Radio broadcasting system

Abstract

To provide a radio broadcasting system capable of detecting abnormality other than a phenomenon that the voice of a speaker can not be heard at all SOLUTION: The radio broadcasting system 100 of the present invention includes a transmission unit 12 that transmits radio broadcast information, a reception unit 21 that receives the radio broadcast information, an output unit 22 that outputs a sound wave based on the radio broadcast information, a recording unit 23 that records the sound wave output from the output unit, and a determination unit 242 that determines whether a broadcast is normal or abnormal by comparing recorded data recorded by the recording unit 23 with basic data included in the broadcast to be originally broadcasted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to wireless broadcasting systems. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been a continuing increase in the number of large-scale disasters, and interest in disaster prevention radio systems is growing as a means of accurately informing nearby residents of disaster situations, evacuation information, and other emergency information when a disaster occurs.

[0003] In a disaster prevention radio system, emergency information transmitted from a master station is received by outdoor loudspeaker stations located in each area, and emergency information about the disaster is typically communicated to residents via audio emitted from the loudspeakers of the outdoor loudspeaker stations.

[0004] However, even if the outdoor loudspeaker station receives the emergency information as an electrical signal, if the loudspeaker installed at the outdoor loudspeaker station malfunctions or erroneously broadcasts an unintended message, the information will not be transmitted to residents as audio, putting them in a critical situation. In this case, the sender of the emergency information from the master station will mistakenly believe that the emergency information has been transmitted to residents without error because it is transmitted as an electrical signal, resulting in a significant discrepancy from the actual situation.

[0005] In particular, if the disaster prevention radio system was inspected relatively shortly before the disaster occurred, but a malfunction occurred at the time the disaster occurred, this assumption could lead to the mistaken belief that "emergency information should have been transmitted," and measures to transmit emergency information to residents by other means would not be taken, which could result in major damage.

[0006] Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a disaster prevention radio system in which a speaker vibration detector is attached to a speaker to detect the presence or absence of vibration, and if vibration of the speaker is not detected, the switch is turned off and a message is sent to the master station indicating that the speaker is not vibrating. With this type of disaster prevention radio system, it is possible for the master station, which is the source of the information, to determine whether emergency information in the event of a disaster is being transmitted as audio information from an outdoor loudspeaker slave station. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-195968 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The disaster prevention radio system in Patent Document 1 determines whether there is a malfunction by detecting whether the speaker is vibrating, so it is effective when the speaker's sound can no longer be heard.However, if a malfunction occurs, for example, where there is so much noise that the broadcast content cannot be heard, the speaker will be vibrating and the abnormality cannot be detected.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a wireless broadcasting system that can detect abnormalities other than the phenomenon in which sound from a speaker becomes completely inaudible. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present inventors have conducted extensive research to solve the above-mentioned problems. As a result, they have discovered that a wireless broadcasting system including a transmitter for transmitting wireless broadcast information, a receiver for receiving the wireless broadcast information, an output unit for outputting sound waves based on the wireless broadcast information, a recording unit for recording the sound waves output from the output unit, and a determination unit for comparing the sound data recorded by the recording unit with original data included in the broadcast that should have been broadcast to determine whether the broadcast is normal or abnormal can detect abnormalities other than the phenomenon in which sound from a speaker becomes completely inaudible, and have completed the present invention. Specifically, the present invention provides the following.

[0011] (1) a transmitting unit for transmitting radio broadcast information; a receiving unit for receiving the radio broadcast information; an output unit that outputs sound waves based on the radio broadcast information; a recording unit that records the sound waves output from the output unit; a determination unit that compares the recording data recorded by the recording unit with the original data included in the broadcast that should have been broadcast and determines whether the broadcast is normal or abnormal; Radio broadcasting system.

[0012] (2) The wireless broadcasting system described in (1), wherein the judgment unit judges whether the broadcast is normal or abnormal based on the degree of frequency agreement between the recorded data and the original data at each time of the sampling period.

[0013] (3) A wireless broadcasting system as described in (1), wherein the judgment unit judges whether the broadcast is normal or abnormal based on whether the percentage of time during which the frequencies of the recorded data and the original data match during the sampling period is above or below a threshold value.

[0014] (4) A wireless broadcasting system according to (1) or (2), wherein communication between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit is performed via an internet line.

