Device for multiplexing video signals
Abstract
Device (1) for the preparation of a video signal with a quality that corresponds to a rate x of loading bits, with - a reception stage (4) having a multitude of n inputs (2) for reception for reception simultaneous of different image signals Y i, each taken with a bit rate that corresponds at least to the rate (x) of loading bits, in different geographical locations far removed from each other, and transmitted from them by a respective transmission segment, of which at least one signal has a lower reception bit rate yi in comparison to the load bit rate x, - a step (5) of memory for intermediate storage of the image signals Y i received, and - a step (8) of requesting data for the selection of the intermediate stored image Yi signals, which is carried out with the rate x of loading bits, and for the preparation of the video signal (X) for its transmission as a continuous video signal with live character and, therefore, for a cyclic and regular emission of the image signals (Y i) from different sources (17 ) of image signals in the different geographical locations very far from each other, in the form of a respective period of time of the continuous video signal, which is composed of periods of time that follow one another directly, of the different image Yi signals.

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Projected expiry passed 26 March 2018, 8.5 years ago.
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17 claims: 9 independent, 8 dependent
- 1ES 2 290 987 T3 REIVINDICACIONES 1. Dispositivo (1) para la preparación de una señal de vídeo con una calidad que corresponde a una tasa x de bits de carga, con - una etapa (4) de recepción que presenta una multitud n de entradas (2) de recepción para la recepción simultánea de diferentes señales Y¡ de imagen, tomadas cada una con una tasa de bits que se corresponde al menos con la tasa (x) de bits de carga, en lugares geográficos diferentes muy alejados unos de otros, y transmitidas desde estos por un tramo respectivo de transmisión, de cuyas señales al menos una presenta una tasa y, de bits de recepción menor en comparación respecto a la tasa x de bits de carga, - una etapa (5) de memoria para el almacenamiento intermedio de las señales Y¡ de imagen recibidas, y - una etapa (8) de petición de datos para la selección de las señales Y¡ de imagen almacenadas intermedias, que se lleva a cabo con la tasa x de bits de carga, y para la preparación de la señal (X) de vídeo para su emisión como señal de vídeo continua con carácter en vivo y, por tanto, para una emisión cíclica y regular de las señales (Y¡) de imagen procedentes de diferentes fuentes (17) de señales de imagen en los diferentes lugares geográficos muy alejados unos de otros, en forma de un respectivo periodo de tiempo de la señal de vídeo continua, la cual está compuesta de periodos de tiempo que se siguen directamente unos a otros, de las diferentes señales Y¡ de imagen.
- 2Dispositivo según la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque al menos en la media temporal, es válido que la suma de las tasas y, de bits de recepción de las señales Y, de imagen recibidas simultáneamente, es mayor o igual que la tasa x de bits de carga, estando coordinadas, en especial, diferentes entradas (2) de recepción, tasas y, de bits de recepción, distintas unas de otras.
- 3Dispositivo según alguna de las reivindicaciones precedentes, caracterizado porque en la etapa de recepción pueden componerse un número m, de entradas (2) de recepción para la recepción de una señal Y¡ individual de imagen, para formar un compound, siendo válido:1 m, n, pudiendo recibirse en paralelo, en especial, los datos de al menos una señal Y¡ de imagen por un compound de al menos dos entradas (2) de recepción interconectadas.
- 4Dispositivo según la reivindicación 3, caracterizado porque los números m, de las entradas (2) de recepción interconectadas en un compound para la transmisión de cada una de las señales Y, individuales de imagen, se diferencian unos de otros, y pueden adaptarse a las respectivas capacidades dadas de transmisión, y/o porque el número m, de las entradas (2) de recepción interconectadas en un compound para la transmisión de una señal Y, individual de imagen, puede adaptarse en forma variable y a las exigencias y/o capacidades de transmisión dadas para cada instante, y/o porque está prevista una etapa (9) de emisión para la emisión con hilos o sin hilos, de una señal digital de vídeo o de una señal analógica de vídeo obtenida a partir de una señal digital de vídeo.
- 5Dispositivo según alguna de las reivindicaciones precedentes, caracterizado porque las n entradas (2) de recepción se pueden conectar a líneas conmutadas y/o fijas, en especial a líneas (15) accionadas ISDN o accionadas según otro protocolo normal, estando previstas en especial, aproximadamente n = 60 entradas (2) de recepción, cada una de las cuales puede conectarse a una línea (15) ISDN de datos (canal B).
- 6Dispositivo según alguna de las reivindicaciones precedentes, caracterizado porque las señales Y, de imagen se reciben en forma comprimida, y pueden depositarse en la etapa (5) de memoria, estando prevista en especial una etapa (11) de descompresión para la señal de vídeo a facilitar.
- 7Dispositivo según alguna de las reivindicaciones precedentes, caracterizado porque está prevista una etapa (12) de conmutación configurada en especial como etapa de selección para la unión cambiante de las entradas (2) de recepción con distintas fuentes (17) de señales de imagen, pudiendo almacenarse en la etapa (12) de conmutación, en especial, las direcciones de k fuentes (17) distintas de señales de imagen, que se encuentran en lugares geográficos diferentes, y siendo k de preferencia mayor que el número de las señales Y, de imagen que pueden recibirse al mismo tiempo.
