Nanjing TV studio source naming system

Nanjing Radio and Television

I. Background

As the design of large-scale program production systems evolves, users demand highly flexible monitoring and scheduling systems to accommodate increasingly complex application requirements. Beyond the source naming system's name display and TALLY indication functions, users typically expect the monitor walls in each display area (director area, production area, audio area, technical area) to have full or partial free scheduling capability.
Users require different display modes for the same video source signal across different areas (director area, production area, audio area, technical area), making source name display more user-friendly and comprehensible for personnel in each area. Users also need comprehensive source name display strategies for cross-system signal scheduling. When using the system, specific devices such as VTRs and Switcher key caps typically require source name or TALLY display support. The system must also be highly resilient: when the main video system fails, a single button press should simultaneously switch both the video system and the source naming system, achieving one-button simultaneous switchover.
For controllers, high-stability and high-reliability devices are required to support live program playout. Therefore, beyond acquiring Matrix and Switcher crosspoint information and sending source name information to display devices, the source naming system must also offer stronger scheduling capability and more user-friendly display strategies. The source name tracking system software is a proprietary solution developed by our company that enables communication among Switchers, Matrices, Multiviewers, UMD Tally Lights, and CCU drivers for source name tracking and Tally indication. The software also provides extensive scheduling configurability and diverse source name display strategies.

II. System Configuration

Figure 1: Studio complex system composition

The Nanjing studio complex system is divided into 4 subsystems: Control Room A, Control Room B, Control Room C, and the Master Control Room (MCR) system. The three control rooms can operate independently, and each can also work in conjunction with the MCR system for program playout.

III. Application Scenarios

1. High scheduling flexibility of source name display on Multiviewers

This high scheduling flexibility for split-screen display offers many advantages: first, the system maximizes existing resources to adapt to more complex production tasks; second, when a system failure occurs, alternative split-screen scheduling can implement contingency plans to ensure normal program playout.
The high scheduling flexibility of the Multiviewer is reflected in two aspects: the Multiviewer signal inputs are schedulable, and the Multiviewer layouts are schedulable. The Nanjing studio system uses the Evertz VIPA as its Multiviewer, with signal inputs primarily sourced from the Matrix. This means all Matrix signal sources can be scheduled by the Multiviewer. Additionally, the Multiviewer's built-in software allows free adjustment of display layouts.
The source name tracking system software acquires Matrix crosspoint information and, through software computation, publishes Matrix input source names to the Multiviewer. When a signal source change is needed on the Multiviewer, the corresponding Matrix output port source is switched. Once the Matrix output port source is switched, the source name tracking system software acquires the new crosspoint information and, through computation, publishes the new Matrix source name to the corresponding Multiviewer port.
The source name tracking system software sends source names to Multiviewer split screens via split-screen IDs. When the Multiviewer layout needs to be changed during a live production, simply assigning the Multiviewer split-screen ID to the corresponding split screen enables source name tracking.

2. Multiple source name display strategies

The system provides source name display strategy concepts to accommodate different usage habits across work areas and different usage modes for the same signal in different areas. For example, for the PGM signal in the system, when it is switched to CAM1, the director needs to know which source the current PGM signal corresponds to (displaying the source name as CAM1), while the technical area may need to know whether this signal path is PGM (displaying the source name as PGM).
Therefore, the source name tracking system software provides various source name display strategies for different work areas, and these strategies can be customized according to client requirements. The software provides 5 basic source name strategies:
A. Initial source name: the name edited in the resource input port;
B. Zone source name: the source name used in zone editing;
C. Override source name: a source name read from the device or from an upstream system;
D. Fixed source name: text edited on the UMD output port to identify the UMD display;
E. Signal processing marker: used to mark whether the input signal has passed through a specified port.
In the system, basic source name strategies can be directly assigned to designated UMD display units. The system also provides a custom function that allows a designated UMD display unit to show two source names simultaneously. For example, the PGM signal can use the following display strategies:
(1) A: displays the dynamic source name edited in the resource, which changes as PGM switches;
(2) D: static source name PGM, which does not change with Switcher switching;
(3) D-A: a combination of static and dynamic source names. The static source name is PGM, and the dynamic source name is the input port source name selected by the Switcher PGM output port. If the Switcher PGM selects CAM1, the display result using this strategy is PGM-CAM1. The system can be further edited based on different usage requirements for ease of use.

