Automatic transmission systems for television and radio broadcasting.

This invention relates to automatic transmission systems for television and radio broadcasting.

With the advent of television networking, and in particular broadcasting of a common core programme from a network studio to several regions or regional transmitters, a need has arisen for the transmission from a single studio of different sequences of play items simultaneously. This need arises in the following way. The network transmits a core programme of entertainment to transmitters servicing each region of the network simultaneously. However, each region of the network is based around a major population centre and its hinterland. As a result, the viewers of each region constitute separate markets for some types of advertisements. Thus during commercial breaks, local advertisers wish to have their advertisement displayed within their own region, but not also displayed within any of the other regions in the network.

As a consequence, it is necessary for different advertisements to be displayed in each of the different regions in the network. Since the advertisements are not of identical durations, it is necessary for the advertisements to be carefully scheduled in order that the commercial break at each station be of identical duration, so that all commercial breaks can commence and finish simultaneously.

Hitherto, this requirement of simultaneous, but different, commercial breaks has been met by the network studio having a single channel automatic transmission system (ATS) for each region which arranges for the sequential transmission of each of the advertisements which is to be displayed during the commercial break.

However, such ATSs are relatively expensive pieces of equipment (A$ 250,000 to A$ 1,000,000), including as they do an elaborate cartridge storage and retrieval system, and at least two and typically four video tape recorders (VTRs) which play respective cassettes in the sequence of advertisements.

To reduce overall costs in the network, it would be desirable to have a multi-channel ATS which could simultaneously broadcast different sequences of advertisements for each of the regions in the network during a network-wide commercial break. Thus the central network studio need posses fewer ATSs to service the region.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of triggering an automatic transmission system [ATS] to operate in accordance with a previously stored first selection, or a manually determined second selection; said method comprising the steps of: storing said first selection in a control computer; providing a manual input device through which said second selection can be entered; connecting an output of said control computer and said input device to a switch means having an output connected to the controller of said ATS; and operating said switch means to allow said first selection to proceed whilst suspending the operation of said manual input device, or to allow said second selection to proceed whilst suspending the operation of said previously stored first selection, or to allow said manual input device to modify said stored first selection en route to said ATS controller.

According to the present invention there is also provided an apparatus for triggering an automatic transmission system [ATS] to operate in accordance with a previously stored first selection or a manually determined second selection, said apparatus comprising: a control computer having storage means in which said first selection is stored, an output of said computer and a manual input device being connected as inputs to a switch means, and the output of said switch means being connected to a controller of said ATS; wherein said switch means is operable to allow said first selection to proceed whilst suspending the operation of said manual input device, or to allow said second selection to proceed whilst suspending the operation of said previously stored first selection, or to allow said manual input device to modify said stored first selection en route to said ATS controller.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are referred to by like references, and in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a prior art arrangement where a single network studio services a number of regions;</li><li>Figure 2 is a representation similar to Figure 1 but for the arrangement of the preferred embodiment;</li><li>Figure 3 is a block diagram of the apparatus which enables multi-channel operation by an ATS; and</li><li>Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the sequence of operations for the necessary scheduling.</li></ul>

In the prior art arrangement of Figure 1, a single network studio 100 services a number of regions each of which has its own local regional transmitter 101, 102, 103 and so on. The programme for each of the regional transmitters 101 to 103 is determined by a corresponding single channel ATS 111, 112, 113 and so on. As each ATS costs A$ 250,000 to A$ 1,000,000 the capital costs associated with the central network studio 100 have hitherto been very high.

The corresponding arrangement in accordance with the preferred embodiment is illustrated in Figure 2. Here it will be seen that the central network studio 100 utilizes only a single multi-channel ATS 1 which is able to determine the programme for each of the regional transmitters 101 to 103 simultaneously.

Referring now to Figure 3, the ATS 1 of the preferred embodiment is illustrated schematically. Included within the ATS 1 is a cartridge access and retrieval (CAR) device 2 which is generally of known form and comprises an array of n rows and m columns of cartridge storage locations, and a transport mechanism (not illustrated). The transport mechanism is able to retrieve a cartridge from a nominated storage position and enter it on to one of a number of VTRs, VTRa-VTRj in order to enable the VTR to play the contents of the cartridge. At the end of the cartridge playing time, the cartridge is removed from the VTR and returned to its storage location by the transport mechanism.

A known ATS has only a small number of VTRs (typically at least two such as VTRa and VTRb). Normally four VTRs would be used but the minimum number of VTRs which must be present is that which will guarantee uninterrupted transmission of advertisements of a fixed minimum duration. These VTRs play consecutive cartridges in a sequence of advertisements.

