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United States Patent6460018
Kasai , ; et al.October 1, 2002
Title
Program production and transmission apparatus
Abstract
Program production supporting component, transmission equipment controlling component, material creation managing component, and storing component are interconnected through a network, and managing component and exterior supporting component are connected to the network, thereby making it possible to realize a program production and transmission apparatus capable of efficiently execution creation of program component information with production information produced based on production schedule information, creation of a program progress table formed based on the program component information, and processing for editing and transmission based on the program progress table at timing as required.
Inventors:Kasai; Kazuhiko (Kanagawa, JP), Tadano; Yoshie  (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee:Sony Corporation (Tokyo, JP)
Appl. No.:200566
Filed:November 27, 1998
Foreign Application Priority Data
Mar 31, 1997 [JP] 9-079690
Current U.S. Class:705/8 725/115 725/116 725/117 725/32 725/50 348/155 348/722 370/377 380/210 
Field of Search:705/1,8 717/1 725/116-117,138,144,145-147,43,50 348/722,565,155 380/210
U.S. Patent Documents
4775975October 1988Cromwell et al.
5083205January 1992Arai
5559549September 1996Hendricks et al.
5659350August 1997Hendricks et al.
5686954November 1997Yushinobu et al.
6198906March 2001Boetje et al.
6239794May 2001Yuen et al.
6240240May 2001Nagano et al.
6243465June 2001Ullrich et al.
Foreign Patent Documents
01-265677Oct., 1989JP
07-141427Jun., 1995JP
09-034912Feb., 1997JP
0933893Aug., 1999GB
WO 00/58833Oct., 2000WO
WO98/44664Oct., 1998WO
Other References
Multimedia, Sharing Elements In A Multimedia Design Group. Magel, Mark, AV Video, v16 n8 ps-6 (2) Aug. 1994.
Primary Examiner: Choi; Kyle J.
Assistant Examiner: Irshadullah; M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:Frommer Lawrence & Haug LLP Frommer; William S.
Parent Case Text


This is a continuation of copending International Application PCT/JP98/01493 having an international filing date of Mar. 31, 1998.
Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A computer apparatus for creating a program and sequentially transmitting the program based on a program progress table, comprising: means for providing production schedule information; program production support means for creating production information based upon said provided production schedule information, said production information including a schedule for creating said program and program component information indicative of each of a plurality of components that are to be selectively included in a program; material creation managing means for receiving from an external source and recording in a storage means materials that are selectively included in each of said plurality of components, and for editing the recorded materials to form each of said plurality of said components in the program; and transmission equipment controlling means for creating said program progress table based upon said production information and for transmitting each of the components included in the program in accordance with said program progress table; said program production supporting means, said transmission equipment controlling means, said material creation managing means, said storing means, and said transmission means being interconnected through a network.

2. The program production and transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein said program production supporting means further creates a news collection schedule table indicating a schedule for collecting news and materials for each of said plurality of said components in the program.

3. The program production and transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein said program production supporting means further creates a work schedule table indicating a work schedule for staff assigned to collect materials for each of said plurality of said components in the program.

4. The program production and transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein said program production supporting means further creates an on-air manuscript which is transmitted along with the program.

5. The program production and transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material creation managing means further includes recording means for recording received materials on a tape cassette or magnetic, optical or electronic storage device.

6. The program production and transmission apparatus of claim 1, further comprising computer graphics means connected to said network for applying computer graphics to said materials during editing.

7. A computerized method for creating a program and sequentially transmitting the program based on a program progress table, comprising the steps of: providing production schedule information; creating production information based upon said provided production schedule information, said production information including a schedule for creating said program and program component information indicative of each of a plurality of components that are to be selectively included in a program; receiving from an external source and recording materials in a storage means that are selectively included in each of said plurality of components; editing the recorded materials to form each of said plurality of said components in the program; creating said program progress table based upon said production information; and transmitting each of the components in the program in accordance with said program progress table.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a program production and transmission apparatus which is suitable for application in a news program production and transmission apparatus for producing and transmitting a news program, for example, in a press department of a television broadcasting station.

BACKGROUND ART

A news program in television broadcasting is required to rapidly and correctly communicate to the audience miscellaneous news sources which may have been collected at respective branch offices of a broadcasting station, branch sections, clubs, and so on.

For the production of an actual news program, news sources must be efficiently collected in respective branch offices, branch sections, clubs or the like, after a news collection therefor is scheduled in a press department, in order to smoothly edit the collected news sources and broadcast the edited news program within a limited time frame of broadcasting time allocated therefor.

The press department, when producing a news program, involves an editing operation for news sources which includes the creation of a telop and a caption to be superimposed on a screen on which a video image recorded by the news collection is displayed. A news program produced in this way is transmitted on the air in accordance with a cue sheet which indicates the contents of the program, times at which respective items composing the program are to be broadcast, and so on. The cue sheet on which the broadcasting information for the program is written is also created in the press department based on a broadcasting schedule determined in the broadcasting station.

The press department also preserves and manages materials used in broadcast programs thus produced, using a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) or the like, in order to record such materials as program documents or source materials.

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

News sources collected at branch offices, branch sections, and clubs are sent to the press department through telephone conversations and facsimile transmissions using telephone lines for producing a news program. Similarly, schedules for news reporters, situations of required equipment, and so on for collecting news sources are also communicated through telephone lines.

In this event, the information communications through telephone lines have a problem that they are likely to fail to correctly transmit information necessary to production and transmission to a party requiring the information, thus causing a reduction in efficiency of program production.

