Patent Application
20110242330
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to digital audio, digital video, and related data signals in the broadcast segment. More particularly, the invention relates to the testing of broadcast-ready digital or analog audio, digital or analog video, and related data signals.
Broadcast signals are distributed in various formats and include numerous attributes, including but not limited to video signals, audio signals and embedded data. Broadcasters and content generators need to access, review and assess numerous parameters associated with these attributes to ensure compliance with the relevant local and international broadcast standards and to confirm quality.
Additionally, broadcasters and content generators are faced with differing statutory regimes for broadcast signals in different countries and regions of the world that impose different and diverse quality tests. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a low-cost (i.e., efficient), easily configurable and simple-to-use device with high functionality that can run various passive and active tests against broadcast signals.
Various test requirements call for access to different data points that are embedded in these signals such as, but not limited to, audio level and loudness values, audio phase information, multi-channel displays, sample rates, encoded bit streams, serial digital interface (SDI) displays, total harmonic distortion, video quality data, bit error rates, metadata, ancillary data, stream metadata, etc. Access to all such data points in a single enclosure can be very expensive, making it difficult for smaller content producers to afford the cost of purchase of required test equipment, while demand for specific data points in different enclosures may not be high enough to be commercially viable. Currently known testing devices are usually dedicated products that monitor a small subset of related data points inside a signal. It is difficult and cost-prohibitive to add additional data points as market requirements and market demand for access to the different embedded data points change. In recent times significant advances in technology coupled with the move to an all digital media environment has resulted in a new category of low cost pre and post production equipment capable of providing broadcast-ready signals that have a signal quality suitable for use by Broadcasters. This has resulted in a significant growth of small production facilities due to the affordability of modern acquisition and post production equipment. An area of concern to governing bodies responsible for standards applicable to the Broadcast industry is ensuring that program material produced by the smaller production facilities complies with the various standards for quality, signal integrity and levels for both audio and video. Current test and measurement equipment used by larger production facilities and broadcasters is still relatively expensive, often costing as much or more than the acquisition and editing equipment used by smaller production facilities.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for innovative use of lower cost technologies for providing affordable devices for testing broadcast signals that enables a user to access multiple data points in a single enclosure.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
To achieve the forgoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, an apparatus, system and method for testing broadcast signals is presented.
In one embodiment an apparatus includes an enclosure including a front side and a back side, means for receiving an input signal having a format generally conforming to one of a plurality of standards, means for processing the input signal and for at least outputting parameters of the input signal and means for displaying at least one of the parameters. Another embodiment further includes means for outputting an output signal having a format generally conforming to one of a plurality of standards. Yet another embodiment further includes means for communicating the parameters to remote equipment. Still another embodiment further includes means for instructing the displaying means to communicate with the processing means to instruct the processing means to perform at least one test and further instruct the processing means to output test results in the parameters. Another embodiment further includes means for conveying an alarm through the displaying means. Yet another embodiment further includes means for energizing the apparatus and for maintaining a charge on a battery in the displaying means. Still another embodiment further includes an additional plurality of receiving means and outputting means, an additional plurality of configurable processing means and an additional plurality of displaying means. Another embodiment further includes an additional plurality of instructing means.
In another embodiment an apparatus includes an enclosure including a front side and a back side. An input connection is joined to the enclosure for receiving an input signal having a format generally conforming to one of a plurality of standards. At least one signal processor is within the enclosure for processing the input signal and for at least outputting parameters of the input signal. At least one personal audio-visual device is joined to the front side and includes a display screen configurable for displaying at least one of the parameters. Another embodiment further includes an output connection joined to the enclosure for outputting an output signal having a format generally conforming to one of a plurality of standards. Yet another embodiment further includes at least one port joined to the enclosure for communicating the parameters to remote equipment. Still another embodiment further includes a plurality of software modules stored in at least one audio-visual device for instructing at least one personal audio-visual device to communicate with at least one signal processor to instruct at least one signal processor to perform at least one test associated with a selected software module and further instruct at least one signal processor to output test results in the parameters. Another embodiment further includes configurable alarm states associated with at least one test for conveying an alarm through at least one personal audio-visual device. Yet another embodiment further includes a power source for energizing the apparatus and for maintaining a charge on a battery in at least one personal audio-visual device. In still another embodiment the output signal includes an edited version of the input signal output by the signal processor. In another embodiment at least one port communicates using a wired connection. In yet another embodiment the display screen is a touch screen for controlling at least one personal audio-visual device. In still another embodiment the touch screen enables the plurality of software modules to be selectively turned on and off. In another embodiment the plurality of standards is broadcast standards. Yet another embodiment further includes an additional plurality of input connections and output connections, an additional plurality of signal processors configurable as at least one signal processor and an additional plurality of personal audio-visual devices configurable as at least one personal audio-visual device. Still another embodiment further includes an additional plurality of software modules stored in the additional plurality of personal audio-visual devices. In another embodiment the enclosure is rack mountable.
