JP7571230B2 - Broadcasting System - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a broadcasting system.

Generally, each broadcasting station has one master system (i.e., one master system per station). The master system has a redundant configuration with duplicated or tripled equipment. With this configuration, each broadcasting station, especially within the same network, carries out almost the same operations except for commercials.

JP 2002-84242 A

In the future, as services such as 4K and online distribution diversify and internet advertising becomes more prominent, if we continue with the business model described above, the current advertising revenue model will not be able to keep up with the diversification of services and the associated increase in capital costs, and it may become unsustainable as a business.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a broadcasting system that can carry out operations efficiently and at low cost.

The broadcasting system of the embodiment is a broadcasting system in which a center and each broadcasting station are connected via an IP technology platform, and includes common master equipment that is located at the center and to which any broadcasting service or backup of a broadcasting service of each broadcasting station is dynamically assigned, and broadcasting station master equipment that is located at each broadcasting station and transmits a main video signal using the broadcasting service or backup of a broadcasting service assigned to the common master equipment of the center.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a broadcasting system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing in detail an example of the internal configuration of the center 1 and the broadcasting station A etc. shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the main internal configuration of a certain broadcasting station. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a basic operation according to the dynamic assignment method of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an emergency operation of the embodiment.

The following describes the embodiment with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment described below, for example, by utilizing SMPTE ST2110 (a standard that is an evolutionary consolidation of several standards for communication over IP networks) and virtualization and cloud computing, we can achieve equipment diversity, low equipment costs, and improved business and operational efficiency while maintaining the independence of each broadcasting station's operations.

For example, by sharing equipment among multiple stations and innovating redundancy methods, it is possible to reduce the cost of equipment. Also, by adopting a method that allows broadcasting services to be dynamically assigned (dynamic assignment method) and building a system that can provide the necessary services when needed, it is possible to achieve diversity in equipment. Also, by systemizing multiple stations and consolidating overlapping operations, it is possible to achieve greater efficiency in business and operations. Also, by building a signal transmission path in the event of a failure, it is possible to respond to BPC (Business Continuity Plan) requests (for example, to recover operations at a station affected by an earthquake).

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a broadcasting system according to an embodiment.

The broadcasting system shown in FIG. 1 includes multiple broadcasting stations (edges) A, B, and C and one center 1. Center 1 is provided at a location separate from broadcasting stations A, B, and C, and is connected to broadcasting stations A, B, and C via a WAN (Wide Area Network) or the like. Broadcasting stations A, B, and C are broadcasting stations belonging to the same network, and include, for example, a key station provided in Tokyo as well as local stations provided in various locations.

Broadcasting stations A, B, and C are each configured with only one system, unlike a typical master system with redundant configuration, in that the master equipment (excluding the encoding and multiplexing equipment) that handles the main video line is not duplicated.

Specifically, each broadcasting station has duplicated coding and multiplexing equipment, with coding and multiplexing equipment (ENC/MUX #1) 31 for system 1 (active system) and coding and multiplexing equipment (ENC/MUX #1) 32 for system 2 (standby system), but as for the master equipment, only master equipment (Master #1) 21 for system 1 (active system) is installed, and there is no equivalent to master equipment (Master #2) for system 2 (standby system). However, at least a part of the functions equivalent to master equipment (Master #2) for system 2 (standby system) is installed on the center 1 side.

The center 1 is equipped with a common master facility 11. The common master facility 11 provides at least some of the functionality equivalent to the master facility (Master #2) for each broadcasting station's two channels.

Figure 2 shows in detail an example of the internal configuration of center 1 and broadcasting station A, etc., shown in Figure 1.

In the configuration example shown in Figure 2, the following measures are taken, for example:

(1) Generally, the master equipment of each broadcasting station has a redundant configuration of two or three, but in recent years, the reliability of the equipment in the master equipment has increased and malfunctions have become rare. In light of this, in this embodiment, the center 1 and each broadcasting station are connected via an IP technology platform, and only one master equipment 21 (only one system) that handles the main video line is placed at each broadcasting station, and a backup system is placed on the center 1 side.