- 8Dispositivo según la reivindicación 7, caracterizado porque las k diferentes fuentes (17) de señales de imagen pueden ser seleccionadas por la etapa (12) de conmutación, en un orden variable y adaptable a las capacidades de transmisión que están a disposición y/o a las exigencias, y/o porque las k diferentes fuentes (17) de señales de imagen pueden ser seleccionadas por la etapa (12) de conmutación, en un orden repetitivo.
- 9Dispositivo según alguna de las reivindicaciones precedentes, caracterizado porque cada uno de los periodos de tiempo sucesivos de las diferentes señales Y, de imagen, que forman la señal de vídeo, puede presentar distintas duraciones unas de otras, o iguales duraciones entre sí, ascendiendo la duración t¡ en especial, a entre 15 s y 5 min, en especial, aproximadamente a 1 min.
- 10Dispositivo según la reivindicación 9, caracterizado porque en la etapa (5) de memoria está prevista una zona (7) de memoria tampón cuyo tamaño es al menos tan grande como la duración t, más corta, pudiendo ajustarse ES 2 290 987 T3 en especial en forma variable, el tamaño de la zona (7) de memoria tampón, en función de datos funcionales del dispositivo (1).
- 11Dispositivo según alguna de las reivindicaciones precedentes, caracterizado porque la etapa (5, 6, 7) de memoria se puede accionar según el principio FIFO, y/o porque está prevista al menos una entrada (3) de recepción adicional que, en accionamiento normal y/o en casos excepcionales, puede acoplarse con una fuente (19) de señales de imagen mediante una línea (18) fija, correspondiendo en especial la capacidad de transmisión de la línea (18) fija, a la tasa x de bits de carga.
- 12Dispositivo según alguna de las reivindicaciones precedentes, caracterizado porque está prevista una etapa (12) de disparo para la emisión de una señal de arranque a las fuentes (17) de señales de imagen, y para ordenar la toma de una señal Y¡ de imagen, y/o para ordenar la transmisión de una señal Y¡ de imagen tomada a una entrada (2) de recepción, pudiendo dispararse en especial el comienzo de la transmisión de la señal Y¡ de imagen de una fuente (17) de señales de imagen a la correspondiente entrada (2) de recepción, durante la toma de la señal Y¡ de imagen que se lleva a cabo por la fuente (17) de señales de imagen, o después de ella.
- 13Dispositivo según alguna de las reivindicaciones precedentes, caracterizado porque está prevista una etapa (14) de mando para la emisión de señales de mando a las fuentes (17) de señales de imagen, comprendiendo las señales de mando, en especial, valores de ajuste para el movimiento, el encuadre de la imagen, el diafragma y/o el foco de una cámara (20) prevista en la fuente (17) de señales de imagen.
- 14Sistema con un dispositivo (1) según alguna de las reivindicaciones 1 a 13, y con una fuente (17) de señales de imagen, para el acoplamiento con el dispositivo (1), con - una cámara (20) que suministra una señal Y¡ de imagen, con una calidad correspondiente al menos a la tasa x de bits, - una memoria (22) para el almacenamiento de una señal Y¡ de imagen de la duración t¡, - un enlace (24) de recepción para la recepción de señales de mando, y - un enlace 23 de emisión para la selección y transmisión de una señal Y¡ de imagen almacenada, con una tasa y¡ de bits menor comparativamente que la tasa x de bits.
- 15Sistema según la reivindicación 14, caracterizado porque está prevista una zona (21) de memoria para parámetros funcionales de la cámara recibidos por el enlace (24) de recepción, como por ejemplo, movimiento de la cámara, encuadre de la imagen, diafragma y/o foco, y/o porque la toma de una señal Y¡ de imagen puede dispararse por la recepción de una señal de mando y/o en un lapso de tiempo predeterminado, y/o porque la toma de una señal Y¡ de imagen se dispara mediante un sensor acoplado con la cámara, en especial un sensor de luz, un avisador de movimiento, una barrera luminosa, un sensor de temperatura, un anemómetro, o similar.
- 16Sistema según alguna de las reivindicaciones 14 ó 15, caracterizado porque está prevista una etapa (25) de selección para la preparación de una unión con el dispositivo (1), pudiendo prepararse en especial la unión, ya antes del almacenamiento completo en memoria de una señal Y¡ de imagen de la duración t¡.
- 17Sistema según alguna de las reivindicaciones 14 a 16, caracterizado porque la fuente de señales de imagen se puede accionar en un régimen de ajuste en el que se la puede controlar, mediante señales de mando, por el dispositivo (1), y al mismo tiempo se puede producir una transmisión al dispositivo (1), de las señales Y¡ de imagen suministradas por la cámara (20), llevándose a cabo en especial la transmisión con una calidad de imagen, que está situada por debajo de la calidad de las señales normales de televisión, en especial con una tasa de bits que es menor que la tasa x de bits de carga.