Also, in a broadcasting station, a section in which a cue sheet is created, a section in which program components are edited in accordance with the cue sheet, and a section in which a produced program is transmitted are in almost all cases located away from each other in a press department. In this situation, communications of information between these sections for creation of a cue sheet, editing of program components based on the cue sheet, or transmission of an actually produced program in accordance with the cue sheet are made through verbal messages, telephone communications, delivery by hand of memorandum, and so on.

In this event, for example, if a program component must be changed due to a collected urgent news while a news program is on the air in the press department, it is necessary to immediately switch the broadcast program. However, the information communications through verbal messages, delivery by hand of memorandum, and so on may fail to rapidly communication required information or fail to correctly communicate information to a party who requires it, as is the case of the above-mentioned program production, thus causing a problem that the working efficiency is reduced during the production of the program and the transmission of the program.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing problems, and is intended to propose a program production and transmission apparatus which is capable of reliably and rapidly communicating and processing information required for production and transmission of programs.

To solve the problems mentioned above, the present invention provides a program production and transmission apparatus for creating a plurality of materials constituting a program and sequentially transmitting the materials based on a program progress table for indicating the progress of the program, which comprises program production supporting means for creating production information including a schedule for creating the materials and program component information indicative of respective components in the program, transmission equipment controlling means for creating the program progress table from the program component information created by the program production supporting means, and for transmitting the materials based on the program progress table, material creation managing means for recording the materials transmitted from the transmission equipment controlling means, and for editing the respective recorded materials, storing means for storing data other than the materials, and network means for connecting the program production supporting means, the transmission equipment controlling means, the material creation managing means, and the storing means, wherein means for managing the transmission of all programs, and exterior supporting means for transmitting production schedule information for creating the production information to the program production supporting means are connected to the network means.

The program production supporting means, the transmission equipment controlling means, the material creation managing means, and the storing means are interconnected through the network means, and the managing means and the exterior supporting means are connected to the network means, thereby making it possible to realize a program production and transmission apparatus capable of efficiently executing creation of program component information with production information produced based on production schedule information, creation of a program progress table formed based on the program component information, and processing for editing and transmission based on the program progress table at timing as required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing object and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a general configuration of a news program production and transmission apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of news collection managing terminals in a news program production support section in the news program production and transmission apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3(A) is an example of a program table screen displayed on respective terminals constituting the news program production support section;

FIG. 3(B) is an example of a program component table screen displayed on respective terminals constituting the news program production support section;

FIG. 3(C) is an example of a cue sheet screen displayed on a terminal constituting a transmission equipment control section;

FIG. 3(D) is an example of a news collection schedule table screen displayed on respective terminals constituting the news program production support section;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart representing a processing procedure for automatically creating a news collection item in an annual regular event column of a news collection schedule table;

FIG. 5 is an example of a screen in which a news collection item has been registered as an annual regular event in an annual regular event column of the news collection schedule table;

FIG. 6 is an example of a work schedule table screen displayed on a work schedule input terminal in the news production support section;

FIG. 7 is an example of a work schedule table screen displayed on a work schedule input terminal in the news production support section;

FIG. 8 is an example of a screen on which an equipment staff list is displayed on the work schedule table screen displayed on the work schedule input terminal in the news program production support section;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart representing a processing procedure for referencing an equipment schedule table on a news collection decision table displayed on a screen;

FIG. 10 is an example of a screen on which the equipment staff list is displayed on the work schedule table screen displayed on the work schedule input terminal in the news program production support section;

FIG. 11 is an example of an on-air manuscript input initial screen displayed mainly on a desk terminal in the news program production support section;

FIG. 12 is an example of an on-air manuscript input screen displayed mainly on a desk terminal in the news program production support section;

FIG. 13 is an example of a screen related to overall information displayed on a manuscript input screen;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart representing a processing procedure for creating an on-air manuscript;

FIG. 15(A) is a diagram illustrating the structure of a program table;

FIG. 15(B) is a diagram illustrating the structure of a program component table;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program table displayed on a screen;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program component table displayed on a screen;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of how a video icon is inserted in a video column in a program component table displayed on a screen;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program component table in which a video icon has been inserted in a video column;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart representing a processing procedure for automatically creating a program component table from program data;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a desk terminal;

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example for setting prohibition of input access from another terminal to an item on a program component table;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program component table on which prohibition of input access from another terminal has been set for a predetermined item;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart representing a processing procedure for setting prohibition of input access from another terminal for a predetermined item;

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a certain item or component on a program component table is simultaneously being edited on two terminals;

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program component table on which time fixation frames are displayed and over which a popup is displayed for indicating remaining time periods within respective time fixation frames;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart for displaying time fixation frames on a program component table;

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart for calculating a remaining time period in a time fixation frame on a program component table, and displaying on the screen whether or not a component or an item can be inputted in the time fixation frame;

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program table in which a program has been specified for a partial rehearsal;

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program table in which a program subjected to a partial rehearsal is displayed in a program name;

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display on a screen on which a popup is displayed for setting a partial rehearsal on a program component table;

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a flow chart for specifying a program subjected to a partial rehearsal on a program table;

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a flow chart for specifying a component or an item subjected to a partial rehearsal on a program component table;

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a flow chart for specifying a component or an item subjected to a partial rehearsal on a program component table;

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program component table on which manual TAKE or automatic TAKE is displayed in a component duration column of each component;

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cue sheet on which manual TAKE or automatic TAKE is displayed in a component duration column of each component;

FIG. 37 illustrates an example of a program component table displayed on a screen;