(2) In the center 1, instead of simply preparing a redundant configuration of master equipment 21 for three stations, a system will be prepared that allows any service, including the main services of each broadcasting station, to be freely assigned or a backup service to be assigned based on IP technology, taking into account the simultaneity of broadcasting, and a configuration will be created that allows for dynamic assignment of the necessary amount of services, etc., when needed, thereby achieving efficient redundancy.

(3) Within the master equipment 21 on the side of each broadcasting station, a system is prepared that allows any service, including major services, or backup services to be freely assigned using the IP technology platform, and a configuration is created that allows services, etc. to be dynamically assigned as needed, when needed, so that redundant services can be set up locally even in the event of a failure at center 1.

(4) Support will be provided to affected broadcasting stations through cloud services, etc.

In the example of FIG. 2, each of broadcasting stations A, B, and C is provided with the above-mentioned master facility 21 and duplicated encoding and multiplexing facilities 31 and 32, as well as APC (automatic program transmission control facility) 51, RTP (real-time processor) 52, duplicated IPSW (IP switcher) 53, alarm facility 54, etc.

Broadcasting stations A, B, and C can receive predetermined cloud services from clouds A1, B1, and C1 on the Internet, respectively, and can obtain broadcast progress data and commercial/program data of broadcasting stations A, B, and C supplied from a function that realizes a higher-level system (for example, a system including an EDPS (Equipment Data Processing System) function and a DS (Data Server) function) managed on the clouds A1, B1, and C1, respectively. Furthermore, broadcasting stations A, B, and C own relay vans A2, B2, and C2, respectively, and each relay van is equipped with SAT communication equipment 55 and simple encoding and multiplexing equipment 56.

The APC 51 is a facility for automatically broadcasting by controlling various broadcasting-related facilities (master facility 21, ISPW 53, encoding and multiplexing facilities 31, 32, etc.) based on broadcast progress data, etc., supplied from a function equivalent to a higher-level system provided on the corresponding cloud of the broadcasting station. Note that the function equivalent to this APC 51 may also be provided on the corresponding cloud.
The RTP 52 temporarily stores the data supplied from the APC 51 .

The master facility 21 transmits at least the main video signal of the broadcasting station (e.g., a signal corresponding to the service "SV1") through the video server 21a. In the configuration example of FIG. 2, the video server 21a has a storage unit that stores commercial and program data provided from the cloud of the broadcasting station, and four ports that transmit signals for four services by multicast.

These four ports include a port to which the main video service "SV1" is assigned, as well as a port to which a service "Special SV" specific to the affiliated broadcasting station is assigned, and two auxiliary ports AUX to which any service can be assigned. However, this is just one example and is not limited to this example. For example, the service "Special SV" is not necessarily required. Also, the number of ports is not limited to four.

For example, the first auxiliary port AUX may be assigned a backup "SV1'" of the main video service "SV1" as needed. The second auxiliary port AUX may be assigned a secondary video service "SV2" or a national broadcast service "H1" from a specific broadcasting station as needed. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples.

The IPSW 53 is a switcher that performs path switching or assignment processing for data transmission conforming to the Internet Protocol (IP). For example, it receives a signal sent from the master equipment 21 of the broadcasting station and a signal sent from the common master equipment 11 to the broadcasting station, selects an arbitrary signal, and sends it to one of the two encoding and multiplexing equipment 31, 32. The IPSW 53 makes it possible to dynamically assign the desired service as much as necessary, when necessary.

