JP7657574B2 - Broadcasting system, broadcast program transmission device, and broadcasting method - Google Patents

Description

This embodiment relates to a broadcasting system, a broadcast program transmission device, and a broadcasting method.

As part of efforts to create a barrier-free information environment, the current broadcasting system provides a service that broadcasts audio commentary on an audio sub-channel for blind people. However, in breaking news services such as news flashes, the process of converting the contents of the flash into audio is extremely difficult, so the service only displays the flash in text and sounds a chime to notify the user of the flash. As a result, audio-only viewers (those who cannot see the screen (drivers, workers, etc.)), including blind people, can only hear the chime and are unable to understand the contents of the flash.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-322243

As described above, in the audio provision method used in conventional broadcasting systems, when providing breaking news, it is extremely difficult to convert the contents of the news into audio, so only a chime sound is played along with the text display, creating the problem that viewers who cannot see the display screen cannot understand the contents of the news.

This embodiment has been developed in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a broadcasting system, broadcast program transmission device, and broadcasting method that can provide breaking news content by audio through simple processing so that viewers who cannot see the display screen can understand the breaking news content when it is provided.

In order to solve the above problems, the broadcasting system of this embodiment transmits a program broadcast signal including base video and base audio, and when transmitting the sub-audio of the program broadcast signal on a sub-channel , imports breaking news data in text format and superimposes it on the base video, and imports a voice synthesis file in which the breaking news data in text format has been voice-synthesized and mixed into the sub-audio of the sub-channel .

In a broadcasting system that transmits a program broadcast signal including base video and base audio in IP format and transmits the sub-audio of the program broadcast signal on a sub-channel , breaking news data in text format is imported and stored, and an audio synthesis file of the breaking news data is imported and stored, and when the breaking news data is transmitted , the text of the accumulated breaking news data is written into a specified area of the base video, and when the breaking news data is transmitted , the accumulated audio synthesis file is decoded and mixed into the sub-audio of the sub-channel .

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transmitting side of a broadcasting system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing contents of the transmission server shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the transmitting side of the broadcasting system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the process of the transmission server shown in FIG.

The following describes the embodiment with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transmission side of the broadcasting system according to the first embodiment. In Fig. 1, 11 denotes a transmission server. Under the control of an APC (Automatic Program Control System) 12, this transmission server 11 takes in a base video broadcast signal (program broadcast signal) of a specified program in an SDI (Serial Digital Interface) format, and sends it to an encoder (encoding) 13 via a video multiplexer 111 and an audio multiplexer 112. The program broadcast signal encoded by the encoder 13 is multiplexed with a data broadcast, SI/EPG, or other MPEG2-TS format signal by a MUX (Multiplexer) 14, and is modulated for transmission by a modulation device 15 before being output as a transmission signal.

When breaking news text is input, the video multiplexer 111 generates a breaking news superimposition from the breaking news text to be superimposed on the video, and multiplexes it onto the base video of the program broadcast signal. Meanwhile, the breaking news text is sent to the voice synthesizer 16, where it is converted into a voice synthesis signal. This voice synthesizer 16 can be realized on-premise or as a cloud service. The breaking news voice synthesis signal generated here is sent to the voice multiplexer 112, where it is multiplexed onto the program broadcast signal together with a separately prepared chime audio file.

In the broadcasting system configured as above, the process of the transmission server when breaking news occurs will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.
First, it is determined whether there is breaking news (step S11), and if there is breaking news, a voice synthesis signal created by instructing voice synthesis is taken in (step S12), and a voice decoding process is performed (step S13), and the signal is multiplexed together with the chime voice file onto the base voice of the program broadcast signal (step S14), and the series of processes is terminated. For example, in the 1/2ch subchannel, the base voice and the chime are multiplexed, and in the 3/4ch subchannel, the chime and the breaking news voice are multiplexed onto the commentary voice.

With the above configuration, the breaking news text is automatically multiplexed onto the video in the form of a breaking news superimposition, and is also synthesized and output as a voice that is multiplexed onto the audio, making it possible to provide breaking news content by audio with relatively simple processing.

Second Embodiment
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transmission side of a broadcasting system according to the second embodiment. In Fig. 3, the same parts as in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted here.

In FIG. 3, the transmission server 21 comprises a video branding unit 211, an audio MIX unit 212, a storage unit 213, an audio creation unit 214, and an audio decoding unit 215, and operates on software based on the IP (Internet Protocol) system. The video branding unit 211 takes in program-based video (material data) transmitted via IP by an IPSW (IP switch, a so-called LAN) 22, and creates branding video by writing text data from the storage unit 213 into a specified area of the image. The video created here is output to the encoder 13 via the audio MIX unit 212 as a program broadcast signal.

