JPH11146322A - Nonlinear video broadcast system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the nonlinear video broadcast system where a cue of a cue sheet is electronically generated and corrected flexibly, quickly and easily. SOLUTION: A clippers processing is started at a point of time t3 by a preview for a roll R3 placed on a cue sheet acting like a list for progressing programs. Thus, a package P2 having a clipped position among packages of the roll R3 is divided into two new packages P21, P22 at the clipped position. A scene having the clipped position among scenes of the package P2 is divided into two scenes at the clipped position. Thus, the new packages P21, P22 are used as independent packages as edit objects. For example, even when the package P1 has been on the air, the package P2 is edited.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a broadcasting system used for television broadcasting, and more particularly to a non-linear video broadcasting system using a nonvolatile digital data storage device capable of random access.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a video tape recorder (VTR) has been used as a video broadcasting system for a long time. V
Since the TR uses a magnetic tape that performs sequential access as its recording medium, if a scene is to be reproduced or broadcast immediately after recording a scene, a waiting time associated with rewinding the tape occurs, resulting in a rapid Response was difficult. In addition, sequential editing and low recording / reproducing speed hinder quick editing when editing recorded video.

[0003]

In contrast, in recent years,
Along with the progress of video data compression technology, a so-called non-linear video editing system using a higher-speed random-access storage medium such as a magnetic disk device (hard disk device) has begun to be used.

In a nonlinear video editing system,
Video data once digitized from an external VTR or line and imported into the disc can be quickly cut out and combined with any scenes of the video on the disc using an editing function called a timeline.
So-called cut editing can be performed. In this case, “cutout” of a scene does not mean copying actual video data, but simply information for specifying a scene which is a part of the original video data, that is, a start position and an end position of the scene on the disc. (Usually address information), video data can be copied equivalently. When the edited result is reproduced, the reproduction is performed by reading the contents of the corresponding range of the original video data from the disk with reference to the scene specifying information. Video data in which such cut scenes on the timeline are arranged in chronological order is called a package. Therefore, it is very quick and easy to perform cut editing from video data once captured on a disk.

[0005] By the way, the broadcast frame (on-air start time and on-air end time) of one broadcast program is determined in advance, and it is usually determined in advance which program is to be aired at which time in a program progress table (time schedule). It is determined as a sesame. The program progress table needs to be created accurately in a short time, and it must be easy to make corrections.

[0006] In particular, in a sports program or the like, when the program starts, not all program elements have been determined yet, and there are cases where the components of the program are determined as the program progresses. In such a case, it is necessary to more quickly and easily create and change a flexible program progress table.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional demand, and an object of the present invention is to create a program progression table electronically and to flexibly, quickly, and easily modify it. It is an object of the present invention to provide a non-linear video broadcasting system capable of performing the same.

[0008]

A non-linear video broadcasting system according to the present invention comprises a nonvolatile random access storage device for storing video data, and a recording device for recording video data as a record from outside to the random access storage device. Means, and playlist creation means for creating a playlist including scene identification information indicating a start position and an end position of each of one or a plurality of scenes cut out from the video data stored in the random access storage device; For each program to be broadcast, a program progress table having a time axis information area of an absolute time is displayed on a display, and a CM block defining a CM length is arranged in the time axis information area according to a user's instruction. And place multiple packages defined by the playlist in other areas. Thus, a program progress table creating means for creating a program progress table, a roll table for managing one or more packages arranged between two CM blocks as a role, and the time axis according to a user's instruction. Pointer means for designating a point on the time axis of a roll arranged in the information area, and first and second points which can independently edit the roll at one point designated by the pointer means A roll division unit for dividing into two roll portions; and a time slot on the time axis at which each package of the roll is arranged in the time axis information area of the program progress table. Reproducing means for sequentially reproducing the corresponding video from the random access storage device based on the scene identification information and transmitting the reproduced output for broadcasting. Characterized by comprising.

[0009] By the roll dividing means, it is possible to divide the roll at an arbitrary position of the roll, and to make the divided portions independently editable.

[0010] Each scene may include corresponding audio data in addition to the video data.

[0011] More specifically, the roll dividing means comprises:
With the division of the role, the roll table is updated so that one of the packages constituting the role is divided into first and second packages. Further, the roll dividing means divides one of the scenes constituting the package into first and second scenes in accordance with the division of the package, the first scene and the scene in the package. A previous scene (if any) is included in the first package, and the second scene and subsequent scenes (if any) in the package.
Is updated in the second package.

[0012] When the roll division means moves one roll part obtained by the division between other CM blocks in accordance with a user's instruction, the roll division means transfers the other roll part between the other CM blocks. The roll table is updated so that a new roll is formed by combining with the rolls.

Thus, the new roll can be handled as one unit (separately stored or moved).

Preferably, when the user designates the start position of the scene at one point in the record currently being recorded,
Registering a scene in which only the start position is specified as a temporary scene in the playlist, and allowing a package determined by the playlist to be arranged in the time axis information area of the program progress table, When the user instructs division by the division means at a recorded position after the start position of the scene in the record, the division position is determined so as to determine the end position of the temporary scene. Update the playlist.

