JP7472502B2 - Switching instruction device, switching system, switching instruction method, and switching instruction program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a switching instruction device, a switching system, a switching instruction method, and a switching instruction program.

The broadcasting station's network center distributes the material input to the broadcasting station to distribution destinations such as studios and master facilities. Note that material refers to information corresponding to the broadcast content, including, for example, video, audio, and ancillary data.

As broadcasting equipment becomes IP (Internet Protocol), IP routers are now used to switch the materials to be sent to the distribution destination. General-purpose IP routers often have IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) functionality.

The IGMP function is used, for example, in an IP broadcast receiving terminal to start and stop receiving a video stream (Patent Document 1).

When an IP broadcast receiving terminal starts receiving a video stream, it sends a Join packet to the IP router requesting that it join the multicast group to which the video stream it wishes to receive is being distributed. This enables the IP broadcast receiving terminal to receive the video stream that the source is distributing to the multicast group. In addition, when the IP broadcast receiving terminal stops receiving the video stream, it sends a Leave packet to the IP router requesting that it leave the multicast group.

The line center can use this IGMP function to switch the material to be sent to the distribution destination.

When using the IGMP function to switch the material to be sent to the distribution destination, the switching instruction device first sends a Leave packet and a Join packet to the IP router. When the IP router receives the Leave packet, it stops forwarding the material before the switch (the material being forwarded). When the IP router receives the Join packet, it starts forwarding the material after the switch.

JP 2009-218816 A

However, this method can result in a situation where both the post-switch material and the pre-switch material are transferred.

For example, if a Join packet arrives at an IP router before a Leave packet, or if an IP router processes a Join packet before a Leave packet, the IP router will stop forwarding the pre-switching material after it starts forwarding the post-switching material. In this case, a temporary state will occur in which both the post-switching material and the pre-switching material are being forwarded.

Also, for example, if the Leave packet does not reach the IP router for some reason, or if the IP router fails to stop the transfer of the material before the switch, the transfer of the material after the switch may start without stopping the transfer of the material before the switch. In this case, the state in which both the material after the switch and the material before the switch are being transferred will continue until the next Leave packet is received.

When both the post-switched material and the pre-switched material are being transferred, the communications bandwidth that would normally be used to transfer one material is used to transfer both materials. This puts strain on the communications bandwidth, and in the worst case scenario, packet loss may occur in the material being transferred. Furthermore, when one communications bandwidth is being used to transfer material to multiple distribution destinations, packet loss may also occur in materials that are not involved in the material switch (material that is neither before nor after the switch). When packet loss occurs, loss occurs in the material being transferred, causing disruptions to the broadcast content and leading to broadcast accidents.

The object of the present invention is to provide a switching instruction device, a switching system, a switching instruction method, and a switching instruction program that can prevent the effects of both the post-switching material and the pre-switching material being transferred even if the material switching fails.

In one aspect of the present invention, the switching instruction device is characterized by having a detection unit that detects a stop in reception of the material from an input source of the material, and a request unit that requests the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material when a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch the output material from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material is received, and requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material when the detection unit detects the stop in reception of the pre-switching material.

In another aspect of the present invention, the switching instruction method detects a stop in receiving the material from the input source of the material, and when a switching instruction is received indicating an instruction to switch the material to be output from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material, requests the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material, and when the stop in receiving the pre-switching material is detected, requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material.

In another aspect of the present invention, the switching instruction program causes the computer to realize a detection function for detecting a stop in reception of the material from the input source of the material, and a request function for requesting the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material when a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch the output material from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material is received, and for requesting the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material when the detection function detects a stop in reception of the pre-switching material.

According to the present invention, even if the material switching fails, it is possible to prevent the impact of both the post-switching material and the pre-switching material being transferred.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a switching instruction device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the switching instruction device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a switching system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an application example of a switching system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an application example of a switching system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the switching instruction device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the switching system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the switching instruction device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the switching instruction device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration according to each embodiment of the present invention.

[First embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of a switching instruction device 10 of this embodiment. The switching instruction device 10 of this embodiment includes a detection unit 11 and a request unit 12.

The detection unit 11 detects the stop of receiving material from the material input source.

When the request unit 12 receives a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch the output material from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material, the request unit 12 requests the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material. In addition, when the detection unit 11 detects that the reception of the pre-switching material has stopped, the request unit 12 requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material.