[0015] (5) A radio broadcasting system according to (1) or (2), wherein the sound waves have a frequency of 20 Hz or more and 20 kHz or less.

[0016] (6) A radio broadcasting system according to (1) or (2), wherein the sound waves have a frequency of less than 20 Hz or greater than 20 kHz.

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to detect abnormalities other than the phenomenon where sound from a speaker becomes completely inaudible. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a wireless broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the functional configuration of an information processing device included in the wireless broadcasting system according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for checking the degree of match between recorded data and original data. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for checking the degree of match between recorded data and original data. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for checking the degree of match between recorded data and original data. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for checking the degree of match between recorded data and original data. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Specific embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "present embodiments") will be described in detail below. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be modified within the scope of the present invention.

[0020] <Wireless Broadcasting System> The wireless broadcasting system of this embodiment comprises a transmitting unit that transmits wireless broadcast information, a receiving unit that receives the wireless broadcast information, an output unit that outputs sound waves based on the wireless broadcast information, a recording unit that records the sound waves output from the output unit, and a judgment unit that compares the recording data recorded by the recording unit with the original data contained in the broadcast that should have been broadcast to judge whether the broadcast is normal or abnormal.

[0021] In the present invention, "wireless broadcasting" includes broadcasting via radio waves as well as broadcasting via the Internet.

[0022] The wireless broadcasting system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the wireless broadcasting system according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the functional configuration of an information processing device included in the wireless broadcasting system according to this embodiment.

[0023] The master station 1 is provided with a master station operation console 11, which is used to operate the master station 1, such as recording and synthesizing audio, and selecting the broadcast time and content. An antenna serving as a transceiver 12 (used here as a transmitter) is also provided on the roof of the master station 1, and wireless broadcast information is transmitted as an electrical signal via this transceiver 12.

[0024] The electrical signal transmitted from the transmitter 12 of the master station 1 in this manner is received by an antenna serving as a transmitter / receiver 21 (used here as a receiver) in the slave station 2 installed at a location distant from the master station. Note that, although the above description shows an example in which information is exchanged between the transmitter / receiver 12 and the transmitter / receiver 21 by radio waves in the wireless broadcasting system 100, the means of communication is not particularly limited, and various communication means such as an internet line can be used.

[0025] The electrical signal received by the transmitting / receiving unit 21 as described above is converted into sound waves (voice) by a speaker serving as the output unit 22 and output from there. The sound waves output from the output unit 22 are then recorded by the recording unit 23. The recording unit 23 is made up of a microphone (sound collector) and a recorder (sound recorder). Recorded data is obtained by the recording unit 23. The obtained recorded data is stored in the recording unit 241 of the information processing unit 24. The information processing unit 24 is made up of, for example, various computers, etc.

[0026] Thereafter, the recording data is compared with the original data contained in the broadcast that should have been broadcast by the determination unit 242 of the information processing unit 24 to determine whether the broadcast is normal or abnormal.

[0027] A method for determining whether a broadcast is normal or abnormal, performed by the determination unit 242, will be specifically described below.

[0028] In one embodiment, the determination unit 242 determines whether the broadcast is normal or abnormal based on the degree of frequency agreement between the recorded data and the original data at each time during the sampling period.

[0029] Specifically, the normality or abnormality of the broadcast is determined based on whether the percentage of time during which the frequencies of the recorded data and the original data match during the sampling period is above or below a threshold value.

[0030] Specifically, for example, the sampling period is set to 1 second, and that sampling period is divided into 100 0.01-second intervals. Every 0.01 seconds, a comparison is made to see if the sound of the original data is being heard (matched) within the recorded data, and the percentage of matches is calculated. If that percentage is equal to or greater than a threshold value, it can be determined that the sampled portion contains a sound similar to the original data. On the other hand, if it is less than the threshold value, it can be determined that the portion does not contain a sound similar to the original data.