With this configuration, only the start position of a desired scene can be determined for the time being, and this temporary scene can be registered as a package in the time axis information area. Then, check the progress of the recording, and indicate the division of the roll (in this case, it is both a package and a scene) at the position up to the necessary part, and at that position, the end position of the temporary scene is determined Is done. In the time axis information area, the roll in the latter half separated by the division can be discarded. As described above, when the start position of the scene is determined, the scene can be arranged as a package in the time axis information area of the program progress table, so that the workability is improved and the program can be progressed flexibly.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration and operation of the system as a premise of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic configuration of a non-linear video broadcasting system to which the present invention is applied. This system has a digital recording / playback device 10. The digital recording / playback apparatus 10 has a built-in nonvolatile random access storage device 140 for digitally storing video (video) data and audio (audio) data. In the present embodiment, a hard disk device is used as the random access storage device 140. Digital recording and playback device 10
Has input terminals for video signals and audio signals. In the present embodiment, the video signal and the audio signal are assumed to be analog signals. This input terminal has a line, VTR
Etc. can be connected.

The digital recording / reproducing apparatus 10 has a user who mainly edits a program progress table (hereinafter, referred to as a cue sheet) with a computer. And a cue sheet management terminal 102 for creating an image.

The editing terminal device 101 includes monitors 6a and 6b for receiving the two types of output video of the digital recording / reproducing device 10, an editing operation controller 18 connected to the digital recording / reproducing device 10, and an editing controller. It has a display 12, a keyboard 14 and a mouse 16 for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) environment for performing various operations such as recording, cut editing, and reproduction on a display screen. The monitor (PP / TL) 6a is a monitor for confirming a record or a package described later recorded in the digital recording / reproducing apparatus 10. The monitor (EE) 6b is
This is a monitor for checking effects and the like.

The cue sheet management terminal device 102 includes monitors 7a and 7b for receiving the other two output video images of the digital recording and reproducing device 10, and a broadcast operation controller connected to the digital recording and reproducing device 10, respectively. (Also referred to as a live controller) 19, a personal computer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a PC) 11, which provides a GUI environment for cue sheet management, a display 13, a keyboard 15, and a mouse 17, for cue sheet creation / editing and on-air. Are performed interactively on the display screen. This PC11
Are connected to a digital recording / playback apparatus 10 via a hub 5 of a local area network (LAN). The monitor 7a is a monitor for monitoring the on-air output, and the monitor 7b is a monitor for preview for confirming an on-air scheduled image prior to the on-air.

In the present embodiment, the PC 11 mainly controls the GUI. More specifically, when the user presses a button displayed on the display, the PC 11 performs digital recording to that effect. It plays a role in notifying the playback device 10 and sequentially reflecting information from the digital recording / playback device 10 on the GUI. On the other hand, the digital recording / reproducing apparatus 10 performs all other controls, and records, scenes, packages, roles,
Performs database management of CM blocks and the like. However, various types of control described later need only be realized as the entire system, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a configuration.

Main line 9 of the output of the digital recording / playback apparatus 10
Are connected to a super apparatus 191 for superimposing text on a video to be output and a switcher 194. Video information is input to the super apparatus 191 from the CM bank 193 that has received a provision CM transmission instruction from the user. The other input terminal of the switcher 194 has a CM bank 19 that receives a CM transmission instruction from a user.
3, video and audio information is input. Switcher 1
The switch 94 is manually switched by the user, and the output of the switcher 194 is turned on.

In the cue sheet management terminal device 102, a printer (not shown) can be connected to the PC 11 to print out the cue sheet.

As an operation peculiar to the operation controllers 18 and 19, the playback speed can be variably controlled by the jog shuttle dials 18a and 19a. This dial selectively functions as a shuttle dial or as a jog dial. The shuttle dial determines the reproduction speed in accordance with the rotation angle, and the reproduction speed increases as the inclination increases. When the inclination is set to 0, the reproduction stops. The jog dial determines the playback speed in accordance with the speed of rotation, and the faster the rotation, the faster the playback speed. Playback stops when rotation stops. The user normally operates the dial while looking at the monitor connected to the reproduction output.

In the present embodiment, the cue sheet management terminal device 102 also has some functions of the editing terminal device 101. Instead, the cue sheet management terminal device 102 and the editing terminal device 101 can be realized on the same terminal device.

FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the digital recording / playback apparatus 10.

In the present embodiment, the digital recording / reproducing apparatus 10 includes a 17-slot EISA bus 110 and a 12-slot digital video bus (CCIR 601) 130. In the slot of the EISA bus 125, the processor card 121, the display controller card 1
22, the RS422 interface card 125 is mounted. Further, some cards are mounted across both slots of the EISA bus 125 and the digital video bus 130. In the illustrated example, such a card is a genlock reference card 124, a disk controller card 123, a video input interface card 1
26, a video output interface card 127, and an audio input / output interface card 128.

The processor card 121 includes a microprocessor, a RAM, an input / output interface, and the like. To this processor card 121, a system hard disk drive 160 and a floppy disk (flexible disk) drive 150 are connected, and further, a keyboard 14 and a mouse 16 are connected. A display controller is mounted on the display controller card 122 and controls the display operation of the display 12.

The video input interface card 126 is connected to a video input from, for example, an external VTR, and outputs a video signal from the video output interface card 127 to an external monitor. The audio input / output interface card 128 interfaces audio input from an external VTR and audio output to an external speaker. These input / output interface cards can be added.

The digital video bus 130 incorporates a video router 133 for switching input / output video signals. The video router 133 can switch any of the 32 inputs to any of the 32 outputs under control of the processor in this example.

The disk controller board 123 controls a video hard disk drive (random access storage device) 140. In this example, SCSI-2F
A plurality of 4.2 GB hard disks (four in the example in the figure: 16.8 in total) via the AST / WIDE bus 135
G bytes). A plurality of disk controller boards 123 and hard disk drives (hereinafter, also simply referred to as disks) 140 may be provided.

