WO2016029286A1

WO2016029286A1 - Self-diagnosis method for television signal digital decoders for use in virtual racks

Info

Publication number: WO2016029286A1
Application number: PCT/BR2015/050127
Authority: WO
Inventors: Digenio HIDEKI NAKATANI
Original assignee: Nkt Empreendimentos, Participações, Representações E Serviços Ltda.
Priority date: 2014-08-27
Filing date: 2015-08-21
Publication date: 2016-03-03
Also published as: BR102014021083A2

Abstract

The invention, self-diagnosis method for digital television signal decoders for use in virtual racks, proposes a self-diagnosis system for set top boxes (STB) by means of middleware, gathering collectable parameters in a single screen, the STBs being arranged in a virtual rack.

Description

"DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WITH USE ON VIRTUAL MAT"

SHORT PRESENTATION

[001] This patent application relates to a digital TV signal decoder self-diagnosis system, called STB (Set Top Box), by means of middleware, gathering collectable parameters on a single screen, making the arrangement of decoders upright on virtual conveyor belt.

APPLICATION FIELD

[002] The field of application of the invention is the telecommunications, electronics, broadband and pay TV segment.

CONTEXT OF THE TECHNICAL AND COMPARATIVE OF PRIOR DOCUMENTS WITH THE METHOD PROPOSED IN THIS INVENTION

[003] In patent document "Functional Verification Process and Universal Platform for High-Volume Reverse Logistic CPE Devices" (WO 2014/035462 A2), a method for automated Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) verification using a universal platform is proposed. for simulating the operating conditions of the environment in which the CPE, such as the digital decoder operates.

[004] The above document method captures data via SNMP, ie through TCP / IP communication. Thus, if the decoder is not compatible with IP technology, the method cannot be applied.

[005] Another method "navigates" through the digital decoder screens via remote control commands, accessing the screens with the desired parameters and proceeding to the recognition of characters and records in the database, emulating the operation of one. ordinary user. If for some reason the remote control sensor has its sensitivity reduced, either by defect, whether due to test environment issues such as interference, remote control position or other factor that reduces its sensitivity, the test will be impaired as the screen will not be available.

[006] Another aspect of existing products concerns the arrangement of parts to be tested. In the two methods mentioned above, the pieces are tested horizontally, one of them being arranged in the same structure, but on the sides of a central rack. In another, the decoders are placed in moving frames that attach to the center rack, and finally a third solution that accommodates the decoders for testing in the center rack frame.

ADVANTAGES OVER TECHNICAL STATUS

The present invention has the following advantages over the prior art:

- Accuracy - Self-test utilizes electronic capabilities that capture small nuances imperceptible to humans, accurately demonstrating results.

- Speed - Processes a test volume, result and record at a speed far greater than human capacity.

- Accuracy - The automated system is immune to external factors that could negatively influence operator productivity.

- Logistics - cost reduction, because, in theory, there will be no equipment movement without defect.

- Traceability - with the result registered in a database it is possible to remotely audit equipment to be installed. A manager is able to check whether a particular equipment to be installed has indeed been tested and whether it has optimal technical working conditions at a new subscriber's residence. - Agility - does not use the remote control to access the screens where the desired parameters are for collecting the result. In the order in question, the software concentrates on the same screen all the results speeding up the test.

- Versatility - is compatible with all STB with Middleware. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[008] The present invention aims to:

- Propose a Middleware STB (Set Top Box) self-diagnosis system, in which the STB is able to generate its diagnosis and parameters, making this result available in its outputs for later collection.

- Propose the placement of STBs on a virtual conveyor belt that allows you to control the operator's work rate to ensure system productivity and capacity, allowing you to accurately scale labor, infrastructure and physical work space costs.

- Propose a system with the transmitter software fully compatible with the pay-TV carrier system, capable of requesting from the STB its parameters and making them available at its outputs.

