The present invention relates to a waveform monitor capable of connecting to a network, more specifically, to the waveform monitor capable of compressing image data displayed on a display and outputting to the network.
(Remote monitoring)
For example, when the computer 1 instructs a certain waveform monitor 3-1 to capture an image displayed on a display of the waveform monitor 3, the waveform monitor 3 sends a captured image in bitmap format to the computer 1 through the network 2 .
(On-site Monitoring)
In a broadcasting station B, the transmitted TS signal is converted to a second predetermined frequency by a down-converter 21, and this signal is further demodulated to a TS signal by a digital demodulator 22. The TS signal output from the digital demodulator 22 is input to an analyzer 23, where a transmission status of the TS signal is analyzed.
The analyzer 23 can analyze a transmission status of a video signal compressed in MPEG format represented by a TS signal, and display analysis result thereof. Such an analyzer 23 is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,497 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,719: Hoei Sangyo CO., LTD “DVStation (product information)”, internet <URL: http://www.hoei.co.jp/japan/product/pixelmetrix/dvstation.h tml>; and Tektronix, Inc., “MPEG Test System (Products)”, Internet <URL: http://www.tek.com/site/ps/0, ,2A-14844-INTRO_EN,00.html>,. However, the analyzer 23 cannot display a waveform of the video signal. Therefore, a user could not monitor the waveform of the video signal by using the analyzer 23. In these circumstances, the user has been conventionally to further provide a decoder 24 and a waveform monitor 25.
The TS signal output from the digital demodulator 22 is also input to the decoder 24, and an SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signal converted from the TS signal flows from the decoder 24 to the waveform monitor 25. Such a decoder 24 is disclosed in, for example, a NTT Electronics Corporation, “HDTV Decoder HD1000 (Products)”, internet <URL: http://www.nel-world.com/products/systems/hdtv_en_de.html>to be mentioned later, and such a waveform monitor 24 is disclosed in, for example, Leader Electronics Corp., “LV 5750 (Products)” internet <URL: http://www.leader.co.jp/english/product/lv—5750_e.html>to be mentioned later.
As shown in
The image generator 35 combines the display data (for example, the waveform display data, vectorscope display data and video display data) generated by the generator 33 and the analysis display data generated by the generator 34 to generate one image (frame) data, and outputs it to the display 36. The display 36 displays one image (frame) data. Thereby, the user can monitor the display data (for example, the waveform display data, the vectorscope display data and the video display data) generated by the generator 33 and the analysis display data generated by the generator 34.
Meanwhile, a controller 40 inputs a capture instruction from the computer 1 through the network 2, an interface 39 and an IP converter 38, and outputs the capture instruction to an image capturer 37. The image capturer 37 inputs the same data as the image (frame) data inputted to the display 36. The image capturer 37 generates still data in BMP format from the inputted image (frame) data according to the capture instruction from the computer 1. The still data is displayed on the display of the computer 1, thereby allowing remote monitoring.
When an image displayed on a display of a waveform monitor was remotely monitored, the image outputted from the waveform monitor was a still image in bitmap format. The image displayed on the display of the waveform monitor is generally a 24-bit image in XGA (1024×768 pixels) format, and has 18,874,368-bit (1024×768×24) information. Therefore, it took approximately 10 seconds for the computer to instruct to capture one image and receive the image from the waveform monitor. As a result, the computer could not timely remote-monitor the image displayed on the display of the waveform monitor.
In addition, a video signal monitoring system was required to further include an analyzer and/ or a decoder to monitor a transmission status and/ or a waveform status of a compressed transmission signal (a TS signal, a DV stream signal, or the like).
An object of the present invention is to provide a waveform monitor for timely remote-monitoring the image displayed on the display.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the waveform monitor for timely remote-monitoring the transmission status and/ or the waveform status of the compressed transmission signal.
Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art by reference to claims, embodiments of the invention to be described later, and drawings.
A waveform monitor of the present invention includes: means (35) for generating image data including at least waveform display data of a video signal; means (36) for displaying the image data; means (71) for generating moving image data compressed in a predetermined format from the image data; a converter (38) for packetizing the moving image data; and interface means (39) for outputting the packetized moving image data to a network.
The waveform monitor may further include means (51) for converting a compressed video signal to uncompressed parallel data; and the waveform display data is converted from the parallel data. The waveform monitor may further include means (52) for analyzing a transmission status of the compressed video signal and generating analysis data; and the image data includes the analysis data.
Further, a system of the present invention includes the waveform monitor, the network and a computer, in which the computer includes: means (94) for inputting the packetized moving image data from the network; means (93) for depacketizing the packetized moving image data; and means (91) for displaying the moving image data.