The genlock reference interface card 124 has an internal clock connected to an external normal NTSC
Alternatively, it is for locking to a PAL black burst signal. RS422 interface card 125
Provides an interface for connecting the operation controllers 18 and 19.

In addition, although not shown, a LAN board for configuring a LAN is also mounted.

FIG. 3 shows the disk controller card 12
3 shows the configuration of a disk controller 123a mounted on the disk drive 3. This corresponds to the case where two disk controller cards 123 are mounted in FIG. One disk controller 123a has two JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Groups) for two channels.
p) It has compression / expansion chips 123b and 123c.
In order to record the video signal for a longer time, in this example, the video is compressed and stored on the hard disk by using the motion JPEG compression technology. Each chip has one video input / output channel and four audio input / output channels. The input video signal and the audio signal are compressed and stored on a disk, and the compressed storage information is expanded and output. be able to.

The present system has a plurality of (here, four) physical resources each of which can function as a recorder or a player, and these four resources correspond to the number of compression / decompression chips shown in FIG. I do. These resources can be assigned to different functions such as recording / playback or editing depending on the purpose of the user. In the present system, such a logical video recorder (player) is called a virtual recorder or a virtual player (or an internal player). Each resource can access the disk 140 independently. Also, the disk 140
On the other hand, it is apparently possible to simultaneously execute writing and reading by a known method such as striping. For example, scene data being written by a certain resource can be read by another resource with a delay of several seconds. The delay of several seconds is a time corresponding to data buffering for absorbing a relative shift between data reading and writing.

Here, the "timeline" in this specification indicates a cut editing function or a work area for combining a plurality of video scenes (and corresponding audio scenes) on a time axis, and is created by this cut editing. What is performed is a “playlist”. The reproduction of the package determined by the playlist is performed not by the player but by the resources allocated to the timeline (TL). Therefore, this resource may be referred to as “TL: timeline”.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a cue sheet management screen according to the present embodiment. This screen is for a user to interactively create and edit a cue sheet of a program interactively with the system, and to monitor and operate on-air and the like of the program, and is displayed on the display 13 in FIG. The image data of this screen and various screens described later are
11 and stored in the system hard disk 160 inside the digital recording / playback apparatus 10 and read out when necessary. Also, various management data (sheet information, record information, package information, role information, CM block information, warning information, etc.) of the cue sheet are managed by the digital recording / reproducing apparatus 10 and are copied when necessary. Is sent to the PC side to be displayed over the image.

At the top of this cue sheet management screen,
Below the pull-down menu is a toolbar with various tools. These necessary elements will be described later.

Further below, four areas are arranged in the horizontal direction. The first area is a current time / title area. In this area, there are a display column for displaying “current time” and a display column for displaying “title” of the program of this cue sheet. The current time is successively updated and displayed based on the broadcast reference clock signal in the broadcast station. Of course, a self-timer function may be provided inside and used. The program title can be input by the user.

On the right side of the first area, there is an "OA time" area as a second area. In this area, the on-air (OA) “start” time and “end” of the program
There is a display column for displaying time. Both times can be specified by the user. Further to the right, there is an "OA pointer information" area as a third area. In this area, there are a display column for indicating the current time “OA time” of the OA pointer and a display column for displaying the original time code “original TC”. The OA pointer indicates how far an OA pointer described below is currently advanced. The original time code indicates the time code of the original material of the video currently on air. Further to the right of the third area is a "countdown" area as a fourth area. This area is
It includes two display columns for counting down the occurrence of a specific event, for example, the time until the start time (enter) or the end time (dawn) of a block (CM block or roll described later). Specific events can be selected by the user.

In the middle of the cue sheet management screen of FIG.
The time axis information area extends over the entire width of the screen. The time axis information area (particularly, fixed time axis display and real time axis display) is an area for determining a time schedule of a program, and allows a user to arbitrarily arrange program components along the time axis. . The components of the program include a CM block that determines the length (frame) of one CM, a package created by combining and editing cut scenes of video (including audio), one or more CMs located between the two CM blocks. There is a roll composed of individual packages and a provided CM arranged at an arbitrary time on the roll. The provided CM is a text in which a text indicating the sponsor, such as “This program will be sent by providing XX”, is superimposed (superimposed) on the roll image. In this specification, when simply referred to as “CM”, it refers to a CM having a normal video,
M ".

Each package, role, CM block, and provided CM are given a name (CM3, role 4, etc.) and an arbitrary caption input by the user so that the user can understand what it is. In addition, “OA time” indicating the OA start time (absolute time) and “original TC” indicating the original time code are numerically displayed in association with the start position of each role, CM block, and provided CM. I have. In the example shown, each O
In order to avoid overlapping of character strings of the A time and the time code, to reduce the height required for display, and to make it easier for the user to see, the character strings are displayed at a slight angle from the vertical. Whether or not to display the OA time and the original time code can be selected by the user with the buttons at the right end of the time axis information display area.

In FIG. 4, triangle marks △ are added immediately before the OA start time of the roll and immediately before the OA start time of the provided CM. This triangular mark indicates that a “warning” is issued to inform the user at this point that the user is about to enter a roll (or the end of a commercial) or a commercial to be provided is imminent. Also,
The figure also shows the inverted triangle mark ▽. This has been defined by the user to generate an alert at that time for the desired purpose. The point in time at which the warning is generated can be set by the user as described later. In the present embodiment, these warnings are performed by a warning sound and a window display (not shown) of a message indicating what the warning means. Instead, a warning may be issued by a voice that sounds the message.

