Years of focus and persistence have enabled our team to accumulate extensive theoretical and practical experience. Through requirements analysis of most domestic TV stations and performance analysis of comparable international products, we developed a complete, efficient, and advanced Unified Control Platform (iSwiftMedia) for production and playout systems. The platform has been deployed at multiple provincial and municipal TV stations nationwide. The automation control systems built for CCTV, Chongqing TV, Nanjing TV, and Hangzhou TV received the Science and Technology Innovation Award from the National Radio and Television Administration (broadcast industry regulator), serving as a model for successful automation and intelligent operation of TV production and playout systems.
Zhejiang International Film & TV Center studio cluster monitoring system
Zhejiang International Film & TV Center building
1. Project Background
The Zhejiang International Film & TV Center studio cluster is the largest HD studio cluster in China to date in terms of camera channels and system scale, reaching 40+4 camera channels. The 2500/1200/600 sqm studio halls and the studio sub-control center video system represent another exemplary collaboration between our company and SONY. We provided Evertz EQX matrices, peripherals and VIPX multiviewers, optical transceivers; LAWO VSM device integrated scheduling management system; multiple LAWO V_pro8 cross-conversion frame synchronizers with waveform display, color adjustment, channel delay adjustment, signal quality monitoring, and lip-sync adjustment; Riedel intercom systems and Mediornet multi-data transport platforms among other equipment, and were responsible for system integration, installation, and commissioning. The studio cluster was officially launched in December 2016 and has been running well.
Figure 1: Control room
The Multi-Platform Monitoring System (referred to as Monitoring System) is our independently developed next-generation monitoring product. It supports multiple client platforms including C/S mode, browser, Android tablet, and WeChat, with functions covering device status monitoring, parameter logging and query, alarm management, video signal detection, video signal recording, environmental and power monitoring, and user permission management. With extensive monitoring project experience in the broadcasting industry, the Monitoring System is applicable to station-wide monitoring, playout and Master Control Room (MCR) monitoring, studio monitoring, and various OB Van (outside broadcast van) monitoring projects.
Figure 2: Multi-Platform Monitoring System architecture diagram
II. Monitoring System Functions
Topology diagram display
The Monitoring System can create topology diagrams based on audio/video system logical connections for intuitive display, linking actual devices to topology nodes. When a device triggers an alarm, alarm information can be viewed directly on the associated topology node.
Figure 3: Monitoring System topology diagram display 1
Figure 4: Monitoring System topology diagram display 2
Figure 5: Monitoring System topology diagram display 3
Physical layout diagram display
The physical layout diagram includes three views: equipment room diagram, rack diagram, and chassis diagram. Through multi-level "equipment room - rack - chassis (module card)" display, it intuitively depicts the exact physical location of equipment, facilitating remote equipment room inspection and rapid fault localization.
The equipment room diagram shows the spatial positions of racks, temperature and humidity sensors, smoke alarm sensors, water leak sensors, network cameras, UPS units, air conditioners, and other equipment within the room. The rack diagram shows the names and space occupied by currently installed equipment. The chassis diagram shows the module card types and installation slots.
Each element in the physical layout diagram is linked to a topology diagram node, enabling bidirectional navigation between the physical layout diagram and topology diagram.
Each element in the physical layout diagram is linked to an actual device, enabling direct viewing of device alarm information on the physical layout diagram.
Figure 6: Master Control Room (MCR) physical layout diagram
Real-time monitoring and collection of key device parameters
In daily broadcasting facility operations, users often focus closely on certain parameters such as equipment room temperature/humidity and device memory utilization. The Monitoring System provides dedicated parameter monitoring interfaces to display these parameters in real time, with multiple chart options per parameter for intuitive device metrics viewing.
Parameter monitoring charts can be embedded in topology diagrams and physical layout diagrams to display temperature/humidity, voltage/current, and other values in real time, enabling the creation of comprehensive system status overview dashboards.