By configuring the switching instruction device 10 in this manner, when the switching instruction device 10 detects a stop in the reception of the pre-switching material, it requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material. This makes it possible to prevent the post-switching material from being input from the switching device while the switching instruction device 10 is receiving the pre-switching material. Therefore, even if the material switching fails, it is possible to prevent the effects of a state in which both the post-switching material and the pre-switching material are transferred.

Next, FIG. 2 shows an example of the operation of the switching instruction device 10 of this embodiment.

When the request unit 12 receives a switching instruction (step S101), it requests the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material (step S102). The detection unit 11 detects the stop of reception of the pre-switching material (step S103). Furthermore, when the detection unit 11 detects the stop of reception of the pre-switching material, the request unit 12 requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material (step S104).

By operating in this manner, the switching instruction device 10 requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material when it detects that reception of the pre-switching material has stopped. This makes it possible to prevent the post-switching material from being input from the switching device while the switching instruction device 10 is receiving the pre-switching material. Therefore, even if material switching fails, it is possible to prevent the effects of a state in which both the post-switching material and the pre-switching material are transferred.

As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, when the switching instruction device 10 detects a stop in the reception of the pre-switching material, it requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material. This makes it possible to prevent the post-switching material from being input from the switching device while the switching instruction device 10 is receiving the pre-switching material. Therefore, even if the material switching fails, it is possible to prevent the effects of a state in which both the post-switching material and the pre-switching material are transferred.

[Second embodiment]
Next, a switching system 70 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a switching system 70 of this embodiment. The switching system 70 of this embodiment includes a switching device 40 and a switching instruction device 20. The switching device 40 and the switching instruction device 20 are connected to each other. The instruction source device 50 and the distribution destination device 87 are also connected to the switching instruction device 20. The material output device 86-A and the material output device 86-B are also connected to the switching device 40.

The material output device 86-A and the material output device 86-B are devices that output materials collected inside and outside the broadcasting station. The distribution destination device 87 is a device that receives materials in a studio, a master control room, a sub-control room, a material bank, etc.

In this embodiment, the material output device 86-A outputs the pre-switching material, and the material output device 86-B outputs the post-switching material.

The materials output by the material output device 86-A and the material output device 86-B may be compressed and encoded or may not be compressed and encoded, and may be multiplexed or may not be multiplexed.

The instruction source device 50 is a device that outputs a switching instruction including information on the pre-switching material and information on the post-switching material regarding switching of materials. The instruction source device 50 outputs the switching instruction, for example, in response to an operation input according to a user's instruction.

The switching instruction device 20 is a device that requests the switching device 40 to switch the material that the switching device 40 inputs to the switching instruction device 20 from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material in response to a switching instruction from the instruction source device 50. In addition, the switching instruction device 20 transfers the material received from the switching device 40 to the distribution destination device 87.

The switching device 40 is a device that switches the material input from the switching device 40 to the switching instruction device 20 from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material in response to a request from the instruction source device 50. The switching device 40 is, for example, an IP router (L3 switch).

The switching system 70 may be used, for example, in a line center to distribute materials input to a broadcasting station. FIG. 4 shows an example of the application of the switching system 71 to material switching in a line center 85. Note that the switching system 70 can be used for material switching not only in line centers, but also in various locations within a broadcasting station, such as a master control room or a sub-control room.

The line center 85 includes a switching system 71. The line center 85 may include components other than the switching system 71.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, materials are input to the switching system 71 from material output devices 86-1 to 86-m. Note that m is the number of material output devices and is an integer of 2 or more. The switching system 71 also switches the materials to be distributed to each of distribution destination devices 87-1 to 87-n. Note that n is the number of distribution destination devices and is an integer of 1 or more.

Material output devices 86-1 to 86-m are devices that output materials collected inside and outside the broadcasting station. Distribution destination devices 87 are devices that receive materials in studios, master control rooms, sub-control rooms, material banks, etc.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of the switching system 71 in the application example of FIG. 4. In the example configuration of FIG. 5, input materials 83-1 to 83-m are input to the switching system 71 from the material output devices 86-1 to 86-m. The switching system 71 also outputs output material 84-j to a distribution destination device 87-j (1≦j≦n, j is an integer). The switching system 71 includes a switching instruction device 20-j that outputs the output material 84-j received from the switching device 40 to the distribution destination device 87-j. An instruction source device 50-j is also connected to the switching instruction device 20-j.