At the bottom of the time axis information area, an OA pointer indicating how far the on-air progresses at the present time after the start of the on-air of this program is indicated by a bar extending gradually to the right from the left end. Further below, there is a preview pointer indicating one location on the time axis. The preview pointer is a pointer for indicating a preview position when an image of an arbitrary portion of the cue sheet is confirmed on the preview monitor 7b (FIG. 1), including a portion that has not been transmitted. At this time, the preview operation by the user
This can be performed by the dial 19a of the live controller 19 described above. Below the preview pointer, along with the time axis, the current position and percentage of the cue sheet are displayed, and a scroll bar display for scrolling the program elements along the time axis is displayed. is there. The "position" of the display target can be scrolled by a user's instruction. The “ratio” can be enlarged or reduced by a magnifying glass button on the right side of the scroll bar display.

At the bottom of the cue sheet management screen in FIG.
There are a display area for various scales (duration), a preview pointer information area, and a measurement area. The shaku display area has a display column indicating the “broadcast frame” time from the on-air start time to the end time, a “CM total amount” display column indicating the total amount of CM block lengths arranged in the time axis information area, a broadcast frame. A "net" display field indicating the time obtained by subtracting the total CM amount from the "CM", a "determined" time display field indicating the total amount time of the role to which the role has been assigned among the net times,
And a “remaining scale” display field indicating the time obtained by subtracting the determined time from the net time. By displaying these scales, when creating the cue sheet, after arranging the necessary CM blocks, when arranging the rolls sequentially, how much defined time is currently there and how many remaining scales are there Can be immediately recognized. When the remaining scale time becomes 0 frame, all the broadcast frames are filled with the program elements. If there is an excess or deficiency, the user is alerted by changing the character display color for the remaining time. This scale display eliminates the need for the user to perform any scale calculation, which is extremely convenient, and prevents erroneous operations by the user when the total amount of rolls becomes longer or shorter than the net time.

The preview pointer information area has an "OA time" display field indicating the OA time of the video being previewed, and an "original TC" display field indicating the corresponding original time code.

In the measuring area, a display column for displaying a first time point t1 (OA time) to be measured, a display column for displaying a second time point t2 (OA time), There is a display column for displaying the difference time Δt. Time points t1 and t2 are
The user can designate two time markers (not shown) by operating the time axis information area in the figure by dial operation or mouse operation or the like. Thereby, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the time interval between any two points in the time axis information area.

At the lower right of the cue sheet management screen in FIG. 4 is a "time display" area. This allows the user to select whether to set the OA time of the cue sheet to the 24-hour system or the 29-hour system in accordance with the end time of the program. In the case of the 29-hour system, for convenience, the OA time is 25:00 without returning to 1:00 after 24:00. Below the time display area is a “recording” area. This shakes the "REC" button for instructing recording from the line and the "STOP" button for stopping the recording. For safety, each time either of the buttons is operated, the buttons are locked (the "lock" check box is automatically checked). The next operation must be performed after unchecking the "Lock" check box. Recording from the line can be reserved, and the recording reservation time is displayed below the screen in FIG.

The cue sheet management screen of FIG. 4 has three types of display modes: a fixed time axis display mode, a real time axis display mode, and a list display mode. FIG. 4 shows a state where the fixed time axis display mode is selected. In the fixed time axis display mode, program elements such as individual packages and CM blocks are displayed so that the user can understand the contents.
It is displayed in a uniform scale regardless of the actual scale. In the fixed time axis display mode, only the order of each program element is significant, and the length in the time axis direction is not significant.

However, in this fixed time axis display, it is difficult to grasp the actual relationship between the lengths of individual program elements, so a separate real time axis display mode is provided. This is shown in FIG. This is the same as the fixed time axis display mode in FIG. 4, except that the display of the time axis information area is made to match the display width of each program element to the actual scale. According to this real time axis display mode,
At a glance, it is possible to grasp at a glance how long each program element is, and what is the ratio to the length of other program elements.

In this embodiment, a list display mode is further provided. The screen is shown in FIG. In the fixed time axis display mode and the real time axis display mode, specific detailed information of each program element is not known. The list display clarifies the specific details. In the figure, detailed information of each program element is displayed in the order of OA time from top to bottom using the middle and lower parts of the cue sheet management screen in the time axis display mode. In the example of FIG. 6, the CM blocks are displayed separately from the rolls. The scale display is moved to the lower right of the screen and remains.

As described above, since three types of display modes are provided on the cue sheet management screen, the user can immediately select an arbitrary display mode by operating the switching button on the screen as necessary. it can.

The package arranged in the time axis information area of the cue sheet management screen is prepared in advance by the editing terminal
01 and stored in the digital recording / playback apparatus 10. Editing terminal device 101 and cue sheet terminal device 1
02 is exchanged via a package management window (FIG. 10) described later. The configuration of this package will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

The upper part of FIG. 7 shows a format of data such as video stored in the disk 140. From an external line or VTR, a set of video data for one track, audio data for four tracks, and time code (TC) for one track is recorded as a record in a virtual internal cassette in the hard disk drive 140. Is stored. The external time code is generated from a device such as a camera that has captured the video, and is recorded together with the video. This time code is called the original time code.

In the present specification, a unit of a continuous video or the like written at a time in the internal cassette is called a "record".
The focused part of the record recorded in the internal cassette is called a “scene” or a “cut scene”. This scene is specified by the information of the IN point which is the start position and the OUT point which is the end position when editing the timeline. The data at the IN point and the OUT point are addresses uniquely determined in the disk, and are “field numbers (or frame numbers)” in this case. This IN
When the data of the point and the OUT point is designated by the time code by the user, it is converted (converted) into the corresponding field number.