The encoding and multiplexing equipment 31, 32 encodes and multiplexes the signals sent from the master equipment 21 of the broadcasting station and sent through the IPSW 53, or the signals sent from the common master equipment 11 of the center 1 to the broadcasting station and sent through the IPSW 53. The encoding and multiplexing equipment 31, 32 distributes the signals sent through the IPSW 53 to the service "SV1" signal, the service "SV2" signal, and the service "1Seg" (corresponding to one-segment broadcasting) by the IPGW (IP gateway), encodes each signal by the corresponding encoding device ENC (SV1), ENC (SV2), and ENC (1Seg), multiplexes them by the multiplexing device MUX, and sends them to the transmitting station.

The alarm equipment 54 monitors the progress of each device on a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) to which each device in the broadcasting station is connected, and if a fault occurs, issues an alarm to specified devices or the corresponding cloud, prompting path switching processing by the IPSW 53 or the encoding and multiplexing equipment 31, 32, etc.

Signal transmission between the master equipment 21 located at each broadcasting station and the IPSW 53, signal transmission between the common master equipment 11 located at the center 1 and the IPSW 43 and IPSW 53, and signal transmission between the IPSW 53 and the encoding/multiplexing equipment 31, 32 are IP-compliant.

Meanwhile, the center 1 is provided with a common master facility 11, as well as an APC (automatic program transmission control facility) 41, an RTP (real-time processor) 42, a duplicated IPSW (IP switcher) 43, etc.

The center 1 can also receive predetermined cloud services from the cloud 10, and can obtain, for example, from a function equivalent to a higher-level system managed on the cloud 10, the same information as the broadcast progress data and commercial/program data of the aforementioned broadcast stations A, B, and C managed on the clouds A1, B1, and C1, respectively. In other words, the center 1 can obtain all of the same information as the information broadcast by broadcast stations A, B, and C from the cloud 10. Furthermore, the center 1 has an IPGW (IP gateway) 44 and SAT communication equipment 45.

APC41 is a facility for controlling various facilities (common master facility 11, ISPW53, etc.) and automatically broadcasting based on broadcast progress data of broadcasting stations A, B, and C supplied from a function equivalent to a higher-level system on cloud 10. Note that the function equivalent to this APC41 may also be provided on cloud 10.

The common master facility 11 uses the video server 11a to send at least the same signal as the main video signal (the signal corresponding to the service "SV1") of each broadcasting station as a backup ("SV1_A", "SV1_B", "SV1_C") to broadcasting stations A, B, and C. In the configuration example of FIG. 2, the video server 11a has a storage unit that stores the commercials and program data of each broadcasting station provided from the cloud 10, etc., and four ports that send signals for four services by multicast.

These four ports include ports to which backups "SV1_A", "SV1_B", and "SV1_C" of the main video service "SV1" are assigned, as well as an auxiliary port AUX to which any service can be assigned. However, this is just an example and is not limited to this example. Also, the number of ports is not limited to four.

The common master facility 11 may further include a video server 11b. The video server 11b has a storage unit for storing any data and four ports for sending out signals for four services by multicast. These four ports consist of four auxiliary ports AUX that can be assigned to any service as free ports. However, this is just an example and is not limited to this example. Also, the number of ports is not limited to four.

The common master facility 11 can also obtain broadcast materials corresponding to the sub-video services stored in the material servers provided at each broadcasting station via the IPSW 43. This makes it possible, for example, to broadcast images from different angles from a spare port of the common master facility 11 during a broadcast such as a baseball game broadcast by a certain broadcasting station. For example, if the capacity of the material servers of broadcasting stations B and C is 8 TB, and the material server of broadcasting station A alone has materials for the three broadcasting stations A, B, and C and has a capacity of 24 TB, the common master facility 11 can obtain materials from any of broadcasting stations A, B, and C simply by referring to the material server of broadcasting station A. However, this is not limited to this example. For example, the capacity of the material servers of broadcasting stations A, B, and C may each be 8 TB, and the common master facility 11 may refer to the material servers of each of broadcasting stations A, B, and C.

