TRANSFER CONTROL DEVICE, TRANSFER CONTROL METHOD, TRANSFER CONTROL PROGRAM, SWITCHING SYSTEM, SWITCHING METHOD, AND TRANSFER SYSTEM

Abstract

To shorten an interruption time of a broadcast material transferred to an output destination device by switching the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device.SOLUTION: A transfer control device controls switching means that switches a broadcast material to be transferred to an output destination device from a material before switching which is a broadcast material transferred by a first receiving device to a material after switching which is a broadcasting material transferred by a second receiving device, and controls the transfer of the broadcast material by the second receiving device gives a transfer start instruction to instruct the start of transfer of the material after switching to the second receiving device before switching timing which is timing at which the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device is to be switched from the material before switching to the material after switching, and instructs the switching means to switch the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the material before switching to the material after switching at the switching timing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transfer control device, a transfer control method, a transfer control program, a switching system, a switching method, and a transfer system. [Background technology]

[0002] The broadcast master transmission system is a system for transmitting programs at a predetermined timing based on the date and time. The broadcast master transmission system transmits broadcast materials input from an input source device to a transmitting station or the like via an output destination device.

[0003] The broadcast material is information corresponding to the broadcast content including, for example, video, audio, ancillary data, etc. The input source device is, for example, a device that receives the broadcast material from a material bank, an editing device (studio), or a live broadcast camera used outdoors, etc. The output destination device is, for example, a device that transmits the broadcast material to a transmitting station, a broadcasting station, a material bank, etc.

[0004] In the broadcast master transmission system, broadcast materials are transmitted in a signal format unique to broadcasting called SDI (Serial Digital Interface). In this case, switching of the broadcast material output to the output destination device is performed by switching the broadcast material transmitted by the SDI signal. Switching of broadcast materials transmitted by SDI signals can be performed seamlessly. In other words, when switching broadcast materials transmitted by SDI signals, no breaks occur in the broadcast materials transmitted within the station or in the broadcast content played back on the receiver, ensuring broadcast quality.

[0005] Meanwhile, with the development of IP (Internet Protocol) technology, broadcasting stations are promoting the construction of systems using IP-based communication networks. By adopting IP-based network architecture, it becomes possible to construct a high-speed, large-capacity communication network at low cost using IP-based communication devices such as general-purpose routers and switches.

[0006] FIG. 21 shows an example of the configuration of a content transmission system using an IP network.

[0007] The transfer device is, for example, a general-purpose IP router. General-purpose IP routers are often equipped with an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) function. In a content transmission system, this IGMP function can be used to switch broadcast materials to be sent to each output destination device (Patent Document 1).

[0008] When the receiving device starts receiving broadcast material, it transmits a Join packet to the transfer device, requesting participation in the multicast group to which the desired broadcast material is input. This enables the receiving device to receive the broadcast material input by the input source device, addressed to the multicast group. When the receiving device stops receiving the broadcast material, it transmits a Leave packet to the transfer device, requesting withdrawal from the multicast group.

[0009] When switching the broadcast material to be transmitted to the output destination device, the receiving device transmits a Leave packet and a Join packet to the transfer device. When the transfer device receives the Leave packet, it stops transferring the broadcast material before the switch. When the transfer device receives the Join packet, it starts transferring the broadcast material after the switch. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-162090 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] However, with this method, the broadcast material is not transferred between the time when the transfer of the broadcast material before the switch is stopped and the time when the transfer of the broadcast material after the switch is started, which may result in a gap in the broadcast material transmitted within the station or in the broadcast content played back on the receiver.

[0012] Another possible method is to send a Leave packet after a Join packet so as not to create a gap. However, this method results in a state in which both the broadcast material before the switch and the broadcast material after the switch are being transferred. When both the broadcast material before the switch and the broadcast material after the switch are being transferred, the communication bandwidth that was originally intended for transferring one broadcast material is used to transfer two broadcast materials. This puts a strain on the communication bandwidth, and there is a possibility that packet loss will occur in the broadcast material being transferred. When packet loss occurs, loss will occur in the broadcast material being transferred, and there is a possibility that disturbance will occur in the broadcast content.

[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer control device, a transfer control method, a transfer control program, a switching system, a switching method, and a transfer system that make it possible to shorten the interruption time of broadcast material transferred to a destination device due to switching of the broadcast material transferred to the destination device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In one aspect of the present invention, a transfer control device includes a switching control unit that controls a switching means that switches the broadcast material to be transferred to a destination device from a pre-switching material, which is the broadcast material being transferred by a first receiving device, to a post-switching material, which is the broadcast material being transferred by a second receiving device, and a transfer control unit that controls the transfer of the broadcast material by the second receiving device, wherein, while the first receiving device is transferring the pre-switching material, the transfer control unit issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device to instruct it to start transferring the post-switching material before a switching timing, which is the timing at which the broadcast material to be transferred to the destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material, and the switching control unit issues a switching instruction to the switching means at the switching timing to instruct it to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material.

[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, a transfer control method includes controlling a switching means for switching a broadcast material to be transferred to a destination device from a pre-switching material, which is a broadcast material being transferred by a first receiving device, to a post-switching material, which is a broadcast material being transferred by a second receiving device, and a transfer control device for controlling the transfer of the broadcast material by the second receiving device issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device to instruct it to start transferring the post-switching material prior to a switching timing, which is the timing at which the broadcast material to be transferred to the destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material, and issues a switching instruction to the switching means at the switching timing, instructing it to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material.

[0016] In another aspect of the present invention, a transfer control program causes a computer to realize a switching control function that controls a switching means for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to a destination device from a pre-switching material, which is a broadcast material being transferred by a first receiving device, to a post-switching material, which is a broadcast material being transferred by a second receiving device, and a transfer control function that controls the transfer of the broadcast material by the second receiving device, wherein the transfer control function, while the first receiving device is transferring the pre-switching material, issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device to instruct it to start transferring the post-switching material before a switching timing, which is the timing at which the broadcast material to be transferred to the destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material, and the switching control function issues a switching instruction to the switching means at the switching timing, instructing the broadcast material to be transferred to the destination device to be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material.

[0017] In another aspect of the present invention, a switching system includes a first receiving device and a second receiving device that transfer received broadcast material to a switching means, and a switching means that transfers either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device to an output destination device, wherein the first receiving device and the second receiving device start receiving the instructed broadcast material when they receive a transfer start instruction that instructs them to start transferring the broadcast material, and the switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device when it receives a switching instruction that instructs them to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, the switching method is characterized in that, when a first receiving device and a second receiving device receive a transfer start instruction instructing the start of transfer of broadcast material, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to a switching means, and the switching means transfers either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device to an output destination device, and when a switching instruction is received instructing the switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device, the switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a transfer control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of a switching system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the operation of the transfer control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the switching system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system including a transfer control device and a switching system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a switching system according to second and third embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a configuration of a transfer control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of the operation of a transfer control device and a switching system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system including a transfer control device and a switching system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a configuration of a transfer control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system including a transfer control device and a switching system according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a switching system according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the operation of a transfer control device and a switching system according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the operation of a transfer control device and a switching system according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system including a transfer control device and a switching system according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a configuration of a transfer control device according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the operation of a transfer control device and a switching system according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the operation of a transfer control device and a switching system according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the operation of a transfer control device and a switching system according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration according to each embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a content transmission system using an IP network. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0022] 1 shows an example of the configuration of a transfer control device 10 of this embodiment. The transfer control device 10 of this embodiment includes a transfer control unit 11 and a switching control unit 12.

[0023] The transfer control unit 11 controls the transfer of the broadcast material by the second receiving device. While the first receiving device is transferring the pre-switching material, the transfer control unit 11 issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device to instruct the second receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material to the switching means before the switching timing. The switching timing is the timing at which the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material. The output destination device is a device that can be the output destination of the broadcast material.

[0024] The switching control unit 12 controls a switching means for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from a pre-switching material, which is the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device, to a post-switching material, which is the broadcast material transferred by the second receiving device. At a switching timing, the switching control unit 12 issues a switching instruction to the switching means to instruct the switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material.

[0025] By configuring the transfer control device 10 in this manner, the transfer control device 10 instructs the second receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material before the switching timing while the first receiving device is transferring the pre-switching material to the switching means. Also, at the switching timing, the transfer control device 10 issues a switching instruction to the switching means to instruct the switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material. This enables the transfer control device 10 to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device by the switching means while the pre-switching material and the post-switching material are being transferred to the switching means. This makes it possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0026] 2 shows an example of the configuration of a switching system 40 according to this embodiment. The switching system 40 according to this embodiment includes a first receiving device 41, a second receiving device 42, and a switching unit 43.

[0027] The first receiving device 41 and the second receiving device 42 transfer the received broadcast material to the switching means. When the first receiving device 41 and the second receiving device 42 receive a transfer start instruction to start transferring the broadcast material, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material.