As shown in the lower part of FIG. 7, by arranging the scene specifying information virtually in time series on the timeline, the scene can be cut and edited. A combination of scenes created by such cut editing is a “package”. A package can be composed of a single scene. Note that the package is actually composed of video data and the like (including audio data) of such a plurality of scenes.
Are not sequentially and continuously copied. The substance of this package is merely a set of information specifying a scene as described above. Such a set of scene specifying information is called a “play list” in this specification.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of this play list. The playlist 80 includes a video V, audios A1, A2, A
The information includes information on each surface of A3, A4, and each surface includes, for each scene, a cassette name 81, a scene name 82, an IN point 83, an OUT point 84 of an internal cassette storing the scene.
A duration (the length of the scene from the IN point to the OUT point) 85 and a reproduction speed 86 are defined. In FIG. 8, the IN point and the OUT point are shown in a time code format (hour: minute: second: field (or frame)) for easy understanding. It is a field number converted into the number of fields as an internal address. When playing back the package, the system refers to this playlist and sequentially reads out the designated portions of the corresponding scenes from the disk, so that it is as if a single video tape in which those scenes are combined is played back. To work. Such cut editing of a package is realized simply by a combination of scene specific information without involving substantial copying (playback and recording) operations of video data and the like. Thus, the creation and modification of a package based on a record already present on the disc can be performed very quickly.

Next, the functions of the main tools shown on the toolbar on the cue sheet management screen will be described.

When the user presses the “CM” button on the toolbar, the CM block management window shown in FIG. This window is closed by pressing the “close” button. In this window, a CM block of an arbitrary length and a provided CM can be registered. In the present embodiment, the CM block does not hold the actual video data of the CM, but simply determines the length of the CM and has post-roll and pre-roll functions to be described later.

Note that "CC" in the figure is an abbreviation of Cow Catcher and indicates a CM at the beginning of a program. "HH"
An abbreviation of Hitch Hike, which indicates a commercial that enters the end of a program. “SB” is an abbreviation of Station Break, and indicates a CM between programs. The user can select a desired CM block from this window with a mouse and drag and drop it into the time axis information area on the cue sheet management screen. At the time of this arrangement, the C
The OA start time of the M block is not determined, and the character string indicating the time in the OA time area along the upper part of the time axis information area is “untime”. The OA start time and the OA end time of the CM block detailed information described later are also untime. Also, any commercials that have already been dragged and dropped
By pressing the “confirm” button with the block selected, the untimed time of the CM block can be confirmed. The CM block can be moved on the time axis by a user's mouse operation as described later.

An arbitrary OA start time can be changed in the OA time setting window of FIG. The OA time setting window is opened by selecting the OA time or block to be changed and pressing the "OA button" on the toolbar or double-clicking the character of the OA time. The user can select whether or not to adjust the OA time of a block subsequent to the block whose OA time has been changed in accordance with this change.

When the “package” button on the toolbar is pressed, the package management window shown in FIG. In this package management window, a plurality of packages are stored by editing by the editing terminal device 101 or the cue sheet management terminal device 102 described above. A package including a temporary scene in which only an IN point described later is specified is also stored. Preferably, such a temporary scene is displayed in a different display manner from the other packages. As in the case of the CM block, the package can be arranged in the time axis information area by dragging and dropping, or by selecting a desired package on this window with a mouse and pressing a “select” button. At the time of dragging and dropping, it is also possible to arrange in contact with an adjacent already arranged block. It is also possible to select a specific package and press the "Edit" button to open a window (not shown) for changing the contents of the package.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, a “roll” is constituted by one or a plurality of packages arranged between one CM block.

Blocks (CM blocks, packages, rolls) once placed in the time axis information area can be moved on the time axis by operating the mouse. If you select a role, all packages that make up that role will be moved. If you select a package, only that package will be moved. For movement, the user selects a block to be moved with a mouse, and drags and drops the block to the destination. If there is not enough space at the destination to store the block, a dialog (not shown) asks the user whether to interrupt the moving process or to depress the subsequent blocks to continue the moving process. . If the block is moved so as to be in contact with the block whose OA start time has been determined, the OA start time of the moved block is automatically updated.

By double-clicking an arbitrary block that has already been placed with the mouse, detailed information on that block can be viewed. If the block is a CM block, the “CM block detailed information” window of FIG. 11 is opened. In this window, the block name, block division, caption, duration, OA start time, and OA end time of the CM block can be confirmed. In this window, the setting of "switching of CM flow" can be made. As shown in FIG.
During the time when the CM from the external CM bank is on air by the M block, the marginal portion after the roll immediately before the CM block and the marginal portion before the roll immediately after the CM block are reproduced and output. . The “overlapping portion” refers to a record portion existing before and after the cut scene described in FIG. 7 and continuous with the scene. As shown in FIG. 12, in each CM block, a portion corresponding to the margin after this is called “post-roll”, and a portion corresponding to the margin before is called “pre-roll”. The length of the post-roll and the pre-roll can be set in the window of the CM block detailed information. However, preferably,
The sum of the post-roll and the pre-roll is set to be equal to or longer than the length of the CM block. This is to prevent a gap from occurring between the post-roll and the pre-roll. If "center switching" is set, both the post-roll and the pre-roll are set to half the length of the CM block. By providing the post-roll and the pre-roll, the roll is reproduced including the marginal portion at the time of the reproduction of the roll during the on-air. Therefore, even if the timing of the on-air of the external CM slightly shifts, there is no possibility that the blank scene will be on-air.