FIG. 38 is an example of a popup on which a component and an item to be set in automatic operation mode have been specified for specifying a time;

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating an example of the program component table with the time specified in FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cue sheet comprising components and items for which the automatic operation mode has been specified;

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart for specifying the automatic operation mode;

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program component table displayed on a screen;

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which displayed is a popup for selecting a material to be automatically started irrespective of a program progress situation, together with a program component table;

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program component table on which a material to be automatically started has been selected;

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cue sheet on which a material to be automatically started has been selected;

FIG. 46 is an example of a flow chart representing a processing procedure for setting a material to be automatically started;

FIG. 47 is a diagram illustrating an example of how the order of items specified for NEXT items is changed on a cue sheet;

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cue sheet for changing the order of items specified for NEXT items using an item list;

FIG. 49 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cue sheet on which the order of items specified for NEXT items have been changed using an item list;

FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart representing a processing procedure for changing the order of items specified for NEXT items;

FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording screen displayed on an on-air server management terminal;

FIG. 52 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission screen displayed on an on-air server management terminal;

FIG. 53 illustrates an example of a popup display for selecting a material to be inputted to an on-air server;

FIG. 54 illustrates an example of a transmission screen on which a popup is displayed for selecting a destination of a material on the transmission screen;

FIG. 55 is a diagram illustrating details of a popup for selecting a destination of a material on a transmission screen;

FIG. 56 is a diagram illustrating details of a popup on which a destination of a material is displayed.

FIG. 57 is a diagram illustrating examples of status displays given on a screen of a recording screen;

FIG. 58 illustrates an example of a popup displayed for stopping recording a material or transmitting a material on a recording screen or a transmission screen;

FIG. 59 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart representing a processing procedure for recording a material on a recording screen;

FIG. 60 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart representing a processing procedure for recording a material on a recording screen;

FIG. 61 is a diagram illustrating details of the configuration of a news material creation management section;

FIG. 62 illustrates examples of credit information displayed on a screen;

FIG. 63 is a flow chart representing a processing procedure for writing credit information for recording when a material is recorded in an on-air server;

FIG. 64 is a flow chart representing a processing procedure for writing credit information for transmission when a material is transmitted from the on-air server;

FIG. 65 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the news material creation management section;

FIG. 66(A) is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed screen structure for selecting a pool material from a recording screen;

FIG. 66(B) is a diagram illustrating a detailed structure of a popup display for selecting a pool material;

FIG. 66(C) is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed screen structure for selecting a general material from a recording screen;

FIG. 67 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed screen structure of a material selection popup;

FIG. 68 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which a list of pool materials recorded in a pool material region in the on-air server is displayed on a program component table;

FIG. 69 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program component table in which a pool material is inserted;

FIG. 70 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which a list of pool materials recorded in a pool material region in the on-air server is displayed on a cue sheet;

FIG. 71 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cue sheet screen on which pool materials are inserted before and after each component;

FIG. 72 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart representing a procedure for recording a pool material in a pool material region;

FIG. 73 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart representing a processing procedure for newly inserting an additional pool material on a program component table;

FIG. 74 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format on a tape in a tape cassette for integrated materials recorded on the tape;

FIG. 75 is a diagram illustrating an example of an integration list creating screen displayed on the on-air management terminal;

FIG. 76 is a diagram illustrating an example of a material selection popup displayed by selecting a material list button on a program component table;

FIG. 77 is a diagram illustrating an example of a material list displayed on a screen;

FIG. 78 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list creating popup for creating an integration list;

FIG. 79 is a diagram illustrating an example of an integration executing popup display for executing an integration operation;

FIG. 80 is a diagram illustrating an example of a popup displayed for executing printing of a created integration list;

FIG. 81 is a diagram illustrating an example of an integration list displayed in a popup style;

FIG. 82 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart representing a processing procedure for automatically creating an integration list; and

FIG. 83 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow chart representing a processing procedure for automatically executing an integration operation.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings. (1) News Program Production and Transmission Apparatus

(1-1) Description on General Configuration of News Program Production and Transmission Apparatus 1 and Outline of Operations Thereof

Here, a news program production and transmission apparatus 1 will be described in connection with a general configuration and an outline of its operations.

First, a general configuration of the new program production and transmission apparatus will be described.

FIG. 1 generally illustrates the news program production and transmission apparatus 1. The news program production and transmission apparatus 1 mainly comprises a news program production support section 2; a news material creation management section 3; and a transmission control section 5. The news program production support section 2, the news material creation management section 3 and the transmission control section 5 are interconnected through a network, respectively.

The news program production and transmission apparatus 1 is further connected to a database server (DB server) 7 for preserving data required for production of news programs and transmission of news programs, and branch office/branch station/club terminals 6 located external to the station through the network 8. Also, the news program production and transmission apparatus 1 is interconnected to other systems such as a master room for managing the broadcasting of the overall broadcasting station, a CG (Computer Graphics) editor section 36A and so on through an interface (a gateway 40 in FIG. 1).

Describing briefly the operation of the news program production and transmission apparatus 1 in the foregoing configuration, in the news program production support section 2, a work schedule is inputted for employees dedicated to the production of news programs; a news collection schedule is inputted; and press staff members who actually go out for collecting news sources are assigned. They are charged with actually photographing of materials (data including video and audio data), and so on at news collecting locations. Inputted data and so on are stored in the DB server 7. Photographed materials are once stored in the news program material creation management section 3 and edited to be materials actually usable in news programs. In addition, the news program production support section 2 creates a table for indicating components of a program, referred to as a program component table. Materials edited in the news material creation management section 3 are transferred to the transmission control equipment section 5 which creates a table for indicating program components, on-air times of respective items, and so on, referred to as a cue sheet, based on the program component table created in the program production support section 2. Based on the cue sheet, a material is actually transmitted from the transmission control section 5 to the outside when a predetermined time is reached.

