Broadcast transmission relay circuit

• US 8,009,236 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keener, David J., Ward, Peter L., Jones, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Trang U
• Application Number:
  US11/591,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20080104650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 348/723, 348/724, 348/275, 348/726, 348/731, 348/180, 348/192, 348/21, 348553-555, 725 32- 36
• US Class Current: 348/723
• 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 the microcontroller and configured for sensing and reporting a broadcast signal type of the signal received from the broadcast provider, wherein the broadcast signal sensing and discerning circuit comprises;

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.

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 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.

15. The transmission relay circuit of claim 14, 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.

16. The transmission relay circuit of claim 15, 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.

17. The transmission relay circuit of claim 16, 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.