Since the ATS 1 is intended for multi-channel operation there are further VTRs required to provide uninterrupted transmission assuming the same minimum advertisement duration. These VTRs are indicated as VTRa to VTRi. The CAR device 2 and VTRs are under the control of an ATS controller 3.

To arrange for the necessary control and sequencing of the ATS 1, a control computer 6 (which preferably takes the form of a small personal computer), and a time and control code generator (TCG) 7 are provided. The TCG 7 is accurate to at least the time of one frame of a television signal and provides a synchronizing signal to both the control computer 6 and the ATS controller 3. In addition, the control computer 6 is able to receive inputs from any one or more of a host computer 8, a floppy disc 9 and a keyboard 10.

A push button panel 13 is also provided for manually entered data regarding the desired operation of the ATS 1 to be conveyed to the ATS 1. For example during live outside sporting broadcasts the commencement of a commercial break can be manually determined depending on the action at the sports arena. This is achieved by the connection of both the push button panel 13 and the computer 6 to respective inputs of a switch 14. The output of the switch 4 is connected to the ATS controller 3 via an interface 15 which converts the parallel output of the switch 14 in to a serial input for the ATS controller 3. Should the ATS controller 3 include a parallel input/output port, the interface 15 would not be required.

In addition, the interface 15 receives data from the ATS controller 3 and sends them to the control computer 6 for the purpose of logging and data re-freshing of the current state of the ATS 1, and to the panel 13 for display of the current state of the ATS 1 on the panel 13, for example by means of tally signals.

Turning now to Figure 4, a flowchart of the scheduling arrangements is illustrated. The flowchart is of generally Y-shaped configuration.

The top righthand arm of the Y deals with the keyboard entry of data, and the upper lefthand arm of the Y of the flowchart deals with the host computer or floppy disc transfer of data. These data in both instances relate to the playlist for each commercial break for each of the channels or stations of the network. The entry via the keyboard 10 allows the incremental checking on an event by event basis as the playlist data are entered. It is necessary to determine that the sum of the play durations of each play item of the sequence of each channel, is identical to the total duration of the playlist. That is to say it is not possible for channel A to play two commercials each of 90 seconds duration whilst channel B, for example, plays two 60 second commercials and one 90 second commercial since the commercial break on channel B would then be of a different duration from the commercial break on channel A.

Most importantly, since the CAR device 2 of Figure 3 has a finite access time for the removal and retrieval of cartridges, it is also necessary to ensure that the access time of each play item and the total duration of all preceding play items in the sequence do not prevent uninterrupted transmission of the sequence of advertisements for each channel.

When the two above-mentioned procedures have been carried out, a complete schedule of the intended programme is then available and is stored in the control computer 6. The TCG 7 provides the timing information necessary to enable the control computer 6 to determine that the programme start time has occurred. When this happens, the control computer 6 via the switch 14 and interface 15 enables the ATS controller 3 thereby commencing the programme. The sequence of events stored in the control computer 6 then takes place with synchronization being provided by the TCG 7. As a consequence, the core programme is transmitted to all the channels or stations in the network and at each commercial break, which is simultaneously broadcast on all channels, a different sequence of advertisements is broadcast for each channel.

To cater for various day-to-day operational situations which arise in broadcasting, it is desirable to enable manual instructions to be inserted via the push button panel 13 which can commence a programme, result in execution of the next event, freeze an event or re-cue an event. This may be necessary because of a defect in a cartridge which only becomes apparent when the cartridge actually malfunctions or because of last minute withdrawal of a previously schedule advertisement.

The switch 14 has three modes of operation. The first mode is a dominant or override mode. Here the push button panel 13 has a higher priority than the control computer 6. This enables a schedule to be put together or modified if for some reason, the control computer 6 is not available or is not functioning. In addition, in this mode the programme sequence can be changed by skipping or jumping over events by selection of the appropriate push buttons.

The second mode for the switch 14 is the "automatic" mode in which scheduling is under the control of the control computer 6 and there is no manual input.

The third mode is an inclusive-OR mode in which operator care is required to be exercised to avoid conflicting instructions. For example, a schedule for channel A can be under automatic control from the control computer 6 but a schedule for channel B can be manually amended via the push button panel 13 without there being any conflict with the operation of channel A. Typically the push button panel 13 also includes freeze, re-cue and play buttons.

Modifications can of course be made. For example, the push button panel 13 and the computer 6 can communicate with each other to allow a wider range of manual modifications or editing to be permitted. This allows for manually controlled insertion and deletion of events to be achieved. Again, operator care is required.

Also the TCG 7 can be omitted if a video reference signal is used instead. Alternatively, accurate internal clocks can be used so long as the ATS clock is in sync with the control computer's clock.

The invention is also applicable to radio broadcasting.