Further, in the CM block detailed information window, it is possible to set a warning (alarm) to be generated at a point in time before the CM block enters or ends (for example, several minutes or several tens of seconds). When this warning is set, the triangle mark is displayed at a predetermined position in the time axis information area. In the initial state, this warning is set.

The above-mentioned user-defined warning can be arranged on an arbitrary time axis by dragging and dropping the inverted triangle mark on the toolbar to the set position. At this time, an additional warning information window as shown in FIG. 16 is opened, and an accurate OA time can be set. Pressing the "Warning Information" button on the toolbar also opens an additional warning information window,
On this window, warning information can be added at any OA time.

If the block double-clicked with the mouse is not a CM block, the "block detailed information" window shown in FIG. 15 is opened. You can see detailed information of the block. In this window, the block name, caption, duration, OA start time, and OA end time of the block (role) are displayed, and a list of packages constituting this role (package name, OA start time, OA end time, (Duration) is displayed. That is, the contents of such a list are stored in the system as a role table (not shown) for each role. In this window, it is possible to set whether a warning is to be issued before a set time for entering the block. After changing the settings of the caption and warning information in the “block detailed information” window, press the confirm button to reflect the contents on the cue sheet.

Regardless of the system definition or the user definition, once the warning is placed, the user can press the “warning information” button on the toolbar while the warning is selected with the mouse, and the “warning information” shown in FIG. The Info window opens,
The warning information can be changed on this window.

When the "manual transmission" button on the toolbar is pressed, the "manual transmission" window shown in FIG. 14 is opened. This window is for designating one or more specific packages and transmitting the packages manually or remotely, or setting a reserved time and transmitting the package at that time. This can be used when the user wants to send out a particular package for some reason, independent of the cue sheet (without changing the cue sheet).

Next, a processing procedure for realizing the above various functions will be described. In the present embodiment, these processes are performed by the processor of the PC 11 for GUI control, and the processor in the digital recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is responsible for other control. However, since it is sufficient if the same function is achieved as the whole system, the sharing of the two is not strictly distinguished in the flowchart. In this flowchart and the flowcharts described below, the order of each step is not limited to the illustrated one, and is arbitrary, unless the order of the steps is significant.

First, an example of the main processing procedure of the cue sheet creation processing will be described with reference to FIG. Since this process is a dialog process between the user and the PC, the system executes a corresponding process according to the user's instruction or operation.

The system accepts an input of a program title from the user (S21). In addition, OA of this program
The input of the start time and the OA end time is received (S2
2). Thus, the “broadcast frame” time is calculated and displayed in the broadcast frame display field. This time is the basis for all subsequent scale calculations.

If the user inputs a CM block in the time axis information area (S23), the CM block is temporarily arranged in the time axis information area (S24). This CM
The OA time of a block can be determined in the OA time setting window described above. In accordance with the input of the CM block, the scale calculation is executed, and the total time of the CM is increased and displayed so as to decrease the net time (S25).

If the user inputs an arbitrary package in the time axis information area from the package management window (FIG. 10) (S26), it is checked whether the package has already been registered (S27). The system checks the duplicate arrangement of the package by the package name or by the original time code. If it is determined that they overlap, a warning message (not shown) is displayed (S30), and the process proceeds to step S32 described below. When intentional duplication is permitted, the process may proceed to step S28 after confirmation of the user. The arrangement position of the package is the same as that of the CM block, but as described above,
If the package is placed in contact with another package or CM block whose time has been determined, the OA time of that package is automatically determined.

In step S28, if the package is the first package between the CM blocks, a roll table is created so as to create a role including the package. At this time, the name of the role is automatically given. The caption for that role can be added by the user. If the package is not the first package, the package is added to an existing role.
Thereafter, the scale calculation is executed, and the net time, the determined time, and the remaining scale time are updated and displayed (S29).

When a provided CM is input by the user (S31), the provided CM is arranged at a designated position (S32). Since the provided CM is superimposed on the roll and aired on, it does not affect the scale calculation at all.

When the user gives an instruction to edit (modify, move, delete, etc.) the CM block, roll, and package as described above and to edit (add, modify, delete, etc.) a warning (S33), the system Executes the corresponding editing process (S34).

The cue sheet is created by repeatedly executing the above processing according to the user's instruction.

In the present embodiment, the on-air is started before the cue sheet is completely filled up to the OA start time, and even after the on-air is started, the creation and correction of a part of the program progress table after the current time are performed. Note that it can be done.

Next, with reference to FIG. 19, an example of a procedure for automatic transmission based on a cue sheet according to the present embodiment will be described.

First, the program waits until the OA start time of the program is reached (S51). When the time comes, the process proceeds to the following process.

At the current time, any warning (C
It is determined whether it is necessary to generate a warning before entering M, entering a roll, etc., a warning of a provided CM, or a user-defined warning (S52). If necessary, a corresponding warning is issued (S53). In addition, immediately before the roll to be transmitted next, C
It is checked whether there is an M block (S54). If not, the current time becomes the OA start time of the role (S5
7), the reproduction / transmission of the roll is started (S58).
After that, the processing shifts to Step S59.

If it is determined in step S54 that there is a CM block immediately before the roll to be transmitted next,
When the current time is the pre-roll of the CM block and before the OA start time of the roll (S5)
5) Reproduction and transmission of the marginal portion in front of the pre-roll is started before the pre-roll (S56).

