KR101168808B1 - Based on internet protocol emergency delivery system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a broadcast service by converting a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcaster to a headend system in an IPTV service from an SDI (Serial Digital Interface) or ASI (Asynchronous Serial Interface) format, which is an interface standard for digital broadcast video, to an IP format. There is no need for equipment to convert signal format into existing broadcasting video interface standard by unifying signal format, and in case of network failure, it is possible to send out emergency transmission of fault broadcasting signal based on IP, thus preventing network disconnection through one transmission server. It provides a system and method that can be.

Description

IP-based emergency transmission system and method in IPTV service {BASED ON INTERNET PROTOCOL EMERGENCY DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD}

The present invention relates to an emergency transmission system and method in an IPTV service, and more particularly, to a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast provider to a headend system, SDI (Serial Digital Interface) or ASI (Asynchronous Serial), which is an interface standard for digital broadcast video. Interface) The present invention relates to an IP-based emergency transmission system and method in an IPTV service that performs an emergency transmission for a failure broadcast signal based on IP in the event of a network failure by providing a broadcast service by converting the format from the IP format.

In general, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is a digital convergence form of convergence of broadcasting and communication, and receives broadcast signals transmitted from a program provider (PP) or terrestrial, cable, and satellite. In addition, a TV receiver (TV) connected to an IP Set Top Box (STB) provides a broadcasting service such as TV Internet contents and video contents through a high-speed Internet network (IP network).

The main components of the system for providing such an IPTV service are shown in detail in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional IPTV service system includes a broadcaster system 10, a headend system 20, an IP network 30, a subscriber network 40, and a subscriber set-top box 50. It is configured by.

The broadcaster system 10 digitally broadcasts a broadcaster such as a program provider (PP) 11, terrestrial wave 12, satellite 13, cable (not shown), and a source broadcast signal provided by the broadcaster. A first encoder 14 converts the signal into an SDI (Serial Digital Interface) or ASI (Asynchronous Serial Interface) signal, which is an interface standard of the signal, and synchronizes the frame.

The headend system 20 includes a baseband system 21, an IP mux 22, a conditional access system 23, a back office system 24, and the like. ), The sending server 26 may be included.

The baseband system 21 includes a decoder 21a for decoding the SDI signal received from the first encoder 14 into an IRD, and a second encoder 21b for converting the decoded signal into an IP signal. . The baseband system 21 configured as described above decodes the source broadcast signal of the SDI format received from the broadcaster system 10 at the decoder 21a, and converts the source broadcast signal into an IP signal through the second encoder 21b.

Therefore, the conventional head-end system 20 inputs and outputs a source broadcast signal as a signal of the SDI or ASI format, and at the end of the head-end system 20 to change the signal of the IP format in accordance with the interface standard of the set-top box, for converting a signal conforming to each standard I need equipment. As a result, there is a problem that the unit cost of the equipment will increase.

In addition, in the conventional IPTV service system, if a traffic failure occurs when the broadcast signal is transmitted from the decoder 21a to the second encoder 21b, the router 25 is automatically switched to the transmission server 26 to replace the disconnected source broadcast signal. The content to be transmitted was sent from the delivery server 26. However, in the above structure, since the signal to be transmitted to the baseband system 21 is an SDI format, the content that can be transmitted from the transmission server 26 is limited. That is, since only one content can be transmitted from the delivery server 26, a plurality of delivery servers 26 are provided to transmit content for each program, or multiple routers 25 are constructed on one delivery server 26. There is a problem that should be.

The present invention is derived to solve this problem, the source broadcast signal provided by the broadcast provider to the headend system in the IP format in the Serial Digital Interface (SDI) or ASI (Asynchronous Serial Interface) format that is the interface standard for digital broadcast video The purpose of the present invention is to provide an IP-based emergency transmission system and method that can easily transmit emergency broadcast signals through a single broadcast server in case of network failure.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to not only provide the content related to the error broadcast when the emergency broadcast signal for the disability broadcast signal, but also by selectively monitoring the time of disconnection to provide the kind of content to be emergency broadcast according to the disconnection time It is to provide customized service.