Since an image outputted from a waveform monitor is compressed, a computer can receive the image substantially without damaging information as a moving image. Further, since the image outputted from the waveform monitor is a moving image, the computer can adequately remote-monitor the image displayed on the display of the waveform monitor. Other advantages will be apparent for a skilled person in the art by reference to claims, embodiments of the invention to be described later, and drawings.
The converter 31 converts an SDI signal into parallel data; and the generator 33 converts the parallel data into waveform display data. The generator 33 preferably also converts the parallel data into vectorscope display data and/or video display data. Note that the generator 33 may generate other display data from the parallel data. The generator 33 outputs the display data (for example, a waveform display, a vectorscope display data and a video display data) to the image generator 35. When the generator 33 outputs a plurality of display data, the generator 33 may combine the plurality of display data.
The analyzer 32 analyzes a transmission status of the SDI signal, generates analysis data, and outputs the same to the generator 34. The generator 34 converts (combines) the analysis data into analysis display data, and outputs the same to the image generator 35.
The image generator 35 combines the display data generated by the generator 33 (for example, the waveform display data, the vectorscope display data and the video display ) and the analysis display data generated by the generator 34 to generate one image (frame) data, and outputs it to the display 36 and the image compressor 71.
The display 36 displays the one image (frame) data, as in the conventional display (refer to
Meanwhile, when the display 36 displays 60 images (frames) data per second, each of the generators 33, 34 and 35 outputs 60 data per second.
The image compressor 71 inputs the same data as the image (frame) data inputted to the display 36. The image compressor 71 generates moving image data compressed in a predetermined format (for example, an MPEG format, a DV format, an AVI format, a MotionJPEG format, or the like) from the inputted image (frame) data, according to capture instructions from a computer 1, and outputs the moving image data to the IP converter 38.
The IP converter 38 conforms the moving image data compressed in a predetermined format to IP, and outputs the same to a network 2 through the interface 39. The IP converter 38 generally packetizes data to be outputted, according to a TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) standard.
An Ethernet is generally used as the interface 39, and preferably the interface 39 has performance the same as or better than 100BASE-T. Although the network 2 is generally a LAN, the network 2 may be the Internet if the interface 39 has an Internet connecting function.
The controller 40 inputs the capture instruction from the computer 1 through the network 2, the interface 39 and the IP converter 38, and outputs the capture instruction to the image capturer 37. Specifically, the IP converter 38 outputs packetized capture instruction data from the network 2 through the interface 39. The IP converter 38 further depacketizes the packetized capture instruction data, and outputs the same to the controller 40. The controller 40 outputs the capture instruction data to the image compressor 71.
Although each of the generators 33, 34 and 35 has been herein described as a separate functional block, these generators 33, 34 and 35 may be configured as one CPU. Alternatively, each of the generators 33, 34 and 35 may be configured as one CPU. Further, the converter 31 and the analyzer 32 may also be configured as one CPU together with the generators 33, 34 and 35. In addition, the compressor 71, the converter 38 and the controller 40 also may be configured as one CPU together with the generators 33, 34 and 35.
By replacing at least one of a plurality of the waveform monitors 3 shown in
For example, a system, in which only the waveform monitor 3-1 shown in
Further, the IP converter 93 inputs the packetized moving image data from the waveform monitor 41 from the network 2 through the interface 94. The IP converter 93 further depacketizes the packetized moving image data and outputs to the controller 92. The controller 92 plays the moving image data on the display 91.
Although each of the controller 92 and the IP converter 35 has been herein described as a separate functional block, they may be configured as one CPU.
Meanwhile, in a broadcasting station, for example, there exists not only an SDI signal but also a compressed transmission signal (a TS signal, a DV stream signal, or the like). Therefore, the waveform monitor 41 preferably processes the compressed transmission signal.
The converter 51 converts the compressed transmission signal to parallel data, and outputs the same to the generator 33. When a compressed transmission signal is selected by a user, the generator 33 converts the parallel data from the converter 51 to the waveform display data (and preferably vectorscope display data and/or video display data), and outputs the same to the image generator 35. When an SDI signal is selected by the user, operation of the generator 33 is similar to that described with reference to
The analyzer 52 analyses a transmission status of the compressed transmission signal, generates analysis data, and outputs the same to the generator 34. When the compressed transmission signal is selected by the user, the generator 34 converts (combines) the analysis data from the analyzer 32 to analysis display data, and outputs the same to the image generator 35. When the SDI signal is selected by the user, the operation of the generator 34 is similar to that of the generator 53 described with reference to
When the compressed transmission signal is a TS signal, and the TS signal is selected by the user, and further, the waveform display, the vectorscope display, the video display and the analysis result display are selected by the user, the display 36 and the window in the display of the computer 1 display as shown in
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and a skilled person in the art can easily modify the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of claims of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2005-097431 | Mar 2005 | JP | national |