It is checked whether the current time has reached the OA end time of the roll currently being transmitted (S59). If it is not the OA end time of the roll, the process proceeds to step S62. If it is the OA end time, it is checked whether there is a CM block immediately after the roll (S60). If there is no CM block, step S
Proceed to 63. If there is a CM block, reproduction / transmission of the marginal portion after the roll is started (S61). Then
It is checked whether the current time is later than the OA end time of the roll by the post-roll of the CM block (S6).
2). If so, the process proceeds to step S63; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S64. In step S63, reproduction / transmission of the current roll or marginal portion is stopped. In step S64, it is determined whether or not the current time has reached the OA end time of the program (S64). Until the current time has reached the OA end time, the process returns to step S52 to repeat the above processing.

Now, the scissors processing (division processing) in the present embodiment will be described.

Now, as shown in FIG. 20A, in the cue sheet, a CM block CM3, a roll R3, a CM
It is assumed that program elements are arranged in the order of block CM4. The roll R3 is assumed to be composed of two packages P1 and P2. It is assumed that a preview is performed on such a cue sheet, and that the preview pointer is at the position of time t3 which is the middle of the roll R3. In this state, when the user designates a scissor mark on the toolbar of the cue sheet, the roll R3 is divided into two roll portions at this position. This division position corresponds to an intermediate portion of the package P2 constituting the roll R3. Therefore, along with the division of the roll R3, this package P2
Are the packages P21 and P2 as shown in FIG.
It will be divided into two. That is, as shown in FIG. 22, the roll table of the roll R3 is updated so that the number of packages constituting the roll R3 increases from two to three. If the division position happens to be at the boundary of the package, the division of the package is unnecessary.

This division can further affect the scenes constituting the package P2. If the package P2 is composed of a plurality of scenes and is accidentally divided at the boundaries of those scenes, there is no effect on the scene specific information. However, there are cases where the division position comes in the middle of one scene. In this case, as shown in FIG. 21, for example, scene 2 is divided into new scenes S21 and S22. That is, although not shown, the playlist of the package P2 is updated so that the scene identification information of the scene S2 is deleted and the scene identification information of the scene S21 and the scene S22 are inserted at the same position.

This scissors processing can be executed in a static state before the on-air based on the cue sheet is started, but can also be used in a dynamic state after the on-air started. For example, it is assumed that the on-air is started based on the cue sheet in FIG. 20 and the OA point has been reached by time t1 in the roll R3. Even at this point, for example, if a problem is found while previewing the video of the subsequent package P2, the problem can be removed using scissors processing.
If the location of the problem is in the latter half of the package P2, the user instructs scissors processing with the preview pointer placed at a position t3 in front of the problem. by this,
The package P22 can be set as an independent new package and can be edited. As an example of this editing, for example, when there is a speech by the announcer, the edited package P22 can be returned to the original position after deleting the audio scene at that location. Since the package P22 after editing is newly created, the package P22 before editing is discarded (discarded in a trash box (not shown)). Even if the OA pointer advances to the immediately preceding package P21 during this processing, there is no adverse effect of the scissors processing.

FIG. 23 shows an example of a processing procedure for realizing the scissors processing. First, it is checked whether the division position is located in the middle of one package in the roll to which the division position by scissors belongs (S91). If the boundary position between the two packages is a division position, it is not necessary to divide the packages. If the package needs to be split, the roll table is updated so that the package is split into two new packages at the split position as described above (S92). Next, it is checked whether or not the dividing position is located in the middle of one scene in the package to which the dividing position of the scissors belongs (S93). If the boundary position between two scenes is a division position, the scene division is not necessary. If the scene needs to be divided, the playlist is updated so that the scene is divided into two new scenes at the division position as described above (S94).

Next, a chasing broadcast will be described as an effective application of the present invention. In the case of a sports program having a broadcast frame shorter than the game time or a sports program in which the game time is likely to be longer than expected, the live broadcast may end the broadcast at the climax of the game.
To avoid this, the first half of the game is edited to be short enough to show the progress of the game, and the broadcast of the edited result is started later than the actual game start time. During the broadcast, the video is edited while calculating (predicting) the amount of time crawling so that the video at the end of the game is broadcast just before the end of the broadcast, and broadcasted sequentially. In this way, a broadcast mode in which the recorded video is edited while predicting the time distribution, and the broadcast is sequentially delayed (pseudo-live), is called "chase-up broadcast".

For example, as shown in FIG.
While events (sports, etc.) that are continuously performed from 2:00 to 16:00 are continuously recorded from the beginning, programs having a shorter broadcast frame are broadcasted from 14:00 to 16:00. The main part of the event is cut out and broadcast with a delay, and finally the end of the program coincides with the end of the event. In this broadcast form, recording work,
In order to perform editing work, program progress work (match time prediction and cue sheet management), and transmission work in parallel,
It required many hands and many VTRs.

In such chasing broadcasting, a non-linear video broadcasting system using the cue sheet of the present invention is very suitable. In particular, even if the cue sheet is not completed to the end of the broadcast frame, on-air can be started, and the program element can be determined while observing the recording result of the ongoing event.

In an extreme case, according to the present invention, even if the end position of a scene is not fixed, the scene can be arranged as a package on the cue sheet. This is because a temporary scene is created once when the start position of the scene is designated, and this can be registered as a package in the package management window. As shown in FIG. 25, it is assumed that recording of a certain record is continued and the IN point is designated as the scene S4. In this state, even if the OUT point has not been determined,
The user can register this temporary scene S4 as a package and arrange it in the cue sheet. As shown in the cue sheet of FIG. 25, the scene S4 is arranged as a package P3, and after the recording point has passed the time tx, scissors are inserted at the position of the time tx on the cue sheet (the scissor processing is executed. ), The OUT point of the scene S4 is determined at this point, and the playlist is completed. The end position of the package P3 is also determined. Discard the second half of the cue sheet divided by scissors.
This processing is particularly effective when the time at which the scene is recorded and the time at which it is transmitted are very close (for example, 5 to 15 minutes). In such a case, the transmission starts when the OUT point has not been recorded yet.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific examples, and various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the claims. It is possible to do. For example, the CM block is not essential in the present invention, and a CM package may be inserted instead of the CM block. Further, the present invention is also applicable to broadcasting without a CM itself.