- Propose a system with receiving software capable of controlling the speed of the virtual treadmill, collecting self-diagnostic data, choosing the STB under collection work and recording the results to local or remote database.

Inventions of the Invention

[009] Middleware - is a computer program that mediates between software and other applications. It is used to move or transport information and data between programs of different communication protocols, platforms, and operating system dependencies. It is usually made up of modules with high level APIs, which provide their integration with applications developed in various programming languages and low-level interfaces, which allow their independence from the device. The purpose of Middleware is to mask heterogeneity and provide a more productive programming model for application programmers. It consists of a set of processes or objects in a group of computers that interact with each other to implement communication and support sharing of distributed applications and resources. Middleware is the generic designation used to refer to software systems that run between applications and operating systems. The goal of Middleware is to facilitate the development of applications, typically distributed ones, as well as to facilitate the integration of systems developed in an automatic non integrated way.

[010] Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) - used in digital TV and other systems that require high information transfer rates. It consists of two carriers that are used in quadrature. This system is used on pay TV.

[01 1] Self Diagnostics - via Middleware commands, STB obtains all its own data internally and delivers it to the receiving software, which handles and stores the results in a database.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[012] In the system, the application is installed on the STB application layer via modulated RF (tuner) port on a TV streaming. Thus, the STB receives the application along with the TV signal. Once installed, the application communicates with the STB hardware via STB Middleware, requesting each STB's own data and making the output available on the audio and video output ports, and therefore on the TV screen, all from one time without having to navigate through the STB screens and without the risk of not reach the desired screen, or no TCP / IP communication. Collection is based on screen OCR, based on the capacity and technology available in the video collection card software, using known input video and collecting the audio and video parameters on output after STB processing. Such an input video is a pure color bar with varying on-screen positioning already known and expected for output collection in order to determine fade, macroblocks and loss of definition. On the audio side, a 1 KHZ tone is available, which must be retrieved and processed at the output in order to assess the level difference between ports (right, left stereo or Dolby multiples), signal and saturation / distortion. All data is written to a database for later tracking.

[013] The STB test framework is a bench-top virtual treadmill with vertically arranged equipment and loop-screen data collection, ie it is not necessary to start the collection process every time the last part has The work is completed, which imposes the speed and work pace of the track operators. In the event of any unforeseen events, the process can be stopped and resumed just like on a real treadmill.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.

[014] The invention will hereinafter be described technically in detail, and by way of illustration and for better understanding of the description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which they are represented:

Figure 1 illustrates the connection diagram of the self-diagnostics digital television signal decoder system using on a virtual treadmill. Figure 2 illustrates the flowchart of the self-diagnostics system of digital television signal decoder with use on virtual treadmill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[015] The DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WITH USE ON VIRTUAL MATTER, reason for this patent application, proposes a self-diagnostics system of STB (Set Top Box), gathering parameters collectable in a single screen, making the STBs available on a virtual treadmill.

[016] The system is composed of transmitter software (1) and receiver software (2), as well as hardware such as computers, special cabling, an audio-video switch called AV-Switch (3) and an RF switch called AB-Switch, among others. The STB will perform the self-diagnosis on a virtual treadmill. The transmitting portion of the application is QAM modulated to the same parameters as the carrier, and is compatible with the STB Middleware receiving the software, which is temporarily installed on the STB application layer via modulated RF port in a streaming TV, requesting at the same time the status of its various parameters and making this information available from the STB on its physical ports to be connected to the TV or other television content presentation media. The receiving part of the application collects the information made available on the STB's physical ports for database registration. In the target application the information is organized to be presented on a single screen for easy collection.

