distribution switch of the optical transmission network 6 and the distribution center 7 through the central switch unit under network management and control of the controller. If the program is not stored by itself, the program transmission request signal is transmitted through the transmission network 4 to the program control unit of the head end 2. The head-end program control unit searches the video program storage unit to transmit the corresponding program if there is a corresponding program, and if not, transmits a transmission signal to an external video network and receives the corresponding program. The received program is provided to the subscriber premises through the transmission network 4, the central station 5, the optical transmission network 6, the distribution center 7 to which the subscriber requesting the program belongs, and the subscriber network 8.

When the subscriber finishes watching the provided program, the switch control unit of the distribution center detects the power-off of the subscriber, and transmits the program supply release signal to the supply source.

3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the central station apparatus according to the present invention. Referring to the drawings, the operation and configuration of each component will be described below.

Before entering the detailed description, the abbreviated HDD shown in the drawings is a hard disk drive (for data backup), 2B + D is a communication channel for digital telephone service, B is a communication channel for analog telephone service, and M can be received. The sum of the number of on-demand video programs and the number of broadcast TV programs, N represents the number of distribution centers, and V represents the sum of the number of broadcast TV programs and the number of on-demand video programs that can be exchanged for each distribution center.

On-demand video programs and other regional video programs received at the head end 2 in the own optical CATV system are received at the optical transmission device 1 11 by the optical cable of the transmission network 4, and from the electronic switch (not shown). The data received from the B channel matching unit 13 and the 2B + D channel matching unit 12 via the transmission network 4 from the analog telephone network or the digital telephone network, respectively, and outputted from each output terminal are multiplexed and output from the multiplier 1 (16). do.

On the other hand, the multiplexed analog and digital telephone network channels transmitted from the distribution center are released from the demultiplexer 1 (17) and transmitted through the 2B + D channel matching unit 12 and the B channel matching unit 13 to the electronic exchange side.

The optical transmission device 1 (11), the 2B + D channel matching unit 12, the B channel matching unit 13, the multiplexer 1 (16) and the demultiplexer 1 (17) are shown in FIG. It corresponds to the matching part 1 in the inside.

The programs belonging to the high popularity received from the headend or other region video network are stored in the video bank 15 through the optical transmission device 1 (11), and these programs are backed up to the HDD array 18. Thus, the video bank 15 and the HDD array 18 correspond to the video buffer unit 1 in FIG.

Most of the other on-demand video programs are input directly to the M x NV switch 19 via the optical transmission device 1 11, and the above-mentioned popular video program is input from the output of the video bank. The specification of the M x NV switch 19 is as follows.

It has a switching capacity that can exchange up to M programs from the input M programs to distribution center 1, ..., distribution center N. That is, among the M programs, subscribers belonging to each distribution center 7 can apply for the video-on-demand program, and when the subscriber of the subscriber premises device 9 selects a menu, the program request transmitted upward through the distribution center 7 is requested. When the command is received by the optical transmission device 2 and the optical transmission device 3, which are the plurality of optical transmitters 22, the command is transmitted to the main control unit 20 through the data matching unit 24. By the received request command, the main controller 20 exchanges the program requested by the M x NV switch 19 through the switch controller 23 so as to be transmitted to the distribution center 7. That is, the switch control unit 23 and the main control unit 20 of FIG. 3 play a role of network management and control unit of FIG.

When up to V programs are exchanged and output from the M x NV switch 19, the multiplexers 21, multiplexers 3, and multiplexers 3 are multiplexed before being transmitted to each distribution center 7, respectively. Optical transmission device 2, ... is transmitted to the optical transmission device 3 is output via the optical transmission network (6). Therefore, these multiplexers 2, ... multiplexers 3, optical transmission devices 2, ... optical transmission devices 3, and data matching section 24 assume the same functions as the central station matching section 2 in FIG.