[0028] The switching means 43 transfers to the output destination device either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 41 or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 42. When the switching means 43 receives a switching instruction to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0029] By configuring the switching system 40 in this manner, when the first receiving device 41 and the second receiving device 42 receive a transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the switching means. Also, when the switching means 43 receives a switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device between the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 41 and the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 42. This allows the switching system 40 to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device by the switching means while the first receiving device 41 and the second receiving device 42 are transferring the broadcast material to the switching means. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0030] Next, an example of the operation of the transfer control device 10 of the present embodiment is shown in FIG.

[0031] While the first receiving device is transferring pre-switching material to the switching means, the transfer control unit 11 instructs the second receiving device to start transferring post-switching material before the switching timing (step S101).

[0032] At the switching timing, the switching control unit 12 instructs the switching means to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device (step S102).

[0033] By operating in this manner, the transfer control device 10 instructs the second receiving device to start transferring post-switching materials before the switching timing while the first receiving device is transferring pre-switching materials to the switching means. Also, at the switching timing, the transfer control device 10 issues a switching instruction to the switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching materials to the post-switching materials. This makes it possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device.

[0034] Next, an example of the operation of the switching system 40 of this embodiment is shown in FIG.

[0035] When the first receiving device 41 and the second receiving device 42 receive a transfer start instruction instructing the start of transfer of broadcast material, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to a switching means (step S201).

[0036] The switching means 43 transfers to the destination device either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 41 or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 42. When the switching means 43 receives a switching instruction to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the destination device, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the destination device (step S202).

[0037] By operating the switching system 40 in this manner, when the first receiving device 41 and the second receiving device 42 receive a transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the switching means. Also, when the switching means 43 receives a switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device between the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 41 and the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 42. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0038] As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the transfer control device 10 instructs the second receiving device to start transferring post-switching materials before the switching timing while the first receiving device is transferring pre-switching materials to the switching means. In addition, the transfer control device 10 instructs the switching means to switch the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching materials to the post-switching materials at the switching timing. In addition, when the first receiving device 41 and the second receiving device 42 receive the transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the switching means. In addition, when the switching means 43 receives the switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device to either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 41 or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 42. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device due to the switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0039] [Second embodiment] Next, a transfer control device 20 and a switching system 50-i according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which broadcast materials to be transferred to output destination devices are switched according to a broadcast schedule.

[0040] 5 shows a configuration example of a transfer system including a transfer control device 20 and a switching system 50-i (i is an integer between 1 and m) of this embodiment. An input source device 81-j (j is an integer between 1 and n) is connected to a transfer device 82. A switching system 50-i (i is an integer between 1 and m) is also connected to the transfer device 82. A transfer control device 20 is also connected to the switching system 50-i. A destination device 83-i is also connected to the switching system 50-i.

[0041] The output destination device 83-i is a device that can be an output destination of the broadcast material, such as a transmitting station, a material bank, etc. The input source device 81-j is a device that can be an input source of the broadcast material, such as a material bank, an editing device, or a camera used outdoors, and receives the broadcast material from the device.

[0042] The transfer control device 20 controls the transfer of broadcast materials from the input source device 81-j to the output destination device 83-i. In this embodiment, the transfer control device 20 is a device that knows the broadcast schedule, such as an APS (Automatic Program Control System) or a device connected to the APS. The transfer control device 20 instructs the switching system 50-i to switch the broadcast materials to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i.

[0043] The switching system 50-i, in accordance with an instruction from the transfer control device 20, switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i.

[0044] The transfer device 82 transfers the broadcast material from the input source device 81-j to the switching system 50-i. The transfer device 82 is, for example, a general-purpose IP router. The transfer device 82 receives a Leave message or a Join message from the switching system 50-i. When the transfer device 82 receives a Leave message from the switching system 50-i, it stops transferring the broadcast material being transferred to the switching system 50-i. When the transfer device 82 receives a Join message from the switching system 50-i, it starts transferring the broadcast material from the input source device 81-j, which inputs the broadcast material to the multicast group address included in the Join message, to the switching system 50-i.

[0045] Next, Fig. 6 shows a configuration example of a switching system 50-i of this embodiment. The switching system 50-i of this embodiment includes a first receiving device 51-i, a second receiving device 52-i, and a switching means 53-i. The first receiving device 51-i is a receiving device currently receiving pre-switching material. In addition, in switching of broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i, the broadcast material transferred before switching is called pre-switching material, and the broadcast material transferred after switching is called post-switching material.

[0046] The first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i transfer the broadcast material received from the transfer device 82 to the switching means 53-i. When the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i receive a transfer start instruction from the transfer control device 20 to instruct the start of transfer of the broadcast material, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material. Specifically, when the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i receive the transfer start instruction, they send a Join message to the transfer device 82.

[0047] Furthermore, the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i stop receiving the instructed broadcast material when they receive a transfer stop instruction to stop the transfer of the broadcast material from the transfer control device 20. Specifically, the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i transmit a Leave message to the transfer device 82 when they receive a transfer stop instruction.

[0048] The switching means 53-i transfers either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 51-i or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 52-i to the output destination device 83-i. When the switching means 53-i receives a switching instruction to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i, the switching means 53-i switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i.

[0049] The switching means 53-i is a means capable of switching the broadcast material transferred to the subsequent stage by the switching means 53-i in a time shorter than the time required for the transfer device 82 to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device 51-i. For example, the switching means 53-i may be a means for switching the broadcast material transmitted by an SDI signal. In this case, the output from the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i and the input to the output destination device 83-i are SDI signals.

[0050] When the switching means 53-i switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by switching the SDI signal, the switching means 53-i can shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material due to the switching. If the switching means 53-i receives a switching instruction while one of the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i is receiving the pre-switching material and the other is receiving the post-switching material, the switching means 53-i can shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i.

[0051] By configuring the switching system 50-i in this way, when the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i receive a transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the switching means. Also, when the switching means 53-i receives a switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device between the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 51-i and the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 52-i. This allows the switching system 50-i to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device by the switching means 53-i while the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i are transferring the broadcast material to the switching means 53-i. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device due to the switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0052] 7 shows an example of the configuration of the transfer control device 20 of this embodiment. The transfer control device 20 includes a transfer control unit 21 and a switching control unit 22.

[0053] While the first receiving device 51-i is transferring pre-switching material to the switching means 53-i, the transfer control unit 21 transmits a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 52-i to instruct it to start transferring post-switching material to the switching means 53-i.

[0054] The timing of the instruction to start transfer is before the switching timing at which the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i is switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material. In the case of this embodiment, the switching timing is the timing at which the broadcast material to be output to the output destination device 83-i should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material in the broadcast schedule. The transfer control unit 21 instructs the second receiving device 52-i to start transferring the post-switching material before the switching timing.

[0055] Furthermore, after switching by the switching means 53-i, the transfer control unit 21 may transmit a transfer stop instruction to the first receiving device 51-i to which the pre-switching material had been transferred.

[0056] At the switching timing, the switching control unit 22 issues a switching instruction to the switching means 53-i to switch the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material. The switching means 53-i switches the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material input from the first receiving device 51-i to the post-switching material input from the second receiving device 52-i.

[0057] In the above description, it is assumed that the first receiving device 51-i is receiving the pre-switching material. However, after the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i is switched, the second receiving device 52-i will be receiving the pre-switching material at the time of the next switch. Therefore, the transfer control device 20 transfers the post-switching material alternately to the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i every time the broadcast material is switched.

[0058] By configuring the transfer control device 20 in this manner, the transfer control device 20 instructs the second receiving device 52-i to start transferring the post-switching material before the switching timing, while the first receiving device 51-i is transferring the pre-switching material to the switching means. Also, the transfer control device 20 instructs the switching means 53-i to switch the broadcasting material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material at the switching timing. This allows the transfer control device 20 to switch the broadcasting material transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the switching means 53-i while the pre-switching material and the post-switching material are being transferred to the switching means 53-i. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcasting material transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcasting material transferred to the output destination device.

[0059] Next, an example of the operation of the transfer control device 20 and the switching system 50-i of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0060] While the first receiving device 51-i is transferring pre-switching material to the switching means 53-i (step S301), the transfer control device 20 transmits a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 52-i to instruct it to start transferring post-switching material to the switching means 53-i (step S302).

[0061] The timing of the transfer start instruction is before the switching timing at which the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i is switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material. In the case of this embodiment, the switching timing is the timing at which the broadcast material to be output to the output destination device 83-i should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material in the broadcast schedule. The transfer control device 20 issues a transfer start instruction for the post-switching material to the second receiving device 52-i before the switching timing.

[0062] The second receiving device 52-i starts receiving the instructed broadcast material when it receives the transfer start instruction from the transfer control device 20. Specifically, when the second receiving device 52-i receives the transfer start instruction, it transmits a Join message including the multicast group address of the broadcast material instructed in the transfer start instruction to the transfer device 82 (step S303).