[017] In more detail, the hardware consists of a transmitter computer, a receiver computer that may be the same as the transmitter, video capture cards, multiple QAM modulator, Ethernet switch for internet connection, touch monitor, keyboard and mouse without thread of bracket and cabinet for hardware accommodation. The virtual treadmill has a 3m bench with a rail on top to move the trolley with cabling and a 16-pin female circular connector interconnected to the system rack. Groups of 16 STB are accommodated on the bench, which are connected to the respective harnesses, where on one side have the STB's even connectors and on the opposite side the circular connector, which will be connected to the ruler to start collecting the self-diagnosis results. Thus, the operator supplies the rack with STB with the harness already attached to be self-diagnosed. It then connects the input and output RF cables, the power cable, HDMI if any, RJ1 1 if any, RJ45 if any. STB initializes and loads the self-diagnostic application. In a first step moves the cart on the rail to the position above the STB to have their data collected, connects the corresponding circular connectors to the ruler in the cart, making that group of STB available for collection. In a second step, at the end of data collection for this STB group from the shelf, the circular connectors are disconnected and removed from the shelf, disconnecting the harnesses for the next STB group. Resumption of the first step restarts the cycle. The receiving computer screen indicates the status of each STB's port information collection, and imposes the speed with which the operator must switch devices to be self-diagnosed, such as on a production line conveyor.

[018] The pickup advance speed is adjustable to the rate the operator wants to print to service, determining the system capacity. According to the flowchart the system can be described in a first step (E1) in which the preparation for the test takes place - the STBs are parameterized to match the transmitter computer stream. Remote control commands are transmitted by the receiving software. This preparation means configure the box to properly receive the digital TV stream in the configured parameters.

[019] In a second step (E2), it commands the box to turn on all leds and all display segments to the panel, request the status of the smart card, request the STB model, request the box serial number, the smart card serial number and CAID, prompts for CODEC decoding capability, prompts for audio and video testing, prompts for tuning to different channels on different streams, prompts for volume to be set to minimum and then maximum, prompts for Each channel, the QS and PS level for each tuned channel, prompts you to search for media - internal or external HD, flash drive, RAM, flash memory, etc. - and format these media and test them, look for modem, and when locating make a call to a predetermined number, then reboot to factory to finish the test. In a third step (E3) the STB responds by placing the results on the TV screen, so the test is individualized for each STB. All STB outputs have the test result unless there is poor contact or circuit failure for a specific port. In a fourth step (E4), all outputs to be tested are connected to the AV and AB Switch, which is a signal switcher for the output buses chosen by the receiving software. In a fifth step (E5), the AV and AB Switch are controlled by serial port commands in the receiving software, sized to command 16 STB by AV and AB Switch. The command signal indicating the position of the STB also signals, with led, the position of the STB being collected on the ruler in the cart where the STBs are arranged. In a sixth step (E6), the desired STB output, commanded by the receiving software, is interconnected to the audio and video collection board, which recognizes the screen characters and then values the STB parameters, which are registered in banks. of data. Among the values deserve mention the audio, video, QS, PS, serial, level values, etc. In the input streams pure color bars are available and through the audio and video collection board, parameters are collected from the STB outputs, after processing, and through specific audio and video algorithms, the trend can be evaluated. color loss, sync pulse attenuation, various audio and video formats, audio distortion and saturation, etc.

[020] As a variant of applying the same technology, the system also lends itself to simultaneous testing of less STB up to the limit of single STB at a time, including reduced hardware for portable equipment for ease of use in remote locations with transmission of results via standard telecommunication means such as fiber optics, coaxial cable, 3G, 4G, WiFi, etc.

Claims

1 . "VIRTUAL MATTER DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM", consisting of transmitter software (1) and receiver software (2) characterized by STB self-diagnosis via Middleware where STB generates its own diagnostics and parameters, making the results available for their outputs for later collection; STBs will be placed vertically on a virtual treadmill for self-diagnosis.

2. "VIRTUAL MATTER DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM" according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmitting part of the application is QAM modulated with the same parameters as the carrier, and is compatible with Middleware STB will receive the software, which will be temporarily installed on the STB application layer via the RF modulated port in a streaming TV, requesting the status of its various parameters and making this STB information available on its physical ports to be connected to the STB. TV; The receiving party of the application will collect the information made available on the STB's physical ports for database registration.