Now, the respective sections in the news program production and transmission apparatus 1 described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

Description is first made on the news program production support section 2.

The news program production support section 2 comprises a work schedule input terminal 10, a news collection management terminal 11 and a desk terminal 18.

The work schedule input terminal 10 inputs in a work schedule table a work schedule for news collection staff who actually goes out for news collection. For example, the work schedule table is created by inputting working days, working hours and so on for each member, and stored in the DB server 7. Since the work schedule table for the news collection staff is stored in the DB server 7, the work schedule table can be seen from every section connected thereto through the network 8, thereby making it possible to verify working situations of the news collection staff. An example of the work schedule table is illustrated in FIG. 47. In FIG. 47, task distributions in a news collection activity and a working situation on a working day are displayed for each employee in charge (each news collection member). Details will be described later.

The news collection management terminal 11 is a terminal for creating information related to news collection management such as news collection planning and assignment of news collection staff. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the news collection management terminal 11 comprises a device schedule terminal 11A, a news collection schedule terminal 11B and a news collection staff terminal 11C. The device schedule terminal 11A is a terminal for inputting broadcasting devices required when news sources are collected. The news collection schedule terminal 11B is a terminal for inputting news collection items, contents of news collection and so on for planning news collection. The news collection staff terminal 11C is a terminal for assigning members to each news collection item as news collection staff. Specifically, in a table referred to as a news collection decision table stored in the DB server 7, broadcasting devices required during news collection activities are inputted from the device schedule terminal 11A; news collection items, contents of news collection and so on are inputted from the news collection schedule terminal 11B, and who is assigned to news collection staff is inputted from the news collection staff terminal 11C. An example is illustrated in FIG. 3(A). In FIG. 3(A), a news collection decision table comprises, for each news collection item, the contents of the news collection, a news collecting location, time at which the staff leave the press department HB for the news collection and time at which the staff returns to the press department HB (departure time at a news program broadcasting station and return time at the news program broadcasting station), and news collection time at news collecting location, as well as various items including an assigned reporter, an assigned cameraman, VE, illumination, part-time worker and broadcasting devices used for the news collection, for assigning staff for each news collection. These items are inputted to the news collection decision table from the device schedule terminal 11A, the news collection schedule terminal 11B, and the news staff terminal 11C. The news collection decision table with inputted items is stored again in the DB server 7, so that inputs can be made from the respective terminals as required. The news collection decision table will be described later in detail.

The desk terminal 18 is a terminal for creating a program component table for indicating components of a news program which is actually broadcast. The program component table refers to a table listing components of each program for indicating at which time which material is broadcast, with respect to each program. An example is illustrated in FIG. 3(B). As illustrated in FIG. 3(B), the program component table is composed of Broadcasting Start Time 98, Broadcasting Duration 99, and so on of each item corresponding to each Item Name 96 of an item to be broadcast, and the program component table is created by inputting necessary information to the respective items from the desk terminal 18. Incidentally, while the program component table may be automatically created based on a program table inputted from the master room 36B or the like through the gateway 40 and the network 8, details on the automatic creation of a program component table and the program component table will be described later.

As described above, work schedules are inputted from the work schedule input terminal 10 in the news program production support section 2 to create a work schedule table for each staff member. News collection schedules and news collection staff members are inputted from the news collection management terminal 11 to create a news collection decision table which is based on to actually perform news collection. Then, actually collected materials (data including video data and audio data) are once recorded by the news material creation management section 3 in the news program production and transmission apparatus 1, and then edited to create materials for transmission.

The news material creation management section 3 comprises, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a linear editor 20, a VTR 21, an on-air server unit 22, a server control terminal 23, an equipment control unit 24, an on-air server management terminal 25, a non-linear editor 26 and a library 28.

The linear editor 20, VTR 21, and non-linear editor 26 constitute editing apparatus for editing recorded materials. In the linear editor 20, materials recorded on a tape medium such as a video tape or the like is edited. Edited materials are outputted to the VTR 21. The non-linear editor 26 edits recorded materials using a randomly accessible recording medium without taking into account the order of the recorded materials, and outputs the edited data.

The data edited by the VTR 21 and the non-linear editor 26 is stored in the on-air server unit 22.

The on-air server unit 22 comprises randomly accessible recording media, and comprises, for example, a plurality of hard disk drives. The on-air server unit 22 has a plurality of input/output ports, though not shown, so that a plurality of inputs, for example, data outputted from the non-linear editor 26 and data outputted from the VTR 21, can be simultaneously inputted. It is further possible to output data from a plurality of output ports while data are being inputted thereto.

The control for the foregoing data input/output in the on-air server unit 22 is performed by an on-air server controller terminal 9 which is connected through the equipment control unit 24 and the server control unit 23 as well as through a network B.

The equipment control unit 24 controls the plurality of input/output ports to switch which input or output port is used in response to an instruction from the server control terminal. The server control terminal 23 controls which of the input/output ports of the on-air server unit 22 is used for an inputted or outputted material, and so on based on control data from the higher ranked on-air server controller terminal 9.