[0063] When the transfer device 82 receives the Join message from the second receiving device 52-i, it starts transferring the post-switching material to the second receiving device 52-i (step S304). More specifically, the transfer device 82 transfers the post-switching material from the input source device 81-j that inputs the post-switching material indicated by the multicast group address included in the Join message to the second receiving device 52-i. The second receiving device 52-i transfers the broadcast material received from the transfer device 82 to the switching means 53-i (step S305).

[0064] At the switching timing, the transfer control device 20 issues a switching instruction to the switching means 53-i to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material (step S306). When the switching means 53-i receives the switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i to the post-switching material transferred by the second receiving device 52-i (step S307).

[0065] After the switching of the broadcast material in step S307 is completed, the transfer control device 20 transmits a transfer stop instruction to the first receiving device 51-i to instruct the first receiving device 51-i to stop transferring the broadcast material (step S308). Upon receiving the transfer stop instruction, the first receiving device 51-i transmits a Leave message to the transfer device 82 (step S309). Upon receiving the Leave message from the first receiving device 51-i, the transfer device 82 stops transferring the pre-switching material to the first receiving device 51-i (step S310). Since the first receiving device 51-i stops receiving the pre-switching material, it stops transferring the pre-switching material to the output destination device 83-i (step S311).

[0066] By the transfer control device 20 and the switching system 50-i operating in this manner, the transfer control device 20 issues a transfer start instruction for the post-switching material to the second receiving device 52-i before the switching timing. Also, the transfer control device 20 issues a switching instruction to the switching means 53-i at the switching timing. Also, when the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i receive the transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the switching means 53-i. Also, when the switching instruction is received, the switching means 53-i switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i to either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 51-i or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 52-i. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device due to the switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0067] As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the transfer control device 20 instructs the second receiving device 52-i to start transferring the post-switching material before the switching timing. In addition, the transfer control device 20 instructs the switching means 53-i to switch at the switching timing. In addition, when the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i receive the transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the switching means 53-i. In addition, when the switching means 53-i receives the switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i to either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 51-i or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 52-i. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device due to the switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0068] [Third embodiment] Next, a transfer control device 30 and a switching system 50-i according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which special material, such as an emergency broadcast, which is different from the broadcast schedule planned by the APS, is transferred to an output destination device.

[0069] First, FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of a transfer system including the transfer control device 30 and a switching system 50-i according to this embodiment.

[0070] The input source device 81-j, the transfer device 82, the switching system 50-i, and the output destination device 83-i are the same as those in the second embodiment, and therefore their explanations are omitted. Also, the configuration example of the switching system 50-i in this embodiment is the same as that of the switching system 50-i in the second embodiment (FIG. 6), and therefore their explanations are omitted.

[0071] The transfer control device 30 of this embodiment controls the transfer of broadcast materials from the input source device 81-j to the output destination device 83-i. The transfer control device 30 instructs the switching system 50-i to switch the broadcast materials to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i. In this embodiment, the transfer control device 30 is a device to which a temporary switching instruction is input. The temporary switching instruction is an instruction to switch the broadcast materials to be output to the output destination device 83-i, which is performed at a timing different from the timing scheduled by the APS, such as a special broadcast. The temporary switching instruction is input to the transfer control device 30 in response to, for example, a user's operation on the transfer control device 30. The transfer control device 30 may be the APS, or may be a device different from the APS.

[0072] Furthermore, a temporary switching instruction may be input to the transfer control device 30 when an abnormality occurs in the broadcast material being transferred to the output destination device 83-i. When the broadcast material is switched in response to the occurrence of an abnormality, the post-switching material may be the same broadcast material as the pre-switching material, or may be a broadcast material for use when an abnormality occurs.

[0073] 10 shows an example of the configuration of the transfer control device 30 of this embodiment. The transfer control device 30 of this embodiment includes a transfer control unit 31 and a switching control unit 32.

[0074] The transfer control unit 31 is almost the same as the transfer control unit 21 of the transfer control device 20 of the second embodiment. Description of similar parts will be omitted. When the transfer control unit 31 of this embodiment receives a temporary switching instruction, it transmits a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 52-i.

[0075] Furthermore, the transfer control unit 31 may transmit a transfer stop instruction to the first receiving device 51-i after switching by the switching means 53-i. Furthermore, in cases where transmission of the pre-switching material is resumed after transmission of the post-switching material (special broadcast material), the transfer control unit 31 does not need to transmit a transfer stop instruction to the first receiving device 51-i.

[0076] The switching control unit 32 is almost the same as the switching control unit 22 of the transfer control device 20 of the second embodiment. Description of similar parts will be omitted. In the case of this embodiment, the switching control unit 32 transmits a switching instruction to the switching means 53-i at a timing after a predetermined time (for example, about several tens of ms) has elapsed since the temporary switching instruction was input.

[0077] By configuring the transfer control device 30 in this manner, the transfer control device 30 instructs the second receiving device 52-i to start transferring the post-switching material before the switching timing while the first receiving device 51-i is transferring the pre-switching material to the switching means. Also, the transfer control device 30 instructs the switching means 53-i to switch the broadcasting material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material at the switching timing. This allows the transfer control device 30 to switch the broadcasting material transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the switching means 53-i while the pre-switching material and the post-switching material are being transferred to the switching means 53-i. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcasting material transferred to the output destination device due to the switching of the broadcasting material transferred to the output destination device.

[0078] Next, an example of operation of the transfer control device 30 and the switching system 50-i of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The example of operation of this embodiment is similar to that of Fig. 8, in which the transfer control device 20 is replaced with the transfer control device 30.

[0079] While the first receiving device 51-i is transferring pre-switching material to the switching means 53-i (step S301), the transfer control device 30 transmits a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 52-i to instruct the start of transfer of post-switching material to the switching means 53-i (step S302). In this embodiment, the transfer control device 30 transmits the transfer start instruction when it receives a temporary switching instruction.

[0080] The second receiving device 52-i starts receiving the instructed broadcast material when it receives the transfer start instruction from the transfer control device 30. Specifically, when the second receiving device 52-i receives the transfer start instruction, it transmits a Join message including the multicast group address of the broadcast material instructed in the transfer start instruction to the transfer device 82 (step S303).

[0081] When the transfer device 82 receives the Join message from the second receiving device 52-i, it starts transferring the post-switching material to the second receiving device 52-i (step S304). More specifically, the transfer device 82 transfers the post-switching material from the input source device 81-j that inputs the post-switching material indicated by the multicast group address included in the Join message to the second receiving device 52-i. The second receiving device 52-i transfers the broadcast material received from the transfer device 82 to the switching means 53-i (step S305).

[0082] At the switching timing, the transfer control device 30 issues a switching instruction to the switching means 53-i to instruct the switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material (step S306). In the case of the present embodiment, the switching timing is a timing after a predetermined time has elapsed since the temporary switching instruction was input. When the switching means 53-i receives the switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i (step S307).

[0083] After the switching of the broadcast material in step S307 is completed, the transfer control device 30 transmits a transfer stop instruction to the first receiving device 51-i to instruct the first receiving device 51-i to stop transferring the broadcast material (step S308). Upon receiving the transfer stop instruction, the first receiving device 51-i transmits a Leave message to the transfer device 82 (step S309). Upon receiving the Leave message from the first receiving device 51-i, the transfer device 82 stops transferring the pre-switching material to the first receiving device 51-i (step S310). Since the first receiving device 51-i stops receiving the pre-switching material, it stops transferring the pre-switching material to the output destination device 83-i (step S311).

[0084] When the broadcast material sent from the output destination device 83-i is changed back from the special broadcast material to the broadcast material scheduled for the APS, the special broadcast material is treated as the pre-switching material and the broadcast material scheduled for the APS is treated as the post-switching material, and the same operation as in Figure 8 is performed.

[0085] In the above description, it is assumed that the first receiving device 51-i is receiving the pre-switching material. However, after the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i is switched, the second receiving device 52-i will be receiving the pre-switching material at the time of the next switch. Therefore, the transfer control device 30 transfers the post-switching material alternately to the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i every time the broadcast material is switched.

[0086] By the transfer control device 30 and the switching system 50-i operating in this manner, the transfer control device 30 issues a transfer start instruction for the post-switching material to the second receiving device 52-i before the switching timing. Also, the transfer control device 30 issues a switching instruction to the switching means 53-i at the switching timing. Also, when the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i receive the transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the switching means 53-i. Also, when the switching instruction is received, the switching means 53-i switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i to either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 51-i or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 52-i. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0087] As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the transfer control device 30 instructs the second receiving device 52-i to start transferring the post-switching material before the switching timing. In addition, the transfer control device 30 instructs the switching means 53-i to switch at the switching timing. In addition, when the first receiving device 51-i and the second receiving device 52-i receive the transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the switching means 53-i. In addition, when the switching means 53-i receives the switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i to either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 51-i or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 52-i. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device due to the switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device.

[0088] [Fourth embodiment] Next, a transfer control device 20, a transfer control device 30, and a switching system 60-i in a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which both switching of broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule planned by APS and switching to special materials are performed.

[0089] First, FIG. 11 shows an example of the configuration of a transfer system including the transfer controller 20, the transfer controller 30, and a switching system 60-i according to this embodiment.

[0090] The input source device 81-j, the transfer device 82, and the output destination device 83-i are similar to those in the second embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0091] The transfer control device 20 and the transfer control device 30 are connected to a switching system 60-i (i is an integer between 1 and m). The transfer control device 20 controls switching of broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule. The transfer control device 30 controls switching of broadcast materials according to a temporary switching instruction. The transfer control device 20 and the transfer control device 30 may be the same device.

[0092] The switching system 60-i switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i in accordance with instructions from the transfer control device 20 and the transfer control device 30.

[0093] Next, a configuration example of a switching system 60-i of this embodiment is shown in Fig. 12. The switching system 60-i of this embodiment includes a first receiving device 61-i, a second receiving device 62-i, a first switching means 63-i, a third receiving device 64-i, and a second switching means 65-i.

[0094] The first receiving device 61-i is similar to the first receiving device 51-i of the switching system 50-i of the second embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted. Also, the second receiving device 62-i is similar to the second receiving device 52-i of the switching system 50-i of the second embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted. The first receiving device 61-i and the second receiving device 62-i are used for transferring broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule.

[0095] Here, it is assumed that the first receiving device 61-i is receiving the pre-switching material. Also, it is assumed that the second receiving device 62-i is receiving the post-switching material when the broadcast material is switched according to the broadcast schedule. After the broadcast material is switched according to the broadcast schedule, the second receiving device 62-i is in a state of receiving the pre-switching material for the next switching.

[0096] The first switching means 63-i transfers either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 61-i or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 62-i to the second switching means 65-i. When the first switching means 63-i receives a switching instruction from the transfer control device 20, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the second switching means 65-i.

[0097] The third receiving device 64-i corresponds to the second receiving device 52-i of the switching system 50-i of the third embodiment. The third receiving device 64-i is for broadcast material by temporary switching instruction. The third receiving device 64-i transfers the broadcast material received from the transfer device 82 to the second switching means 65-i. When the third receiving device 64-i receives a transfer start instruction from the transfer control device 30, it starts receiving the instructed broadcast material. Also, when the third receiving device 64-i receives a transfer stop instruction from the transfer control device 30, it stops receiving the broadcast material.

[0098] The second switching means 65-i transfers either the broadcast material input from the first switching means 63-i or the broadcast material input from the third receiving device 64-i to the output destination device 83-i. When the second switching means 65-i receives a switching instruction from the transfer control device 30, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i.

[0099] The first switching means 63-i and the second switching means 65-i are means capable of switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the subsequent stage in a time shorter than the time required for the transfer device 82 to change the broadcast material transferred by the receiving device. For example, the first switching means 63-i and the second switching means 65-i may be means for switching an SDI signal.

[0100] By configuring the switching system 60-i in this way, when the first receiving device 61-i and the second receiving device 62-i receive a transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the first switching means 63-i. Also, when the first switching means 63-i receives a switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i between the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 61-i and the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 62-i. This makes it possible for the switching system 60-i to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the first switching means 63-i while the first receiving device 61-i and the second receiving device 62-i are transferring the broadcast material to the first switching means 63-i.

[0101] Furthermore, when the third receiving device 64-i receives a transfer start instruction, it starts receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfers the received broadcast material to the second switching means 65-i. Furthermore, when the second switching means 65-i receives a switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i between the broadcast material input from the first switching means 63-i and the broadcast material input from the third receiving device 64-i. This allows the switching system 60-i to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the second switching means 65-i while the first switching means 63-i and the third receiving device 64-i are transferring broadcast material to the second switching means 65-i.

[0102] Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device.

[0103] Next, a configuration example of the transfer control device 20 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The transfer control device 20 of this embodiment includes a transfer control unit 21 and a switching control unit 22.

[0104] While the first receiving device 61-i is transferring the pre-switching material to the first switching means 63-i, the transfer control unit 21 transmits a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 62-i to instruct it to start transferring the post-switching material to the output destination device 83-i.

[0105] The timing of the instruction to start transfer is before the switching timing at which the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i is switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material. In the case of this embodiment, the switching timing is the timing at which the broadcast material to be output to the output destination device 83-i should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material in the broadcast schedule. The transfer control unit 21 instructs the second receiving device 62-i to start transferring the post-switching material before the switching timing.

[0106] Furthermore, after switching by the first switching means 63-i, the transfer control unit 21 may transmit a transfer stop instruction to the first receiving device 61-i to which the pre-switching material had been transferred.

[0107] At the switching timing, the switching control unit 22 issues a switching instruction to the first switching means 63-i to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material. The first switching means 63-i switches the broadcast material transferred to the second switching means 65-i from the pre-switching material input from the first receiving device 61-i to the post-switching material input from the second receiving device 62-i.

[0108] The above description is based on the assumption that the first receiving device 61-i is receiving the pre-switching material. However, after the broadcast material transferred to the second switching means 65-i is switched, the second receiving device 62-i will be receiving the pre-switching material for the next switching. Therefore, the transfer control device 20 transfers the post-switching material alternately to the first receiving device 61-i and the second receiving device 62-i every time the broadcast material is switched.

[0109] Next, a configuration example of the transfer control device 30 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. The transfer control device 30 of this embodiment includes a transfer control unit 31 and a switching control unit 32.

[0110] The transfer control unit 31 transmits a transfer start instruction to the third receiving device 64-i in a state in which the first receiving device 61-i is transferring pre-switching material to the first switching means 63-i, and the first switching means 63-i is transferring to the second switching means 65-i. The transfer start instruction instructs the third receiving device 64-i to start transferring post-switching material to the second switching means 65-i. When the temporary switching instruction is input, the transfer control unit 31 transmits a transfer start instruction to the third receiving device 64-i.

[0111] Furthermore, after switching by the second switching means 65-i, the transfer control unit 31 may transmit a transfer stop instruction to the first receiving device 61-i that has been transferring the pre-switching material. Furthermore, in cases where transmission of the pre-switching material is to be resumed after transmission of the post-switching material (special broadcast material), the transfer control unit 31 does not need to transmit a transfer stop instruction to the first receiving device 61-i.

[0112] A predetermined time after receiving the temporary switching instruction, the switching control unit 32 issues a switching instruction to the second switching means 65-i to switch the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material. The second switching means 65-i switches the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material input from the first switching means 63-i to the post-switching material input from the third receiving device 64-i.

[0113] By configuring the transfer control device 20 in this manner, the transfer control device 20 issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 62-i to instruct the start of transfer of post-switching material before the switching timing while the first receiving device 61-i is transferring pre-switching material to the switching means. Also, the transfer control device 20 issues a switching instruction to the first switching means 63-i to instruct the switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material at the switching timing. This makes it possible for the transfer control device 20 to switch the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the first switching means 63-i while the pre-switching material and the post-switching material are being transferred to the first switching means 63-i.

[0114] Furthermore, by configuring the transfer control device 30 in this manner, the transfer control device 30 instructs the third receiving device 64-i to start transferring post-switching materials before the switching timing, while the first receiving device 61-i is transferring pre-switching materials to the switching means. Furthermore, the transfer control device 30 instructs the second switching means 65-i to switch the broadcasting materials transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching materials to the post-switching materials, at the switching timing. This makes it possible for the transfer control device 30 to switch the broadcasting materials transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the second switching means 65-i, while the pre-switching materials and post-switching materials are being transferred to the second switching means 65-i.

[0115] Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device.

[0116] Next, an example of the operation of the transfer control device 20, the transfer control device 30, and the switching system 60-i of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8, Fig. 13, and Fig. 14. Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 show an example of the operation regarding switching of broadcast materials in response to a temporary switching instruction.

[0117] First, an operation example regarding switching of broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule will be described. The operation example of the transfer control device 20 and the switching system 60-i of this embodiment is the same as the operation example in which the first receiving device 51-i, the second receiving device 52-i, and the switching means 53-i in Fig. 8 are replaced with the first receiving device 61-i, the second receiving device 62-i, and the first switching means 63-i.

[0118] The transfer control device 20 transmits a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 62-i before the timing of switching of the broadcast material in the broadcast schedule (step S302 in FIG. 8). Also, the transfer control device 20 transmits a switching instruction to the first switching means 63-i at the timing of switching of the broadcast material in the broadcast schedule (step S306).

[0119] Next, an example of the operation of the transfer control device 30 and the switching system 60-i when a temporary switching instruction is input will be described with reference to FIG.

[0120] When the temporary switching instruction is input, the transfer control device 30 transmits an instruction to start transferring the post-switching material to the third receiving device 64-i (step S402). In addition, the transfer control device 30 transmits a switching instruction to the second switching means 65-i after a predetermined time has elapsed since the temporary switching instruction (step S406).

[0121] Next, an operation example of the transfer control device 20, the transfer control device 30, and the switching system 60-i will be described with reference to Fig. 14. The operation example shown in Fig. 14 is an operation example when switching broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from pre-switching material that has been temporarily sent to post-switching material according to the broadcast schedule planned by APS.

[0122] The pre-switching material is being transferred by the third receiving device 64-i (step S501). The transfer control device 20 or the transfer control device 30 transmits a transfer start instruction for the post-switching material to the second receiving device 62-i a predetermined time before the switching timing (step S502).

[0123] The switching timing is, for example, the start of a NEXT event in the broadcast schedule, or a predetermined time after the input of a special broadcast end instruction that instructs the end of the special broadcast. When the special broadcast ends at the start of a NEXT event in the broadcast schedule, the transfer control device 20 transmits a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 62-i a predetermined time before the start of the NEXT event. When the special broadcast ends at a predetermined time after the input of a special broadcast switching instruction, the transfer control device 30 transmits a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 62-i at the input of the special broadcast end instruction.

[0124] Then, the transfer control device 20 or the transfer control device 30 transmits a switching instruction to the second switching means 65-i or the first switching means 63-i at the switching timing (step S506). The transfer control device 20 or the transfer control device 30 issues a switching instruction so that the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device 62-i is transferred to the output destination device 83-i.

[0125] In addition, when returning to the transmission of the broadcast material (assumed to be broadcast material A) that was transmitted before the switching of the broadcast material due to the temporary switching instruction, the transfer control device 30 and the switching system 50-i do not need to perform the operations of steps S408 to S411 in Fig. 13. In this case, since the first receiving device 61-i is transferring the broadcast material A, the transfer control device 20, the transfer control device 30, and the switching system 60-i do not perform the operations of steps S502 to S504 in Fig. 14. Then, at the timing when the special broadcast end instruction is input, the transfer control device 30 transmits a switching instruction to the second switching means 65-i to instruct switching to the broadcast material A transferred by the first receiving device 61-i (step S507).

[0126] By the transfer control device 20, the transfer control device 30, and the switching system 60-i operating in this manner, the transfer control device 20 instructs the second receiving device 62-i to start transferring the post-switching material before the switching timing. Also, the transfer control device 20 instructs the first switching means 63-i to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i at the switching timing. This enables the transfer control device 20 to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the first switching means 63-i while the pre-switching material and the post-switching material are being transferred to the first switching means 63-i.

[0127] Furthermore, the transfer control device 30 instructs the third receiving device 64-i to start transferring post-switching materials before the switching timing, while the first receiving device 61-i is transferring pre-switching materials to the switching means. Furthermore, the transfer control device 30 instructs the second switching means 65-i to switch the broadcasting materials to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i, at the switching timing. This enables the transfer control device 30 to switch the broadcasting materials to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the second switching means 65-i, while the pre-switching materials and post-switching materials are being transferred to the second switching means 65-i.

[0128] Furthermore, when the first receiving device 61-i and the second receiving device 62-i receive a transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the first switching means 63-i. Furthermore, when the first switching means 63-i receives a switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i between the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 61-i and the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 62-i. This allows the switching system 60-i to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the first switching means 63-i while the first receiving device 61-i and the second receiving device 62-i are transferring the broadcast material to the first switching means 63-i.

[0129] Furthermore, when the third receiving device 64-i receives a transfer start instruction, it starts receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfers the received broadcast material to the second switching means 65-i. Furthermore, when the second switching means 65-i receives a switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i between the broadcast material input from the first switching means 63-i and the broadcast material input from the third receiving device 64-i. This allows the switching system 60-i to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the second switching means 65-i while the first switching means 63-i and the third receiving device 64-i are transferring broadcast material to the second switching means 65-i.

[0130] Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device.

[0131] As described above, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device due to switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device.

[0132] [Fifth embodiment] Next, a transfer control device 70 and a switching system 60-i according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, a case where the transfer control device 70 handles an abnormality occurring in the transfer of broadcasting materials in addition to the functions of the fourth embodiment will be described.

[0133] First, Fig. 15 shows a configuration example of a transfer system including a transfer control device 70 and a switching system 60-i of this embodiment. Fig. 15 shows a configuration in which the transfer control device 20 and the transfer control device 30 in Fig. 11 are replaced with the transfer control device 70. The input source device 81-j, the transfer device 82, the switching system 60-i, and the output destination device 83-i are the same as those in the fourth embodiment.

[0134] The transfer control device 70 switches broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule, similar to the transfer control device 20 of the fourth embodiment. Also, the transfer control device 70 switches broadcast materials according to a temporary switching instruction, similar to the transfer control device 30. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the transfer control device 70 also takes action when an abnormality occurs in the transmitted signal.

[0135] 16 shows an example of the configuration of the transfer control device 70 of this embodiment. The transfer control device 70 includes a transfer control unit 71 and a switching control unit 72.

[0136] The transfer control unit 71 transmits a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 62-i to instruct the start of transfer of the post-switching material to the output destination device 83-i while the first receiving device 61-i is transferring the pre-switching material to the first switching means 63-i. The transfer control unit 71 instructs the second receiving device 62-i to start transferring the post-switching material before the switching timing at which the broadcast material to be output to the output destination device 83-i is switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material in the broadcast schedule.

[0137] Furthermore, the transfer control unit 71 transmits a transfer start instruction to the third receiving device 64-i in a state in which the first receiving device 61-i is transferring pre-switching material to the first switching means 63-i and the first switching means 63-i is transferring pre-switching material to the second switching means 65-i. The transfer start instruction instructs the start of transfer of post-switching material to the second switching means 65-i. Furthermore, when a temporary switching instruction is input, the transfer control unit 71 transmits a transfer start instruction to the third receiving device 64-i.

[0138] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when switching broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule, the transfer control unit 71 transmits a transfer start instruction to start the transfer of post-switching materials in the broadcast schedule to the third receiving device 64-i in addition to the second receiving device 62-i. (This method is called the first method.) In this way, when switching the broadcast material according to the broadcast schedule, the third receiving device 64-i transfers the same broadcast material as the second receiving device 62-i is transferring. Also, when switching the broadcast material according to a temporary switching instruction, the third receiving device 64-i transfers the broadcast material for a special broadcast.

[0139] When an abnormality is detected, the transfer control unit 71 may cause the third receiving device 64-i to transfer the same broadcast material as the first receiving device 61-i is transferring (this method is called the second method). In this way, when an abnormality is detected, the third receiving device 64-i transfers the same broadcast material as the first receiving device 61-i is transferring. Also, when switching the broadcast material in accordance with a temporary switching instruction, the third receiving device 64-i transfers the broadcast material for the temporary broadcast.

[0140] The switching control unit 72 instructs the first switching means 63-i to switch the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i at the switching timing of the broadcast material according to the broadcast schedule. The first switching means 63-i switches the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material transferred by the first receiving device 61-i to the post-switching material transferred by the second receiving device 62-i.

[0141] Furthermore, the switching control unit 72 issues a switching instruction to the second switching means 65-i to switch the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i a predetermined time after the temporary switching instruction is input. The second switching means 65-i switches the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material transferred by the first receiving device 61-i to the post-switching material transferred by the third receiving device 64-i.

[0142] Furthermore, when the transfer is performed by the above-mentioned first method, if an abnormality is detected, the switching control unit 72 transmits a switching instruction to the second switching means 65-i. In this case, the switching instruction is an instruction to switch the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material transferred to the output destination device 83-i to the broadcast material transferred by the third receiving device 64-i. The pre-switching material transferred to the output destination device 83-i is transferred by the first receiving device 61-i or the second receiving device 62-i.

[0143] When the transfer is performed by the second method, the switching control unit 72 transmits a switching instruction to the second switching means 65-i a predetermined time after the occurrence of the abnormality is detected. The switching instruction in this case is the same as the switching instruction when the transfer is performed by the first method.

[0144] By configuring the transfer control device 70 in this manner, the transfer control device 70 issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device 62-i to instruct the start of transfer of post-switching material before the switching timing while the first receiving device 61-i is transferring pre-switching material to the switching means. Also, the transfer control device 70 issues a switching instruction to the first switching means 63-i to instruct the switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material at the switching timing. This makes it possible for the transfer control device 20 to switch the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the first switching means 63-i while the pre-switching material and the post-switching material are being transferred to the first switching means 63-i.

[0145] Furthermore, by configuring the transfer control device 70 in this manner, the transfer control device 70 instructs the third receiving device 64-i to start transferring post-switching materials before the switching timing while the first receiving device 61-i is transferring pre-switching materials to the switching means. Furthermore, the transfer control device 70 instructs the second switching means 65-i to switch the broadcasting materials transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the pre-switching materials to the post-switching materials at the switching timing. This makes it possible for the transfer control device 70 to switch the broadcasting materials transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the second switching means 65-i while the pre-switching materials and post-switching materials are being transferred to the second switching means 65-i.

[0146] Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device.

[0147] Next, an example of the operation of the transfer control device 70 and switching system 60-i of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 17 to 19. Fig. 17 shows an example of the operation of dealing with an abnormality when transfer is performed by the first method. Fig. 18 shows an example of the operation of dealing with an abnormality when transfer is performed by the second method. The transfer control device 70 and switching system 60-i of this embodiment also perform the operations of the transfer control device 20, the transfer control device 30 and the switching system 60-i of the fourth embodiment (Figs. 13 and 14). The operations described in the fourth embodiment will not be described.

[0148] First, an example of the operation of dealing with an abnormality when the transfer is performed by the first method will be described. In this explanation, it is assumed that the broadcast material is transferred from the first receiving device 61-i to the output destination device 83-i at the start of the operation.

[0149] The transfer control device 70 transmits a transfer start instruction for the post-switching material to the second receiving device 62-i and the third receiving device 64-i prior to the timing of switching of the broadcast material according to the broadcast schedule (step S601 in FIG. 17). The second receiving device 62-i and the third receiving device 64-i that have received the transfer start instruction transmit a Join message to the transfer device 82 (step S602). Upon receiving the Join message, the transfer device 82 starts transferring the post-switching material to the second receiving device 62-i and the third receiving device 64-i (step S603). The second receiving device 62-i and the third receiving device 64-i transfer the post-switching material (steps S604, S605).

[0150] Next, the transfer control device 70 transmits a switching instruction to the first switching means 63-i at the timing of switching the broadcast material according to the broadcast schedule (step S606). In step S606, the transfer control device 70 transmits a switching instruction to instruct the output destination device 83-i to switch the broadcast material being transferred by the second receiving device 62-i. The first switching means 63-i that has received the switching instruction switches the broadcast material being transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the broadcast material being transferred by the first receiving device 61-i to the broadcast material being transferred by the second receiving device 62-i (step S607).

[0151] When it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in the broadcast material being transferred to the output destination device 83-i (step S608), the transfer control device 70 transmits a switching instruction to the second switching means 65-i (step S609). In step S609, the transfer control device 70 transmits a switching instruction to the second switching means 65-i to instruct the second switching means 65-i to switch the material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i to the broadcast material being transferred by the third receiving device 64-i. The second switching means 65-i that has received the switching instruction switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i to the broadcast material being transferred by the third receiving device 64-i (step S610).

[0152] Next, an example of the operation of dealing with an abnormality when the transfer is performed by the second method will be described. In this explanation, it is assumed that the broadcast material is transferred from the first receiving device 61-i to the output destination device 83-i at the start of the operation.

[0153] The transfer control device 70 transmits a transfer start instruction for the post-switching material to the second receiving device 62-i prior to the timing of switching of the broadcast material according to the broadcast schedule (step S701 in FIG. 18). The second receiving device 62-i, which has received the transfer start instruction, transmits a Join message to the transfer device 82 (step S702). Upon receiving the Join message, the transfer device 82 starts transferring the post-switching material to the second receiving device 62-i (step S703). The second receiving device 62-i transfers the post-switching material (step S704).

[0154] Next, the transfer control device 70 transmits a switching instruction to the first switching means 63-i at the timing of switching the broadcast material according to the broadcast schedule (step S705). In step S705, the transfer control device 70 transmits a switching instruction to instruct the output destination device 83-i to switch the broadcast material being transferred by the second receiving device 62-i. The first switching means 63-i that has received the switching instruction switches the broadcast material being transferred to the output destination device 83-i from the broadcast material being transferred by the first receiving device 61-i to the broadcast material being transferred by the second receiving device 62-i (step S706).

[0155] When it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in the broadcast material being transferred to the output destination device 83-i (step S707 in FIG. 19), the transfer control device 70 transmits a transfer start instruction to the third receiving device 64-i (step S708). In step S708, the transfer control device 70 transmits a transfer start instruction to instruct the start of transfer of the same broadcast material as the broadcast material being transferred to the output destination device 83-i. Note that in this case, the broadcast material being transferred to the output destination device 83-i is the post-switching material in step S705, and has been transferred by the second receiving device 62-i.

[0156] Upon receiving the transfer start instruction, the third receiving device 64-i transmits a Join message to the transfer device 82 (step S709). Upon receiving the Join message, the transfer device 82 starts transferring the same broadcast material as that transferred to the output destination device 83-i to the third receiving device 64-i (step S710). The third receiving device 64-i transfers the same broadcast material as that transferred to the output destination device 83-i (step S711).

[0157] Next, the transfer control device 70 transmits a switching instruction to the second switching means 65-i to instruct the second switching means 65-i to switch the material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i to the broadcast material being transferred by the third receiving device 64-i (step S712). The second switching means 65-i that has received the switching instruction switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i to the broadcast material being transferred by the third receiving device 64-i (step S713).

[0158] By the transfer control device 70 and the switching system 60-i operating in this manner, the transfer control device 70 instructs the second receiving device 62-i to start transferring the post-switching material before the switching timing. Also, the transfer control device 70 instructs the first switching means 63-i to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i at the switching timing. This enables the transfer control device 70 to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the first switching means 63-i while the pre-switching material and the post-switching material are being transferred to the first switching means 63-i.

[0159] Furthermore, the transfer control device 70 instructs the third receiving device 64-i to start transferring post-switching materials before the switching timing, while the first receiving device 61-i is transferring pre-switching materials to the switching means. Furthermore, the transfer control device 70 instructs the second switching means 65-i to switch the broadcasting materials to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i, at the switching timing. This enables the transfer control device 70 to switch the broadcasting materials to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the second switching means 65-i, while the pre-switching materials and post-switching materials are being transferred to the second switching means 65-i.

[0160] Furthermore, when the first receiving device 61-i and the second receiving device 62-i receive a transfer start instruction, they start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to the first switching means 63-i. Furthermore, when the first switching means 63-i receives a switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i between the broadcast material input from the first receiving device 61-i and the broadcast material input from the second receiving device 62-i. This allows the switching system 60-i to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the first switching means 63-i while the first receiving device 61-i and the second receiving device 62-i are transferring the broadcast material to the first switching means 63-i.

[0161] Furthermore, when the third receiving device 64-i receives a transfer start instruction, it starts receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfers the received broadcast material to the second switching means 65-i. Furthermore, when the second switching means 65-i receives a switching instruction, it switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i between the broadcast material input from the first switching means 63-i and the broadcast material input from the third receiving device 64-i. This allows the switching system 60-i to switch the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device 83-i by the second switching means 65-i while the first switching means 63-i and the third receiving device 64-i are transferring broadcast material to the second switching means 65-i.

[0162] Therefore, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device, which is caused by switching the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device.

[0163] As described above, in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to shorten the interruption time of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device due to switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device.

[0164] [Hardware configuration example] An example of the configuration of hardware resources for implementing the transfer control devices (10, 20, 30, 70) and switching systems (40, 50, 60) (hereinafter referred to as the transfer control devices, etc.) in each of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention using one information processing device (computer) will be described below. The transfer control devices, etc. may be implemented physically or functionally using at least two or more information processing devices. The transfer control devices, etc. may be implemented as dedicated devices or general-purpose devices. Only some of the functions of the transfer control devices, etc. may be implemented using an information processing device.

[0165] 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device capable of implementing the transfer control device of each embodiment of the present invention. The information processing device 90 includes a communication interface 91, an input / output interface 92, a calculation device 93, a storage device 94, a non-volatile storage device 95, and a drive device 96.

[0166] For example, the transfer control unit 11 and the switching control unit 12 in FIG.

[0167] The communication interface 91 is a communication means for the transfer control device of each embodiment to communicate with an external device at least in a wired or wireless manner. When the transfer control device is realized using at least two information processing devices, the devices may be connected via the communication interface 91 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0168] The input / output interface 92 is a man-machine interface including a keyboard as an example of an input device and a display as an output device.

[0169] The arithmetic device 93 is realized by, for example, an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microprocessor, and a plurality of electric circuits. The arithmetic device 93 can read various programs stored in, for example, a non-volatile storage device 95 into the storage device 94 and execute processing according to the read programs.

[0170] The storage device 94 is a memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) that can be referenced by the arithmetic device 93, and stores programs, various data, etc. The storage device 94 may be a volatile memory device.

[0171] The non-volatile storage device 95 is, for example, a non-volatile storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a flash memory, and is capable of storing various programs, data, and the like.

[0172] The drive device 96 is, for example, a device that processes reading and writing of data recorded on a recording medium 97, which will be described later.

[0173] The recording medium 97 is any recording medium capable of recording data, such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor flash memory.

[0174] Each embodiment of the present invention may be realized, for example, by configuring a transfer control device, etc. using an information processing device 90 as illustrated in FIG. 20, and supplying a program capable of realizing the functions described in each of the above embodiments to this transfer control device, etc.

[0175] In this case, the embodiment can be realized by having the arithmetic device 93 execute a program supplied to the transfer control device, etc. Also, it is possible to configure some, but not all, of the functions of the transfer control device, etc. in the information processing device 90.

[0176] Furthermore, the above program may be recorded on recording medium 97, and may be appropriately stored in non-volatile storage device 95 at the shipping stage or operation stage of the transfer control device, etc. In this case, the method of supplying the above program may employ a method of installing the program in the transfer control device, etc., using an appropriate tool at the manufacturing stage before shipping or at the operation stage, etc. The method of supplying the above program may employ a general procedure such as a method of downloading the program from an external source via a communication line such as the Internet.

[0177] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0178] A part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but is not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0179] (Appendix 1) a switching control unit that controls a switching means for switching a broadcast material to be transferred to an output destination device from a pre-switching broadcast material being transferred by a first receiving device to a post-switching broadcast material being transferred by a second receiving device; a transfer control unit that controls the transfer of the broadcast material by the second receiving device; Equipped with the transfer control unit, while the first receiving device is transferring the pre-switching material, issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device to instruct the second receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material before a switching timing at which the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material; The switching control unit issues a switching instruction to the switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material at the switching timing. A transfer control device comprising:

[0180] (Appendix 2) The switching timing is a timing for switching the broadcast material that is determined in advance in a broadcast schedule when switching the broadcast material is performed according to the broadcast schedule; The transfer control unit instructs the second receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material a predetermined time before the switching timing. 2. A transfer control device according to claim 1.

[0181] (Appendix 3) the switching timing is, when a temporary switching instruction for instructing switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is input, a timing that is a predetermined time after the temporary switching instruction is input, The transfer control unit issues the transfer start instruction of the post-switching material to the second receiving device when the temporary switching instruction is input. 3. The transfer control device according to claim 1 or 2,

[0182] (Appendix 4) The switching means is a means for switching the broadcast material transferred to a subsequent stage by the switching means in a time shorter than the time required to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device. 4. The transfer control device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second transfer control devices are connected to the first and second transfer control devices.

[0183] (Appendix 5) The switching means switches between the pre-switching material and the post-switching material transmitted by an SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signal. 5. The transfer control device according to claim 4,

[0184] (Appendix 6) The second receiving device starts transferring the post-switching material to the switching means based on an IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) function. 6. The transfer control device according to claim 1,

[0185] (Appendix 7) The transfer control unit when switching broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule, instructing the second receiving device to start transferring the switched materials; when a temporary switching instruction for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is input, the transfer start instruction for the switched material is given to a third receiving device; The switching control unit is When switching the broadcast material according to a broadcast schedule, a switching instruction is issued to a first switching means for instructing a switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material being transferred by the first receiving device to the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device; when the temporary switching instruction is input, a switching instruction is issued to a second switching means for instructing a switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material being transferred by the first receiving device to the post-switching material being transferred by the third receiving device; the first switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device between the first receiving device and the second receiving device and the second switching means; The second switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device between the first switching means and the third receiving device and the output destination device. 7. The transfer control device according to claim 1,

[0186] (Appendix 8) the transfer control unit, when switching the broadcast material according to a broadcast schedule, further instructs the third receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material; The switching control unit, when it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device, issues the switching instruction to the second switching means to instruct switching of the broadcasting material being transferred to the output destination device from the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device to the post-switching material being transferred by the third receiving device. 8. The transfer control device according to claim 7,

[0187] (Appendix 9) the transfer control unit instructs the third receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material when it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device; The switching control unit issues the switching instruction to the second switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the post-switching material transferred by the second receiving device to the post-switching material transferred by the third receiving device after a predetermined time has elapsed since the occurrence of the abnormality was detected. 9. The transfer control device according to claim 8,

[0188] (Appendix 10) a first receiving device and a second receiving device for transferring received broadcast material to a switching means; a switching means for transferring either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device to an output destination device; Equipped with when receiving a transfer start instruction instructing the start of transfer of the broadcast material, the first receiving device and the second receiving device start receiving the instructed broadcast material; The switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device when a switching instruction for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is received. A switching system comprising:

[0189] (Appendix 11) The switching means is a means for switching the broadcast material transferred to a subsequent stage by the switching means in a time shorter than the time required to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device. 11. A switching system as described in claim 10.

[0190] (Appendix 12) The switching means switches the broadcast material transmitted by an SDI signal. 12. The switching system according to claim 11,

[0191] (Appendix 13) The first receiving device and the second receiving device start receiving the broadcast material based on an IGMP function. 13. A switching system according to any one of claims 10 to 12.

[0192] (Appendix 14) A transfer control device according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 9; the first receiving device; the second receiving device; The switching means A transfer system comprising:

[0193] (Appendix 15) A switching system according to any one of Supplementary Note 10 to Supplementary Note 13, a transfer control device that issues the transfer start instruction and the switching instruction; A transfer system comprising:

[0194] (Appendix 16) Controlling a switching means for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from a pre-switching material which is the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device to a post-switching material which is the broadcast material transferred by the second receiving device; Controlling the transfer of broadcast material by the second receiving device A transfer control device a transfer start instruction is issued to the second receiving device to instruct the start of transfer of the post-switching material prior to a switching timing at which the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material; At the switching timing, a switching instruction is issued to the switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material. A transfer control method comprising:

[0195] (Appendix 17) The switching timing is a timing for switching the broadcast material that is determined in advance in a broadcast schedule when switching the broadcast material is performed according to the broadcast schedule; The transfer control method includes issuing an instruction to start transfer of the post-switching material to the second receiving device a predetermined time before the switching timing. 17. The transfer control method according to claim 16,

[0196] (Appendix 18) the switching timing is, when a temporary switching instruction for instructing switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is input, a timing that is a predetermined time after the temporary switching instruction is input, The transfer control method includes, when the temporary switching instruction is input, issuing an instruction to start transfer of the post-switching material to the second receiving device. 18. The transfer control method according to claim 16 or 17,

[0197] (Appendix 19) The switching means is a means for switching the broadcast material transferred to a subsequent stage by the switching means in a time shorter than the time required to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device. 19. The transfer control method according to claim 16,

[0198] (Appendix 20) The switching means switches between the pre-switching material and the post-switching material transmitted by an SDI signal. 20. The transfer control method according to claim 19,

[0199] (Appendix 21) The second receiving device starts transferring the post-switching material to the switching means based on an IGMP function. 21. The transfer control method according to claim 16, wherein:

[0200] (Appendix 22) when switching broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule, instructing the second receiving device to start transferring the switched materials; when a temporary switching instruction for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is input, a transfer start instruction for the switched material is given to a third receiving device; When switching the broadcast material according to a broadcast schedule, a switching instruction is issued to a first switching means for instructing a switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material being transferred by the first receiving device to the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device; when the temporary switching instruction is input, a switching instruction is issued to a second switching means for instructing a switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material being transferred by the first receiving device to the post-switching material being transferred by the third receiving device; the first switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device between the first receiving device and the second receiving device and the second switching means; The second switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device between the first switching means and the third receiving device and the output destination device. 22. A transfer control method according to any one of claims 16 to 21.

[0201] (Appendix 23) When switching broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule, the third receiving device is instructed to start transferring the switched materials; When it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device, the switching instruction is given to the second switching means to instruct switching of the broadcasting material to be transferred to the output destination device from the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device to the post-switching material being transferred by the third receiving device. 23. The transfer control method according to claim 22.

[0202] (Appendix 24) when it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device, instructing the third receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material; A predetermined time after the occurrence of the abnormality is detected, the second switching means is instructed to switch the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the post-switching material transferred by the second receiving device to the post-switching material transferred by the third receiving device. 24. The transfer control method according to claim 23.

[0203] (Appendix 25) When the first receiving device and the second receiving device receive a transfer start instruction instructing the start of transfer of the broadcast material, the first receiving device and the second receiving device start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to a switching means; The switching means transfers to an output destination device either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device, and when a switching instruction for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is received, switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device. A switching method comprising:

[0204] (Appendix 26) The switching means is a means for switching the broadcast material transferred to a subsequent stage by the switching means in a time shorter than the time required to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device. 26. The switching method according to claim 25,

[0205] (Appendix 27) The switching means switches the broadcast material transmitted by an SDI signal. 27. The switching method according to claim 26,

[0206] (Appendix 28) The first receiving device and the second receiving device start receiving the broadcast material based on an IGMP function. 28. A switching method according to any one of claims 25 to 27.