The instruction source device 50-j transmits to the switching instruction device 20-j a switching instruction including information on the pre-switching material and information on the post-switching material for the output material 84-j that the switching instruction device 20-j transfers to the distribution destination device 87-j. When the switching instruction device 20-j receives a switching instruction from the instruction source device 50-j, it requests the switching device 40 to switch the material to be input to the switching instruction device 20-j from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material. The switching device 40 switches the material to be input to the switching instruction device 20-j in accordance with the request from the switching instruction device 20-j.

The configuration example shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the configuration included in the configuration example shown in FIG. 5, which is extracted for one distribution destination device (output material), and also corresponds to the material output device that outputs the pre-switching material and the material output device that outputs the post-switching material.

Next, an example of the configuration of the switching device 40 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The switching device 40 of this embodiment includes a switching unit 41 and a control unit 42.

When the control unit 42 is requested by the switching instruction device 20 to stop inputting material, it instructs the switching unit 41 to stop outputting the material. Also, when the control unit 42 is requested by the switching instruction device 20 to start inputting material, it instructs the switching unit 41 to start outputting the material.

When the control unit 42 instructs the switching unit 41 to stop outputting the material, the switching unit 41 stops outputting the material. When the control unit 42 instructs the switching unit 41 to start outputting the material, the switching unit 41 starts outputting the material.

Next, a configuration example of the switching instruction device 20 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The switching instruction device 20 of this embodiment includes a detection unit 21, a request unit 22, and a transfer unit 23.

The transfer unit 23 outputs the material received from the switching device 40 to the distribution destination device.

When the request unit 22 receives a switching instruction from the instruction source device 50, it requests the switching device 40 to stop inputting the pre-switching material. Specifically, the switching instruction includes the multicast group address of the material output device 86-A that transmits the pre-switching material as information on the pre-switching material. Then, when the request unit 22 receives a switching instruction from the instruction source device 50, it transmits a Leave message to the switching device 40 that includes the multicast group address of the material output device 86-A that transmits the pre-switching material.

When the detection unit 21 receives a switching instruction from the instruction source device 50, it starts monitoring whether the reception of the pre-switching material has stopped.

When the detection unit 21 detects that reception of the pre-switching material has stopped, the request unit 22 requests the switching device 40 to start inputting the post-switching material. Specifically, the switching instruction includes the multicast group address of the material output device 86-B that will transmit the post-switching material as information on the post-switching material. Then, when the detection unit 21 detects that reception of the pre-switching material has stopped, the request unit 22 transmits a Join message to the switching device 40 that includes the multicast group address of the material output device 86-B that will transmit the post-switching material.

In this way, after the detection unit 21 detects that the reception of the pre-switching material has stopped, the request unit 22 requests the switching device 40 to start inputting the post-switching material. This reduces the possibility that both the pre-switching material and the post-switching material will be input from the switching device 40.

There are two possible ways to detect when reception of pre-switching material has stopped.

The first method is for the detection unit 21 to monitor the reception of packets containing material, and if no packets containing material are received for a specified period of time, determine that reception of the material has stopped. For example, if material is transmitted using UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and information other than the material is transmitted using TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), the detection unit 21 can regard the reception of a UDP packet as the reception of a packet containing material.

In this method, the detection unit 21 assumes that the reception of material has stopped if no UDP packets are received for a specified period of time. Therefore, in this method, the detection unit 21 can detect the stop of the reception of material more quickly than in the second method described below.

In the second method, the detection unit 21 monitors the reception of packets containing pre-switching material, and determines that reception of material has stopped if no packets containing pre-switching material have been received for a specified period of time. Packets containing material contain, as a destination address, the multicast group address of the material output device that transmits the material. The material output device transmits material to the multicast group address of the material output device. Therefore, the detection unit 21 can determine whether the received packet is a packet containing pre-switching material by checking whether the destination address of the packet received from the switching device 40 contains the multicast group address of the material output device 86-A. The instruction source device 50 transmits a switching instruction including the multicast group address of the material output device 86-A that outputs the pre-switching material, and the detection unit 21 can determine the multicast group address of the material output device 86-A that outputs the pre-switching material.

In this method, the detection unit 21 detects that reception of pre-switching material has stopped based on the destination address of the packet. Therefore, in the second method, even when material output from multiple material output devices is transmitted from the switching device 40 to the switching instruction device 20, the detection unit 21 can identify packets containing pre-switching material from among the received packets and detect the stop of input of the pre-switching material.

By configuring the switching instruction device 20 in this manner, when the switching instruction device 20 detects a stop in the reception of the pre-switching material, it requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material. This makes it possible to prevent the post-switching material from being input from the switching device while the switching instruction device 20 is receiving the pre-switching material. Therefore, even if the material switching fails, it is possible to prevent the effects of a state in which both the post-switching material and the pre-switching material are transferred.