The on-air server management terminal 25, for managing the on-air server unit 22, instructs to input or output materials to the on-air server unit 22, and instructs to output stored data from the on-air server unit 22 in a transmission time order. These instruction data are outputted to the on-air server controller terminal 9 to control the on-air server unit 22 through the server control terminal 23 and the equipment control unit 24. The on-air server management terminal 25 also issues an instruction for deleting a material stored in the on-air server unit 22. The on-air server unit 22 is controlled similarly in this case to delete a specified material therefrom. Materials integrated in the transmission time order and outputted from the on-air server unit 22 are delivered to the library 28. The library 28 comprises a plurality of tape cassettes, not shown, and a plurality of VTRs such that materials outputted from the on-air server unit 22 are recorded on a tape cassette by the VTR to deposit the materials. Materials for broadcasting transmission sent from the on-air server in response to an instruction of the on-air server management terminal 25 or the like are outputted to the transmission equipment control unit 5.

The transmission equipment control unit 5 comprises a switcher/mixer 30; a transmission equipment control terminal 31; an equipment control unit 32; a clock 33; a sub-input terminal 34; a VTR 35; a transmitter 37; a camera 38; a cue sheet terminal 39; and a trigger 55.

The switcher/mixer 30 receives materials for broadcasting transmission sent from the news material creation management unit 3; materials sent from the VTR 35; materials sent from the camera 38; and CG (computer graphics) sent from the transmitter
37 to select which of inputted materials is outputted. The output is controlled by the equipment control unit 32 and the transmission equipment control terminal 31. The equipment control unit 32 and the transmission equipment control terminal 31 will be described later.

A program component table, in turn, is created on the desk terminal 18 in the news program production support section 2, and a program progress table referred to as a cue sheet is automatically created on the transmission equipment control terminal 31 in the transmission equipment control section 5 based on the created program component table. Then, the equipment control unit 32 transmits on the air materials stored in the on-air server 22 and so on based on this cue sheet as a transmission time is reached.

This cue sheet refers to a program progress table for indicating which is broadcast when with which program components within a duration allocated to the broadcasting. An example is illustrated in FIG. 3(C). Although details are described later, a broadcasting duration, video, audio, and so on are comprised in each item name, as illustrated in the drawing. Thus, in an actual news program, broadcasting materials are sequentially transmitted in accordance with this cue sheet. For reference, this cue sheet is displayed on the cue sheet terminal 39.

The VTR 35 is a VTR for urgent measures. A news collection tape brought by urgent news collection is loaded in this VTR 35 such that materials, which are desired to be transmitted urgently, are outputted from the VTR 35 and inputted to the switcher/mixer 30.

The transmitter 37 is provided for transferring CG outputted from the computer graphics (CG) editing section 36 to the switcher/mixer 30.

The camera 38 is provided for photographing an announcer in a studio installed, for example, in the press department HB. A video image photographed by the camera 38 is outputted to the switcher/mixer 30.

The switcher/mixer 30, under the control of the equipment control unit 32, sequentially transfer those materials inputted thereto within the station in synchronism with the clock 33 as materials of a news program which is to be actually transmitted.

The foregoing is descriptions on the news program production support section 2, the news material creation management section 3, and the transmission equipment control unit 5 in the news program production and transmission apparatus. The news program production and transmission apparatus 1 has the aforementioned DB (database) server 7 and the on-air controller terminal 9, and also a news reporter terminal 15. The news program production and transmission apparatus 1 is also connected to other systems, the master room, the aforementioned CG center 36 through the gateway 40, and also connected to the branch office/branch station/club terminals 6 through the network.

The news reporter terminal 15 is connected to a public line 16 through a TA (Terminal Adapter) 14, and this public line 16 is further connected to the branch office/branch station/club terminals 6 through a TA. The news reporter terminal 15 is also connected to the network 8. To the news reporter terminal 15, data such as manuscripts, news collection schedules, and so on are transmitted from the branch office/branch station/club terminals 6 through the public line 16 to help create a news collection schedule table on the news collection management terminal 2 described above, and create news manuscripts on the news collection management terminal 2, later described. For reference, transmitted data such as manuscripts and news collection schedules are stored in the DB server 7 through the network 8. On the news reporter terminal 15, in turn, works such as creation of detailed manuscripts, creation and order of telops, creation of audio on/off data, and so on are performed based on manuscripts transferred thereto and stored in the DB server 7 through the network 8. Further, on the news reporter terminal 15, ordered telops and program component tables are read from the DB server 7 through the network 8 for confirmation, and detailed data are inputted to predetermined items in the program component table which is again transferred to the DB server 7 through the network 8.

Other systems connected to the news program production and transmission apparatus through the gateway 40 refer to a variety of departments other than the press department HB within the broadcasting station, and such departments are connected to the press department HB through the gateway 40.

The master room 36B is a department for managing the broadcasting of the entire broadcasting station in other departments. Program data including a start time and an end time of a news program to be transmitted, information on CM inserted in the news program, and so on are transmitted to the news program production and transmission apparatus 1 through the gateway 8. In the news program production and transmission apparatus 1, a news program is created based on the program data transmitted from the master room.

The CG center 36 is connected to the news program production and transmission apparatus 1 through the gateway 40 for creating computer graphics for making special effects on materials used in broadcasting. Created CG is transferred to the transmitter 37 in the transmission equipment control section 5.

The branch office/branch station/club terminals 6 are connected to the press department HB through the public line 16, and mutually connected by dedicated lines 13 through routers 12. The branch office/branch station/club terminals 6 create rough news collection schedules and manuscripts which are transmitted to the press department HB through the dedicated lines 13 or the public line 16. In addition, from the press department HB, program component tables and news collection schedule tables stored in the DB server 7 are referenced through the public line 16.

Thus, descriptions have been made on a general configuration of the news program production and transmission apparatus 1 and an outline of its operations. In the following, the configuration of this embodiment will be described in connection with news collection schedules, work schedules, and on-air manuscripts created in the news program production support section 2; a program component table created in the news program production support section 2; a cue sheet created in the transmission equipment control unit 5; recording of materials in the on-air server 22; transmission of materials from the on-air server and management therefor; and finally integration of materials which have been transmitted on the air in this order. (2) News Collection Schedule Table (FIGS. 3-5)

Here, a news collection schedule table created in the news program production support section 2 and its operation will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3(D), 4, and 5.

(2-1) News Collection Schedule Table Displayed on Screen

Here, detailed description will be made on the structure of a news collection schedule table screen displayed on a display means such as a monitor or the like, not shown, of the news collection schedule terminal 11B within the news collection management terminals 11 in the news program production support section 2. FIG. 3(D) illustrates a news collection schedule table screen displayed on each of terminals in the news program production support section 2, particularly, a news collection schedule table displayed on the screen of the news collection schedule terminal 11B. Information on events, annual regular events, and so on is supplied from branch office/branch station/club terminals 6 as news materials called news collection schedule information, and each item in the news collection schedule table is inputted through an input means such as a keyboard or the like, not shown, of the news collection schedule terminal 11B for deciding a news collection schedule.

The news collection schedule table of FIG. 3(D) will be described.

For display items, i.e., Working Table 101, News Collection Schedule 102, News Collection Staff 103, Manuscript 104, Program Production 105, Search 106, Program Registration 107, and Previous Setting 108 positioned in an upper portion of the screen illustrated in FIG. 3(D), a table corresponding to a display item is displayed in a portion below them by performing a selection manipulation, such as clicking a mouse on the display item on the screen. For reference, in the example of FIG. 3(D), a manipulation is performed to select News Collection Schedule 102 to display a news collection schedule table below. In addition, for indicating a selected item, the fields of News Collection Schedule 102 and News Collection Schedule Table 109 are displayed with shading.

Working Table 101 is a button for displaying a working table. As Working Table 101 is selected on the work schedule input terminal 10, a working table is displayed thereon. The working table will be described later.

News Collection Staff 103 is a table for displaying a display screen required when news collection staff is assigned on a news collection decision table comprising respective news collection items decided on the basis of a news collection schedule table. Actually, by selecting a news collection staff item on a news collection decision table, a staff list is displayed, and News Collection Staff 103 is displayed with shading to indicate that news collection staff is being inputted. This news collection decision table and the screen display for assigning news collection staff will be described later.

Manuscript 104 is a button for displaying a screen for inputting a news manuscript which will be actually pronounced by an announcer in a news program for each collected news collection item. A manuscript display screen is displayed to input required manuscripts from the desk terminal 18. The manuscript display screen will also be described later.

Program Creation 105 is a button for displaying a table referred to as a program table which comprises items such as, for example, news program names of news programs broadcasted in a day; a broadcasting start time and a broadcasting end time of each program, and so on. Input of the program table and so on are performed on the desk terminal 18. The program table, and a program component table displayed by selecting each program on the program table will be described later.

Search 106 is a button for searching for a news collection item or the like using a key word. For example, Search 106 is selected from each terminal in the news program production support section 2 to display an input screen on which required information is inputted, and a search is made to display a searched item.

Program Registration 107 is a button for previously registering a program which may be repeatedly transmitted.

Previous Setting 108 is a button for displaying a screen for previously setting the structure of each display screen mentioned above. This button may be selected to change the structure of each displayed table, for example, when the order of Local Time 119 and News Collecting Location 120 is replaced in the news collection schedule table of FIG. 3(D), when a new item is provided to be added in the news collection schedule table of FIG. 3(D), and so

FIG. 3(D) is an example in which News Collection Schedule 102 has been selected from the above-mentioned buttons to display a news collection schedule table.

The news collection schedule table is composed of the following items: "News Collection Schedule Date" 110; "Number of Displayed Items" 111; "Total Number of Registered Items" 112; and respective buttons 125 in an upper portion of the display screen; and "No." 113 for indicating a news collection item number for each news collection scheduled item; "Employed" information 114 for indicating whether or not each news collection item is employed; "Registered Person" 115 who has registered each news collection item; "News Collection Item" 116; "Contents" 117 of the associated news collection item; "News Collection Date" 118 on which each news collection item was actually collected; "Local Time" 119 at which news sources are collected at a news collecting location; "News Collecting Location" 120; "Where to Communicate" 121; "News Reporter" 122 in charge of each news collection item; "Camera" 123 in charge of a camera for each news collection item; and "Annual" 124 for indicating whether each news collection item is an annual regular event in a central portion of the display screen.

Actually, this news collection schedule table is displayed on the screen of a display means, not shown, of the news collection schedule terminal 11B in the news collection management terminals 11. FIG. 3(D) illustrates a news collection schedule table for news collection schedules from Apr. 14 (Sunday) to Apr. 20 (Saturday), 1996, wherein Total Number of Registered Items indicates 1293 news collection items, five of which is displayed on the screen as indicated in the number of Displayed Items
111.

News Collection Item 116 with the news collection item number 113 set at "1" is "Spring Topic"; its News Collection Contents 117 indicate that "Cherry Blossoms in Kamakura and How Tourists Enjoy" is collected; News Collection Date 118 is on Apr.
14, 1996; News Collecting Location 120 is at "Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shinto Shrine in Kamakura city"; News Collection Time 119 is "13:30"; Where to Communicate 121 for collecting this news material is "Mr. Yamada, telephone number 0463-25-xxxx"; the news reporter in charge 122 and the cameraman 123 have not been inputted; and this item is not specified as an annual regular event in the column 124. This news collection item is not specified as an annual regular event, whereas News Collection Item Number "5," which has been specified as an annual regular event, is automatically displayed on a news collection schedule table next year, more specifically, from Apr. 14 to Apr. 21, 1997. Specifically explaining, events, annual regular events and so on, which take place at the same period every year, have in most cases the same information except for the year portion of the associated news collection date. Therefore, such news collection items are automatically displayed in a news collection schedule table every year by specifying them as annual regular events in their annual regular event column 124, thereby omitting the effort of inputting the same information every year. In addition, since News Collection Item Number 113 set at "1" has ".largecircle." inputted in the "Employed" information 109, it is readily determined whether a scheduled plan has been actually employed or not.

(2-2) Operation

On the news collection schedule terminal 11B, data indicative of a news collection schedule table stored in the DB server 7 is read through the network 8, the data indicated by the read news collection schedule table is stored in the news collection schedule terminal 11B, and the contents of the news collection schedule table is modified and added. Specifically, manipulations such as selection, input and so on are performed with an input means such as a mouse, not shown, of the news collection schedule terminal 11B for each item in the news collection schedule table. Then, "Register" in the buttons 125 is selected with the input means to again store the news collection schedule table in the DB server 7 through the network 8.

Now, FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart representing a procedure of processing for specifying each news collection scheduled item as an annual regular event by means of the annual regular event column 124 in the news collection schedule table of FIG. 3(D), and processing until the news collection schedule table is registered in the DB server 7.

When the processing for specifying a news collection scheduled item as an annual regular event is started (step SP140), initial settings are applied to the news collection schedule terminal 11B for displaying a news collection schedule table on the screen (step SP141).

Next, at step SP142, a program component table as illustrated in FIG. 3 is displayed on the screen of a display means such as a monitor, not shown, of the news collection schedule terminal 11B.

Subsequently, it is determined at step SP143 whether or not the display of the news collection schedule table on the screen of the news collection schedule terminal 11B is terminated. If terminated (YES), the procedure proceeds to step SP145, thus terminating the processing for inputting an annual regular event.

If not terminated (NO), the procedure proceeds to step SP144, where it is determined whether or not ".largecircle." is found in the annual regular event column 124 in the news collection schedule table. In this event, any mark or the like other than ".largecircle." may be displayed in the annual regular event column as long as it indicates that the associated news collection item is an annual regular event. Alternatively, the entirety or part of each item line of the news collection item, or the event field only may be displayed with shading to provide a different display from other news collection items. It is assumed in this embodiment that ".largecircle." is inputted in the annual regular event column to specify the associated news collection item as an annual regular event for simplicity.

If ".largecircle." is found in the annual regular event column (YES), the procedure proceeds to step SP146, where it is determined whether or not the news collection schedule information with the mark ".largecircle." in the "annual" has a date in "News Collection Date"118 within the past one year from this day.

At step SP146, if the news collection item specified as an annual regular event has the news collection date within the past one year from this day (when YES), the procedure proceeds to step SP147 where a news collection item is created by adding one year to the date in "News Collection Date," and proceeds to step SP148 to register the news collection item in the DB server 7. In the example of FIG. 3, after a news collection item is created by adding one year to information on the news collection date for the news collection item number "5" ("96.04.14-96.04.21" is changed to "97.04.14-97.04.21"), this news collection item is automatically displayed in the news collection schedule table for Apr. 14, 1997 illustrated in FIG. 5.

On the other hand, if the news collection item specified as an annual regular event does not have the news collection date within the past one year from this day at step SP146 (when NO), the procedure proceeds to step SP148 where the news collection schedule terminal 11B registers the news collection schedule table in the DB server 7 since the annual regular event has not ended.

At step SP144, if ".largecircle." is not found in the annual regular event column (NO), the procedure proceeds to step SP149 where it is again determined whether or not ".largecircle." in the annual regular event column has been deleted. If it is determined that ".largecircle." has been deleted from the annual regular event column (when YES), the procedure proceeds to step SP150 where it is determined whether the news collection item is dated within the past one year from this day. If it is an item within the past one year (when YES), the procedure proceeds to step SP151 where news collection items with the news collection data plus one year are automatically deleted from the news collection schedule table. A process proceeding from step SP149 to SPI50 and to SP151 is provided for deleting a news collection item from the news collection table after ".largecircle." has been deleted from the annual regular event column. Afterward, the procedure proceeds to step SP148 where the news collection schedule table, from which the news collection item has been deleted, is registered in the DB server 7.

On the other hand, if it is determined at step SP149 that ".largecircle." has not been deleted from the annual regular event (when NO), the processing returns to again repeat the foregoing processing procedure.

In addition, if it is determined at step SP150 that the news collection item is dated within the past one year from this day (when NO), the processing proceeds to step SP148 where the information is registered in the DB server 7 through the network 8. Then, the processing again proceeds to step SP143.

As described above, within a plurality of news collection scheduled items in the news collection schedule table, events and annual regular events which take place in the same period every year and are objects of news collections in the next and subsequent years, may be specified as annual regular events in the annual regular event specifying column provided in the news collection schedule table, so that news collection schedule information can be automatically registered in the news collection schedule table every year with the year portion of the news collection date incremented by one. In addition, information on news collection scheduled items, which are not specified as annual regular events, can be automatically deleted from the news collection schedule table in the next and subsequent years. It is therefore possible to save the effort of repetitively inputting the same information in the news collection schedule table from the beginning every year, to avoid forgetting to input the information, to eliminate the need for paying attention to news collection items specified as annular regular events, and to improve the working efficiency in information input manipulations.