Figure 7: Parameter monitoring diagram
In addition, the Monitoring System provides parameter logging (metering) functionality, recording designated parameters and automatically generating trend curves. It supports statistical analysis over extended time periods with report generation, as well as trend analysis and group comparison of parameter histories to assist with device stability assessment, utilization analysis, and data-driven decision making for future equipment selection and system construction. Data retention periods are configurable, with expired data automatically purged.
Figure 8: Meter data query
Comprehensive alarm management
1) Alarm records are stored in the database and support post-event statistical analysis During operation, the Monitoring System records every alarm and stores it in the database. Statistical analysis of alarm frequency, count, and duration provides users with detailed data for understanding and evaluating device conditions.
Figure 9: Alarm information statistical query
2) Flexible alarm rule configuration Different detection thresholds, detection algorithms, and alarm policies can be configured for different device types. Individual devices of the same type can also have separate thresholds and alarm policies, triggering alarms at different threshold levels.
3) Alarm information handling The Monitoring System provides a simple alarm suppression method, allowing users to suppress unnecessary alarms based on actual needs. Alarm suppression methods include:
Alarm suppression by device instance;
Alarm suppression by alarm type;
Suppression of specific alarm instances;
Multiple alarm suppressions can be bundled into a macro for one-click suppression;
Alarm information can be redefined, including user-customizable alarm descriptions and severity levels;
Alarm suppression takes effect immediately;
4) Comprehensive alarm notification methods for full alarm awareness The Monitoring System supports alarm notification via sound, graphics, email, SMS, and WeChat. Email, SMS, and WeChat alarm policies can be configured independently, sending only alarm information that meets preset conditions. This ensures users are informed of system status even when away from the site, enabling timely fault handling.
Figure 11: Alarm processing and notification flowchart
Comprehensive document management
The Monitoring System provides comprehensive electronic document management, including device document management and system document management, each linked to respective documents. Users can conveniently access device operation/maintenance manuals, system drawings, and other materials through the monitoring interface. This significantly reduces the time spent searching for documentation, improves equipment/system operational efficiency and maintenance testing effectiveness, lowers document management costs, and expands the scope of technical material accessibility.
Figure 12: Document viewing
Comprehensive solution knowledge base
What does an alarm mean, what are the implications, what is the impact, and how should it be handled?
The knowledge base module in the Monitoring System addresses these questions. As a full-service solution provider in the broadcasting industry, our company maintains close partnerships with multiple internationally recognized equipment manufacturers. With strong support from equipment designers and manufacturers, the knowledge base aggregates the experience and expertise of factories, system integrators, and station operators, translating data into actionable information that guides users' daily activities. This is a key value of the Multi-Platform Monitoring System.
Figure 13: The knowledge base is the core of the Monitoring System
Intelligent linkage with external system alarms
The primary function of the Monitoring System is to monitor the target system's operation. However, the target system (such as playout and Master Control Room (MCR)) is often a composite of multiple subsystems whose usage status changes dynamically. For example, certain signal channels may carry no signal during specific periods. Intelligent alarm handling based on external system linkage is an effective means of achieving dynamic, intelligent, and precise alarm processing.
When the target system changes dynamically, the Monitoring System can detect the change and intelligently suppress related alarms to avoid false alarms. When a target subsystem is taken offline, the Monitoring System can stop or reduce inspection frequency to avoid wasting monitoring center resources. This achieves intelligent alarm suppression and dynamic optimization of system inspection resource allocation, improving alarm accuracy.
The Monitoring System features streaming media playback. Through embedded video windows, signal monitoring can be performed, serving as a basis and means for subjective evaluation by users.
Figure 15: Streaming media playback
Offline diagnostics
The Monitoring System provides a snapshot generation function along with an offline diagnostic tool that reads snapshots. The offline diagnostic tool can obtain the entire system state by reading a snapshot. In daily operations, on-site duty personnel can send the snapshot to a remote expert team via email. The expert team can then use the system snapshot to more efficiently diagnose fault causes and provide effective technical support.
Figure 16: System snapshot
Device information management
Users can manage devices using this function, including adding device descriptions and recording device repair information. All device information is stored in the database for easy querying.
Figure 17: Device management
Figure 18: Repair record management
Automatic parameter configuration
As an extension module of the Monitoring System, it supports the concept of tasks, including scheduled parameter setting. It supports the complete workflow of task editing, task submission, task execution, and post-task statistics.
The software supports different task types for scheduled device parameter configuration:
The first type is a one-time task. It supports presetting an absolute future time point to execute a task. The task itself represents a one-time setting operation for multiple parameters across multiple devices.
The second type is a recurring task. For example, tasks can be scheduled on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, with the task triggered at the specified time in each cycle.
Figure 19: Parameter configuration terminal
User permission management
The Monitoring System supports user authorization management, allowing users to be organized into groups with specific permissions to restrict unauthorized access to devices and topology diagrams.
Figure 20: User permission review
Multi-screen display and window mirroring
With improved computer hardware, especially graphics cards independently supporting multiple HD monitors, the hardware foundation for multi-screen monitoring display is in place.
The Monitoring System creates independent monitoring display windows (window mirrors) within the existing monitoring interface, which can be arranged across different monitors in a multi-screen setup, enabling simultaneous viewing of monitoring information at multiple levels.
Figure 21: Parameter configuration terminal
Android mobile client
As an extension of the Monitoring System, the mobile client can access all alarm information within the monitoring scope and perform alarm statistics. With the mobile client, users can stay fully informed of current system status even when away from the monitoring workstation, extending the reach of the Monitoring System for more convenient system management.
Figure 22: Mobile client
WeChat Alarm Module
This module publishes Monitoring System alarm information to the WeChat platform, allowing users to follow the device information they are most concerned about via WeChat.
Figure 23: Devices with alarm information
Browser client
Users can access the Monitoring System via browser for alarm queries, statistics, and parameter monitoring.
Figure 24: Browser client home page
Figure 25: Browser client alarm page
Figure 26: Browser client data analysis page
III. Solution for This Project
Our Monitoring System solution for this project is divided into several areas: device status monitoring, signal quality inspection and recording, environmental and power monitoring, and system security.
Figure 27: Monitoring System diagram
Detailed descriptions of each area are as follows:
Device status monitoring:
The Multi-Platform Monitoring System currently supports multiple device types including matrices, peripheral system chassis and module cards, optical transceivers, keyers, intercom systems, switchers, and frame synchronizers.
For devices not yet developed, as long as the manufacturer provides the corresponding protocol (serial port, network, GPIO, etc.), the device can be integrated into the Monitoring System. For devices supporting universal protocols such as SNMP, the Multi-Platform Monitoring System can import directly from MIB files without any custom development, simplifying new device addition. For non-SNMP protocol devices, custom driver development enables integration into the Multi-Platform Monitoring System.
Users can view device status information and current alarm information across multiple interfaces in the Monitoring System, including alarm lists, parameter monitoring, topology diagrams, and physical layout diagrams. Through the alarm management function, historical alarm records can be queried with statistical analysis of alarm frequency, count, and duration, providing users with detailed data for understanding and evaluating device conditions.
Signal quality inspection and recording:
Figure 28: Signal quality inspection and recording diagram
Signal quality inspection and recording diagram
Three professional video signal detection devices are deployed at three key signal path nodes (two fixed, one dynamic) for direct HD-SDI signal analysis. These devices accurately detect HD-SDI signal faults including black frame, frozen frame, color field, color bars, HD-SDI loss, audio loss, audio too low, and audio too high. Detection parameters are freely adjustable, and outage/degradation events are recorded.
The video signal detection devices report detection results to the Monitoring System in real time via network. The Monitoring System records alarm information and triggers linkage with Hikvision recording channels based on preset alarm rules.
A 16x2 matrix is configured, supporting both HD and SD SDI signals, with output ports connected to a video signal detection device. The Monitoring System provides an automatic matrix switching module that controls the matrix to poll all input signals for monitoring.
A 16x2 multiviewer is configured for monitoring 16 SDI signal feeds.
Signal recording:
Four professional DVRs are configured for video signal recording, controlled by the Monitoring System. When the Monitoring System receives a signal alarm, it issues a start recording command to the DVR connected to that signal. When the alarm clears, the Monitoring System commands the DVR to stop recording.
Each DVR is equipped with high-capacity hard drives, capable of storing 30x24 hours of continuous recording for one signal. For data security, the Monitoring System includes a data migration module that can copy video from any DVR to another.
Video playback:
Recordings stored in the DVR can be converted to streams for playback within the Monitoring System. Each recording is linked to alarm information, allowing users to view the corresponding video directly when reviewing alarm records.
Environmental and power monitoring:
Environmental parameter monitoring:Temperature/humidity, smoke, and water leaks are fundamental environmental parameters affecting long-term stable equipment operation and must be monitored in real time. Temperature and humidity sensors (40), smoke sensors (20), and water leak sensors (5) are deployed at critical locations including racks, ceilings, and under-floor areas to monitor equipment room environmental parameters. The Monitoring System's parameter monitoring charts display all sensor values in real time, with customizable monitoring ranges per zone for more precise environmental monitoring.
Power monitoring:For power distribution cabinets providing TCP/IP monitoring data, the Monitoring System reads power parameters directly via network, such as current, voltage, and UPS remaining capacity, displayed graphically through parameter monitoring charts. For power systems without smart network ports, optional power meters can be connected to the isolation transformer main and backup power inputs to monitor equipment room power status. Power meters interface with the Monitoring System via serial port, generating alarms and records when power anomalies occur.
Video surveillance:An HD network camera is deployed at the equipment room entrance for 24/7 real-time security monitoring. Surveillance footage is stored in a DVR, retaining approximately one month of recordings.
System security:
Program security:The Monitoring System server employs a clustered edition with hot standby. If the primary monitoring program crashes, the backup program takes over in real time. Primary/backup failover does not interrupt client access.
Network security:The Monitoring System client runs on Microsoft Windows, matching user habits. The monitoring server handling device polling, access, and alarm processing runs on Linux, creating a heterogeneous network architecture that effectively prevents the spread of trojans and viruses, ensuring secure operation in a networked environment.
Data security:All data from the monitoring application is stored in the database. To ensure data security, the database uses clustering technology, which allows deployment of in-memory database clusters in a shared-nothing architecture with no special hardware or software requirements. Additionally, since each component has its own memory and disk, there is no single point of failure.
Server Security:Two servers with RAID5-capable hard drives are used to run the Monitoring System server and database, eliminating single points of failure from a single machine or single disk.
Access Security:The Monitoring System supports user authentication, user grouping, and group-based permissions to restrict device access and Topology Diagram access.
System Administration:
Topology Diagram Monitoring:Intuitive topology diagrams and equipment room rack views accurately reflect the current system status, enabling quick identification of alarm locations with precision down to the Module Card level.
Mobile Terminal Monitoring:Supports smartphones and tablets on the Android platform. Via WiFi, 3G and other wireless links, users can access their systems anytime, anywhere, keeping everything under control at all times.
Alarm Notification:Alarms are indicated on the Topology Diagram by flashing topology nodes. Critical alarms can be sent directly via SMS or WeChat notifications and on-site voice synthesis alerts. For large-screen alarm display, a UMD display area is configured on the screen where the Monitoring System publishes alarm information. To enhance visibility, alarm messages alternate between red and green.
Knowledge Accumulation:The system provides a document management module and a knowledge base module, supporting common electronic document formats. It offers alarm Content resolution guides with manual update support, and integrates with daily workflows to accumulate operational and maintenance knowledge.
Screenshots on this page show the Chinese user interface. English materials are available on request.