Independent claims17
99 paragraphs in 9 sections, as filed
ES 2 290 987 T3
DESCRIPTION
Device for multiplexing video signals.
The invention relates to a device for the preparation of a video signal whose quality corresponds to a load bit rate x.
With such devices, for example, composite video signals are produced from several image signals, directly successive in time, the individual image signals having been taken at different geographical locations, and then sent with the least possible time delay. This principle is used, for example, to compose live weather information from different geographical locations, the corresponding video signal being composed of image signals that alternate cyclically, and each of which has been taken by a camera in the different geometric locations. These image signals are then assembled in a broadcasting station to, in this way, obtain the video signal to be provided. According to the known principle, the transmission of the image sequences to the broadcasting station is carried out, at least in some parts, by directed radio link, cable or satellite. The image signals received by the broadcasting station are broadcast immediately, ie live, as individual parts of the produced video signal.
The disadvantage of the above-mentioned principle is that when using a directed radio link transmission section, with justifiable costs, only relatively short distances between the cameras and the transmitting station can be bridged in each case. This drawback can certainly be overcome by using a cable or satellite transmission, however the costs associated with this are very high, so that, for example, it is not possible to transmit image signals from the most different places in the world. the Earth to a single central station, with an economically practical expense.
A system known from document WO 96/20568 A comprises a data recovery step for the recovery of an already complete video signal, which including all the component parts, already existed in a corresponding source of programs. By means of a multiplexer of a coding device, a composite signal is produced from a multitude of already completed video signals, before it is sent to a demultiplexer over a transmission section. Each of the video signals is recovered after the affected video signal has been selected from the multitude of different already complete video signals or channels, that is, from the demultiplexed composite signal. Furthermore, the coding device comprising the multiplexer, of this known system, is provided on the emitting side of the transmission section. On this emitter side each of the complete existing video signals in the respective program sources is not yet recovered, but is composed to form a composite signal. On the receiving side, the composite signal is then subdivided again, by a demultiplexer, to recover the respective individual video signals that already existed in full initially.
A comparable system is described in document US-A-5 509 013. Also here, by means of a multiplexer a composite signal is produced from a multitude of already existing signals or complete channels, which happens again by means of a so-called " multiplexer channel device ”.
One mission of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned at the beginning, which, with economically justifiable expenses, allows to receive image signals taken in different places very far from each other, and to emit them as soon as possible, that is, with the least possible delay , as integral parts of a video signal.
According to the invention, this mission is solved by means of a device and a system according to the claims.
Consequently, according to the invention, the transmission speed with which at least one, preferably several or all of the image signals are received, is lower than the transmission speed with which the video signal composed of the video signals is transmitted. picture. In order to make it possible, despite this speed difference, the continuous emission of the video signal with high quality or with high transmission speed, each of the several different image signals is received at the same time by the device according to the invention. , the transmission speed of at least one of these received image signals being lower -as has already been said- than the transmission speed of the video signal composed of the image signals. The reception of the image signals is preferably carried out here, shifted and overlapping in time, which will still be explained within the framework of the description of the figures.
An advantage of the device according to the invention must be seen accordingly, in that the transmission of the different image signals from sources of image signals that are in different geographical locations, to a device according to the invention used as a central transmitter, can be carried out out with lower data rate. Due to the reduced transmission speed, existing transmission paths, normally not suitable for the transmission of video signals, or data lines with comparatively lower capacity can come into operation, which allows transmission of image signals in very long sections. extensive at comparatively low costs. Therefore, the establishment of new networks and transmission routes is not necessarily necessary. In particular, according to the invention, use can be made of existing switched line networks, such as telephone networks or the Internet, in which precise entry and selection can be carried out, which in turn has the consequence that a line only has to be claimed and to be paid during those time intervals, during which it is really needed.
ES 2 290 987 T3
Despite the slow transmission, according to the invention, a live character can be given to the video signal produced, in which it is ensured that an image signal received by the central, totally at low speed, is emitted immediately afterwards, or only with a small time delay after full reception, as an integral part of the video signal. In the event that the video signal consists exclusively of periods of time that only have a duration of a few minutes or less, with a device according to the invention it can be ensured that the image signals received by the control unit are emitted only a few minutes. after being recorded by the image signal sources, as an integral part of the video signal. In the production of a video signal that is to communicate, for example, information about the weather from different places, a similar delay of a few minutes is simply acceptable, since this delay does not adversely affect the live character of the video in any way. the video signal.
Note at this point that the concepts of video signal and image signal, used in the explanation of the invention, basically also include those signals that contain, in addition to the image or video information, sound and / or text information. .
It is preferred when so many reception inputs are provided that at least in the time average, it is valid that the sum of the reception bit rates of the image signals received simultaneously is greater than or equal to the load bit rate x. This ensures that sufficient image signals are always available for the production of a high quality continuous video signal.
Different reception bit rates can be assigned to different reception inputs, in the case, for example, that for certain sources of video signals or geographical locations, there are higher power lines than for other sources of image signals.