The storage unit 213 imports and stores the breaking news text created by the breaking news text creation device 23. It also sends the breaking news text to an external voice synthesis device (on-premise or cloud service) 16 via the voice creation unit 214, and imports and stores the voice synthesis file of the breaking news text created by the voice synthesis device 16 via the voice creation unit 214. The stored breaking news text and its voice synthesis file can be checked at any time using the breaking news text preview device 24.

The breaking news text stored in the storage unit 213 is sent to the video branding unit 211, and the audio synthesis file is converted into an IP format audio file by the audio decoding unit 215, and then sent to the audio mix unit 212, where it is mixed with the chime audio file.

In the broadcasting system configured as above, the process of the transmission server when breaking news occurs will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.
First, input and storage processing of breaking news text is performed in cooperation with the breaking news text creation device 23 (steps S21, S22). It is determined whether breaking news text has been stored (step S23), and if it has been stored, an instruction is given to create a breaking news voice, and in cooperation with the voice synthesizer 16, a voice synthesis file of the breaking news text is created (steps S24, S25), which is stored in the storage unit 213. If necessary, the stored voice synthesis file is checked by the breaking news preview device 24 (steps S26, S27).

Here, an instruction to output the breaking news audio is awaited (step S28), and if there is no output instruction, the process returns to step S24. If there is an instruction to output the breaking news audio, the breaking news audio file is read from the storage unit 213 and decoded (step S29), and the chime audio and breaking news audio are multiplexed (mixed) onto the base audio and output (step S30), completing the series of processes. For example, this audio multiplexing process multiplexes the base audio + chime on the 1/2ch subchannel, and multiplexes the chime + breaking news audio onto the commentary audio on the 3/4ch subchannel.

The above configuration makes it possible to receive breaking news supers in text format, so the breaking news text is converted to audio and filed, and the content of the breaking news is mixed into the audio. This makes it possible to provide the breaking news in audio format following the chime sound, allowing people, including those who are blind, to understand what is happening even when they cannot see the display screen.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and in the implementation stage, the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the gist of the invention. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

11...transmission server, 111...video multiplexing device, 112...audio multiplexing device, 12...APC (automatic program control device), 13...encoder (coding), 14...MUX (multiplexing) device, 15...modulation device, 21...transmission server, 211...video planting section, 212...audio MIX section, 213...storage section, 214...audio creation section, 215...audio decoding section.

Claims (9)

A broadcasting system that transmits a program broadcast signal including a base video and a base audio, and transmits a sub-audio of the program broadcast signal on a sub-channel , comprising:
The flash data is imported in text format and superimposed on the base image;
A broadcasting system that imports a voice synthesis file obtained by synthesizing the text-format news data and mixes it into the sub-voice of the sub-channel . A broadcasting system that transmits a program broadcast signal including a base video and a base audio in an IP format and transmits a sub-audio of the program broadcast signal on a sub-channel ,
Import and store breaking news data in text format,
Importing and storing a voice synthesis file of the flash data;
When the flash data is transmitted , the text of the stored flash data is written in a predetermined area of the base image;
When the flash data is transmitted , the stored voice synthesis file is decoded and mixed into the sub-voice of the sub-channel . 3. The broadcasting system according to claim 1 , wherein the sub-audio is a commentary audio . A broadcast program transmission device that transmits a program broadcast signal including a base video and a base audio, and transmits a sub-audio of the program broadcast signal through a sub-channel , comprising:
a video processing unit that takes in flash data in text format and superimposes it on the base video;
a sound processing section for taking in a sound file obtained by voice synthesis of the text-format flash data and mixing it with the sub-sound of the sub-channel . A broadcast program transmission device that transmits a program broadcast signal including a base video and a base audio in an IP format and transmits a sub-audio of the program broadcast signal on a sub-channel ,
a storage unit that imports and stores breaking news data in text format and imports and stores voice synthesis files of the breaking news data;
a video processing unit that writes text of the flash data stored in the storage unit into a predetermined area of the base video when the flash data is transmitted;
a sound processing unit which decodes the sound synthesis file stored in said storage unit and mixes it into a sub-sound for said sub-channel when said flash data is sent out. 6. The broadcast program transmitting apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the sub-audio is a commentary audio . A broadcasting method for transmitting a program broadcast signal including a base video and a base audio, and transmitting a sub-audio of the program broadcast signal on a sub-channel , comprising:
The flash data is imported in text format and superimposed on the base image;
A broadcasting method in which a voice synthesis file obtained by synthesizing the breaking news data in text format is imported and mixed into the sub-voice of the sub-channel . A broadcasting method for transmitting a program broadcast signal including a base video and a base audio in an IP format and transmitting a sub-audio of the program broadcast signal on a sub-channel , comprising:
Import and store breaking news data in text format,
Importing and storing a voice synthesis file of the flash data;
When the flash data is transmitted , the text of the stored flash data is written in a predetermined area of the base image;
When the flash data is transmitted , the stored voice synthesis file is decoded and mixed into the sub-voice of the sub-channel . 9. The broadcasting method according to claim 7 , wherein the sub-audio is a commentary audio .

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