In the IP-based emergency transmission system of the present invention for achieving the above technical problem, in the IPTV service system for providing a broadcast signal output from a broadcast provider to a subscriber terminal via an IP network, the broadcast signal output from the broadcast provider IP An encoder converting a frame into an Internet Protocol signal and synchronizing the frame; An IP router for routing an IP broadcast signal output from the encoder to a headend system; A port control server that monitors the traffic of the IP broadcast signal output from the encoder and flows to the IP router and automatically switches the IP router when the traffic falls below a preset threshold; And an emergency sending server that stores emergency contents to be reproduced in place of the broadcast signal output from the broadcasting company in a database, and selects and transmits emergency contents stored in the database when the IP router is connected by automatic switching of the port control server. It is characterized by.

On the other hand, the IP-based emergency transmission method of the present invention for achieving the technical problem, in the IPTV service method for providing a broadcast signal output from the broadcast provider to the subscriber terminal via the IP network, (a) output from the broadcast provider Converting the broadcast signal into an IP (Internet Protocol) signal and routing the IP signal to a headend system through an IP router; (b) monitoring traffic of an IP broadcast signal routed to the headend system in a port control server to determine whether the traffic falls below a preset threshold; (c) the port control server automatically switching the IP router to an emergency dispatch server when the traffic falls below a preset threshold; (d) The emergency sending server may include transmitting emergency contents to replace the IP broadcast signal among contents previously stored in a database.

According to the present invention described above, by converting and providing a source broadcast signal provided by the broadcast provider to the headend system in an IP format, equipment for converting the interface format of the existing broadcast video into a uniform format of the signal is unnecessary, and in case of network failure It is possible to prevent network disconnection even through a single sending server because the automatic switching to the sending server enables the emergency sending based on IP.

In addition, by providing a content related to the impaired broadcast signal during emergency transmission has the effect of maintaining the viewer's interest and inducing the advertising effect on other content.

In addition, by monitoring the disconnection time due to the network failure, by selectively providing the type of content to be emergency delivery according to the disconnection time, that is, short content is short when the break time is short, long content when the break time is long By providing a customized emergency delivery for the break time is possible.

1 is a view showing the overall configuration of the emergency delivery system in the IPTV service according to the prior art.
2 is a view showing the overall configuration of the IP-based emergency transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of an IP-based emergency call method in an IPTV service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating another example of an IP-based emergency transmission method in an IPTV service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configuration of the present invention and the operation and effect thereof will be clearly understood through the following detailed description. Before describing the present invention in detail, the same components are denoted by the same reference symbols as possible even if they are displayed on different drawings. In the case where it is judged that the gist of the present invention may be blurred to a known configuration, do.

2 is a view showing the overall configuration of the IP-based emergency transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

IP-based emergency call system according to an embodiment of the present invention is largely broadcaster system 100, head-end system (200), IP network 300, subscriber network 400, subscriber terminal 500 Separated by.

The broadcaster system 100 may include a broadcaster such as a program provider (PP) 110, a terrestrial wave 120, a satellite 130, a cable, and a source broadcast signal provided by the broadcaster. And an encoder 140 for converting the frame into an Internet Protocol) signal and synchronizing the frame.

In the present embodiment, the encoder 140 for converting to an IP signal is provided in the broadcaster system 100. Although described as being provided in the broadcast provider system 100 for convenience of understanding, in practice, the encoder 140 may be separately provided to a broadcast provider such as a program provider 110, a terrestrial wave 120, and a satellite 130.

In addition, in the case of satellite 130 broadcasting, the encoder 140 may be implemented in the headend system 200.

The headend system 200 includes an IP MUX 240, a conditional access system 250, a back office system 260, a subscriber management system 270, a monitoring system 280, and the like. For example, an IP router 210, a port control server 220, and an emergency dispatch server 230 may be included between the broadcaster system 100 and the IP MUX 240.

The IP router 210 routes the IP broadcast signal transmitted from the encoder 140 of the broadcaster system 100 to the IP MUX 240 of the headend system 200, and then to the emergency call server 230 in case of a network failure. Automatically change the routing path. Its automatic switching is performed under the control of the port control server 220.