It is also possible to provide at least one additional reception input, which can come into play, for example, when disturbances occur in the system, that is, in the image signal sources, in the transmission paths and / or in the central. In the event of such disturbances, an additional receive input can be actuated, for example with high receive bit rate, in particular with load bit rate x, in order to thus receive a signal that can be sent directly - no buffering and no time delay - as a video signal, as long as the disturbance in the system has not yet been remedied. It is especially preferred when the additional reception input is coupled via a fixed service line to a source of image signals, so that if necessary, it can be switched at any time, for a short time, to the image signal received by the additional reception entrance.
In the reception stage, for the reception of an individual image signal, several reception inputs can be interconnected in a compound. Such a compound can comprise two or more, in the extreme case, all the reception inputs that are available. By means of such a compound, the data of a single image signal can then be transmitted in parallel, which leads to a faster transmission of the image signal, compared to the use of a single receive input for an image signal.
It is particularly preferred when the numbers of the interconnected reception inputs in a compound for the transmission of individual image signals differ from each other and can be adapted to the respective given transmission capacities and / or requirements. In this way, together with the different requirements established by the corresponding user, it is also possible to consider the circumstance that for the transmission of signals between the sources of image signals that are in different places, and the central, they are usually different transmission capacities available. Then you can always provide exact many reception inputs for the reception of a single picture signal, so that the available transmission capacity is fully utilized each time. For the transmission of image signals in sections with high transmission capacity, therefore, several reception inputs can be used at the same time, on the contrary, for the transmission of an image signal in a section with very low transmission capacity, you have to For example, just an individual reception ticket can also be provided. Here it must be taken into account that the different reception inputs can also be operated with transmission capacities or bit rates, different from each other.
If several image signals are stored in a source of image signals in certain applications, these can be transmitted for the corresponding transmission capacity, also in parallel, that is to say at the same time, at the same time. the central.
It is especially advantageous when the number of interconnected reception inputs in a compound for the transmission of an individual image signal is variable in time, and can be adapted to the transmission capacities given at each moment. This can be taken into account when, for example, as a result of disturbed transmission lines, at certain times less transmission capacity is available than with transmission lines at full capacity. The reception inputs not used for the transmission of the respective image signal, in case of reduced transmission capacity, can then advantageously be used during the lack of the corresponding transmission line, for the transmission of other image signals. In this way, optimal use of all the reception entrances that are available is always guaranteed.
ES 2 290 987 T3
The principle explained above for the use of each compound of reception inputs, for the reception of the individual image signals, is clarified in detail within the framework of the description of the figures, with reference to FIG. 3.
The transmission stage provided according to the invention can be configured for the transmission with wires or without wires, of a digital video signal or of an analog video signal obtained from a digital video signal.
It is advantageous when the n reception inputs can be connected to switched and / or fixed lines, since in this way an existing transmission network can be used which, moreover, can be used at relatively low costs. One or more of the reception inputs can be connected to fixed lines, thereby ensuring that at least certain image signals can also be received when switched lines are temporarily unavailable due to overload. Here the transmission capacity of the fixed lines can be equal to or greater than the transmission capacity of the switched lines.
Basically, lines that are operated according to a common protocol can come into action, such as according to an ISDN, VN3, DSS1, 1TR6, TPH, DSASS2,4ESS, 5ESS, DMS / 250, DMS / 100 and / or NTT protocol (INS1500 ).
In a practical case of application of the device according to the invention, for example 60 reception inputs are provided, each of which can be connected to an ISDN data line (B-channel).
Preferably, the image signals are received in compressed form, and deposited in the memory stage. Thanks to the application of a corresponding compression method, it is thus possible, on the one hand, to further reduce the necessary transmission capacity between the image signal source and the central and, furthermore, to minimize the memory space to be made available by the memory.
A video signal obtained from compressed image signals can therefore also be emitted compressed. However, in the same way it is also possible to provide already in the device according to the invention, a decompression stage for the produced video signal, the decompressed video signal then being sent.
It is particularly preferred when, in the device according to the invention, a switching stage is additionally provided for alternately linking the reception inputs with different image signal sources. In this way, it is achieved that the number of image signal sources that are globally put into action is not limited to the number of reception inputs provided in the device, since by means of the switching step, the intended reception inputs can be alternately match with different image signal sources. With this, it is possible without more, for example, with 30 reception inputs, which in each case as required, can be combined in the mentioned compounds, regularly querying a number of, for example, globally 60 or more image signal sources, and in this way producing a video signal that is composed of successive time periods originating from 60 or correspondingly more different sources of image signals.
It is preferred when said switching stage is configured as a selection stage, and in particular the addresses or telephone numbers of different sources of image signals, which are in different geographical locations, can be stored in the switching stage.
To achieve a regular and cyclic radiation of each of the image signals from different image signal sources, in the form of a time period of the video signal, the different image signal sources can be selected by the step switching, in a repeating order. However, in the same way a selection in a permanently varying order is also possible, in this case it is possible to take into account, in a particularly advantageous way, the requirements that may change with time, and / or the transmission capacities that are available. from each of the different image signal sources.