Furthermore, when the switching instruction device 20 detects a stop in the reception of pre-switching material, it requests the switching device to start inputting post-switching material. This allows the switching instruction device 20 to avoid inputting both pre-switching material and pre-switching material from the switching device 40, even when a switching device 40 in which the receiving order and processing order of messages may be interchanged is used for material switching. This makes it possible to include switching devices 40 in which the receiving order and processing order of messages may be interchanged as options, allowing the designer of the switching system to select a switching device 40 to be used in the switching system from a greater variety of switching devices 40.

Next, an example of the operation of the switching instruction device 20 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the switching instruction device 20 of this embodiment, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the switching system of this embodiment.

First, when the request unit 22 of the switching instruction device 20 receives a switching instruction from the instruction source device 50 (step S201 in FIG. 6, step S301 in FIG. 7), it requests the switching device 40 to stop inputting the pre-switching material (step S302 in FIG. 7). In addition, the detection unit 21 starts monitoring whether the reception of the pre-switching material has stopped (step S202 in FIG. 6, step S303 in FIG. 7). Note that steps S302 and S303 in FIG. 7 may be performed either first or simultaneously.

When the switching unit 41 of the switching device 40 receives a request from the switching instruction device 20 to stop inputting the pre-switching material, it stops outputting the pre-switching material to the switching instruction device 20 (step S304 in FIG. 7).

When the detection unit 21 of the switching instruction device 20 detects that reception of the pre-switching material has stopped (YES in step S203 of FIG. 6), it stops monitoring the pre-switching material (step S305 of FIG. 7). In addition, the request unit 22 requests the switching device 40 to start inputting the post-switching material (step S204 of FIG. 6, step S306 of FIG. 7).

When the switching unit 41 of the switching device 40 is requested by the switching instruction device 20 to start inputting the post-switching material, it stops outputting the post-switching material to the switching instruction device 20 (step S307 in FIG. 7).

The request unit 22 of the switching instruction device 20 may send a Leave message multiple times when requesting the switching device 40 to stop the input of the pre-switching material. In this way, even if the switching device 40 fails to stop the output with the first Leave message, it is possible to stop the output again with the second or subsequent Leave messages. This can improve the possibility that the input of the pre-switching material will be stopped.

Similarly, the request unit 22 of the switching instruction device 20 may send a Join message multiple times when requesting the switching device 40 to start inputting post-switching material. In this way, even if the switching device 40 fails to start outputting with the first Join message, it is possible to start outputting again with the second or subsequent Join messages. This can improve the possibility that the inputting of post-switching material will start.

In addition, if the detection unit 21 does not detect a stop in the reception of the pre-switching material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the request to stop input, the request unit 22 may again request the switching device 40 to stop the input of the pre-switching material.

When the request unit 22 requests the switching device 40 to start inputting the post-switching material, the detection unit 21 may start monitoring whether or not reception of the post-switching material has started. When the detection unit 21 does not detect the start of reception of the post-switching material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the request to start inputting, the request unit 22 may again request the switching device 40 to start inputting the post-switching material. Note that the detection unit 21 can monitor the post-switching material by a method of monitoring packets containing the material or a method of monitoring the destination address of the packets, in the same way as for monitoring the pre-switching material.

Figure 8 shows an example of the operation of the switching instruction device 20 in this case.

First, when the request unit 22 receives a switching instruction from the instruction source device 50 (step S401), the detection unit 21 starts monitoring the pre-switching material. In addition, the request unit 22 requests the switching device 40 to stop inputting the pre-switching material (step S402).

When the detection unit 21 detects that reception of the pre-switching material has stopped (YES in step S403), the detection unit 21 stops monitoring the pre-switching material and starts monitoring the post-switching material. In addition, the request unit 22 requests the switching device 40 to start inputting the post-switching material (step S404).

When the detection unit 21 detects the start of reception of the post-switching material (YES in step S405), the detection unit 21 stops monitoring the post-switching material. In addition, the request unit 22 notifies the instruction source device 50 that the switching of the material has been completed (step S406).

If the detection unit 21 does not detect a stop in the reception of pre-switching material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the request to stop input (NO in step S403), the request unit 22 again requests the switching device 40 to stop the input of pre-switching material (step S402).

In addition, if the detection unit 21 does not detect the start of reception of post-switching material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the request to start input (NO in step S405), the request unit 22 again requests the switching device 40 to start inputting post-switching material (step S404).

