AUTOMATIC TIMING OF PRODUCTION DEVICES IN AN INTERNET PROTOCOL ENVIRONMENT

Number: 20190045259
Published: 2019-02-07
Filed: 2017-08-04
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: BEARDSLEY; Craig L. et al.
CPC: H04L65/611; H04N21/4305; G06F1/12; H04N21/242; H04L65/80; H04N21/64322
Verdict: Set aside automatic timing of production devices IP environment, broadcast infra
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

Abstract

Embodiments herein describe automatically synchronizing the output of source devices connected to a system reference point through an IP network in a media production studio so that the outputs are aligned when they reach the system reference point. In one embodiment, the system reference point device exchanges a plurality of messages and timestamps with a source device. The source device uses the messages and timestamps to determine a transmission delay between the source device and the system reference point device. The source device uses the transmission delay to determine a video transmission correction factor, which the source device applies to modify the time at which it outputs a signal so that the signal is aligned with signals output by other source devices when the signal arrives at the system reference point device through the IP network.

Background

BACKGROUNDField of the Invention

The embodiments herein are generally directed to automating the timing of output from production source devices that use an internet protocol (IP) network to communicate with a system reference point in a media production studio.Description of the Related Art

Media production studios (e.g., television studios or film studios) typically include a video production system with several different source devices, like cameras, video players, graphic devices, etc., and a reference point device, like a video switcher. In these production studios, each source device that is used in the production must have its video output timed to arrive at the video switcher so that the video signals (frames, lines and pixels) of each device are aligned to each other and to the switcher's internal clock. In traditional systems, each source device is directly connected to the reference device, for example through a coaxial cable. The output timing of the signal from the source devices must be adjusted to compensate for latency in signal transmission due to factors like cable lengths between the source device and the video switcher, drift in the stability of the internal synchronization of devices to a reference clock, and the varying assignment of production resources to various studios and productions.

Traditionally, this adjustment was done manually. A technician would manually adjust the phase and delay of the video signal leaving each source devi

Claims

1. A method, comprising: generating one or more timestamps at a system reference point device and at each of a plurality of source devices, wherein the plurality of source devices are communicatively coupled to the system reference point device via an Internet Protocol (IP) network; determining a transmission delay between each of the source devices and the system reference point device over the IP network by exchanging the timestamps; determining a video transmission correction factor for a first source device of the plurality of source devices, based on the transmission delay for the first source device; and modifying, based on the video transmission correction factor, a time at which transmission of a first video signal is initiated from the first source device to the system reference point device over the IP network. 8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising: computer-readable program code for determining a video transmission correction factor, wherein, when executed by a computer processor, the computer-readable program code performs an operation comprising: generating one or more timestamps at a system reference point device and at each of a plurality of source devices, wherein the plurality of source devices are communicatively coupled to the system reference point device via an Internet Protocol (IP) network; determining a transmission delay between each of the source devices and the system reference point device over the IP network by exchanging the timestamps; determining a video transmission correction factor for a first source device of the plurality of source devices, based on the transmission delay for the first source device; and modifying, based on the video transmission correction factor, a time at which transmission of a first video signal is initiated from the first source device to the system reference point device over the IP network. 15. A media production studio, comprising: a system reference point device; an Internet Protocol (IP) network; a plurality of source devices communicatively coupled to the system reference point device over the IP network in the media production studio, wherein the system reference point device and each of the source devices are configured to generate one or more timestamps, wherein each of the source devices is configured to determine a transmission delay between the source device and the system reference point device over the IP network by exchanging the timestamps; and a first source device of the plurality of source devices configured to: determine a video transmission correction factor based on the transmission delay between the first source device and the system reference point device, and modify, based on the video transmission correction factor, a time at which the first source device initiates transmission of a first video signal to the system reference point device over the IP network.