Video Routing Device, Video Transmission System, Method, and Program

Abstract

To assist in identifying a cause when a video is not played back normally.SOLUTION: A video routing device according to an embodiment includes an input / output interface that inputs a video stream from the outside or outputs the video stream to the outside, an analysis unit configured to analyze whether there is an error in syntax regarding the video stream input or output by the input / output interface, and a notification unit configured to notify a predetermined notification destination of the input / output interface that inputs or outputs a video stream having an error in the syntax when there is a video stream with an error in the syntax as a result of the analysis by the analysis unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a video routing apparatus, a video transmission system, a method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Video transmission technology for transmitting video recorded at a certain base (hereinafter also referred to as the "recording base") to another base (hereinafter also referred to as the "playback base") where the video is played back has been conventionally known (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). In such video transmission technology, a router (hereinafter also referred to as a "video routing apparatus") that collects video streams of video recorded at a recording base and distributes the video streams to a playback base corresponding to the recording base is arranged.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, due to some cause (for example, failure or incorrect setting of various devices), the video stream may not be correctly transmitted, and as a result, the video may not be correctly played back at the playback base. In such a case, it is necessary to identify the cause location. However, for example, when the recording base and the playback base are remote or when the video routing apparatuses are arranged in multiple stages, it takes a great deal of time to identify the cause location.

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to assist in identifying the cause location when a video is not normally played back.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a video routing apparatus according to an embodiment is a video routing apparatus including an input / output interface for inputting a video stream from the outside or outputting a video stream to the outside, the video routing apparatus including an analysis unit configured to analyze whether there is a syntax error in the video stream input or output by the input / output interface, and a notification unit configured to notify a predetermined notification destination of the input / output interface that has input or output the video stream with a syntax error when, as a result of the analysis by the analysis unit, there is a video stream with a syntax error.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] It is possible to assist in identifying the cause location when the video cannot be played back normally.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, a case where a video stream is transmitted from a certain recording site to a certain playback site is assumed, and a video transmission system 1 in which it is easy to identify the cause location when the video by this video stream cannot be played back normally will be described.

[0010] <Overall Configuration Example of Video Transmission System 1> Fig. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of the video transmission system 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the video transmission system 1 according to this embodiment includes video routing devices 10 respectively arranged at the recording site and the playback site, terminals 20, a photographing device 30 and an encoder 40 arranged at the recording site, and a decoder 50 and a playback device 60 arranged at the playback site. Also, the video routing devices 10 installed at the recording site and the playback site are communicably connected via a communication network 70. Note that the communication network is an arbitrary communication network including the Internet or the like.

[0011] Here, in the example shown in Fig. 1, at the recording site, a video routing device 10A, a photographing device 30A and an encoder 40A, a photographing device 30B and an encoder 40B, a photographing device 30C and an encoder 40C, and a photographing device 30D and an encoder 40D are arranged. Similarly, in the example shown in Fig. 1, at the playback site, a video routing device 10B, a decoder 50A and a playback device 60A, a decoder 50B and a playback device 60B, a decoder 50C and a playback device 60C, and a decoder 50D and a playback device 60D are arranged. In the example shown in Fig. 1, four photographing devices 30 and four encoders 40 are arranged at the recording site, but this is just an example, and any number of photographing devices 30 and any number of encoders 40 may be arranged. Similarly, in the example shown in Fig. 1, four decoders 50 and four playback devices 60 are arranged at the playback site, but this is just an example, and any number of decoders 50 and any number of playback devices 60 may be arranged. Hereinafter, for simplicity, it is assumed that the photographing device 30 and the encoder 40 are connected one-to-one, and similarly, the decoder 50 and the playback device 60 are connected one-to-one.

[0012] The video routing device 10 receives video streams from an encoder 40 or other video routing devices 10 and distributes those video streams to a decoder 50 or other video routing devices 10 according to preset routing information. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the video routing device 10A receives video streams from encoders 40A to 40D arranged at a recording site and distributes those four video streams to the video routing device 10B. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the video routing device 10B receives four video streams from the video routing device 10A and distributes each of those four video streams to decoders 50A to 50D, respectively.

[0013] In addition, for each video stream, the video routing device 10 includes an input interface 11, which is a logical or physical input interface to which the video stream is input, and an output interface 12, which is a logical or physical output interface from which the video stream is output, and monitors whether the syntax of the video stream input and output through these input interface 11 and output interface 12 is correct. Hereinafter, the input interface and the output interface are collectively referred to as the "input / output interface". Note that the syntax refers to the rule (grammar rule) of the bit string of the video stream and is defined by a compression method (or encoding method) for converting video data into a video stream.

[0014] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the video routing device 10A includes an input interface 11A-1 for inputting a video stream from the encoder 40A, an input interface 11A-2 for inputting a video stream from the encoder 40B, an input interface 11A-3 for inputting a video stream from the encoder 40C, and an input interface 11A-4 for inputting a video stream from the encoder 40D. Also, the video routing device 10A includes an output interface 12A-1 for outputting a video stream from the encoder 40A, an output interface 12A-2 for outputting a video stream from the encoder 40B, an output interface 12A-3 for outputting a video stream from the encoder 40C, and an output interface 12A-4 for outputting a video stream from the encoder 40D. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the output interfaces 12A-1 to 12A-4 are realized by multiplexing one output interface.

[0015] Similarly, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the video routing device 10B includes an input interface 11B-1 for inputting a video stream from the output interface 12A-1 of the video routing device 10A, an input interface 11B-2 for inputting a video stream from the output interface 12A-2 of the video routing device 10A, an input interface 11B-3 for inputting a video stream from the output interface 12A-3 of the video routing device 10A, and an input interface 11B-4 for inputting a video stream from the output interface 12A-4 of the video routing device 10A. Also, the video routing device 10B includes an output interface 12B-1 for outputting a video stream to the decoder 50A, an output interface 12B-2 for outputting a video stream to the decoder 50B, an output interface 12B-3 for outputting a video stream to the decoder 50C, and an output interface 12B-4 for outputting a video stream to the decoder 50D. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the input interfaces 11B-1 to 11B-4 are realized by multiplexing one input interface.

[0016] The terminal 20 displays, on a display device (such as a display) provided in the terminal 20, the monitoring results of video streams input and output through the input interface 11 and the output interface 12 of each video routing device 10. For example, the terminal 20 displays, on its display device, the input / output interface with a syntax error in the input / output video stream and the error content. Thereby, the user of the terminal 20 can know which input / output interface of which video routing device 10 has an abnormal video stream, so that the cause location when the video cannot be played back normally can be easily identified.

[0017] The imaging device 30 captures the imaging range to generate video data. Note that the imaging device 30 is, for example, a video camera or the like.

[0018] The encoder 40 encodes (compresses or codes) the video data generated by the imaging device 30 by a predetermined compression method (encoding method) to generate a video stream, and transmits the video stream to the video routing device 10 (in the example shown in FIG. 1, the video routing device 10A).

[0019] The decoder 50 decodes (expands or decodes) the video stream received from the video routing device 10 (in the example shown in FIG. 1, the video routing device 10B) by a predetermined compression method (encoding method) to generate video data, and sends the video data to the playback device 60.

[0020] The playback device 60 plays back the video data generated by the decoder 50. Note that the playback device 60 is, for example, a device or a group of devices including at least a display.

[0021] Note that the overall configuration of the video transmission system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example and is not limited thereto. For example, if the video routing device 10 is realized by a PC (personal computer) or the like and this video routing device 10 is provided with a display device such as a display, the terminal 20 may not be included in the video transmission system 1. In this case, the monitoring results of the input interface 11 and the output interface 12 of each video routing device 10 are displayed on the display device provided in the video routing device 10.

[0022] Also, in the example shown in FIG. 1, one recording site and one playback site are illustrated, but this is an example, and a plurality of recording sites and a plurality of playback sites may exist. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the video routing device 10A transmits four video streams from the encoders 40A to 40D to the video routing device 10B. For example, some of the four video streams may be transmitted to another video routing device 10 (that is, the video routing device 10 of another playback site). At this time, the video routing device 10A may transmit the four video streams to the video routing device 10B and may also copy (duplicate) all or part of those video streams and transmit them to another video routing device 10.

[0023] <Example of the functional configuration of the video routing device 10> An example of the functional configuration of the video routing device 10 according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the video routing device 10 according to this embodiment includes a stream reception unit 101, a stream transmission unit 102, and a stream monitoring unit 103. Each of these units is realized, for example, by processing in which one or more programs installed in the video routing device 10 cause an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute. Further, the video routing device 10 according to this embodiment includes a stream buffer unit 104 and a routing information storage unit 105. Each of these units is realized, for example, by a storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

[0024] The stream reception unit 101 inputs a video stream from the encoder 40 or another video routing device 10 through the input interface 11 and stores it in the stream buffer unit 104.

[0025] The stream transmission unit 102 outputs the video stream stored in the stream buffer unit 104 from the output interface 12 according to the routing information stored in the routing information storage unit 105. Here, the routing information is information indicating which video stream from which encoder 40 is to be distributed to which decoder 50. For example, it is information represented by information indicating the encoder 40 and information indicating the decoder 50 or information indicating the video routing device 10 that is the next hop for distributing the video stream to the decoder 50, etc., associated with each other. By referring to such routing information, the stream transmission unit 102 can determine the decoder 50 that is the transmission destination of the video stream from a certain encoder 40 or the video routing device 10 that is the next hop. As the information indicating the encoder 40, the information indicating the decoder 50, and the information indicating the video routing device 10, for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) address, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, etc. can be used, or a unique ID arbitrarily assigned to the encoder 40, the decoder 50, and the video routing device 10 can also be used. Note that, for example, when only one encoder 40 is arranged at one recording site, information indicating the recording site may be used instead of the information indicating the encoder 40. Similarly, when only one decoder 50 is arranged at one playback site, information indicating the playback site may be used instead of the information indicating the decoder 50.

[0026] The stream monitoring unit 103 monitors whether the syntax of the video stream input and output through the input / output interfaces (input interface 11 and output interface 12) it has is correct, and notifies the terminal 20 of the monitoring result. Here, the stream monitoring unit 103 includes an analysis unit 111 and a notification unit 112. The analysis unit 111 functions as a parser for a predetermined compression method (encoding method) and analyzes whether the syntax of the video stream is correct. That is, the analysis unit 111 analyzes whether the video stream can be correctly decoded by the decoder 50. When the analysis result by the analysis unit 111 indicates that the syntax of the video stream is incorrect (that is, when a syntax error occurs), the notification unit 112 notifies the terminal 20 of the input / output interface where the video stream is input or output and the content of the syntax error.

[0027] The stream buffer unit 104 temporarily stores the video streams input from each input interface 11 it has. Note that for each encoder 40, a video stream of a predetermined length (for example, a video stream of a certain length such as several seconds to several minutes) generated by the encoder 40 is stored in the stream buffer unit 104. The stream buffer unit 104 can absorb the influence of, for example, the processing delay of the stream monitoring unit 103 and the fluctuation of the processing speed due to the CPU load situation. However, the stream buffer unit 104 is not an essential component, and when there is no (or they can be ignored) influence such as the processing delay of the stream monitoring unit 103 and the fluctuation of the processing speed due to the CPU load situation, the stream buffer unit 104 may not be provided.

[0028] The routing information storage unit 105 stores routing information for determining the decoder 50 that is the destination of the video stream or the video routing device 10 that is the next hop.

[0029] <Video Stream Monitoring Process> Next, the video stream monitoring process when monitoring the video streams input and output through each input / output interface provided in a certain video routing device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. Here, steps S101 to S103 in FIG. 3 are repeatedly executed in real time in each video routing device 10. It should be noted that each video stream is input from each input interface 11 to the stream receiving unit 101 in real time and stored in the stream buffer unit 104, and according to the routing information, each video stream stored in the stream buffer unit 104 is output from each output interface 12 by the stream transmitting unit 102.

[0030] First, the analysis unit 111 of the stream monitoring unit 103 analyzes whether the syntax of each video stream input and output through each input / output interface provided in the video routing device 10 is correct (step S101). That is, the analysis unit 111 analyzes whether the syntax of each video stream input from each input interface 11 is correct, and also analyzes whether the syntax of each video stream output from each output interface 12 is correct.

[0031] Note that the case where the syntax is incorrect means that the bit sequence of the video stream does not conform to the grammar rules according to the compression method (or encoding method) (that is, a syntax error occurs). For a specific example, for example, when the value at a predetermined position in the bit sequence of the video stream should be "0" but is "1".

[0032] Next, the analysis unit 111 of the stream monitoring unit 103 determines whether there is a video stream with a syntax error based on the result of the analysis in step S101 above (step S102).

[0033] When it is determined that there is no video stream that resulted in a syntax error in step S103 described above, the stream monitoring unit 103 does not execute the process of step S103. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a video stream that resulted in a syntax error in step S103 described above, the notification unit 112 of the stream monitoring unit 103 notifies the terminal 20 of the input / output interface where the video stream with the syntax error was input or output and the content of the syntax error (step S103). As a result, the user of the terminal 20 can know which input / output interface of which video routing device 10 has an incorrect (syntax error) video stream, so that the cause location when the video is not played back properly can be easily identified. However, notifying the terminal 20 is just an example, and the above input / output interface and error content may be notified to a predetermined notification destination other than the terminal 20.

[0034] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the video stream generated by the encoder 40A is input from the input interface 11A-1 of the video routing device 10A and output from the output interface 12A-1, and then input from the input interface 11B-1 of the video routing device 10B and output from the output interface 12B-1. That is, the video stream generated by the encoder 40A passes through the input / output interfaces in the order of input interface 11A-1 → output interface 12A-1 → input interface 11B-1 → output interface 12B-1.

[0035] At this time, for example, when the video stream input from the input interface 11A-1 has a syntax error, the cause location when the video is not played back properly can be identified as the imaging device 30A or the encoder 40A.

[0036] Also, for example, when the video stream input from the input interface 11A-1 of the video routing device 10A does not have a syntax error, but the video stream output from the output interface 12A-1 has a syntax error, the cause location when the video is not played properly can be identified as the video routing device 10A.

[0037] Also, for example, when the video stream input from the input interface 11A-1 of the video routing device 10A and the video stream output from the output interface 12A-1 do not have a syntax error, but the video stream input from the input interface 11B-1 of the video routing device 10B has a syntax error, the cause location when the video is not played properly can be identified as the communication network 70.

[0038] Also, for example, when the video stream input from the input interface 11A-1 of the video routing device 10A, the video stream output from the output interface 12A-1, and the video stream input from the input interface 11B-1 of the video routing device 10B do not have a syntax error, but the video stream output from the output interface 12B-1 of the video routing device 10B has a syntax error, the cause location when the video is not played properly can be identified as the video routing device 10B.

[0039] Also, for example, when the video is not played properly even though the video stream does not have a syntax error at any input / output interface, the cause location can be identified as the decoder 50 that decodes the video stream into video data or the playback device 60 that plays back the video data.

[0040] <Summary> As described above, each video routing device 10 included in the video transmission system 1 according to the present embodiment monitors whether the syntax of a video stream input or output through the input / output interface provided therein is correct, and if there is a video stream with a syntax error, at least notifies the input / output interface through which the video stream was input or output. As a result, the user can know at which input / output interface of which video routing device 10 a video stream with incorrect syntax was input or output, so that the cause of the video not being correctly played at the playback site can be easily identified. Therefore, for example, even when the recording site and the playback site are remote, or when the video routing devices 10 are arranged in multiple stages, the cause of the video not being correctly played at the playback site can be identified in a short time.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed above embodiments, and various modifications, changes, combinations with known technologies, etc. are possible without departing from the description of the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0042] 1 Video transmission system 10 Video routing device 20 Terminal 30 Imaging device 40 Encoder 50 Decoder 60 Playback device 70 Communication network 101 Stream receiving unit 102 Stream transmitting unit 103 Stream monitoring unit 104 Stream buffer unit 105 Routing information storage unit 111 Analysis unit 112 Notification unit

Claims

1. A video routing device comprising an input / output interface for inputting a video stream from the outside or outputting a video stream to the outside, an analysis unit configured to analyze whether there is a syntax error in the video stream input or output by the input / output interface, and a notification unit configured to notify a predetermined notification destination of the input / output interface that has input or output a video stream with a syntax error when, as a result of the analysis by the analysis unit, there is a video stream with a syntax error. A video routing device having the above.

2. The video routing device includes a plurality of input / output interfaces for inputting or outputting the video stream for each video stream, and the analysis unit is configured to analyze whether there is a syntax error in the video stream input or output by each input / output interface for each input / output interface. The video routing device according to claim 1.

3. Each of the plurality of input / output interfaces is either an input interface for inputting a video stream from the outside or an output interface for outputting a video stream to the outside. The video routing device according to claim 2.

4. The notification unit is configured to further notify the content of the error with respect to the video stream having a syntax error. The video routing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A video transmission system including a plurality of video routing devices each having an input / output interface for inputting a video stream from the outside or outputting a video stream to the outside, wherein each of the plurality of video routing devices includes an analysis unit configured to analyze whether there is a syntax error in the video stream input or output by the input / output interface provided therein, and a notification unit configured to notify a predetermined notification destination of the input / output interface that has input or output a video stream with a syntax error when, as a result of the analysis by the analysis unit, there is a video stream with a syntax error. A video transmission system having the above.

6. A video routing apparatus having an input / output interface for inputting a video stream from the outside or outputting a video stream to the outside, an analysis procedure for analyzing whether there is a syntax error in the video stream input or output by the input / output interface; a notification unit that, if a video stream with a syntax error exists as a result of the analysis by the analysis procedure, notifies a predetermined notification destination of the input / output interface that input or output the video stream with the syntax error; A method for executing.

7. A method used in a video transmission system including a plurality of video routing apparatuses each having an input / output interface for inputting a video stream from the outside or outputting a video stream to the outside, each of the plurality of video routing apparatuses has an analysis procedure for analyzing whether there is a syntax error in the video stream input or output by the input / output interface provided therein; a notification procedure for notifying a predetermined notification destination of the input / output interface that input or output the video stream with the syntax error if a video stream with a syntax error exists as a result of the analysis by the analysis procedure; A method for executing.

8. A program for causing a computer to function as the video routing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images