In addition, if the switching device 40 does not detect a stop or start of reception, the instruction source device 50 may resend the switching instruction, rather than the switching instruction device 20 resending the input stop request or input start request.

Figure 9 shows an example of the operation of the switching instruction device 20 when the instruction source device 50 resends a switching instruction.

First, when the request unit 22 receives a switching instruction from the instruction source device 50 (step S501), the detection unit 21 starts monitoring the pre-switching material. In addition, the request unit 22 requests the switching device 40 to stop inputting the pre-switching material (step S502).

When the detection unit 21 detects that reception of the pre-switching material has stopped (YES in step S503), the detection unit 21 stops monitoring the pre-switching material and starts monitoring the post-switching material. In addition, the request unit 22 requests the switching device 40 to start inputting the post-switching material (step S504).

When the detection unit 21 detects the start of reception of the post-switching material (YES in step S505), the detection unit 21 stops monitoring the post-switching material. In addition, the request unit 22 notifies the instruction source device 50 that the switching of the material has been completed (step S506).

If the detection unit 21 does not detect the stop of reception of the pre-switching material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the input stop request (NO in step S503), the detection unit 21 stops monitoring the pre-switching material. In addition, the request unit 22 notifies the instruction source device 50 that the switching of the material has failed (step S507).

If the detection unit 21 does not detect the start of reception of the post-switching material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the input start request (NO in step S505), the detection unit 21 stops monitoring the post-switching material. In addition, the request unit 22 notifies the instruction source device 50 that the material switching has failed (step S507).

Then, the instruction source device 50 transmits the switching instruction to the instruction source device 50 again, so that the switching instruction device 20 can perform the material switching again.

By operating in this manner, the switching instruction device 20 requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material when it detects that reception of the pre-switching material has stopped. This makes it possible to prevent the post-switching material from being input from the switching device while the switching instruction device 20 is receiving the pre-switching material. Therefore, even if material switching fails, it is possible to prevent the effects of a state in which both the post-switching material and the pre-switching material are transferred.

As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, when the switching instruction device 20 detects a stop in the reception of the pre-switching material, it requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material. This makes it possible to prevent the post-switching material from being input from the switching device while the switching instruction device 20 is receiving the pre-switching material. Therefore, even if the material switching fails, it is possible to prevent the effects of a state in which both the post-switching material and the pre-switching material are transferred.

In addition, designers of switching systems will be able to select switching devices 40 to be used in the switching system from a greater variety of switching devices 40.

[Hardware configuration example]
An example of the configuration of hardware resources for implementing the switching instruction device (10, 20) in each of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention using one information processing device (computer) will be described. The switching instruction device may be implemented physically or functionally using at least two or more information processing devices. The switching instruction device may be implemented as a dedicated device, or a general-purpose device. Only a part of the functions of the switching instruction device may be implemented using an information processing device.

Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing device capable of realizing the switching instruction device of each embodiment of the present invention. The information processing device 90 includes a communication interface 91, an input/output interface 92, a computing device 93, a storage device 94, a non-volatile storage device 95, and a drive device 96.

For example, the detection unit 11 and the request unit 12 in FIG. 1 can be realized by a computing device 93.

The communication interface 91 is a communication means for the switching instruction device of each embodiment to communicate with an external device at least in one of a wired and wireless manner. When the switching instruction device is realized using at least two information processing devices, the devices may be connected so as to be able to communicate with each other via the communication interface 91.

The input/output interface 92 is a man-machine interface including a keyboard as an example of an input device and a display as an output device.

The arithmetic unit 93 is realized, for example, by an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microprocessor, and a plurality of electric circuits. The arithmetic unit 93 is capable of reading various programs stored in the non-volatile storage device 95 into the storage device 94, and executing processing according to the read programs.

The storage device 94 is a memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) that can be referenced by the computing device 93, and stores programs, various data, etc. The storage device 94 may be a volatile memory device.

The non-volatile storage device 95 is, for example, a non-volatile storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a flash memory, and is capable of storing various programs, data, etc.

The drive device 96 is, for example, a device that processes the reading and writing of data recorded on the recording medium 97 described below.

The recording medium 97 is any recording medium capable of recording data, such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor flash memory.

Each embodiment of the present invention may be realized, for example, by configuring a switching instruction device using an information processing device 90 as illustrated in FIG. 10, and supplying a program capable of realizing the functions described in each of the above embodiments to this switching instruction device.

