JP7746502B2 - Broadcast signal transmission method - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a broadcast signal transmission method.

Generally, each broadcasting station has a configuration in which one master system is deployed (i.e., one master system per station). The master system has a redundant configuration in which the equipment is duplicated or triplicated. With this configuration, each broadcasting station, especially within the same network, carries out almost the same operations, with the exception of commercial operations.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-84242

As services such as 4K and online streaming diversify and internet advertising becomes more prominent in the future, if we continue with the business model described above, the current advertising revenue model will no longer be able to keep up with the diversification of services and the resulting increase in equipment costs, and the business may no longer be viable.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a broadcast signal transmission method that allows operations to be carried out efficiently and at low cost.

An embodiment of the broadcast signal transmission method is a broadcast signal transmission method in a broadcasting system that includes common master equipment located at a center to which any broadcast service or backup of a broadcast service of each broadcast station connected via an IP technology infrastructure is assigned, and broadcast station master equipment located at each broadcast station that transmits a main video signal using the broadcast service or backup of the broadcast service assigned to the common master equipment at the center. The method multicasts and broadcasts a signal corresponding to the broadcast service or the backup of the broadcast service, and, if a request to change the broadcast service is made to the common master equipment or the broadcast station master equipment, changes the allocation of the broadcast service in response to the request and then broadcasts.

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 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the main internal configuration of a 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 embodiments with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment described below, for example, by utilizing standards such as SMPTE ST2110 (a standard that comprehensively integrates 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 operational independence of each broadcasting station.

For example, by sharing equipment among multiple stations and implementing new redundancy methods, equipment costs can be reduced. Also, by adopting a method that allows broadcast services to be dynamically assigned (dynamic assignment method), and building a system that can provide the necessary services when needed, equipment diversity can be achieved. Furthermore, by systematizing multiple stations and consolidating overlapping operations, business and operational efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, by building signal transmission routes in the event of a failure, it becomes possible to comply with BPC (Business Continuity Plan) requirements (for example, to restore operations at stations affected by earthquakes).

Figure 1 shows the general configuration of a broadcasting system according to an embodiment.

The broadcasting system shown in Figure 1 includes multiple broadcasting stations (edges) A, B, and C and one center 1. Center 1 is located in a separate location 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 located in Tokyo as well as local stations located in various locations.

Broadcasting stations A, B, and C each have a single system, rather than a duplicated master equipment (excluding the encoding and multiplexing equipment) that handles the main video line, unlike a typical master system with redundant configuration.

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). However, the master equipment is configured to have only master equipment (Master #1) 21 for system 1 (active system), and no equivalent to master equipment (Master #2) for system 2 (standby system). However, at least some of the functions equivalent to master equipment (Master #2) for system 2 (standby system) are located on the Center 1 side.

Center 1 is equipped with common master equipment 11. Common master equipment 11 provides at least some of the functionality equivalent to the master equipment (Master #2) for each broadcasting station's two systems.

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 features are implemented:

(1) Generally, the master equipment at each broadcasting station has a redundant configuration of two or three. However, 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 located at each broadcasting station, with a backup system located on the center 1 side.

(2) Rather than simply providing a redundant configuration of master equipment 21 for three stations, Center 1 will provide a system that allows any service, including the main services of each broadcasting station, to be freely assigned as a backup service using IP technology, taking into account the simultaneous nature of broadcasting. This will achieve efficient redundancy by providing a configuration that allows for dynamic assignment of services, etc., as needed, when needed.

(3) Within the master equipment 21 on each broadcasting station's side, a system will be prepared that allows any service, including major services, or backup services to be freely assigned using IP technology, and by configuring it so that services can be dynamically assigned as needed, when needed, it will be possible to set up redundant services 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 Figure 2, each of broadcasting stations A, B, and C is equipped with the aforementioned master facility 21 and duplicated encoding and multiplexing facilities 31 and 32, as well as an APC (automatic program transmission control facility) 51, an RTP (real-time processor) 52, a duplicated IPSW (IP switcher) 53, an alarm facility 54, etc.

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

The APC 51 is a facility for automatically broadcasting by controlling various broadcasting-related facilities (master facility 21, ISPW 53, encoding/multiplexing facilities 31, 32, etc.) based on broadcast progress data, etc., supplied from a function equivalent to a host system provided on the cloud corresponding to the broadcast station. Note that the function equivalent to the 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 (for example, a signal corresponding to service "SV1") via video server 21a. In the configuration example shown in Figure 2, video server 21a has a storage unit that stores commercial and program data provided from the broadcasting station's cloud, etc., and four ports that transmit signals for four services via 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'" for 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, these examples are not limiting.

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

The encoding and multiplexing equipment 31, 32 encodes and multiplexes signals sent from the master equipment 21 of the broadcasting station and transmitted through the IPSW 53, or signals sent from the common master equipment 11 of the center 1 to the broadcasting station and transmitted through the IPSW 53. The encoding and multiplexing equipment 31, 32 distributes the signals transmitted through the IPSW 53 to service "SV1" signals, service "SV2" signals, and service "1Seg" (corresponding to one-seg broadcasting) using the IPGW (IP gateway), encodes each signal using the corresponding encoding device ENC (SV1), ENC (SV2), and ENC (1Seg), multiplexes them using the multiplexing device MUX, and transmits 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 within the broadcasting station is connected, and in the event of a failure, issues an alarm notification to specified devices or the corresponding cloud, prompting path switching processing by the IPSW 53 or encoding/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 and 32 are IP-compliant.