Each of the successive time periods of the different image signals, which form the video signal, can have the same durations from each other, or different durations from each other. The duration can be, for example, 15 seconds to 5 minutes, in particular one minute.
It is advantageous when, in the memory stage of the device according to the invention, a buffer memory area is provided, the minimum size of which can correspond, for example, to the shortest duration. This buffer memory area is provided in addition to that memory area which is in any case necessary for the intermediate storage of the received image signals, so that this additional buffer memory area can always be used, for example, when disturbances appear in the the transmission of image signals from the image signal sources to the exchange. In such a case of disturbance, an image signal can be selected from the buffer memory area, and emitted, and it is possible to try to solve the disturbance that appeared, during this emission time.
The size of the buffer memory area can be variably adjustable, depending on the functional data of the device. For example, when the device is allowed to work undisturbed for a long time, the buffer memory area can be reduced, in case of frequent occurrence of disturbances, increased.
ES 2 290 987 T3
The memory stage provided in the device according to the invention can be operated according to the FIFO principle [first input, first output], it being possible also to include in this FIFO principle, the buffer memory area described above, possibly existing. The application of the aforementioned principle to memory storage and selection, of the memory stage, causes that between the acquisition of an image signal by a source of image signals and the radiation of the image signal as a video signal, elapse only as short a time as possible. By including the buffer zone in the FIFO principle, it is further ensured that the content of the buffer zone is also permanently modified and kept up to date, so that in the event of a disturbance, no signal signals have to be emitted. outdated video.
It is furthermore advantageous when a trigger stage is provided for the emission of a start signal to the image signal sources. By this triggering step it can be arranged that at a desired time, a source of image signals begins with the recording of an image signal. Already during the recording of an image signal of a predetermined duration, the transmission of the recorded image signal to the device according to the invention can be arranged. In this way, it is achieved that between the emission of the start signal to a source of image signals, and the beginning of the transmission of the image signal from this source of image signals to the respective reception input of the device according to the invention, only a minimal duration elapses.
However, it is also possible in the same way that the start signal triggers the transmission of an image signal already taken, to the device according to the invention.
Finally, it is preferred according to the invention when a control stage is provided for the emission of control signals to the image signal sources. By means of such a control stage, setting values for movement, image framing, diaphragm and / or focus of a camera provided can be transmitted to an image signal source, so that ultimately it is possible to control completely the operation of all image signal sources, from the central or from the device according to the invention.
Within the framework of the invention, protection is also claimed for an image signal source, for coupling with a control unit or with a device of the type described above, the image signal source having the following components:
- A camera supplying an image signal, the image quality corresponding to at least the x bit rate.
- A memory for storing an image signal of a predetermined duration.
- A reception link for the reception of command signals, and
- A transmission link for the selection and transmission of a stored image signal, with a comparatively lower bit rate than the x bit rate.
Such a source of image signals is suitable for recording an image signal with sufficient quality corresponding to the bit rate x, for storing it and for, depending on the reception of command signals, sending it to a control unit with a slow rate of bits. Furthermore, the image signal source may have input means for data to be transmitted together with the image signal, especially text data.
It is preferred when in the source of image signals, a memory area is provided for functional parameters of the camera received by the receive link, such as, for example, camera movement, framing of the image, diaphragm and / or focus. By providing such a memory area, the aforementioned parameters can be adjusted in a variable way, in each case according to the requirement, and adapted to each one of the given conditions.
According to the invention, for example, the following possibilities exist for the acquisition and / or transmission of a captured image signal:
The image signal capture can be triggered from the control unit by transmitting a command or start signal to the image signal source. Subsequently, either the connection established between the image signal source and the center can be maintained during the recording of the image signal and the transmission of the recorded image signal can be carried out, already during the recording, or the connection can be interrupted. set between center and image signal source for the duration of the recording. In the last mentioned case, after the recording has been carried out, either the signal source can send a control signal to the control unit, or the control unit can send a control signal to the image signal source, which triggers the transmission to the control unit of the image signal recorded by the image signal source.
Alternatively, it is possible for the image signal source to record an image signal according to a scheme at the fixed predetermined time and stored in memory in the image signal source. The transmission of an image signal recorded in such a way can be triggered, either by having the image signal source send a command signal to the control unit, or by having the control unit send a command signal similar to the control source. image signals. In the last mentioned case, it is advantageous when the control unit has information related to the scheme in the time stored in the image signal source.
ES 2 290 987 T3
Similarly, the recording of an image signal may be triggered by a sensor attached to the camera. Any type of sensor can come into play here. For example, the application of light sensors, movement alarms, light barriers, temperature sensors, anemometers, other meteorological data alarms or the like is reasonable. Thanks to the application of such sensors, it is possible for the camera to record an image signal only when an interesting event for a viewer actually takes place; for example, by means of a movement warning it can be verified when a bird hatches from an egg, or an animal appears in a trough.