The IPSW 43 is a switcher that performs path switching processing for data transmission that conforms to IP, and for example, selectively sends individual signals sent from the common master facility 11 to broadcast stations A, B, C or the IPGW 44 side, or sends signals sent from broadcast stations A, B, C to the common master facility 11 side. The IPSW 43 makes it possible to dynamically assign the desired services as needed, when needed.

When IPGW 44 receives a signal from IPSW 43 directed to any of relay vehicles A2, B2, or C2, it passes that signal to SAT communication device 45. SAT communication device 45 sends the signal passed from IPGW 44 to SAT communication device 55 in the destination relay vehicle via a satellite. When SAT communication device 55 receives a signal from the satellite, it passes that signal to simple encoding and multiplexing equipment 56. Simple encoding and multiplexing equipment 56 performs encoding and multiplexing on the signal passed from SAT communication device 55 in the same manner as encoding and multiplexing equipment 31 and 32, and then sends the signal to a nearby transmitting station.

In addition, with the above configuration, it is possible in some cases to automate each broadcasting station, gather the personnel of each broadcasting station at Center 1, and have each broadcasting station operate jointly, with most of the staff performing duties such as status monitoring at Center 1. This can contribute to reducing not only equipment but also labor costs and improving work style reform.

Figure 3 shows the main internal configuration of a broadcasting station (e.g., broadcasting station C).

As shown in FIG. 3, the aforementioned master equipment 21, duplicated ISPW 53, duplicated coding/multiplexing equipment 31, 32, and alarm equipment 54 are connected to a network such as a LAN, and a CPU 60 that controls each device is also connected, and connection to cloud C1 is also possible.

Note that the configuration in FIG. 3 may be configured to differ in part from the configuration shown in FIG. 2, as appropriate.

For example, the master facility 21 may be provided with a material sending device 21b that sends out materials such as sub-videos in addition to the video server 21a mentioned above, or may be configured to send out video from another IP line center 21c, or may be configured to import and send out video from an external network or studio.

The duplicated ISPW 53 may also be composed of an IPSW #1 for system 1 and an IPSW #2 for system 2, and may include a video server 53a that transmits video signals corresponding to the service "SV1" or "1Seg", a video server 53b that transmits video signals corresponding to the service "SV2", and a video server 53c that transmits video signals corresponding to the service "H1".

The duplicated encoding/multiplexing equipment 31, 32 may also include encoding devices HD_ENC, 1Seg_ENC, and SD_ENC that respectively encode HD signals, 1Seg signals, and SD signals, a multiplexing device MUX that multiplexes these signals and, as necessary, multiplexes SI (Service Information) transmission signals, data broadcasting signals, and emergency earthquake warning signals, and a scrambler SCR that scrambles the multiplexed signals before transmitting them.

Signal transmission from the video server 21a, the material sending device 21b, the net/studio, etc. to the IPGW located at the downstream side shall conform to, for example, TS (Transport Stream). Furthermore, signal transmission from the IPGW to the ISPW 53 (IPSW#1, IPSW#2) located at the downstream side, signal transmission from the ISPW 53 (IPSW#1, IPSW#2) to the video servers 53a, 53b, 53c, signal transmission from the video servers 53a, 53b, 53c to the ISPW 53 (IPSW#1, IPSW#2), and signal transmission from the ISPW 53 (IPSW#1, IPSW#2) to the IPSW located at the downstream side shall conform to, for example, MoIP (Mobile communication over Internet Protocol). Furthermore, signal transmission from the IPGW to the downstream side shall conform to SDI (Serial Digital Interface) and TS.

Next, an example of the basic operation of the dynamic assignment method of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in Figure 4.

First, one master facility 21 is provided at each broadcasting station, and a common master facility 11 that aggregates the spare (backup) systems is provided at center 1. Signals corresponding to each type of service (including backup) are then multicast and broadcast (step S1).