[0031] 3 to 6 are diagrams for explaining a method for checking whether the frequencies of recorded data and base data match. In FIGS. 3 to 6, the horizontal axis represents the elapsed time from a reference time (for example, a start time, which will be described later), and the vertical axis represents the frequency of the sound wave generated at that time. Each graph also shows three graphs. Of these, the graph shown in the upper left is an example of base data, which is usually written as "ping pong pan pong" and is an "ascending chime sound" with four notes that go up in pitch. This base data is common to all of FIGS. 3 to 6. The graph shown in the lower left is an example of recorded data, which is different in FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0032] In Figure 3, the graph of the base data shown in the upper right shows sound waves of four tones whose frequency increases by one tone from about 250Hz to 500Hz and four tones whose frequency increases by one tone from about 750Hz to 1500Hz, from about 0.8 seconds to about 4.5 seconds, and the match between the frequencies of the recorded data and the base data is confirmed based on these sound waves. In Figure 3, the graph of the recorded data shown in the lower left also shows sound waves of four tones whose frequency increases by one tone from about 250Hz to 500Hz and four tones whose frequency increases by one tone from about 750Hz to 1500Hz, from about 0.8 seconds to about 4.5 seconds, and it can be said that there is a high degree of match with the base data.

[0033] On the other hand, in Figure 4, the graph of recorded data shown in the lower left is recorded data of four sound waves (called "downward chime sounds") whose frequency decreases by one tone from approximately 500 Hz to 250 Hz and four sound waves whose frequency decreases by one tone from approximately 1500 Hz to approximately 750 Hz between approximately 0.8 seconds and approximately 4.5 seconds, and it can be said that this does not match the original data at all.

[0034] In addition, in Figure 5, the graph of recorded data shown in the lower left is a live announcement, and it can be said that the percentage of agreement with the original data is low.

[0035] To align the start times of the sampling periods of the recorded data and the original data, for example, the following method can be used. First, recording is performed for a period longer than the sampling period. Next, the start time of the recorded data is moved forward or backward relative to the start time of the original data, and the percentage of agreement between the recorded data and the original data is calculated as described above. Then, the start time of the recorded data that shows the highest percentage is adopted.

[0036] For example, the graph of the recorded data shown in the lower left of Fig. 6 is about 1.2 seconds earlier than the recorded data shown in the lower left of Fig. 3, and the recorded voice itself is the same, so if the percentage of match between the recorded data and the original data is calculated as is, the percentage will be low (in this case, the degree of match is 0). Therefore, the waveform in the graph of the recorded data shown in the lower left of Fig. 6 is delayed by about 1.2 seconds (the start time is delayed by about 1.2 seconds) to adjust the percentage of match between the recorded data and the original data to a high level, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0037] Since it is sufficient to compare only a portion of the recorded data and original data that was broadcast, the sampling period may be, for example, 0.1 seconds or more. The sampling period may be 0.2 seconds or more, 0.5 seconds or more, or 1 second or more. On the other hand, the sampling period may be 1 hour or less, 30 minutes or less, 20 minutes or less, 10 minutes or less, 5 minutes or less, 2 minutes or less, or 1 minute or less. The sampling period may also be longer than 1 hour.

[0038] The sampling frequency is preferably set by equally dividing the sampling period, for example, 50 times or more, 100 times or more, 150 times or more, or 200 times or more. On the other hand, the sampling frequency may be 100,000 times or less, 50,000 times or less, 10,000 times or less, or 5,000 times or less. The sampling frequency may also be more than 100,000 times.

[0039] In comparing the recorded data and the original data, a human voice may be used, but sound waves such as music with a pitch are preferred so that they can be distinguished from background sounds.

[0040] In one embodiment, the frequency of the sound wave is not particularly limited, but may be 20 Hz to 20 kHz, inclusive. Frequencies in this range are audible sounds (generally, frequencies that humans can hear).

[0041] When using sound waves in this range to determine whether a broadcast is normal or abnormal, since the sound is audible, it is possible to, for example, broadcast an actual broadcast with content, record the content of the broadcast, and use the recorded data.

[0042] Specifically, in the case of a local disaster prevention radio broadcasting system, many local governments play the announcement sound, described as "ping pong pan pong," that is played before the radio broadcast content is aired, the time signals that inform local residents that it is noon or evening, and music that mainly encourages children to go home in the evening, known as "sunset chimes" or "sunset broadcasts," during normal times, so such music can be used for comparison.

[0043] In addition, test broadcasts may be conducted to compare the recorded data with the original data, but test broadcasts often attract complaints from neighboring residents. Therefore, sounds such as "beep," "beep," and "grrr" that mimic speaker noise may be used for comparison.

[0044] Furthermore, to prevent complaints from neighbors, the sound waves do not have to be audible. In one embodiment, the sound waves may have a frequency below 20 Hz or above 20 kHz. Frequencies in this range are inaudible (frequencies that humans cannot generally hear).