The acquisition of an image signal can be carried out in time independently of the transmission of the image signal to the control unit, when the corresponding memory storage possibilities are provided at the image signal source. In this case, the stored image signal can be requested - regardless of the moment of shooting - exactly from the central, when it is needed there.
In particular, it is possible to store several image signals in the image signal source, preferably according to a predetermined ordering principle. Thanks to this reserve in image signals, eventual system failures can be compensated afterwards by the image signal source or by the control panel.
The image signal source according to the invention can furthermore be operated in a setting regime in which it can be controlled by means of command signals from a control unit, and at the same time a transmission to the control unit can take place of the image signals supplied by the camera, the transmission of which is carried out with only a few seconds delay, that is, almost in real time. This transmission is preferably carried out with reduced image quality, which is below the normal quality of transmission of television signals, especially with the y-bit rate. In this case, the image recorded by the camera from the source of image signals can be seen in the control unit, in fact almost live, here naturally appearing quality losses with respect to the image received by the control unit, which are nevertheless harmless. since the transmission of the image signal is for adjustment purposes only.
Finally, it is also practical to structure the control unit and the image signal source so that the control unit can perform remote maintenance of the image signal source. In the context of remote maintenance, in particular, time compensation, a system check and / or a status inquiry of the image signal source can be carried out.
Other preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention, as well as of the image signal source according to the invention, are indicated in the subsidiary claims.
The devices according to the invention can be used, not only for the production and emission of a video signal. It is also possible to collect the data of such a signal, only in a device according to the invention, keep it updated and provide it on demand. It is also possible to imagine, for example, application cases in which a travel agency, a hotel or even a television center accesses the device according to the invention via a switched or fixed line, especially even via the Internet, and demands with precision an individual image signal against payment of fees. This can be practical, for example, when a travel agency wants to show a client what exactly the weather situation prevails in a particular holiday location. The image signal is then requested from this precise place, ensuring the FIFO principle applied in the memory stage existing in the device according to the invention, that the most up-to-date image signal possible will be made available to the travel agency. Similarly, a television center can request, for example, the image signal of a certain capital, and use it as a background for a broadcaster reporting on the corresponding city.
The invention is described below, by the hand of an embodiment example, with reference to the figures; these are shown:
Figure 1 A block diagram of a device according to the invention for the production of a video signal.
Figure 2 A block diagram of an image signal source for coupling with a device according to Figure 1, and
Figure 3 A time diagram illustrating the time-varying occupation of the receive inputs with different image signals.
The device 1 shown in figure 1, has six reception inputs 2, as well as an additional reception input 3. The reception inputs 2, 3 form the reception stage 4, by means of which the device 1 can be coupled, for example, with switched and / or fixed lines, for example, with telephone lines or Internet lines.
All the reception inputs 2, 3 are connected to a memory stage 5 which, together with a normal memory zone 6, also furthermore has a buffer zone 7.
Both the normal memory zone 6, as well as the buffer memory zone 7, are suitable for storing data or signals that are received by the reception stage 4.
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The data that can be stored in memory stage 5 can be transmitted to a data request stage 8, which from the data stored in memory stage 5, composes a digital video signal to be finally sent, which still will be explained below.
The video signal produced by the data request stage 8 is transmitted to a transmission stage 9 which is suitable for wireless or wired transmission of the video signal, on a transmission line 10.
For the case that the data request stage produces a compressed video signal, or for the case that the reception stage already receives compressed signals, which then also lead to the production of a compressed video signal in stage 8 data request, the compressed video signal can also be transmitted -if necessary- to the transmission stage 9 through a decompression stage 11, so that the transmission stage 9 can finally output a decompressed video signal.
Furthermore, a switching stage 12 is provided in the device 1, which is designed in particular as a selection stage. In the switching stage 12, a memory area 13 is provided for a multitude of addresses or telephone numbers. By means of the switching stage 12 and the addresses stored in it, a connection of the reception stage 4 with subscribers remote from the device 1 can be prepared, which will still be explained in detail below.
The reception stage 4, the memory stage 5, the data request stage 8, the transmission stage 9, the decompression stage 11, as well as the switching stage 12 are controlled by a microprocessor 14 that commands all the processes on device 1.
Each of the reception inputs 2 is coupled by data lines 15, with one or more external communication stages 16, which can prepare connections to a multitude, for example, sixty sources 17 of image signals, in case by means of the switching stage 12 selects the address of one of such image signal sources 17. The union of a reception input 2 and a source 17 of image signals can be carried out by means of a compound of several data lines 15, so that signals from the source 17 of image signals can be transmitted in parallel. by several lines 15 to the corresponding reception input 2.
The additional reception input 3 is connected by a fixed line 18 with another source 19 of image signals. The image signals or data supplied by the image signal source 19 can be transferred via the fixed line 18 and the additional reception input 3, to the memory stage 6, or directly to the transmission stage 9.
Figure 2 shows an image signal source 17 according to Figure 1.
The image signal source 17 comprises a camera 20, a memory area 21 being provided in the camera arrangement in which functional parameters of the camera can be stored, such as camera movement, framed in the figure. , diaphragm and / or focus.