3. Solution for cross-system program production

As the design of large-scale program production systems evolves, production tasks become increasingly demanding. This is a challenge not only for the video system but also for the source naming system. How to display source names more intuitively and make them easier to understand has become a pressing issue. The source name tracking system software provides a complete source name solution for cross-system production tasks.
In the Nanjing studio system, each studio receives signals from the central equipment room, and the central equipment room also receives signals from each studio. Under normal circumstances, when the current studio's PGM signal is switched to an input source from the central equipment room, the source name displays as NEWS or EXT. However, this does not reveal what actual source the central equipment room signal corresponds to. The source name tracking system software provides a solution for this.
The source name tracking system software is deployed in both the central equipment room and the studios. The central equipment room's source naming system acquires the central equipment room Matrix crosspoint information, then publishes the required source names over the network to the studio source name tracking systems. In the studio system, the studio source naming system receives the source names from the central equipment room and publishes them to UMD display devices through computation. The source name tracking system software also supports UMD display via source name display strategies. For example, if the central equipment room publishes the source name "4G Signal" and the current PGM output port is switched to the central equipment room signal, with the fixed source name configured as NEWS and the display strategy set to D:C, the current PGM signal displays as: NEWS:4GSignal.
Through this source name relay and display strategy approach, signal routing is presented more clearly. At the same time, accurate names from upstream systems are displayed, making the system easier to understand.

Figure 2: Source name pass-through display

4. TALLY display for VTRs

Systems inevitably include some devices that do not support source name or TALLY indication display, yet some of these devices play a critical role in program playout. Therefore, TALLY indication display must be provided for these special devices. The source name tracking system software provides a TALLY indication solution for special devices, sending TALLY signals via GPO outputs.
Taking the VTR devices in the Nanjing TV studio as an example, the VTR device itself has no TALLY display module. The system therefore displays TALLY on its monitor, and the Ruige monitor supports GPI-controlled TALLY display. When the PGM signal switches to the VTR signal, the source name tracking system software receives this signal and transmits it via the GPO output module to the Ruige monitor's TALLY module, thus enabling TALLY display for the VTR.

5. Source name to Switcher key caps

When the director uses the Switcher to switch signals and switches to a signal from the Matrix, the director does not know the actual source on the Matrix output port. This creates confusion during switching. Therefore, the Switcher key cap names need to be updated. The source name tracking system software provides a solution for modifying Switcher key cap names.
The Nanjing TV studio system uses the SONY 6000 Switcher. The source name tracking system software treats the Switcher key cap source name function as a UMD display unit, publishing source names acquired from the Matrix to the Switcher key caps.
The source name tracking system software acquires Matrix crosspoint information, then analyzes and publishes the source name information for the corresponding ports to the Switcher key caps via the interface. This allows the Switcher key caps to display the currently selected Matrix signal source, giving the director precise knowledge of the current source name.

Figure 3: Source name to key caps

6. One-button simultaneous switchover

When the Switcher crashes, the on-site engineer must immediately switch the video signal to the Matrix EMG channel. Systems typically provide a 2X1 changeover panel for switching video signals, but under normal circumstances, the source naming system also requires a switchover signal to perform its own changeover.
The source name tracking system software provides a switchover mechanism that enables the one-button simultaneous switchover function.
The 2X1 changeover panel provides multiple GPO signal outputs. When the changeover panel performs a switchover, it provides two GPO signals: one to the video 2-to-1 selector Module Card, and the other to the source name tracking system software. This achieves simultaneous primary/backup switchover for both the video system and the source naming system, eliminating the need for additional director operations during switchover and simplifying usage.

7. Application of embedded controllers in the system

With advances in computer technology, embedded controllers are gaining ground across various fields thanks to their unique advantages, and have already taken a dominant position in certain specialized applications. As an industry that demands high reliability, the broadcasting sector also requires embedded controllers to enhance system reliability. Therefore, the Hardware Platform running the source name tracking system software adopts an embedded controller.

Embedded controllers offer the following advantages over conventional controllers:

(1) Low power consumption, small form factor, and high density, suitable for broadcasting system integration;
(2) Hardware and software are custom-tailored to improve software execution speed;
(3) To improve reliability, the system uses a CF card as its storage medium instead of a traditional hard drive, preventing hard drive damage in the event of a sudden power outage;
(4) The embedded controller uses an embedded operating system that supports write protection on system drive partitions, preventing network-borne viruses from compromising the system.