[0096]

According to the non-linear video broadcasting system of the present invention, a program progress table can be created electronically and can be flexibly, quickly and easily modified. For example, before the program progress table is completed, it is possible to start on-air in accordance with the program table, and it is possible to correct an untransmitted portion even after the on-air start. Therefore, the present invention
It is particularly suitable for use in chasing broadcasting.

[0097]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a digital recording / playback apparatus 10 in the system of FIG.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of a disk controller in the apparatus of FIG. 2;

4 is a diagram showing a halftone image of a cue sheet management screen in a first display mode displayed on a display of a cue sheet terminal device of the system of FIG. 1;

5 is a diagram showing a halftone image of a cue sheet management screen in a second display mode displayed on a display of a cue sheet terminal device of the system of FIG. 1;

6 is a diagram showing a halftone image of a cue sheet management screen in a third display mode displayed on a display of the cue sheet terminal device of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among an internal cassette, a record, a package, and a scene according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a playlist according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a halftone image of a screen example of a CM block management window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a halftone image of a screen example of a package management window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a halftone image of a screen example of a CM block detailed information window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a function of a CM block according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a halftone image of a screen example of an OA time setting window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a halftone image of a screen example of a manual transmission window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a halftone image of a screen example of a block detailed information window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a halftone image of a screen example of a warning information (addition) window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a halftone image of a screen example of a warning information (change) window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of cue sheet creation processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an automatic sending process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a state before (a) and a state after (b) division of a roll on a cue sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for describing the division of a scene accompanying the division of the package P2 in FIG.

22 is a diagram for explaining states before (a) and after (b) a change in the roll table due to the division of the roll in FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of scissor processing in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining chase broadcasting in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of a case where a scene whose OUT point is not determined is arranged as a package on a cue sheet in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 hub, 6a, 6b monitor, 7a, 7b monitor
9 ... main line, 10 ... digital recording and playback device, 12, 13 ...
Display, 14, 15 ... Keyboard, 16, 17 ...
Mouse, 18, 19 ... operation controller, 18a, 19
a: dial, 80: playlist, 101: editing terminal device, 102: cue sheet management terminal device, 110: E
ISA bus, 121: Processor card (including RAM), 122: Display controller card, 12
3 disk controller card 124 genlock reference card 125 RS422 interface card 126 video input interface card
127: video output interface card, 128: audio input / output interface card, 130: digital video bus, 133: video router, 135: SCS
I-2 bus, 140: video hard disk drive (random access storage device), 150: floppy disk drive, 160: system hard disk drive, 191: super device, 193: CM bank,
194 ... Switcher.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Koji Matsuura, Inventor Sonic Tektronix, Inc. 5-9-1-3 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Shogo Tsubouchi 5-9-1 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No. 31 Inside Sony Tektronix, Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A non-volatile random access storage device for storing video data, recording means for recording video data as a record from outside to the random access storage device, and stored in the random access storage device Playlist creation means for creating a playlist comprising scene identification information indicating the start position and end position of each of one or a plurality of scenes cut out from video data; and time axis information of absolute time for each program to be broadcast. While displaying the program progress table having the area on the display,
According to the user's instruction, a CM block defining the length of the CM is arranged in the time axis information area, and a plurality of packages defined by the playlist are arranged in other areas, whereby the program progress table is displayed. Means for creating a program progress table to be created, a role table for managing one or more packages arranged between two CM blocks as a role, and a role arranged in the time axis information area according to a user's instruction. Pointer means for designating one point on the time axis of the roll, and a roll for dividing the role into first and second independently editable roll parts at one point designated by the pointer means. Dividing means, corresponding to the time on the time axis at which each package of the roll is arranged in the time axis information area of the program progress table, Reproducing means for sequentially reproducing the corresponding video from the random access storage device based on the scene specifying information specified in the playlist of the package, and transmitting the reproduced output for broadcasting. Video broadcasting system. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roll dividing means updates the roll table so as to divide one of the packages constituting the roll into first and second packages in accordance with the division of the roll. The non-linear video broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The roll dividing means divides one of the scenes constituting the package into first and second scenes in accordance with the division of the package, and The first scene (if any) in the first package, and the second scene and subsequent scenes (if any) in the package in the second package. 3. The non-linear video broadcasting system according to claim 2, wherein the playlist is updated. 4. The roll dividing means according to a user's instruction, when one roll portion obtained by the division is moved between other CM blocks, the roll portion is located between the other CM blocks. 4. The roll table is updated so that a new one roll is formed by being combined with another roll.
The described non-linear video broadcasting system. 5. When a user designates a start position of a scene at a point in time of a record currently being recorded, a scene in which only this start position is designated is registered as a temporary scene in the playlist, and Is allowed to be arranged in the time axis information area of the program progress table, and furthermore, the recording of the record proceeds, and the user at the recorded position after the start position of the scene in the record, The non-linear video broadcasting system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when a division is instructed by the division means, the playlist is updated so that the division position determines the end position of the temporary scene. .