Monitoring apparatus

Abstract

A monitoring method for monitoring a video / audio signal transmitted from a transmission source to a transmission destination has a step of storing the video / audio signal transmitted from the transmission source to the transmission destination repeatedly for a predetermined time period, a step of comparing a first characteristic amount extracted from the video / audio signal before the transmission and a second characteristic amount extracted from the video / audio signal after the transmission in real time, a step of determining an error occurrence when there is a difference of a predetermined value or more between the first characteristic amount and the second characteristic amount, and a step of transmitting the stored video / audio signal to a predetermined destination when an error occurrence is determined.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 587,709, which was filed on Jul. 28, 2006, and which is a U.S. national phase application of PCT Application No. PCT / JP2006 / 300795, which was filed on Jan. 13, 2006.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus, and more particularly, to a monitoring apparatus suitable for monitoring a digital video / audio signal.[0004]2. Background Art[0005]In recent years, video processing techniques have been improved, and thus a high-quality video broadcast, such as a high-definition television broadcast, has been provided. Here, digital video signals of a high-definition television broadcast, etc., are often transmitted to each home through satellite broadcasting and a cable TV network. However, an error sometimes occurs during the transmission of video s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a monitoring system that can analyze the contents of errors that occur during transmission of video / audio signals. The system stores the video / audio signal repeatedly for a predetermined time period and compares two characteristic amounts of the signal before and after transmission in real-time. If there is a difference of a predetermined value or more between the two characteristic amounts, the system determines an error occurrence and transmits the stored video / audio signal to a predetermined destination. The system can detect various types of errors such as image freeze, blackout, audio mute, audio failure, video / audio mismatching, and irregular frame. The video / audio signal can also be corrected if there is a difference of a predetermined value or more between the two characteristic amounts."

Problems solved by technology

However, an error sometimes occurs during the transmission of video signals from various causes.

When an error occurs, problems, such as a video freeze, a blackout, noise, audio mute, etc., may result, and thus it becomes necessary to take countermeasures.

Thus, there is a problem in that a sufficient analysis cannot be made on what kind of error has occurred from that determination.

If a sufficient error analysis cannot be made, the same trouble may be brought about again.

However, in order to do that, it needs a vast amount of storage capacity for storing video / audio signals and enormous checking time.

Images