The network management and control unit shown in FIG. 1 uses the main control unit 20 through the data matching unit 24 through the optical transmission apparatuses 2 and 3 from time to time for each distribution center and the network management and subscriber premises equipment of these subscribers. It is connected to the operator terminal 25 to collect and provide the system operator with billing, status information and the like.

On the other hand, the network synchronizer 14, which has received the clock of the upper level from the electronic switch through the B channel matching unit 13, provides the synchronous clocks necessary for not only the central station 5 but also all distribution centers 1, ... To build a synchronous network.

Referring to the core functions performed in the central station 5 according to the present invention as follows.

On-demand video programs provided by the video bank 15 of the central station 5 or the VOD SERVER (or other regional video network) of the head end 2 by the menu provided by the distribution center 7 for the program requested by the subscriber. Replace with M x NV switch 19. However, transmission may not be possible due to the limitation of the transmission channel in the transmission network 4 of the head end 2 and the central station 5 or the optical transmission network 6 connected to the central station 5 and each distribution center 7. In order to prepare for such a case, the distribution function of the distribution switch 7 of each distribution center 7 is primarily aggregated, and the final traffic is adjusted in the central domestic M x NV switch 19 and the main control unit 20. That is, if excessively demanding the same on-demand video program, the main control unit 20 immediately regards the program as a high-ranking program, and transmits a program request command to the VOD server or other region video network of the head-end 2 to transmit a high-ranking program. Download and store the download to the video bank 15 of FIG. 3, switch (exchange) the M x NV switch 19 with a broadcast TV program, and notify each distribution center 7 of the menu change. After this time, subscribers requesting the top popular programs will be notified and provided like a broadcast TV program. This result can prevent traffic overload of the transmission network 4 between the headend (or other regional video network) and the central station 5 and the optical transmission network 6 between the central station 5 and each distribution center 7. .

As described in the signal flow diagram of FIG. 2 to process the traffic overload and the process for executing the video-on-demand program by the above components, the control command and the program are the contents communicated between the matching unit 2 and the matching unit 1. There is a request command and a program transfer message.

4 is an operation control flowchart of the central station apparatus 5 of the present invention configured as shown in FIG.

When charging, status and program request signals, etc. are input from the distribution center 7 (41), they are input via the optical transmission device 22 and input to the main control unit 22 through the data matching unit 24 (42). The main controller 22 checks what information the input signal is (43).

If the inspection result is the charging information or the status information of the subscriber's home device, the main controller 22 performs the processing such as the charging process and the state recognition accordingly (44), and stores the result in the hard disk (HDD) array 18. (45) End. If the result of the test is a program request signal, the main control unit 22 transmits a program search command to the video bank (46), and performs a search to find the corresponding program in the video bank 15 (47).

As a result of the search, it is determined whether the corresponding program exists in the video bank 15 (48). If the program exists, the exchange command is transmitted to the switch control unit 23 (52) so that the program is switched and transmitted to the corresponding distribution center 7. (53) End.

If the corresponding program does not exist in the video bank 15, a program request command is transmitted through the optical transmission device 11 through the headend 2 or the other region video network 3 (49), and the program reception standby state (50). When the requested program is received through the optical transmission device 11 (51), an exchange command is transmitted to the switch control unit 23 (52) so that the program is switched to the corresponding distribution center 7 and transmitted (53).

On the other hand, the control when the same on-demand video program is excessively requested and the program is not stored in the video bank is not shown in detail in a separate drawing, but the processing procedure is as described above.

Accordingly, the present invention configured and operating as described above provides a video buffer service on demand to a plurality of distribution centers in a central station of an optical CATV system capable of providing video on demand service by creating a service of broadband general information communication. After storing the top-ranked program in Part 1, it exchanges from the central station's M x NV switch to the output of the broadcast TV program, thereby preventing the occurrence of excessive traffic.