The port control server 220 monitors the traffic of the IP broadcast signal passing through the IP router 210, and controls to block the existing routing path and automatically switch to the new routing path when the traffic falls below a preset threshold. In this case, the threshold may be set based on the transmission speed of the traffic.

In general, when the network operation is normal, the traffic transmitted from the encoder 140 to the IP MUX 240 maintains a nearly constant transmission rate. However, if an abnormality occurs in the state of the network, the traffic fluctuates. In particular, the more unstable the network, the lower the transmission speed of the traffic. If the transmission speed of the traffic is gradually lowered, the broadcast signal may be disconnected and the screen may be disconnected. Therefore, the port control server 220 determines the failure of the network by limiting the transmission speed of the traffic based on the above point, and controls the operation of automatic switching in case of failure.

In addition, the port control server 220 provides the emergency broadcast server 230 with IP information of the IP broadcast signal via the IP router 210. The IP information is for identifying a source group grouping IP broadcast signals according to channel characteristics. This will be described in detail in the emergency dispatch server 230 below.

In addition, the port control server 220 continuously monitors the traffic of the IP broadcast signal passing through the IP router 210 to monitor the time that the traffic lasts below the threshold.

The emergency transmission server 230 stores emergency content to be reproduced in place of an IP broadcast signal provided from the broadcaster system 100 in a database, and transmits emergency content stored in the database when the IP router 210 is connected in case of a network failure.

In this case, the emergency dispatch server 230 may transmit emergency content in a predetermined order, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be randomly transmitted.

In addition, the emergency transmission server 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention may select and transmit the content related to the IP broadcast signal (that is, the disability IP broadcast signal) received through the broadcaster system 100 as the emergency content. have. In order to implement this, the emergency transmission server 230 divides and stores emergency contents into source groups according to IP information, and when the automatic switching is performed, the IP information of the IP broadcast signal from the port control server 220 via the IP router 210. To be provided.

That is, when the emergency transmission server 230 receives the IP information of the faulty IP broadcast signal from the port control server 220, the emergency transmission server 230 may search for a source group mapped to the IP information and select and transmit emergency content belonging to the corresponding source group. have. For example, when the faulty IP broadcast signal is a series of drama content composed of multiple episodes, the emergency dispatch server 230 may select and transmit the preview content of the next episode as emergency content. In this case, it is possible to remove the heterogeneity of the viewer and to maintain the viewer's interest and interest in the disabled IP broadcast signal as well as to expect the advertisement effect.

In addition, the emergency transmission server 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention stores the emergency content according to the playback time, and the time that the traffic is maintained below the threshold by monitoring the emergency content in the port control server 220 It can be sorted out according to.

For example, as a result of monitoring through the port control server 220, the emergency content is played for at least one minute while the emergency content is played for at least one minute while the traffic lasts below the threshold (hereinafter, disconnection time). It can also be interrupted in the middle, leading to further complaints from viewers. Therefore, when the disconnection time is 1 minute, the content of which the reproduction time of the emergency content is also about 1 minute is selected and transmitted accordingly.

According to the above configuration, the IPTV service system according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a broadcast signal output from the broadcaster system 100 as an IP signal to convert the existing broadcast video interface standard by unifying the format of the signal is It is unnecessary, and in case of a network failure, an emergency content can be transmitted and provided in place of a failure broadcasting signal through automatic switching through one transmission server. This is a configuration that can be assumed because the broadcast signal output from the broadcaster system 100 is an IP signal.

The method of transmitting the emergency content may be variously implemented according to the source group and the disconnection time of the broadcast signal output from the broadcaster system 100.

3 is a flowchart specifically illustrating a process of implementing emergency content according to a source group of a broadcast signal output from the broadcaster system 100.

According to the example of FIG. 3, the port control server 220 monitors the traffic of the IP broadcast signal via the IP router 210 from the broadcaster system to determine whether the traffic is below a threshold (S100).

When the traffic falls below the threshold due to a network failure, the port control server 220 transmits a traffic error message signal to the IP router 210 (S101). The traffic error message signal may be referred to as a signal command for notifying the IP router 210 of the network failure and controlling the automatic switching.

