Video Server Port Grouping for Synchronized Command Execution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current video server systems in broadcast stations face challenges in synchronizing the recording and reproduction of material data items, particularly when using asynchronous communication networks like TCP/IP, which can result in temporal deviations during command execution.
Innovation Solution
The video server system introduces a command gang function that groups ports based on user-set group information, allowing a single command to synchronize multiple material data items using a designated port and its associated ports, ensuring synchronized execution even over asynchronous networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If commands are transmitted via asynchronous communication network (TCP/IP), then communication flexibility and network adaptability are improved, but synchronization accuracy and timing precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments ports into groups where each group shares the same synchronization settings. This allows independent configuration of synchronization parameters for different port groups while maintaining overall system flexibility. The segmentation enables the system to adapt to different network conditions for different groups without compromising synchronization accuracy within each group.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary synchronization setting for grouped ports before command execution. By pre-configuring synchronization parameters and grouping ports that require coordinated operation, the system ensures that when commands are transmitted via the asynchronous network, all ports in a group are already prepared to maintain synchronization, thus compensating for the timing uncertainties inherent in TCP/IP communication.
2Ease of operation
If multiple ports are controlled individually, then operational flexibility is improved, but user burden and control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the control of multiple ports by grouping them together with shared synchronization settings. Users can issue a single command to control all ports in a group simultaneously, reducing the number of individual commands needed. This merging maintains operational flexibility because ports can still be individually configured into different groups, but it reduces control complexity by allowing batch operations on grouped ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The port grouping mechanism provides universal control functionality that works across different port types and configurations. A single synchronization setting can be applied to multiple ports universally, reducing the need for repetitive configuration. This multi-functionality allows the same control mechanism to serve different purposes depending on how ports are grouped, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If synchronization is implemented without port grouping, then system simplicity is maintained, but synchronization reliability and timing consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary synchronization configuration by grouping ports before command execution. This preliminary action ensures that all ports requiring synchronized operation are pre-configured with appropriate settings, improving synchronization reliability without significantly increasing system complexity. The grouping structure is established once and then reused for multiple operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization settings are copied across all ports within a group, ensuring consistent configuration without manually configuring each port individually. This copying mechanism maintains synchronization reliability by ensuring all ports in a group have identical timing parameters, while keeping the system simple by automating the configuration process rather than requiring complex individual settings for each port.
Data Source
AI summary
A video server includes a plurality of ports used for inputting and outputting material data items, a storage unit capable of storing group information about grouping of the plurality of ports, and a control unit that receives a command of designating a specific port of the plurality of ports for inputting and outputting one of a plurality of specific material data items and the other of the plurality of specific material data items as a first port, determines one or more other ports belonging to the same group of the first port as one or more second ports on the basis of the group information, and executes the command so as to synchronize the plurality of material data items each other using the first port and the one or more second ports.