If there is no request for a service change (a request for adding or changing a service or a backup) to the master equipment 21 of any broadcasting station or to the common master equipment 11 (NO in step S2), the broadcast described in step S1 will continue as is. On the other hand, if there is a request for adding or changing a service or a backup (YES in step S2), the assignment of that service will be changed via the IPSW 53 or the like in response to the request, and the broadcast will continue (step S3).

Next, an example of operation in an emergency will be described with reference to the flowchart in Figure 5.

If a fault occurs in the port corresponding to the service "SV1" in the master facility 21, the fault can be handled if the same service "SV1'" is assigned to the backup port AUX. The following describes other emergency operations.

As in the example of operation described above, first, only one master facility 21 is provided at each broadcasting station, and a common master facility 11 that aggregates the spare systems (backup systems) is provided at center 1. Then, signals corresponding to each type of service (including backups) are multicast and broadcast (step S11).

Let's assume that some kind of problem has occurred here.

For example, if a failure occurs in the master facility 21 (such as video server 21a) of a certain broadcasting station (YES in step S12), the failure is detected by the alarm facility 54 and an alarm notification is issued. At this time, the common master facility 11 is in a state where it is sending out all the same services that were multicast by the failed master facility 21 from a port of either video server 11a or 11b.

If such a failure occurs, the IPSW 53 instantly switches the data transmission path, and the broadcast from the station in question continues using the backup signal provided by the common master facility 11 on the center 1 side (step S13).

If there is no such failure (NO in step S12) but a failure occurs in an entire broadcasting station (YES in step S14), the broadcasting can be continued using a backup signal supplied by the common master equipment 11 on the center 1 side, without going through the broadcasting station where the failure occurred, by utilizing cloud services, satellites, relay vehicles, etc., for example, from the IPSW 43, through the IPGW 44, SAT communication device 45, satellite, SAT communication device 55 in the target relay vehicle, and simple encoding and multiplexing equipment 56 (step S15).

In addition, if a failure other than the above-mentioned occurs (NO in step S14) but occurs in center 1 (YES in step S16), each broadcasting station needs to ensure redundancy on its own without relying on backup from center 1. Therefore, in a broadcasting station where redundancy is not ensured, the necessary services are assigned to spare ports such as AUX in the master facility 21 to maintain redundancy (step S17).

Also, if the problem is not one of the above-mentioned types (NO in step S16) but is a minor problem, appropriate measures will be taken.

According to this embodiment, by sharing equipment among multiple stations and innovating the redundancy method, it is possible to reduce the cost of equipment. In addition, by adopting a method that can dynamically assign broadcast services (dynamic assignment method) and building a mechanism that can provide the necessary services when needed, it is possible to realize diversity of equipment. In addition, by systemizing multiple stations and consolidating duplicated operations, it is possible to realize the efficiency of business and operations. In addition, by building a signal transmission path in the event of a failure, it is possible to respond to BPC (for example, recovery of operations at a station affected by an earthquake).

As described above in detail, the embodiments provide a broadcasting system and a broadcasting signal transmission method that can carry out operations efficiently and at low cost.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

1...Center, A, B, C...Broadcasting stations, A1, B1, C1...Cloud, A2, B2, C2...Mobile stations, 10...Cloud, 21...Master equipment, 21a...Video server, 21b...Material transmission equipment, 21c...IP line center, 31, 32...Encoding and multiplexing equipment, 41...APC, 42...RTP, 43...IPSW, 44...IPGW, 45...SAT communications equipment, 51...APC, 52...RTP, 53...IPSW, 54...Alarm equipment, 55...SAT communications equipment, 56...Simple encoding and multiplexing equipment.

Claims (1)

A broadcasting system in which a center and each broadcasting station are connected via an IP technology platform,
A common master facility is arranged at the center, and to which any broadcast service or backup of a broadcast service of each of the broadcast stations is dynamically assigned;
a broadcasting station master facility provided in each broadcasting station for transmitting a main video signal using a broadcasting service or a backup of a broadcasting service assigned to the common master facility of the center;
A broadcasting system comprising: