JP3348278B2 - Automatic program control device and related broadcast program transmission / reception system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic program control device and a related broadcast program transmission / reception system, and more particularly to an automatic program control device in a local television broadcasting station and a broadcast program transmission / reception system with a key station.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has been a long time since television broadcasting stations (also radio broadcasting stations) are operated by an automatic program controller, which is a kind of computer.

[0003] The television broadcast form of a local private broadcast station is mainly a broadcast program (NET receiving program) transmitted from a key station (station) in Tokyo or Osaka through a network (hereinafter referred to as NET). This is performed by inserting a program (for example, local news) produced by the own station. A quasi-key station is located in a central city (for example, Fukuoka or Sapporo) of one region (for example, Kyushu or Hokkaido), and a NET receiving program received at the quasi-key station is sent to a broadcasting station in another city (NET). Sending) also occurs.

[0004] The revenue sources of commercial broadcasting stations all depend on CM (commercial message) broadcasting fees. Previously,
Large sponsors known all over the country bought up one program and were often broadcasted nationwide at once as one program including a CM program. Thereafter, as the number of sponsors increased and the sponsor fee increased, many programs in which many sponsors piggybacked on one program increased. Naturally, for one program, the sponsors often differ depending on the broadcast station, and the CM programs are often replaced by the broadcast stations.

[0005] A CM program is broadcast by connecting, for example, four or eight CM program materials each having a length of 15 seconds.
Broadcasting is performed in units of one or two minutes of a CM program frame.
The broadcast time of a CM program frame of a station break between scheduled programs is determined in advance, but the broadcast time of a CM program frame in a sports program such as a baseball broadcast cannot be determined in advance. In this case, a local broadcasting station receiving a NET program from a key station has a problem in replacing a CM program. In order to solve this problem, a cue signal is inserted into the vertical blanking period of the NET sending signal, for example, three seconds before the CM program frame of the NET sending program from the key station.

[0006] That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a transmitting station (key station) side transmits a studio video (main program) A to a CM.
Three seconds before the timing at which the control device 2 switches to the program frame B via the switcher 1, the (net) cue signal is set to N.
In the vertical blanking period of the video signal transmitted by ET, the video signal is inserted by the net cue signal superimposing device 3 and sent out to the network by the line transmission transmitting device 6.

[0007] Local broadcasters receiving NET (receiving stations; NET
In the receiving station, the NET received video signal is received by the line transmission receiving device 7, the cue signal is detected by the net cue signal detecting device 9, and the control device 11 on the receiving side receives the signal via the switcher 10, for example, after 3 seconds. To own station material (CM program frame) D
Has been started and inserted into the NET receiving program.

As shown in FIG. 6, a receiving station (NET receiving station) transmits, for example, a studio image (material) (main part) C (= material A) of an originating station (sending station; key station) as it is, When replacing the material (CM program frame) B from t1 with the material (CM program frame) D, the transmitting station transmits a net cue signal three seconds before CM1. At the receiving station, as shown in FIG. 5, after receiving this net cue signal (step 21), after about 3 seconds (including the fixed correction ± x) (step 2).
4, 25), and replace with material D.

[0009]

However, in this case, a problem called "flickering" may occur. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a cue signal is transmitted to the receiving station three seconds before entering the material B from the originating station. For example, a physical delay (x) occurs between the cue signal and the NET sending video signal after the control signal is output from the control device 2 of the transmitting station until the NET sending video signal is actually switched. This delay is due to various causes such as a time lag between the transmission timing of the (net) cue signal on the source station and the timing of switching the video signal, and a delay in the determination processing at the receiving station.

[0010] Due to these causes, a time difference occurs between the timing of switching the video at the source station and the timing of switching to the replacement CM at the receiving station, and the CM of the source station is transmitted before the replacement CM, so that "flickering" appears. The phenomenon occurs.

In the conventional automatic program control device, various preventive measures have been considered to prevent this "flickering appearance". One of the measures is to change the switching timing only when switching from the NET receiving material to another material. Was fixedly adjusted.

However, in the conventional automatic program control device, as shown in FIG. 5, even though the switching timing after receiving the cue signal can be adjusted (± x), the adjustment timing value is fixed. When a cue signal is received from another key station or a quasi-key station, the timing is generally different, and "flickering" has occurred.

Among local commercial broadcasters, there are so-called cross NET stations which do not belong to one key station but receive programs from a plurality of key stations, and supply programs from many key stations or quasi-key stations. Because of this, "flickering" is likely to occur.

As measures for preventing this "flicker appearance", JP-A-4-170166, JP-A-62-34120, JP-A-1-309487, JP-A-3-93376, JP-A-3-93329, There are many proposals, such as Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 4-364682, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 5-244497, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-88612.

[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic program control device and a related broadcast program transmission / reception system for preventing "flickering" in a local broadcaster receiving a program from a plurality of key stations or quasi-key stations. To provide.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An automatic program control device on the transmitting side according to the present invention is directed to a network for inserting a cue signal within a vertical blanking period of a video signal sent on the net a predetermined second before switching timing of broadcast program material. An automatic program control device on the transmitting side, which also includes a time code insertion means for inserting a first time code during a vertical blanking period of the net feed video signal; and Means for advancing the time of the first time code by the amount of system delay on the transmission side up to the switching timing of the material.

An automatic program control device on the receiving side according to the present invention is provided for automatic program control on the receiving side from a network in which a cue signal is inserted within a vertical blanking period of a video signal sent on the net a predetermined second before switching timing of broadcast program material. The control device, the cue signal detected from the net received video signal and the first time code inserted in the same frame and the second time code of its own station, and the system delay amount of the transmitting side A transmitting-side system delay amount measuring means for measuring, and a switching timing for delaying the switching timing of the broadcast program of the own station generated based on the detected cue signal by the transmitting-side system delay amount and advancing the receiving-side system delay amount And adjusting means.

A broadcast program transmission / reception system according to the present invention is characterized by including an automatic program control device on the transmitting side, an automatic program control device on the receiving side, and a network connecting these.

The operation of the present invention is as follows. It is to have means for notifying the station side of the system delay amount on the sending station side, and to have adjusting means for guaranteeing the delay amount on the sending station side. Further, the receiving station side has a means for detecting the delay amount on the sending station side and delaying the control of its own station.

Means for transmitting the delay amount at the sending station to the station is to express the switching time of the video signal by a time code, and to make it appear that the net cue signal is output just three seconds before the time. The time code value obtained by subtracting the system delay amount from the time is superimposed on the video signal.

On the receiving station side, when the receiving station receives the net cue signal, the sending station subtracts the system delay amount superimposed on the video signal and the time code matching the current time (absolute time) of its own station. Compare the values and calculate the time difference. At the receiving station, control timing when actually performing video switching control (for example, 3 seconds after the cue signal)
Then, by adding the time difference, the switching control of the image on the receiving station side is performed at the same timing as when the switching control is performed by the sending station.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an automatic program control device and a related broadcast program transmission / reception system according to the present invention, and portions equivalent to those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, the overlapping description is partially omitted.

In FIG. 1, an automatic program control device according to the present invention comprises a control device 2, which is a main computer, a switcher 1 for switching a NET transmission program, and a net queue for a NET transmission video signal on the transmission station (key station) side. A net cue signal superimposing device 3 for superimposing a signal, a time code superimposing device 4 for superimposing a 24-hour time code in a vertical blanking period of a NET sending video signal, and receiving a second pulse from a key station clock device (not shown). A time code generator 5 for generating a time code, and a line transmission / transmission device 6 for transmitting a NET transmission program to a network.

On the receiving station (NET receiving station) side, a control device 11, which is a main computer, a line transmission receiving device 7 for receiving a NET received program from a network, and a time code detecting device 8 for detecting a superimposed time code. Similarly, a net cue signal detecting device 9 for detecting a superimposed net cue signal, a switcher 10 for switching (producing) a broadcast program of the own station, and a time receiving a second pulse from a clock device (not shown) of the own station. And a time code generator 12 for generating a code.

The operation of the transmitting station will be described with reference to FIG.
For example, material A in 10 / 10'10 "00F (frame)
For example, assuming that the delay amount of the switching timing in the system on the transmitting station side is 2F, the control device 2 can, for example, advance 10F10'09 "28F by 2F.
Next, the net cue signal output control for the net cue signal superimposing device 3 is performed. 3 seconds later switcher 1
In response, the switching control for switching from the material A to the material B is output. Therefore, the NET feed program is correctly converted from material A to material B.
The cue signal is correctly switched to 10 / 10'07 "0 three seconds before,
Instead of 0F, it is 10F10'06 "28F which is advanced by 2F. At this time, the time code is 10F10'06" 26F which is further advanced by 2F.

On the receiving station side, as shown in FIG. 2, when the net cue signal detecting circuit 9 detects a cue signal (step 21) and sends a trigger signal, as shown in FIG. The time code value (E) is read from the device 8 (step 22), and at the same time the time code value (G) of the own station from the time code generator 12 is read (step 23). Calculate the system delay amount (for example, 2F) of the
The waiting time (H) is calculated by adding to the second (step 24).

If necessary, the waiting time (H) is corrected by subtracting the system delay amount of the own station (which should be known in advance) this time (step 25), and the cue signal is received. After the waiting time (H), the switcher 10 controls to switch the broadcast program from the material C (= material A) to the material D (CM program frame) (step 26).

Since the time code (signal) of both the transmitting station and the receiving station is locked to the absolute time (up to the frame phase) from the clock device, the switching timing can be changed by using the time code. Can be controlled accurately, and the so-called “flicker appearance” can be eradicated.

A method of superimposing a time code on the vertical blanking of a video signal is a vertical time and control code; IEC 461 (1986): Time and control.
It is desirable to use the internationally standardized code for video tape recorders.
This standard was originally created for editing a VTR, and is inserted immediately after an equalizing pulse after a vertical synchronization signal that has not been used conventionally.

Since the (net) cue signal is also superimposed in the form of a code at the rear of the vertical blanking, the time code detecting device 8 holds the detected time code at least during the vertical blanking period. , At the timing when the net cue signal detecting device 9 detects the cue signal.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the time code is superimposed simultaneously with the cue signal in the vertical blanking period of the video signal at the time of NET transmission, and the receiving station corrects the switching timing to the frame by the time code. Thus, it is possible to completely correct variations in the system delay amount for each station, and to eliminate so-called "flickering".

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory timing chart in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a conventional automatic program control device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of a conventional automatic program control device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory timing chart of an example of a conventional automatic program control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 10 Switcher 2, 11 Control device 3 Net cue signal superposition device 4 Time code superposition device 5, 12 Time code generation device 6 Line transmission transmission device 7 Line transmission reception device 8 Time code detection device 9 Net cue signal detection device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/222 H04N 5/268 H04H 7/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cue signal is superimposed within a vertical blanking period of a video signal sent a predetermined time before a switching timing of broadcast program material, and the cue signal is superimposed on the cue signal via a network.
In an automatic program control device that transmits a video feed video signal, an actual broadcast program element is output from the time when the switching control signal is output.
Set the amount of system delay on the transmitting side that occurs before the material switches.
System delay amount setting means to determine the transmission time code
A transmission-side time code generating means, and a time when the cue signal is superimposed on the net feed video.
From the transmission-side system delay amount
The time code value of the
And time code superimposing means for folding.
Transmission-side automatic program control device. 2. The transmitting-side automatic program control device according to claim 1, wherein said time code superimposing means is means for superimposing a time code according to a vertical interval time code standard for VTR editing. 3. The transmission side time code is a 24-hour clock.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The automatic program control device on the transmitting side as described above. 4. A switching control signal is output in a receiving automatic program control device which receives and operates a net feed video signal transmitted from the transmitting automatic program control device according to claim 1 via the network. Second system delay amount detecting means for detecting a system delay amount occurring from a point in time until an actual broadcast program material is switched, and time code detecting means for detecting a transmission side time code superimposed on the received net feed video signal A receiving time code generating means for receiving a second pulse from a key station and generating a receiving time code at the same timing as the transmitting time code generating means; and a transmitting side detected by the time code detecting means. The time code is compared with the reception time code at the moment when the transmission time code is detected. Delay amount calculating means for calculating the transmission-side delay amount from the, the switching timing of the broadcast program of its own station generated based on the cue signal detected from the net transmission video signal,
An automatic program control device, comprising: a switching timing adjustment unit for advancing by the second system delay amount and delaying by the transmission side delay amount. 5. The receiving side time code is a 24-hour clock.
5. The self-code according to claim 4, wherein
Video program control device. 6. The transmission side according to claim 1, 2 or 3.
A moving program control device, and a receiving side according to claim 4 or 5.
A broadcast program transmission / reception system comprising an automatic program control device and a network connecting them.