In this case, the embodiment can be realized by having the computing device 93 execute a program supplied to the switching instruction device. It is also possible for some, but not all, of the functions of the switching instruction device to be configured by the information processing device 90.

Furthermore, the above program may be recorded on a recording medium 97, and may be configured to be stored in the non-volatile storage device 95 as appropriate at the shipping stage or operation stage of the switching instruction device. In this case, the method of supplying the above program may be a method of installing the program in the switching instruction device using an appropriate tool at the manufacturing stage before shipping or at the operation stage. The method of supplying the above program may also be a general procedure such as downloading the program from an external source via a communication line such as the Internet.

The above-described embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Some or all of the above embodiments may be described as follows, but are not limited to the following:

(Appendix 1)
a detection unit for detecting a stop of reception of the material from a source of the material;
a request unit that, when receiving a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch the material to be output from a pre-switching material to a post-switching material, requests the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material, and, when the detection unit detects that reception of the pre-switching material has stopped, requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material.

(Appendix 2)
2. The switching instruction device according to claim 1, wherein the request unit executes a request to the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material based on an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) function.

(Appendix 3)
The switching instruction device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the request unit executes a request to the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material based on an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) function.

(Appendix 4)
The switching instruction device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the switching instruction includes, as information about the pre-switching material, a multicast group address of a material output device that outputs the pre-switching material to the switching device, and also includes, as information about the post-switching material, a multicast group address of the material output device that outputs the post-switching material to the switching device.

(Appendix 5)
The switching instruction device according to claim 4, wherein the detection unit detects the stop of reception of the pre-switching material based on a multicast group address of the material output device that outputs the pre-switching material to the switching device.

(Appendix 6)
The switching instruction device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the detection unit detects a start of reception of the post-switching material based on a multicast group address of the material output device that outputs the post-switching material to the switching device.

(Appendix 7)
The switching instruction device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detection unit detects the stop of reception of the pre-switching material depending on whether or not a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet is received.

(Appendix 8)
The switching instruction device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 7, wherein the detection unit detects the start of reception of the post-switching material depending on whether or not a UDP packet has been received.

(Appendix 9)
The switching instruction device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, when requesting the switching device to stop the input of the pre-switching material, the request unit makes a request to stop the input of the pre-switching material a plurality of times.

(Appendix 10)
The switching instruction device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, when requesting the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material, the request unit makes a request to start inputting the post-switching material a plurality of times.

(Appendix 11)
The switching instruction device described in any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 10, characterized in that if the request unit does not detect the stop of the input of the pre-switching material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since requesting the switching device to stop the input of the pre-switching material, the request unit again requests the switching device to stop the input of the pre-switching material.

(Appendix 12)
The switching instruction device described in any one of Appendix 1 to Appendix 11, characterized in that if the start of the input of the post-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the request to the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material, the request unit again requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material.

(Appendix 13)
The switching instruction device according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 10, characterized in that, when the request unit does not detect the stop of the input of the pre-switching material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the switching device was requested to stop the input of the pre-switching material, the request unit notifies a sender of the switching instruction that the switching has failed.

(Appendix 14)
The switching instruction device according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 11, characterized in that, when the start of the input of the post-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the switching device was requested to start inputting the post-switching material, the request unit notifies a sender of the switching instruction that the switching has failed.

(Appendix 15)
A switching instruction device according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 14,
A switching system comprising the switching device.

(Appendix 16)
detecting a cessation of receipt of said material from a source of said material;
a switching instruction method, when receiving a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch a material to be output from a pre-switching material to a post-switching material, requesting a switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material, and when detecting stoppage of reception of the pre-switching material, requesting the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material.

(Appendix 17)
The switching instruction method according to claim 16, wherein when the switching device is requested to stop inputting the pre-switching material, the method is executed based on an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) function.

(Appendix 18)
The switching instruction method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein when a request is made to the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material, the request is executed based on an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) function.

(Appendix 19)
The switching instruction method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the switching instruction includes, as information about the pre-switching material, a multicast group address of a material output device that outputs the pre-switching material to the switching device, and also includes, as information about the post-switching material, a multicast group address of the material output device that outputs the post-switching material to the switching device.

(Appendix 20)
20. The switching instruction method according to claim 19, further comprising detecting a stop of reception of the pre-switching material based on a multicast group address of the material output device which outputs the pre-switching material to the switching device.

(Appendix 21)
The switching instruction method according to claim 19 or 20, further comprising detecting a start of reception of the post-switching material based on a multicast group address of the material output device which outputs the post-switching material to the switching device.

