Broadcast transmission relay circuit

• US 20080104650A1
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, John S., Keener, David J., Ward, Peter L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 characterised by processes or methods for the generation

Abstract

A transmission relay circuit, a broadcast signal relay method, and a signal detection device are disclosed. Preferably, the transmission relay circuit includes a microcontroller, a broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit configured for determining the broadcast signal selected from a group consisting of (NTSC, ASI, DS-3, SDI, and HD-SDI signals). The method preferably includes the steps of determining a signal type, directing the signal to an analog broadcast signal processing circuit when the signal is determined to be to be an analog video signal, directing the signal to a digital broadcast signal processing circuit when the signal is either a digital video signal, or a digital video transport signal, and relaying the processed signal to a local loop provider. The detection device preferably includes at least a multi-layer printed circuit board with an isolation/buffer amplifier and terminator, and a signal detection circuit for detecting and determining the broadcast signal type.

Claims

1. A transmission relay circuit for relaying a broadcast signal generated by a broadcast provider to a local loop provider, the transmission relay circuit comprising:

a microcontroller; and

a broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit communicating with a microcontroller and configured for sensing and reporting a broadcast signal type of the signal received from the broadcast provider.

2. The transmission relay circuit of claim 1, in which the broadcast signal type received from the broadcast provider is selected from a group consisting of (NTSC analog video signals, ASI digital video signals, and DS-3, SDI, and HD-SDI digital video transport signals).

3. The transmission relay circuit of claim 1, further comprising an analog broadcast signal processing circuit.

4. The transmission relay circuit of claim 1, further comprising a digital broadcast signal processing circuit.

5. The transmission relay circuit of claim 1, further comprising an ASI digital video signal generating circuit.

6. The transmission relay circuit of claim 1, further comprising a SDI digital video transport signal generating circuit.

7. The transmission relay circuit of claim 3, in which the analog broadcast signal processing circuit comprising:

an analog video isolation transformer receiving an analog broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider;

a video distribution amplifier communicating with the analog video isolation transformer; and

an analog video codec communicating with the video distribution amplifier and providing a digital video transport signal to the local loop provider.

8. The transmission relay circuit of claim 7, further comprising a relay disposed between and communicating with the broadcast single generated by the broadcast provider and the analog video isolation transformer.

9. The transmission relay circuit of claim 8, in which the relay comprises a latching relay responsive to the microcontroller.

10. The transmission relay circuit of claim 4, in which the digital broadcast signal processing circuit comprising a conductive path configured for receiving a digital video signal generated by the broadcast provider and providing the digital video signal generated by the broadcast provider to the local loop provider.

11. The transmission relay circuit of claim 10, further comprising a relay disposed between the generated digital video signal and the conductive path.

12. The transmission relay circuit of claim 11, in which the relay comprises a latching relay responsive to the microcontroller.

13. The transmission relay circuit of claim 12, in which the digital video signal is a digital video transport signal.

14. The transmission relay circuit of claim 1, in which the broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit comprising:

an isolation/buffer amplifier communicating with the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider;

a signal detector portion communicating with the isolation/buffer amplifier for detecting a type of broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider;

a logic circuit portion communicating with the signal detector for receiving a signal from the signal detector corresponding to the type of broadcast signal detected by the signal detector; and

a relay responsive to the logic circuit and providing an output signal corresponding to the type of broadcast signal detected by the signal detector.

15. The transmission relay circuit of claim 14, in which the signal detector portion comprising a NTSC analog video signal detector and a NTSC status line communicating with the logic circuit portion, and in which the logic circuit portion receives a signal across the NTSC status line when the broadcast provider provides a NTSC analog video signal type of broadcast signal to the isolation/buffer amplifier.

16. The transmission relay circuit of claim 15, in which the signal detector portion comprising a DS-3 digital video transport signal detector and a DS-3 status line communicating with the logic portion, and in which the logic circuit portion receives a signal across the DS-3 status line when the broadcast provider provides a DS-3 digital video transport signal type of broadcast signal to the isolation/buffer amplifier.

17. The transmission relay circuit of claim 16, in which the signal detector portion comprising a combination ASI digital video signal, and SDI and HD-SDI digital video transport signal detector with each an ASI status line, a SDI status line, and a HD-SDI status line, and in which the logic circuit portion receives a signal:

across the ASI status line when the broadcast provider provides an ASI digital video signal type of broadcast signal to the isolation/buffer amplifier;

else

across the SDI status line when the broadcast provider provides a SDI digital video transport signal type of broadcast signal to the isolation/buffer amplifier;

else

across the HD-SDI status line when the broadcast provider provides a HD-SDI digital video transport signal type of broadcast signal to the isolation/buffer amplifier.

18. The transmission relay circuit of claim 17, in which the logic circuit portion provides an output signal to the relay reporting the presence of:

the NTSC analog video signal type of broadcast signal when the logic circuit portion receives a signal across the NTSC status line and no signals across the DS-3, ASI, SDI, and HD-SDI status lines;

else

the DS-3 digital video transport signal type of broadcast signal when the logic circuit portion receives a signal across the DS-3 status line and no signals across the NTSC, ASI, SDI, and HD-SDI status lines;

else

the ASI digital video signal type of broadcast signal when the logic circuit portion receives a signal across the ASI status line and no signals across the NTSC, DS-3, SDI, and HD-SDI status lines;

else

the SDI digital video transport signal type of broadcast signal when the logic circuit portion receives a signal across the SDI status line and no signals across the NTSC, ASI, DS-3, and HD-SDI status lines;

else

the HD-SDI digital video transport signal type of broadcast signal when the logic circuit portion receives a signal across the HD-SDI status line and no signals across the NTSC, ASI, DS-3, and SDI status lines.

19. A method of relaying a broadcast signal generated by a broadcast provider to a local loop provider by steps comprising;

receiving the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider into a broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit of a transmission relay circuit;

determining a signal type of broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider with the broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit; and

directing the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to an analog broadcast signal processing circuit with a microcontroller of the transmission relay circuit when the broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit determines the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to be an analog video signal.

20. The method of relaying the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to the local loop provider of claim 19, by steps further comprising:

directing the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to a digital broadcast signal processing circuit when the broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit determines the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to be a digital video transport signal; and

directing the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to a digital broadcast signal processing circuit when the broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit determines the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to be a digital video signal.

21. A combination comprising:

a microcontroller;

a broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit communicating with the microcontroller and configured for sensing a broadcast signal generated by a broadcast provider selected from a group consisting of (NTSC analog video signals, ASI digital video signals, and DS-3, SDI, and HD-SDI digital video transport signals); and

steps for relaying the sensed broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to a local loop provider.

22. The combination of claim 21, in which the steps for relaying the sensed broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to the local loop provider comprising:

receiving the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider into a broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit;

determining a signal type of broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider with the broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit;

directing the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to an analog broadcast signal processing circuit when the broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit determines the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to be an analog video signal;

directing the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to a digital broadcast signal processing circuit when the broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit determines the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to be a digital video signal; and

directing the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to a digital broadcast signal processing circuit when the broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit determines the broadcast signal generated by the broadcast provider to be a digital video transport signal.

23. A broadcast signal detection device comprising:

a multi-layer printed circuit board;

an isolation/buffer amplifier and terminator communicating with the multi-layer printed circuit board, the isolation/buffer amplifier and terminator appearing as a terminated device to a broadcast signal provided to the isolation/buffer amplifier; and

a signal detection circuit comprising a first signal detector communicating with the isolation/buffer amplifier and attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board for detecting and reporting a type of broadcast signal provided to the isolation/buffer amplifier and selected from a group consisting of (ASI digital video signals, and SDI and HD-SDI digital video transport signals), the first signal detector further providing an ASI status line, a SDI status line, and a HD-SDI status line for reporting the type of signal detected when a signal is detected by the first signal detector.

24. The broadcast signal detection device of claim 23, in which the signal detection circuit further comprising a second signal detector communicating with the isolation/buffer amplifier and attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board for detecting a NTSC analog video signal as the type of broadcast signal provided to the isolation/buffer amplifier, the second signal detector further providing a NTSC status line for reporting the type of signal detected when a signal is detected by the second signal detector.

25. The broadcast signal detection device of claim 24, further comprising a third signal detection circuit communicating with the isolation/buffer amplifier and attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board for detecting a DS-3 digital video transport signal as the type of broadcast signal provided to the isolation/buffer amplifier, the third signal detector further providing a DS-3 status line when a signal is detected by the third signal detector.

26. The broadcast signal detection device of claim 25, further comprising:

a logic circuit attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board and communicating with each the NTSC, DC-3, ASI, SDI, and HD-SDI status lines, and providing a NTSC output line; and

a first LED attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board and communicating with the NTSC output line, the NTSC output line illuminating the LED when a signal is present on the NTSC status line and not present on the DC-3, ASI, SDI, and HD-SDI status lines.

27. The broadcast signal detection device of claim 26, further comprising:

a DS-3 output line provided by the logic circuit further; and

a second LED attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board and communicating with the DS-3 output line, the DS-3 output line illuminating the LED when a signal is present on the DS-3 status line and not present on the NTSC, ASI, SDI, and HD-SDI status lines.

28. The broadcast signal detection device of claim 26, further comprising:

an ASI output line provided by the logic circuit further; and

a third LED attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board and communicating with the ASI output line, the ASI output line illuminating the LED when a signal is present on the ASI status line and not present on the NTSC, DS-3, SDI, and HD-SDI status lines.

29. The broadcast signal detection device of claim 26, further comprising:

a SDI output line provided by the logic circuit further; and

a fourth LED attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board and communicating with the SDI output line, the ASI output line illuminating the LED when a signal is present on the SDI status line and not present on the NTSC, DS-3, ASI, and HD-SDI status lines.

30. The broadcast signal detection device of claim 26, further comprising:

a HD-SDI output line provided by the logic circuit further; and

a fifth LED attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board and communicating with the HD-SDI output line, the HD-SDI output line illuminating the LED when a signal is present on the HD-SDI status line and not present on the NTSC, DS-3, ASI, and SDI status lines.

31. The broadcast signal detection device of claim 26, further comprising:

a no signal output line provided by the logic circuit further; and

a sixth LED attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board and communicating with the no signal output line, the no output line illuminating the LED when no signal is present on any of the NTSC, DS-3, ASI, SDI, and HD-SDI status lines, and when a signal is present on more than one of the NTSC, DS-3, ASI, SDI, and HD-SDI status lines.

32. The broadcast signal detection device of claim 26, further comprising:

a plurality of LEDS attached to the multi-layer printed circuit board; and

a battery communicating with the multi-layer printed circuit board and powering the isolation/buffer amplifier, the first, second, and third signal detection circuits, the logic circuit, and each of the plurality of LEDS.

33. The broadcast signal detection device of claim 32, further comprising an encasement enclosing the battery, the isolation/buffer amplifier, the first, second, and third signal detection circuits, and the logic circuit, while allowing the plurality of LEDS to be visible to a user of the device.