[0207] (Appendix 29) On the computer, a switching control function for controlling a switching means for switching a broadcast material to be transferred to an output destination device from a pre-switching material, which is a broadcast material transferred by a first receiving device, to a post-switching material, which is a broadcast material transferred by a second receiving device; a transfer control function for controlling the transfer of broadcast material by the second receiving device; Realize this, the transfer control function, while the first receiving device is transferring the pre-switching material, issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device to instruct the second receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material before a switching timing at which the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material; The switching control function issues a switching instruction to the switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material at the switching timing. A transfer control program comprising:

[0208] (Appendix 30) The switching timing is a timing for switching the broadcast material that is determined in advance in a broadcast schedule when switching the broadcast material is performed according to the broadcast schedule; The transfer control function instructs the second receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material a predetermined time before the switching timing. 30. The transfer control program according to claim 29,

[0209] (Appendix 31) the switching timing is, when a temporary switching instruction for instructing switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is input, a timing that is a predetermined time after the temporary switching instruction is input, The transfer control function issues a transfer start instruction for the post-switching material to the second receiving device when the temporary switching instruction is input. 31. The transfer control program according to claim 29 or 30.

[0210] (Appendix 32) The switching means is a means for switching the broadcast material transferred to a subsequent stage by the switching means in a time shorter than the time required to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device. 32. The transfer control program according to claim 29, wherein the transfer control program is a program for transferring a transfer signal to the transfer control device.

[0211] (Appendix 33) The switching means switches between the pre-switching material and the post-switching material transmitted by an SDI signal. 33. The transfer control program according to claim 32.

[0212] (Appendix 34) The second receiving device starts transferring the post-switching material to the switching means based on an IGMP function. 34. The transfer control program according to claim 29,

[0213] (Appendix 35) The transfer control function is when switching broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule, instructing the second receiving device to start transferring the switched materials; when a temporary switching instruction for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is input, a transfer start instruction for the switched material is given to a third receiving device; The switching control function is When switching the broadcast material according to a broadcast schedule, a switching instruction is issued to a first switching means for instructing a switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material being transferred by the first receiving device to the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device; when the temporary switching instruction is input, a switching instruction is issued to a second switching means for instructing a switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material being transferred by the first receiving device to the post-switching material being transferred by the third receiving device; the first switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device between the first receiving device and the second receiving device and the second switching means; The second switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device between the first switching means and the third receiving device and the output destination device. 35. The transfer control program according to claim 29,

[0214] (Appendix 36) the transfer control function, when switching broadcast materials according to a broadcast schedule, further instructs the third receiving device to start transferring the switched materials; The switching control function, when it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device, issues the switching instruction to the second switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material being transferred to the output destination device from the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device to the post-switching material being transferred by the third receiving device. 36. The transfer control program according to claim 35,

[0215] (Appendix 37) the transfer control function, when it is detected that an abnormality has occurred in the post-switching material being transferred by the second receiving device, instructs the third receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material; The switching control function issues the switching instruction to the second switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the post-switching material transferred by the second receiving device to the post-switching material transferred by the third receiving device after a predetermined time has elapsed since the occurrence of the abnormality was detected. 37. The transfer control program according to claim 36, [Explanation of symbols]

[0216] 10, 20, 30, 70 Transfer control device 11, 21, 31, 71 Transfer control section 12, 22, 32, 72 Switching control section 40, 50-i, 60-i Switching System 41, 51-i, 61-i First receiving device 42, 52-i, 62-i Second receiving device 43, 53-i Switching means 63-i First switching method 64-i Third receiving device 65-i Second switching method 81-j Input source device 82 Teleporter 83-i Output device 90 Information processing equipment 91 Communication Interface 92 Input / Output Interface 93 Arithmetic unit 94 Storage device 95 Non-volatile storage devices 96 Drive device 97 Recording media

Claims

1. a switching control unit that controls a switching means for switching a broadcast material to be transferred to an output destination device from a pre-switching broadcast material being transferred by a first receiving device to a post-switching broadcast material being transferred by a second receiving device; a transfer control unit that controls the transfer of the broadcast material by the second receiving device; Equipped with the switching means is means for switching the broadcast material transferred to a subsequent stage by the switching means in a time shorter than a time required for a transfer device that transfers the broadcast material to the first receiving device to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device; the transfer control unit, while the first receiving device is transferring the pre-switching material, issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device to instruct the second receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material before a switching timing at which the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material; The switching control unit issues a switching instruction to the switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material at the switching timing. A transfer control device comprising:

2. The switching timing is a timing for switching the broadcast material that is determined in advance in a broadcast schedule when switching the broadcast material is performed according to the broadcast schedule; The transfer control unit instructs the second receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material a predetermined time before the switching timing.

2. The transfer control device according to claim 1 .

3. the switching timing is, when a temporary switching instruction for instructing switching of the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is input, a timing that is a predetermined time after the temporary switching instruction is input, The transfer control unit issues the transfer start instruction of the post-switching material to the second receiving device when the temporary switching instruction is input.

3. The transfer control device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a first receiving device and a second receiving device for transferring received broadcast material to a switching means; a switching means for transferring either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device to an output destination device; Equipped with the switching means is means for switching the broadcast material transferred to a subsequent stage by the switching means in a time shorter than a time required for a transfer device that transfers the broadcast material to the first receiving device to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device; when receiving a transfer start instruction instructing the start of transfer of the broadcast material, the first receiving device and the second receiving device start receiving the instructed broadcast material; The switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device when a switching instruction for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is received. A switching system comprising:

5. The switching means is a means for switching broadcast materials transmitted by SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signals.

5. The switching system according to claim 4.

6. A transfer control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A first receiving device; A second receiving device; Switching means Equipped with The first receiving device transfers the pre-switching material to the switching means, when the second receiving device receives a transfer start instruction from the transfer control unit of the transfer control device to instruct the start of transfer of the post-switching material, the second receiving device starts transferring the post-switching material to the switching means; The switching means switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material when a switching instruction for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is received from the switching control unit of the transfer control device. A transfer system comprising:

7. A switching system according to claim 4 or 5; A transfer control device Equipped with The transfer control device includes: a switching control unit that controls a switching means for switching a broadcast material to be transferred to an output destination device from a pre-switching broadcast material transferred by a first receiving device of the switching system to a post-switching broadcast material transferred by a second receiving device of the switching system; a transfer control unit that controls the transfer of the broadcast material by the second receiving device; Equipped with the transfer control unit, while the first receiving device is transferring the pre-switching material, issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device to instruct the second receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material before a switching timing at which the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material; The switching control unit issues a switching instruction to the switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material at the switching timing. A transfer system comprising:

8. Controlling a switching means for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device from a pre-switching material which is the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device to a post-switching material which is the broadcast material transferred by the second receiving device; Controlling the transfer of broadcast material by the second receiving device A transfer control device a transfer start instruction is issued to the second receiving device to instruct the start of transfer of the post-switching material prior to a switching timing at which the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material; at the switching timing, a switching instruction is given to the switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material; The switching means is a means for switching the broadcast material transferred to a subsequent stage by the switching means in a time shorter than the time required for a transfer device that transfers the broadcast material to the first receiving device to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device. A transfer control method comprising:

9. When the first receiving device and the second receiving device receive a transfer start instruction instructing the start of transfer of the broadcast material, the first receiving device and the second receiving device start receiving the instructed broadcast material and transfer the received broadcast material to a switching means; the switching means transfers to an output destination device either the broadcast material input from the first receiving device or the broadcast material input from the second receiving device, and when a switching instruction for switching the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device is received, switches the broadcast material to be transferred to the output destination device; The switching means is a means for switching the broadcast material transferred to a subsequent stage by the switching means in a time shorter than the time required for a transfer device that transfers the broadcast material to the first receiving device to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device. A switching method comprising:

10. On the computer, a switching control function for controlling a switching means for switching a broadcast material to be transferred to an output destination device from a pre-switching material, which is a broadcast material transferred by a first receiving device, to a post-switching material, which is a broadcast material transferred by a second receiving device; a transfer control function for controlling the transfer of broadcast material by the second receiving device; Realize this, the switching means is means for switching the broadcast material transferred to a subsequent stage by the switching means in a time shorter than a time required for a transfer device that transfers the broadcast material to the first receiving device to change the broadcast material transferred by the first receiving device; the transfer control function, while the first receiving device is transferring the pre-switching material, issues a transfer start instruction to the second receiving device to instruct the second receiving device to start transferring the post-switching material before a switching timing at which the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device should be switched from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material; The switching control function issues a switching instruction to the switching means to instruct switching of the broadcast material transferred to the output destination device from the pre-switching material to the post-switching material at the switching timing. A transfer control program comprising:

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