(Appendix 22)
20. The switching instruction method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, further comprising detecting a stop of reception of the pre-switching material depending on whether or not a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet has been received.

(Appendix 23)
The switching instruction method according to any one of claims 16 to 19 and 22, further comprising detecting a start of reception of the post-switching material depending on whether or not a UDP packet has been received.

(Appendix 24)
The switching instruction method according to any one of claims 16 to 23, characterized in that when requesting the switching device to stop input of the pre-switching material, the request to stop input of the pre-switching material is made a plurality of times.

(Appendix 25)
The switching instruction method according to any one of claims 16 to 24, wherein when requesting the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material, the request to start inputting the post-switching material is made a plurality of times.

(Appendix 26)
The switching instruction method according to any one of appendices 16 to 25, characterized in that if the stop of the input of the pre-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the switching device was requested to stop the input of the pre-switching material, the switching device is again requested to stop the input of the pre-switching material.

(Appendix 27)
The switching instruction method according to any one of appendices 16 to 26, characterized in that if the start of input of the post-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since a request to the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material, the switching device is again requested to start inputting the post-switching material.

(Appendix 28)
The switching instruction method according to any one of Supplementary Note 16 to Supplementary Note 25, characterized in that if the stop of the input of the pre-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the switching device was requested to stop the input of the pre-switching material, a notification is sent to a sender of the switching instruction that the switching has failed.

(Appendix 29)
The switching instruction method according to any one of Supplementary Note 16 to Supplementary Note 26, characterized in that if the start of input of the post-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since a request to the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material, a source of the switching instruction is notified that the switching has failed.

(Appendix 30)
On the computer,
a detection function for detecting a cessation of receipt of said material from a source of said material;
a request function that, when a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch the material to be output from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material is received, requests the switching device to stop input of the pre-switching material, and, when the detection function detects that the reception of the pre-switching material has stopped, requests the switching device to start input of the post-switching material.

(Appendix 31)
The switching instruction program according to claim 30, wherein the request function is executed based on an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) function when requesting the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material.

(Appendix 32)
The switching instruction program according to claim 30 or 31, wherein the request function is executed based on an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) function when requesting the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material.

(Appendix 33)
The switching instruction program according to claim 31 or 32, characterized in that the switching instruction includes, as information about the pre-switching material, a multicast group address of a material output device that outputs the pre-switching material to the switching device, and includes, as information about the post-switching material, a multicast group address of the material output device that outputs the post-switching material to the switching device.

(Appendix 34)
The switching instruction program according to claim 33, wherein the detection function detects a stop of reception of the pre-switching material based on a multicast group address of the material output device that outputs the pre-switching material to the switching device.

(Appendix 35)
The switching instruction program according to claim 33 or 34, wherein the detection function detects the start of reception of the post-switching material based on a multicast group address of the material output device that outputs the post-switching material to the switching device.

(Appendix 36)
The switching instruction program according to any one of claims 30 to 33, wherein the detection function detects the stop of reception of the pre-switching material depending on whether or not a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet is received.

(Appendix 37)
The switching instruction program according to any one of claims 30 to 33 and 36, wherein the detection function detects the start of reception of the post-switching material depending on whether or not a UDP packet has been received.

(Appendix 38)
The switching instruction program described in any one of Appendix 30 to Appendix 37, characterized in that when requesting the switching device to stop input of the pre-switching material, the request function makes a request to stop input of the pre-switching material multiple times.

(Appendix 39)
The switching instruction program described in any one of Appendix 30 to Appendix 38, characterized in that when requesting the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material, the request function makes a request to start inputting the post-switching material multiple times.

(Appendix 40)
The switching instruction program described in any one of Appendix 30 to Appendix 39, characterized in that the request function requests the switching device to stop input of the pre-switching material again if the stop of the input of the pre-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the request to the switching device to stop input of the pre-switching material.

(Appendix 41)
The switching instruction program described in any one of Appendix 30 to Appendix 40, characterized in that the request function requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material again when the start of the input of the post-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the switching device was requested to start inputting the post-switching material.

(Appendix 42)
The switching instruction program according to any one of appendices 30 to 39, characterized in that, when the request function does not detect the stop of the input of the pre-switching material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the switching device was requested to stop the input of the pre-switching material, it notifies the sender of the switching instruction that the switching has failed.