In another embodiment a system includes an input signal having a format generally conforming to one of a plurality of standards. At least one signal processor processes the input signal and at least outputs parameters of the input signal. At least one personal audio-visual device includes a display screen configurable for displaying at least one of the parameters. Another embodiment further includes an output signal having a format generally conforming to one of a plurality of standards. Yet another embodiment further includes at least one port for communicating the parameters to remote equipment. Still another embodiment further includes a plurality of software modules stored in at least one audio-visual device for instructing at least one personal audio-visual device to communicate with at least one signal processor to instruct at least one signal processor to perform at least one test associated with a selected software module and further instruct at least one signal processor to output test results in the parameters. Another embodiment further includes configurable alarm states associated with at least one test for conveying an alarm through at least one personal audio-visual device. In yet another embodiment the output signal includes an edited version of the input signal. In still another embodiment at least one port communicates on a wireless connection. In another embodiment the display screen is a touch screen for controlling the personal audio-visual device. In yet another embodiment the touch screen enables the plurality of software modules to be selectively turned on and off. In still another embodiment the plurality of standards is broadcast standards. Another embodiment further includes an additional plurality of input signals and output connections, an additional plurality of signal processors configurable as at least one signal processor and a plurality of personal audio-visual devices configurable as at least one personal audio-visual device. Yet another embodiment further includes an additional plurality of software modules stored in the additional plurality of personal audio-visual devices.
In another embodiment a method includes steps of receiving an input signal having a format generally conforming to one of a plurality of standards, processing the input signal and at least outputting parameters of the input signal and displaying at least one of the parameters on a display screen of a personal audio-visual device. Another embodiment further includes the step of outputting an output signal having a format generally conforming to the one of a plurality of standards. Yet another embodiment further includes the step of communicating the parameters to remote equipment. Still another embodiment further includes the step of loading a plurality of software modules in the audio-visual device for instructions to perform at least one test associated with a selected software module and to output test results in the parameters. Another embodiment further includes the step of configuring alarm states associated with at least one test for conveying an alarm through at least one personal audio-visual device. In yet another embodiment the output signal includes an edited version of the input signal. In still another embodiment the step of communicating occurs on a wireless connection. In another embodiment the display screen is a touch screen for controlling the personal audio-visual device. Yet another embodiment further includes the step of using the touch screen to selectively turn on and off the plurality of software modules. In still another embodiment the plurality of standards is broadcast standards.
Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become more apparent and be more readily understood from the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.
Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
It is to be understood that any exact measurements/dimensions or particular construction materials indicated herein are solely provided as examples of suitable configurations and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Depending on the needs of the particular application, those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of the following teachings, a multiplicity of suitable alternative implementation details.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and apparatuses including, but not limited to, computer program products and devices for performing passive and active tests, monitoring and editing against SMPTE240M, SMPTE 260M, SMPTE 274M, RP211, SMPTE 295M, SMPTE 296M, ITU-R BT.1120-7 HD formats and ITU-R BT.601-6, ITU-R BT.1358, ITU-R BT.656-5 SD formats transported over but not limited to the following interfaces (BP) SMPTE 297-2006 optical interface, Gigabit Ethernet (IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3z), PCI Express, serial digital interface (SDI) pursuant to SMPTE344M, SMPTE292M HD-SDI and SMPTE259M SD-SDI video interface standards, and AES signals pursuant to SMPTE 272M and SMPTE 299M audio standards or analog broadcast signals. Alternate embodiments of the present invention may be implemented to perform tests against various other signals such as, but not limited to, HD 720p H.264 BP, HD 1080i/p H.264 HP@L4, HD 1080i/p VC1/WMV9, HD 1080i/p MPEG-2 MP@HL, HD 1080i/p MPEG-4 ASP, and DivX.
In some preferred embodiments, the tests are called via touch controls where such touch controls are managed by applications loaded onto one or more commercially available personal audio-visual devices such as, but not limited to, an iPod Touch® or a Creative Labs Zii system. Alternate embodiments may be implemented that do not use touch controls. The compact nature of the design of preferred embodiments is highly desirable in locations where space is at an absolute premium such as, but not limited to, broadcast stations, broadcast trucks, studios, etc. Furthermore, incorporating a personal audio-visual device into the testing device in preferred embodiments gives the device the advantage of having excellent graphical and intuitive operation capabilities that are typical of these personal audio-visual devices.
Testing device 100 takes input broadcast signal 105 in one or more signal formats, processes input signal 105 in PCB 107 and makes the results of that processing available to personal audio-visual device 101. In the present embodiment, personal audio-visual device 101 is a commercially available device such as, but not limited to, an iPod® that includes intuitive touch features or a cellular phone with touch features; however, personal audio-visual devices used in alternate embodiments may not have touch features. Other alternate embodiments may be implemented that incorporate audio-visual devices that are not commercially available, but are specifically designed for use with the testing device. Furthermore, multiple personal audio-visual devices may be used in some alternate embodiments, as shown by way of example in
In the present embodiment, personal audio-visual device 101 is loaded with control software 109 to call the processed data via the integrated USB port for observation and manipulation. Software 109 comprises software modules, identified discretely or aggregately, that can be turned on or turned off. These software modules perform various tests on the data embedded in input signal 105. Some non-limiting examples of tests that may be performed on input signal 105 are identified in the table shown in
In typical use of the present embodiment, user 111 connects testing device 100 to input signal 105. This connection is made with a loop through connection when testing device 100 is in a testing or monitoring mode. This enables the broadcast signal to flow to other units in the broadcast facility. PCB 107 processes and performs tests on selected data elements embedded in or associated with input signal 105. In the present embodiment, PCB 107 is able to perform multiple tests in series or in parallel on input signal 105. The results of these tests are then called to personal audio-visual device 101 by software 109 installed on personal audio-visual device 101. These results are then displayed on personal audio-visual device 101 for user 111 to view. The present embodiment may also comprise configurable alarm states for the tests performed on input signal 105 that are communicated through the touch-screen and/or the related internal speaker of personal audio-visual device 101. For example only, but not intended to limit functionality, the alarm states may be configured to trigger when a test result is outside specified parameters, a loss of input signal, a failure in PCB 107, warning of near set limit based on broadcast industry standards relevant to signal type, statutory regime and format under test, etc. In other embodiments software 109, installed on personal audio-visual device 101, may include an expert system to aid a technician in diagnosing problems, such as, but not limited to, improperly terminated transmission lines, shorted or open output transmission lines, encoder overload, etc. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, personal audio-visual device 101 may be used to edit and make changes to the input signal, for example, but not by way of limitation to, changes in audio loudness, summing and balance, and video chroma saturation, tint balance, black level, meta data associated with inputs being monitored and tested, video and audio format conversion for display on 101 LCD screen or scaled to lower resolution format using PCB 107 for output to a low cost external video monitor, not shown, etc. In the present invention, when the input signal is to be edited, PCB 107 breaks the loop through connection, provides proper termination to the input signal, and outputs the edited signal.
CPU 502 may also be coupled to an interface 510 that connects to one or more input/output devices such as video monitors, track balls, mice, keyboards, microphones, touch-sensitive displays, transducer card readers, magnetic or paper tape readers, tablets, styluses, voice or handwriting recognizers, or other well-known input devices such as, of course, other computers. Finally, CPU 502 optionally may be coupled to an external device such as a database or a computer or telecommunications or internet network using an external connection as shown generally at 512, which may be implemented as a hardwired or wireless communications link using suitable conventional technologies. With such a connection, it is contemplated that the CPU might receive information from the network, or might output information to the network in the course of performing the method steps described in the teachings of the present invention.
A basic testing device according to some preferred embodiments of the present invention comprises a single PCB mounted behind a single personal audio-visual device with a single signal input, which provides access to one data point at a time. However, those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings, will readily recognize that alternate embodiments of the present invention may be more complex and implemented with various different combinations of signal inputs, multiple PCBs, multiple tests, multiple alarms, expert systems for diagnostics, editing of the input and transmitting the edited signal, storage of test results and output communications to various devices.
One alternate embodiment is a device with a single signal input, either SDI, or AES or Analog, that performs a single test. This device has no output communications through a remote communication port and receives no remote test parameters. Another alternate embodiment is a device with multiple signal inputs, SDI, AES or Analog, that performs a single test visible on the interface and has no output communications through a remote communication port and no receipt of remote test parameters. Yet another alternate embodiment comprises multiple signal inputs and performs a single test where the results of the test are both visible on the interface and communicated externally via a remote communication port while not receiving remote test parameters. Yet another alternate embodiment comprises multiple signal inputs and performs a single test, the results of which are both visible on the interface and communicated externally via a remote communication port, and receives remote test parameters for the display of the test results.
Other alternate embodiments may be implemented to perform multiple tests. In one such alternate embodiment, the device has a single signal input, SDI, AES or Analog, and performs any one of a number of tests that are visible on the interface and has no output communications through a remote communication port and no receipt of remote test parameters. Another alternate multiple test embodiment comprises multiple signal inputs, SDI, AES or Analog, and performs any one of a number of tests that are visible on the interface, either simultaneously or in serial fashion depending on space requirements to display the assessment criteria, with no output communications through a remote communication port and no receipt of remote test parameters. In yet another alternate multiple test embodiment, a device comprises multiple signal inputs and performs any one of a number of tests, the results of which are visible on the interface, either simultaneously or in serial fashion depending on space requirements to display the assessment criteria, and are communicated externally via a remote communication port, with no receipt of remote test parameters. Yet another alternate multiple test embodiment comprises multiple signal inputs and performs any one of a number of tests, the results of which are visible on the interface, either simultaneously or in serial fashion depending on space requirements to display the assessment criteria, and are communicated externally via a remote communication port, while receiving remote test parameters for display of test results.
Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of providing a broadcast signal testing system according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. For example, the particular implementation of the testing device may vary depending upon the particular type of signal being tested. The testing devices described in the foregoing were directed to implementations for testing broadcast signals; however, similar techniques are to provide testing devices for other types of signals such as, but not limited to, text-based data. Non-broadcast implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Claim elements and steps herein have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. As such, the numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.