[0045] A typical example of a speaker malfunction is a malfunction in which the speaker volume drops due to deterioration or the like. In the case of a malfunction in which the volume drops significantly, the frequency band cannot be detected from the recorded audio, and the percentage of matches with the original data drops. Therefore, the wireless broadcasting system 100 of this embodiment can also be used to detect malfunctions such as a drop in speaker volume.

[0046] The recorded data and the original data may also be compared in terms of volume. For example, as shown in Figure 3, after matching the frequency and time, if the upper limit or average volume of the recorded data in the portion where the recorded data and the original data match is equal to or greater than a threshold (or exceeds the threshold), it is determined that the speaker is not malfunctioning, and if it is less than the threshold (or less than the threshold), it is determined that the speaker is malfunctioning. Also, if the proportion of the recorded data volume that is equal to or greater than the threshold (or exceeds the threshold) in the portion where the recorded data and the original data match is equal to or greater than the threshold (or exceeds the threshold), it is determined that the speaker is not malfunctioning, and if the proportion of the recorded data volume that is equal to or greater than the threshold (or exceeds the threshold) is less than the threshold (or less than the threshold), it is determined that the speaker is malfunctioning.

[0047] In the above specific example, the judgment unit 242 is provided in the slave station 2, i.e., the normality or abnormality of the broadcast is judged on the slave station 2 side, but the physical location of the information processing device including the judgment unit is not particularly limited, and it may be on the master station 1 side, or may be placed on a server or the like that is neither the master station 1 nor the slave station 2.

[0048] Once the normality or abnormality of the broadcast has been determined in the above manner, the determination result is transmitted from the transceiver 21 (used here as the transmitter) to the master station 1, where it is received by the transceiver 12 (used here as the receiver). The determination result received in this manner is displayed on the master station console 11, and although the transmitter and receiver have been shown above as a single transceiver 12, 21, they may each be separate. When the transmitter and receiver are separated in this manner, communication between the transmitter of the master station 1 and the receiver of the slave station 2, and communication between the receiver of the master station 1 and the transmitter of the slave station 2, may be performed using different communication methods.

[0049] The above has mainly explained an example in which the wireless broadcasting system 100 of this embodiment is used for disaster prevention radio, but the uses of the wireless broadcasting system of this embodiment are not limited to disaster prevention radio, and it can also be used for, for example, announcements on train platforms, sirens to warn of tsunamis, announcements at tourist spots, security systems on premises, and guidance systems in parking lots.

[0050] The wireless broadcasting system 100 of this embodiment can detect failures that cause the speaker sound to become completely inaudible, as well as failures that cause the speaker volume to become lower than a predetermined value, failures that cause excessive noise that makes the broadcast content inaudible, and human error such as broadcasting audio that is different from the audio that should have been broadcast.

[0051] The wireless broadcasting system of this embodiment is not limited to the specific embodiment described above, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope that does not impair the effects of the wireless broadcasting system of this embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 100 Radio Broadcasting System 1 Master station 11 Master station console 12 Transmitter / Receiver 2 slave stations 21 Transmitter / receiver 22 Output section 23 Recording Department 24 Information Processing Department 241 Recording Department 242 Judgment section

Claims

1. a transmitting unit that transmits radio broadcast information; a receiving unit for receiving the radio broadcast information; an output unit that outputs sound waves based on the radio broadcast information; a recording unit that records the sound waves output from the output unit; a determination unit that compares the recording data recorded by the recording unit with the original data included in the broadcast that should have been broadcast and determines whether the broadcast is normal or abnormal; Radio broadcasting system.

2. The determination unit determines whether the broadcast is normal or abnormal based on the degree of coincidence of frequencies of the recorded data and the original data at each time of a sampling period.

2. The radio broadcasting system according to claim 1.

3. The determination unit determines whether the broadcast is normal or abnormal based on the percentage of the time during which the frequencies of the recorded data and the original data match during a sampling period above or below a threshold value.

2. The radio broadcasting system according to claim 1.

4. The communication between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit is performed via an internet line.

3. The radio broadcasting system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The sound waves have a frequency of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

3. The radio broadcasting system according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The sound waves have a frequency below 20 Hz or above 20 kHz.

3. The radio broadcasting system according to claim 1 or 2.

Images