(Appendix 43)
The switching instruction program according to any one of Supplementary Note 30 to Supplementary Note 40, characterized in that, when the start of input of the post-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the switching device was requested to start inputting the post-switching material, the request function notifies the sender of the switching instruction that the switching has failed.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10, 20 Switching instruction device 11, 21 Detection unit 12, 22 Request unit 23 Transfer unit 40 Switching device 41 Switching unit 42 Control unit 50 Instruction source device 70, 71 Switching system 85 Line center 86-A, 86-B Material output device 87 Distribution destination device 90 Information processing device 91 Communication interface 92 Input/output interface 93 Arithmetic unit 94 Storage device 95 Non-volatile storage device 96 Drive device 97 Recording medium

Claims (15)

a detection unit for detecting a stop of reception of the material from a source of the material;
a request unit that, when a switching instruction is received indicating an instruction to switch a material to be output from a pre-switching material to a post-switching material, requests the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material, and, when the detection unit detects a stop of reception of the pre-switching material, requests the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material ,
When the stop of the input of the pre-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the request unit requested the switching device to stop the input of the pre-switching material, the request unit requests the switching device to stop the input of the pre-switching material again.
A switching instruction device comprising: 2. The switching instruction device according to claim 1, wherein the request unit executes a request to the switching device to stop the input of the pre-switching material based on an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) function. 3. The switching instruction device according to claim 1, wherein the request unit, when requesting the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material, executes the request based on an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) function. The switching instruction device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the switching instruction includes, as information about the pre-switching material, a multicast group address of a material output device that outputs the pre-switching material to the switching device, and also includes, as information about the post-switching material, a multicast group address of the material output device that outputs the post-switching material to the switching device. 5. The switching instruction device according to claim 4, wherein the detection section detects the stop of reception of the pre-switching material based on a multicast group address of the material output device that outputs the pre-switching material to the switching device. 5. The switching instruction device according to claim 1, wherein the detection section detects the stop of reception of the pre-switching material depending on whether or not a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet has been received. a detection unit for detecting a stop of reception of the material from a source of the material;
a request unit that, when receiving a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch a material to be output from a pre-switching material to a post-switching material, requests the switching device to stop input of the pre-switching material, and, when the detection unit detects the stop of reception of the pre-switching material, requests the switching device to start input of the post-switching material;
Equipped with
The detection unit detects the stop of reception of the pre-switching material depending on whether or not a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet is received.
A switching instruction device comprising: The request unit executes the request based on an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) function when requesting the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material.
8. The switching instruction device according to claim 7. The request unit executes the request based on an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) function when requesting the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material.
9. The switching instruction device according to claim 7 or 8. The switching instruction includes, as the information of the pre-switching material, a multicast group address of a material output device that outputs the pre-switching material to the switching device, and includes, as the information of the post-switching material, a multicast group address of the material output device that outputs the post-switching material to the switching device.
10. The switching instruction device according to claim 8 or 9. A switching instruction device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 ,
A switching system comprising the switching device. detecting a cessation of receipt of said material from a source of said material;
when receiving a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch the material to be output from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material, requesting the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material, and when detecting a stop in reception of the pre-switching material, requesting the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material ;
A switching instruction method characterized by: if the stop of the input of the pre-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the switching device was requested to stop the input of the pre-switching material, the switching device is again requested to stop the input of the pre-switching material . detecting a cessation of receipt of said material from a source of said material;
when receiving a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch the material to be output from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material, requesting the switching device to stop inputting the pre-switching material, and when detecting a stop in reception of the pre-switching material, requesting the switching device to start inputting the post-switching material;
The stop of reception of the pre-switching material is detected according to whether or not a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet is received.
A switching instruction method comprising: On the computer,
a detection function for detecting a cessation of receipt of said material from a source of said material;
a request function for requesting the switching device to stop input of the pre-switching material when a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch the material to be output from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material is received, and for requesting the switching device to start input of the post-switching material when the detection function detects a stop of reception of the pre-switching material ,
The request function, when the stop of the input of the pre-switching material is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the request to the switching device to stop the input of the pre-switching material, requests the switching device again to stop the input of the pre-switching material.
A switching instruction program. On the computer,
a detection function for detecting a cessation of receipt of said material from a source of said material;
a request function for, when receiving a switching instruction indicating an instruction to switch a material to be output from a pre-switching material to a post-switching material, requesting the switching device to stop input of the pre-switching material, and, when the detection function detects a stop of reception of the pre-switching material, requesting the switching device to start input of the post-switching material;
Realize this,
The detection function detects the stop of reception of the pre-switching material depending on whether or not a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet is received.
A switching instruction program.

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