Claims (7)

A first optical transmission device (11) for receiving an on-demand video program received from the headend (2) in the optical CATV system and another region video program, a predetermined video program, and storing the first optical transmission device (11). The video bank 15 receives and stores some of the video signals transmitted through the video signal, and receives other video programs on demand transmitted by the first optical transmission apparatus 11, and receives a video signal from an output terminal of the video bank 15. Switching means 19 for receiving and switching to output the output, a plurality of multiplexers 21 for receiving the output of the switching means 19 and multiplexed and outputs the outputs of the multiplexer 21 to the subscriber side And a plurality of second optical transmission devices 22 and a plurality of second optical transmission devices 22 for inputting a signal of a subscriber side including a program request command into the device. The main control unit 20 receives a program request command from the subscriber through the main control unit 20 and outputs a switching control signal, and receives a switching control signal from the main control unit 20 to control the management according to the charging and status information of the subscriber. And a switch control section (23) for controlling the switching of the switching means (19). The on-demand video service according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching means (19) is configured to have a switching capacity capable of exchanging up to V programs for each of M input programs to N distribution centers as program supply sources. Central station device for optical CATV system. 3. The central station apparatus of an optical CATV system for an on-demand video service according to claim 2, further comprising a hard disk drive (HDD) array 18 for backing up video programs stored in the video bank 15. . 4. A channel matching unit 13 and a 2B + D channel matching unit 12, the B channel matching unit 13 and a 2B + D channel according to claim 3, for interfacing a communication signal transmitted from an analog telephone network or a digital telephone network. Multiplexer 16 for multiplexing the outputs of the matching unit 12 and delivering them to the plurality of second optical transmitters 22, and multiplexed communication on the subscriber side delivered through the plurality of second optical transmitters 22 And a demultiplexer (17) for demultiplexing the signals and delivering the signals to the B channel matching unit (13) and the 2B + D channel matching unit (12), respectively. . 5. The optical CATV for video-on-demand service according to claim 4, further comprising a network synchronizer (14) for receiving a clock of a higher level through the B channel matching unit (13) to provide a necessary synchronization clock in the device. Central station device of the system. A first optical transmission device (11) for receiving an on-demand video program received from the headend (2) in the optical CATV system and another region video program, a predetermined video program, and storing the first optical transmission device (11). The video bank 15 receives and stores some of the video signals transmitted through the video signal, and receives other video programs on demand transmitted by the first optical transmission apparatus 11, and receives a video signal from an output terminal of the video bank 15. Switching means 19 for receiving and switching to output the output, a plurality of multiplexers 21 for receiving the output of the switching means 19 and multiplexed and outputs the outputs of the multiplexer 21 to the subscriber side And a plurality of second optical transmission devices 22 and a plurality of second optical transmission devices 22 for inputting a signal of a subscriber side including a program request command into the device. The main control unit 20 receives the program request command of the subscriber through the subscriber and outputs the switching control signal, and receives the switching control signal of the main control unit 20 to control the management according to the charging and status information of the subscriber. In a method of operating a central station apparatus of an optical CATV system for an on-demand video service including a switch control unit 23 for controlling switching of the switching means 19, the subscriber side signal including the charging, status and program request signals is A first step of checking what information the input signal is, a second step of performing a billing process and a state recognition process according to the test result, the billing information or the status information of the subscriber premises device, and storing the result If the result of the check is a program request signal, a program search command is transmitted to the video bank 15 to search for a corresponding program in the video bank 15. A third step of performing color, a fourth step of determining whether a program exists in the search result video bank 15, and if a program exists, a program is switched to the subscriber by transmitting an exchange command to the switch controller 23; In the fifth step of transmitting the program, if the corresponding program does not exist in the video bank 15, the program request command is transmitted through the optical transmitter 11 through the headend 2 or the other region video network 3, and the program is received. And a seventh step of performing the processing of the fifth step when the requested program is received through the optical transmission device (11). The method according to claim 6, wherein if the subscriber requests excessively the same video-on-demand program, the program is regarded as a high-ranking program and a program request command is sent to the headend or other regional video network to download the high-ranking program to the video bank. And a seventh step of receiving and storing, and an eighth step of notifying the subscriber of the distribution center of the menu change.