The image signals supplied by the camera 20 can be deposited in a memory 22 and from there they can be transmitted to a transmission link 23. The transmission link 23 is connected, if necessary, with a communication point 16 according to FIG. 1.
In addition, a reception link 24 is provided at the image signal source 17 which can receive, for example, control or start signals from a device 1 according to FIG. 1. In particular, the reception link 24 can receive a start signal to trigger the recording of a sequence of images, or the aforementioned functional parameters of the camera.
By means of a selection step 25, the transmission link 23 can be connected, if necessary through the communication point 16, with a device 1, so that not only can device 1 call a source 17 of image signals, but also an image signal source 17, to device 1.
The camera 20, the memory 22, the transmission link 23, the reception link 24, as well as the selection step 25, are controlled by a microprocessor 26.
The operation and interaction of the device 1 according to FIG. 1, and of the image signal source 17 according to FIG. 2, is explained below.
At an instant ti, the address of a first source 17 of image signals is selected by means of the selection step 12, and by this produced junction a start signal is sent to the corresponding source 17 of image signals. The image signal source 17 receives this start signal via the reception link 24, and, as a function of this reception, arranges the recording of a sequence of images of duration l, by means of the camera 20.
The connection between the device 1 and the image signal source 17 can be broken again by the image signal source 17, immediately after the reception of the start signal.
ES 2 290 987 T3
The sequence of images recorded by the camera 20 is deposited in the memory 22 of the source 17 of image signals. As soon as the sequence of images is fully stored in the memory 22, by means of the step 25 of selection of the source 17 of image signals, the device 1 is called by the transmission link 23, and a connection is established between the first source 17 of image signals and the first reception input 2 of device 1. After the establishment of this junction, the image signal stored in the memory 22 is transmitted to the first receive input 2 with a bit rate y. The bit rate y is here lower than that bit rate at which the sequence taken of images is transmitted from the camera 20 to the memory 22.
Alternatively, the aforementioned transmission can also be started, already during the recording, so that it is not necessary for the device 1 to be called by the selection step 25.
In an instant t<sub>2</sub> which preferably is located after the instant ti the duration t, is sent by means of the selection step 12 another start signal to a second source 17 of image signals, with which the process already described above is carried out, with this image signal source 17 and with the second reception input 2.
Likewise, we proceed at times t<sub>3</sub>, t<sub>4</sub>, t<sub>5</sub>, and you<sub>6</sub> with the third, fourth, fifth and sixth reception input 2, as well as with the third, fourth, fifth and sixth source 17 of image signals.
As soon as the sequence of images taken by the first image signal source 17 has been completely transmitted, through the data line 15 to the first reception input 2, the transmission is carried out by this first reception input. of a sequence of images taken by a seventh source 17 of image signals. To make this transmission possible, a start signal was sent well in advance by the device 1 to the seventh source 17 of image signals.
Correspondingly shifted in time, a transmission of image sequences is then carried out from the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth source 17 of image signals, to the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth reception input 2 .
In this way, for example, sixty image signal sources 17 can be queried cyclically, each time there being at the same time, however, a shifted junction overlapping in time, to six of these sixty image signal sources via of the six inputs 2 of reoption. Thus, the simultaneous transmission overlapped in time is always carried out, of six image sequences from six different sources 17 of image signals, to the six reception inputs 2, the transmission of image sequences being carried out from every two Image signal sources selected one after the other, shifted in time by the duration t,.
However, it is alternatively also possible to transmit the image sequences of the different image signal sources in a non-cyclical and irregular manner, and to take into account here the time-varying conduction capacities that are available. This is clarified still below, from the hand of figure 3.
The received image sequences are deposited by the reception inputs 2 in the memory stage 5, where they are requested by the data request stage 8. The data request stage 8 takes care that the individual image sequences are composed one after the other in time and transmitted with a high bit rate x to the transmission stage 9. The transmission stage 9 is then able to radiate the finished video signal with the load bit rate x, or else as an analog signal with a quality corresponding to the bit rate x.
To enable the production of a continuous video signal consisting exclusively of image sequences supplied by the image signal sources 17, it has to be ensured that the total transmission capacity of all lines 15 leading to inputs 2 reception, is at least as high as the load bit rate x, with which the video signal is radiated from the transmission stage 9. Of course, a correspondingly lower capacity is possible on the lines 15, when the video signal does not consist exclusively of signals from the image signal sources 17, but when, for example, sequences from other sources are interconnected, for example from one source. appropriate memory (tape, fixed disk, etc.). These sequences are preferably made available, with the load bit rate x.
In the case of the presentation of disturbances, the memory stage 5 is expanded in a buffer memory area 7, in which one or more sequences of reserve images can be deposited, which are called in case a defect appears in the transmission between image signal sources 17 and device 1. The size of the buffer memory area 7 can be variable -as already explained-.