3. "VIRTUAL MATTER DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM" according to claim 1, characterized in that the information is presented in a single screen in the target application.

4. "VIRTUAL MATTER DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM" according to claim 1, characterized in that the virtual treadmill has a 3m bench with a rail at the top. for moving the cart with the cabling and ruler with 16 female circular connectors interconnected to the rack to the system; 16 STB groups are accommodated in the workbench, which are connected to the respective harnesses, where on one side there are the STB's even connectors and on the opposite side the circular connector, which will be connected to the ruler to start collecting the self-diagnosis results.

5. "VIRTUAL MATTER DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM" according to claim 4, characterized by the operator supplying the rack with the STB with the diagnostic harness connected; It then connects the input and output RF cables, the power cable, HDMI if any, RJ1 1 if any, RJ45 if any; STB initializes and loads the self-diagnostic application; In a first step the trolley on the rail moves to the position above the STB to have its data collected, connects the corresponding circular connectors to the ruler in the trolley, making that group of STB available for collection; In a second step, at the end of data collection of this STB group from the shelf, the circular connectors are disconnected and removed from the shelf, disconnecting the harnesses for the next STB group; resuming the first step restarts the cycle.

6. "VIRTUAL MATTER DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM" according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the receiving computer screen indicates the status of the port information collection of each STB by imposing speed with which the operator must exchange the devices to be self-diagnosed.

7. "DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WITH USE IN VIRTUAL MAT "according to claim 1 characterized in that in the first step (E1) the preparation for the test takes place - the STBs are parameterized to match the stream of the transmitting computer; the remote control commands are transmitted by the receiving software; In a second step (E2), it commands the box to turn on all the LEDs and all display segments to the panel, request the status of the smart card, request the STB model, request the box serial number, the serial number smart card and CAID, prompts for CODEC decoding capability, prompts for audio and video testing, prompts to tune to different channels on different streams, prompts for volume to be set to minimum and maximum, prompts for each level QS and PS for each tuned channel prompts you to search for media - internal or external HD, flash drive, RAM, flash memory - and format and test these media, look for modem and location make a call to a predetermined number, and then reboot to end the test; in a third step (E3) the STB responds by putting the results on the TV screen; In a fourth step (E4), all outputs to be tested are connected to the AV and AB Switch; In a fifth step (E5), the AV and AB Switch are controlled by serial port commands in the receiving software, sized to command 16 STB by AV and AB Switch; The command signal indicating the position of the STB also signals, with led, the position of the STB being collected on the ruler in the cart where the STB are arranged; In a sixth step (E6), the desired STB output, commanded by the receiving software, is interconnected to the audio and video collection board, which recognizes the screen characters and then values the STB parameters, which are registered in banks. of data.

8. "DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WITH USE IN VIRTUAL MAT "according to claim 7, characterized by measuring the serial audio, video, QS, PS, level values;

9. "VIRTUAL MATTER DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM" according to claim 7, characterized in that the input streams are provided with pure color bars and by means of the audio and video collection card. parameters are collected from STB outputs after processing, and through specific audio and video algorithms, one can evaluate the trend of color loss, sync pulse attenuation, various audio and video formats, distortion and saturation audio

10. "VIRTUAL MATTER DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM" according to claim 1, characterized by performing simultaneous testing of at least one STB at a time with reduced hardware for portable equipment with transmission of results via standard telecommunication means such as fiber optics, coaxial cables, 3G, 4G, WiFi.

1 1. "VIRTUAL MATTER DIGITAL TV SIGNAL DECODER AUTODIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM" according to claim 1, characterized in that the hardware consists of a transmitter computer, a receiver computer which may be the same as the transmitter, video, multiple QAM modulator, Ethernet switch for internet connection, touch monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse support and hardware housing.