On the other hand, center 1 is equipped 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.

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

APC 41 is a facility that controls various facilities (common master facility 11, ISPW 53, etc.) and automatically broadcasts based on broadcast progress data for broadcast stations A, B, and C, supplied from a function equivalent to a higher-level system on cloud 10. Note that a function equivalent to APC 41 may also be provided on cloud 10.

The common master facility 11 uses the video server 11a to send at least the same signals as the main video signals of each broadcast station (signals corresponding to service "SV1") as backups ("SV1_A", "SV1_B", "SV1_C") to broadcast stations A, B, and C. In the configuration example shown in Figure 2, the video server 11a has a storage unit that stores data such as commercials and program data for each broadcast station provided from the cloud 10, 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" for 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 also be equipped with a video server 11b. The video server 11b has a storage unit for storing arbitrary data and four ports for sending signals for four services by multicast. These four ports consist of four auxiliary ports AUX that can be used as free ports to which arbitrary services can be assigned. However, this is just an example and is not limiting. The number of ports is also not limited to four.

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

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

When IPGW 44 receives a signal from IPSW 43 intended for one of relay vans A2, B2, or C2, it passes that signal to SAT communication device 45. SAT communication device 45 then transmits the signal passed from IPGW 44 via satellite to SAT communication device 55 in the destination relay van. 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 encodes and multiplexes the signal passed from SAT communication device 55 in the same manner as encoding and multiplexing equipment 31 and 32, and then transmits 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 their personnel at Center 1, and have the stations operate jointly, with most of the staff performing tasks such as status monitoring at Center 1. This not only reduces equipment, but also contributes to reducing personnel costs and improving work style reforms.

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

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

Note that the configuration in Figure 3 may be configured in some ways differently from the configuration shown in Figure 2, as appropriate.

For example, the master facility 21 may be equipped with, in addition to the aforementioned video server 21a, a material sending device 21b that sends out materials such as sub-videos, or may be configured to be able 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 consist of a 1-system IPSW #1 and a 2-system IPSW #2, and may include a video server 53a that transmits video signals corresponding to service "SV1" or "1Seg," a video server 53b that transmits video signals corresponding to service "SV2," and a video server 53c that transmits video signals corresponding to service "H1."

The duplicated encoding/multiplexing equipment 31, 32 may also include encoding devices HD_ENC, 1Seg_ENC, and SD_ENC that encode HD signals, 1Seg signals, and SD signals, respectively; 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, material output device 21b, network/studio, etc. to the downstream IPGW shall conform to, for example, TS (Transport Stream). Furthermore, signal transmission from the IPGW to the downstream ISPW 53 (IPSW#1, IPSW#2), 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 downstream IPSW shall conform to, for example, MoIP (Mobile communication over Internet Protocol). Furthermore, signal transmission from the IPGW to downstream stages 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 installed at each broadcasting station, and a common master facility 11 that aggregates each of the backup systems (backup systems) is installed at center 1. Signals corresponding to each type of service (including backups) are multicast and broadcast (step S1).

Here, if there is no request for a service change (a request for adding or changing a service, or a backup) to any of the broadcasting stations' master equipment 21 or 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 service assignment will be changed in response to the request via the IPSW 53, etc., and the broadcast will continue (step S3).

Next, we will explain an example of operation in an emergency, referring to the flowchart in Figure 5.

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

Similar to the example of operation described above, first, one master facility 21 is installed at each broadcasting station, and a common master facility 11 that aggregates each of the backup systems (backup systems) is installed 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 assumed to be sending out all of the same services that were multicast by the failed master facility 21 from one of the ports of video server 11a or 11b.

If such a failure occurs, the IPSW 53 instantly switches the data transmission path, and broadcasting from the station in question continues using the backup signal supplied 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 continue using a backup signal supplied by the common master equipment 11 on the center 1 side, bypassing the failed broadcasting station, and utilizing cloud services, satellites, relay vehicles, etc., for example, via the IPSW 43, 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).

Furthermore, if a failure other than that described above (NO in step S14) occurs in center 1 (YES in step S16), each broadcasting station must ensure redundancy within itself without relying on backup from center 1. Therefore, in broadcasting stations 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).

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

According to this embodiment, equipment can be shared among multiple stations and redundancy methods can be improved, thereby reducing equipment costs. Furthermore, by adopting a method that allows broadcast services to be dynamically assigned (dynamic assignment method) and building a system that can provide the necessary services when needed, equipment diversity can be achieved. Furthermore, by systematizing multiple stations and consolidating overlapping operations, business and operational efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, by building a signal transmission path in the event of a failure, BPC support (for example, to recover operations at a station affected by an earthquake) can be implemented.

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

While 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 may be embodied in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims.

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

Claims (1)

A common master facility is located at the center and can assign any broadcasting service or backup of a broadcasting service of each broadcasting station connected via an IP technology platform.
a broadcasting station master facility provided in each broadcasting station for transmitting a main video signal using a broadcasting service or a backup broadcasting service assigned to the common master facility of the center;
A broadcast signal transmission method in a broadcasting system comprising:
multicasting and broadcasting a signal corresponding to the broadcast service or a backup of the broadcast service;
and if a request to change the broadcasting service is made to the common master facility or the broadcasting station master facility, changing the allocation of the broadcasting service in response to the request and then broadcasting.