The reception input 3 additionally provided next to the reception inputs 2 comes into operation, for example, when a major disturbance occurs, since in this case the image signal supplied by the image signal source 19 via line 18 fixed, it is radiated directly by emission stage 9. In order to guarantee sufficient quality here, the transmission capacity of the fixed line 18 must correspond at least essentially to the load bit rate x. However, in the same way it is also possible to use the reception input 3 permanently, that is, also during the normal operation of the device, and to integrate the image signal received by this reception input 3, in the normal cycle of the reception signal. video.
ES 2 290 987 T3
Figure 3 illustrates from the hand of a time diagram, in which way, for example, 15 reception inputs 2 and / or 3 of a device 1 according to the invention can be used for simultaneous transmission shifted by overlapping in time, of different image signals A to R, being represented a space of time that extends from the instant to to the instant t<sub>16</sub>. Inputs 2 and / or 3 can be driven with bit rates or baud rates different from each other.
Starting with the instant t<sub>0</sub> the image signal A is received by the reception inputs 1, 2 and 3, the image signal B by the reception input 4, the image signal C by the reception inputs 5 and 6, the image signal D by reception inputs 7 to 12, and signal E through reception inputs 13 and 14. This means that, for example, the image signal D can be received in parallel by six different reception inputs in a relatively short time, on the contrary, the serial reception of the image signal B only by a single reception input, requires a longer time.
The decision of how many reception inputs are used for the reception of a single image signal can be taken based on the respective transmission lines existing between the control panel and each of the image signal sources, as well as on the respective costs incurred. It is only necessary to ensure that so much data is received from an image signal so that the image signal can be broadcast with sufficient quality, for a predetermined duration l, as a video signal. the image signals, in the broadcast video signal, may be the same as each other, or different from each other.
After at the instant t<sub>1</sub> Once the reception of the image signal D has been completed, the reception inputs 7-12 are available for the reception of further image signals. Accordingly, the reception of the image signal F by the reception inputs 7 and 8, and the reception of the image signal G by the reception inputs 9 to 12 now begins.
After at the instant t<sub>2</sub> image signal A has been fully received, serial reception of image signal H begins at time t<sub>2</sub> through entrance 1 of reception.
For the reception of the image signal I, the most economical can be, for example, when the transmission is carried out in parallel by 5 reception inputs. In this case, the microprocessor controls the device according to the invention in such a way that it waits until 5 parallel reception inputs are available. This is the case according to figure 3 at time t<sub>3</sub>, it then begins the transmission of the image signal I through the inputs 2, 3, 13, 14 and 15. To have these 5 reception inputs available, after the complete reception of the image signal A, it is interrupted the activation of the reception inputs 2 and 3 during the period of time between t<sub>2</sub> and t<sub>3</sub>.
At the instant t<sub>4</sub> the transmission of the image signal I is completed, whereby the transmission of the image signal J can be started via the reception inputs 2, 3 and 13. At the same time, at the instant t<sub>4</sub> the transmission of the image signal K is started by the reception inputs 14 and 15.
The transmission of the image signals L to R is carried out in a corresponding manner according to the representation in FIG. 3.
Note at this point that one and the same signal can be received at different times by many different reception inputs, in each case according to the number of lines that are precisely available, or also according to the respective transmission costs valid at the time (tariff day and night). For example, it is possible to start at time t<sub>16</sub> the transmission of a new sequence of the image signal D by only four reception inputs, the duration of the transmission then being naturally longer than the time between to and t1.
By means of a suitable computer program, the respective order of the image signals to be transmitted by the different image signal sources can be dynamically established during the operation of the device, taking into account in each case the valid transmission rate, as well as the transmission lines that are available. Here, by means of a corresponding program, it can be ensured that the image signals from all image signal sources are received in as regular a cyclical order as possible and provided as a video signal.
However, the aforementioned cyclical order can also be precisely interrupted, for example when a current event is to be broadcast from a certain geographical location. The transmission of this current event may cause a recalculation of the entire cycle or the predetermined order.
Contents9
3 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3
12 members in 8 offices
Priority claims4
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9801794 | European Patent Office (EPO) | W | |
| 9801794 | European Patent Office (EPO) | W | |
| 98919162 | – | – | – |
| WO1998EP01794 | – | – | – |
Members12
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO9949665A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| AU7211398A | Australia | A | |
| EP0985320A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| NZ501580A | New Zealand | A | |
| US2002018522A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| AU764253B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| US6738422B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| EP0985320B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| AT372029T | Austria | T | |
| ATE372029T1 | Austria | T1 | |
| DE59814087D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| ES2290987T3This record | Spain | T3 |
Numbers
- Publication
- 2290987
- Publication, DOCDB
- 2290987
- Publication, EPODOC
- ES2290987T
- Application
- 98919162
- Application, DOCDB
- 98919162
- Application, EPODOC
- ES19980919162T
Titles2
- Spanish
- DISPOSITIVO PARA LA MULTIPLEXACION DE SEÑALES DE VIDEO.
- English
- DEVICE FOR THE MULTIPLEXATION OF VIDEO SIGNS.
Classification
- CPC, 1
- H04N7/181
- IPC, 3
- H04N7 58
- H04N7 12
- H04N7 18