Then, the port control server 220 transmits the IP information of the IP broadcast signal from the broadcaster system 100 via the IP router 210 to the emergency transmission server 230 (S102).

Thereafter, when the traffic error message signal is received from the port control server 220, the IP router 210 blocks the existing routing path and changes the routing path to the emergency dispatch server 230 to automatically switch (S103, S104).

The emergency dispatch server 230 searches for a source group mapped to IP information received from the port control server 220, selects emergency content belonging to the corresponding source group, and transmits the emergency content to the IP router 210 (S105 and S106). .

Accordingly, the IP router 210 routes the emergency content transmitted from the emergency dispatch server 230 to the IP MUX (S107).

As described above, in the exemplary embodiment, the emergency transmission server 230 selects and transmits emergency content as content related to an IP broadcast signal, but randomly selects or transmits emergency content regardless of the IP broadcast signal. It may be sent in the order prescribed in 230). In this case, the emergency dispatch server 230 may be implemented even if the process of receiving the IP information of the IP broadcast signal from the port control server 220 is omitted.

4 is a flowchart specifically illustrating a process of implementing delivery of emergency content according to disconnection time.

According to another example of FIG. 4, the port control server 220 monitors the traffic of the IP broadcast signal via the IP router 210 from the broadcaster system and determines whether the traffic is below a threshold (S200).

If the traffic is below the threshold due to a network failure, the port control server 220 transmits a traffic error message signal to inform the IP router 210 (S201).

Then, the port control server 220 transmits the IP information of the IP broadcast signal from the broadcaster system via the IP router 210 to the emergency transmission server 230 (S202).

Subsequently, when the traffic error message signal is received from the port control server 220, the IP router 210 blocks the existing routing path and changes the routing path to the emergency dispatch server 230 to automatically switch (S203, S204).

The port control server 220 continuously monitors the traffic of the IP broadcast signal, monitors a duration (hereinafter, disconnection time) at which the traffic falls below a threshold value, and transmits the monitoring result to the emergency transmission server 230 (S205, S206).

The emergency dispatch server 230 searches for a source group mapped to the IP information received from the port control server 220, and selects emergency content that is played for a short time from the corresponding source group, that is, the playback time is short (S207). .

Thereafter, the emergency dispatch server 230 transmits the selected emergency content to the IP router 210 (S208).

Accordingly, the IP router 210 routes the emergency content sent from the emergency dispatch server 230 to the IP mux (S209).

Thereafter, the emergency dispatch server 230 determines whether the disconnection time received from the port control server 220 passes a predetermined time, and when a predetermined time elapses, a source group or other source mapped to the IP information of the IP broadcast signal. Emergency content with a long playback time is selected from the group (S210, S211).

Thereafter, when the emergency dispatch server 230 transmits the selected emergency content to the IP router 210, the IP router 210 routes the emergency content transmitted from the emergency dispatch server 230 to the IP mux (S212, S213). ).

According to this process, the disconnection time can be monitored to select and send the kind of emergency content according to the disconnection time.

As the most efficient example, at the beginning of disconnection, the playback time is selected and played as short emergency content within a certain time (for example, 1 minute basis), and the disconnection time lasts for a certain time (for example, 1 minute basis) or more. Since the operation of reselecting and reproducing the emergency content having a long play time has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the emergency content having the same play time or the emergency content having a long play time can be applied from the beginning.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, You will understand.

Therefore, since the embodiments described above are provided to completely inform the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that they are exemplary in all respects and not limited. The invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

100: broadcaster system 110: program provider (PP)
120: terrestrial 130: satellite
140: encoder 200: headend system
210: IP router 220: port control server
230: emergency call server 240: IP MUX
250: restricted access system 260: back office system
270: subscriber management system 280: monitoring system
300: IP network 400: subscriber network
500: subscriber terminal

Claims (18)

In the IPTV service system for providing a broadcast signal output from the broadcast provider to the subscriber terminal via the IP network,
An encoder for converting a broadcast signal output from the broadcast provider into an IP (Internet Protocol) signal and performing frame synchronization;
An IP router for routing an IP broadcast signal output from the encoder to a headend system;
A port control server that monitors the traffic of the IP broadcast signal output from the encoder and flows to the IP router and automatically switches the IP router when the traffic falls below a preset threshold;
Emergency contents server which stores emergency contents to be played instead of the broadcasting signal outputted from the broadcasting company in a database and selects and transmits the emergency contents stored in the database when the port control server is automatically switched to the IP router.
IP-based emergency transmission system in the IPTV service comprising a. The method of claim 1,
The encoder
IP-based emergency delivery system in the IPTV service, characterized in that for converting the broadcast signal built in the broadcast provider and transmitted to the head-end system. The method of claim 1,
The emergency sending server
IP-based emergency transmission system in the IPTV service, characterized in that the transmission of the emergency content stored in the database in a predetermined order or randomly. The method of claim 1,
The emergency sending server
And emergency content stored in the database into a group of sources according to channel characteristics or categories to transmit content related to the IP broadcast signal. The method of claim 4, wherein
The port control server transmits the IP information of the IP broadcast signal flowing to the IP router to the emergency dispatch server,
And the emergency dispatch server searches for a source group mapped to the IP information received from the port control server, and selects and transmits emergency content belonging to the searched source group. The method of claim 1,
The port control server monitors the duration that the traffic is below a predetermined threshold and transmits the monitoring result to the emergency dispatch server,
When the emergency transmission server receives the monitoring result from the port control server, the IP-based emergency transmission system in the IPTV service, characterized in that the transmission in consideration of the playback time of the emergency content according to the duration. The method of claim 6,
The emergency sending server
The first emergency content sent out is selected as an emergency content having a playback time shorter than the duration time, and the emergency content is selected later, and the emergency content is sent continuously after the remaining duration of the completion of the playback of the emergency content. IP-based emergency transmission system in IPTV service. delete The method of claim 7, wherein
The emergency content is an IP-based emergency transmission system in the IPTV service, characterized in that the content selected for the IP broadcast signal. In the IPTV service method for providing a broadcast signal output from a broadcast provider to a subscriber terminal via an IP network,
(a) converting a broadcast signal output from the broadcaster into an Internet Protocol (IP) signal and routing it to a headend system through an IP router;
(b) monitoring traffic of an IP broadcast signal routed to the headend system in a port control server to determine whether the traffic falls below a preset threshold;
(c) the port control server automatically switching the IP router to an emergency dispatch server when the traffic falls below a preset threshold;
(d) the emergency transmitting server transmitting emergency contents in place of the IP broadcast signal among contents previously stored in a database;
IP-based emergency transmission method in the IPTV service comprising a. The method of claim 10,
In the step (d)
The emergency transmission server IP-based emergency transmission method in the IPTV service, characterized in that for transmitting in a predetermined order or randomly transmit the emergency content stored in the database. The method of claim 10,
In the step (d)
The emergency transmission server IP-based emergency transmission method for the IPTV service, characterized in that for transmitting the content related to the IP broadcast signal by grouping the emergency content stored in the database into a source group according to the channel characteristics or categories. The method of claim 12,
(d-1) the emergency sending server receiving IP information of an IP broadcast signal flowing from the port control server to the IP router;
(d-2) selecting emergency content belonging to the searched source group by searching the source group mapped to the IP information received from the port control server
IP-based emergency transmission method in the IPTV service, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 10,
The step (b)
(b-1) the port control server monitoring the duration that the traffic falls below a preset threshold and transmitting the monitoring result to the emergency dispatch server
IP-based emergency transmission method in the IPTV service, characterized in that it further comprises. 15. The method of claim 14,
In the step (d)
When the emergency transmission server receives the monitoring result from the port control server, the IP-based emergency transmission method in the IPTV service, characterized in that the transmission in consideration of the playback time of the emergency content according to the duration. 16. The method of claim 15,
The emergency sending server
The first emergency content sent out is selected as an emergency content having a playback time shorter than the duration time, and the emergency content is selected later, and the emergency content is sent continuously after the remaining duration of the completion of the playback of the emergency content. IP-based emergency transmission method in IPTV service. delete The method of claim 16,
Wherein the emergency content is selected as content related to the IP broadcast signal.

Images