In addition, in this embodiment, the annual regular event has been given as an example. Alternatively, when there is a news collection scheduled item which takes place at the same time every day or the like, a specified news collection item can be created automatically in the news collection schedule table by providing a particular input column in place of the above-mentioned annual regular event column and performing similar processing to the processing procedure illustrated in FIG. 4. Furthermore, the news collection items can also be created automatically for activities and events which may take place for a particular period, weekly, monthly, or quarterly.

Also, in the example of FIG. 3, News Collection Schedule Date 110 in the news collection schedule table is in a range of one week from Apr. 14 (Sunday) to Apr. 20 (Saturday), 1996, the present invention is not limited to this particular period. Any period such as one day, one month and so on may be displayed, in which case a news collection schedule table is created based on the scheduled date. (3) News Collection Decision Table and so on

(3-1) Display of Work Schedule Table, Device Schedule Table, and News Collection Decision Table on Screen

FIG. 6 illustrates a work schedule table displayed mainly on the screen of a display means such as a monitor, not shown, of the work schedule input terminal 10 in the news program production support section 2. On the work schedule input terminal
10, information related to work schedules for news reporters and staff members who are dedicated to collect news materials is input to this work schedule table which is stored in the DB server 7 through the network 8.

The screen illustrated in FIG. 6 is displayed when Work Schedule 101 is selected with an input means such as a mouse, not shown, of the work schedule input terminal 10. Also, "Work Schedule Table" is displayed in a display field 114, and Work Schedule 101 and the display field 114 are shaded to indicate that the work schedule table is being currently selected.

In a central portion of the work schedule table screen, there are items including "No." 601 for indicating the number of each person in charge; "Person in Charge" 602 for indicating the name of a person in charge; "Task" 603 for indicating a task assigned to each person in charge; a work schedule column 605 for indicating work schedule information for each person in charge each day; Remark 606 for indicating any other information on each person in charge; and a year and month display field 607
for displaying a year and a month.

In FIG. 6, a work schedule for each person in charge in April 1996 is displayed on the work schedule table, where a person in charge of the person-in-charge number "1" is "Yamada" who is in charge of "Camera" and has a day off on "April 1996" "1(Monday)." Since "2 (Tuesday)" to "7 (Sunday)" are left blank, these columns indicate that "Yamada" is scheduled to work normally. Since "Early Attendance" is indicated in "11 (Thursday)," it indicates that he will begin working earlier than the time zone of the normal duty.

The news collection schedule terminal 11B reads data on a work schedule table from the DB server 7 through the network 8, inputs necessary information in each column of the work schedule table, and again writes the work schedule table into the DB server 7 through the network. Since data on the work schedule table is stored in the DB server 7, it can be referenced from terminals connected through the network 8, for example, from the news collection management terminal 11.

Next, the news collection decision table illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 will be described.

As has been described in connection with the news collection schedule table, the news collection decision table is automatically created from the news collection schedule table in the above-mentioned manner.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which News Collection Staff 103 has been selected, and a news collection decision table is displayed. "News Collection Decision Table" is displayed in a display field 108, and News Collection Staff 103 and the display field 109 are displayed with shading to indicate that this item has been selected.

Below the display field 109, a variety of buttons 704 are displayed.

Adjacent to the display field 109, News Collection Date 701, Displayed Item Number 702, and Total Registered Number 703 are displayed, respectively.

Also, below the variety of buttons 704, Item Number "No." for indicating a news collection item number; "News Collection Item" 706 for indicating an item to be collected as news; "Contents" 707 for indicating the contents to be collected; "News Collecting Location" 708 for indicating a location where news materials are collected; "Departure/Return Times" 709 for indicating a departure time at which the staff leaves for the news collecting location and a return time at which the staff returns to the broadcasting station from the news collecting location; "Local Time" 710 at which the staff arrives at the news collecting location or the staff starts collecting news materials; and respective items 711 for indicating an assigned news reporter in charge of each news collection item, a member in charge of devices at the news collecting location, and devices for news collection.

In FIG. 6, News Collection Date 701 is "Apr. 14, 1996 (Sunday) in the news collection table, where the number of news collection items registered for this date is "2," and a total of 24 news collection items have been registered in the news collection decision table in the DB server 7. News Collection Item "No." 705 designated as "1" has News Collection Item 706 "Spring Topic, and " News Collection Contents 707 indicates that "Cherry Blossoms in Kamakura and How Tourist Enjoy" is collected. News Collection Location 708 is "Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shinto Shrine in Kamakura City," Departure and Return Times 709 are set to "10:00-17:30," the time at which the staff arrives at the news collection location or starts collecting news materials is "10:30." As indicated in the members-in-charge items columns 711, a news reporter assigned to this news collection item is "Sasaki," a cameraman in charge is "Yamada," and so on. In this way, each member in charge and the names of devices used in the news collection are displayed. Also, in News Collection Item 705 "2," a member in charge of camera and the names of devices to be used are left blank. This means that a member in charge of camera and devices to be used have not been selected at a current time.

In this news collection decision table, when members in charge and devices for news collection are selected and inputted for each news collection item, the aforementioned work situation table and device using situation are displayed on the screen such that members in charge and devices to be used for each news collection item can be inputted to respective columns 711 of the news collection table with reference to the displays.

FIG. 8 illustrates that a work situation table is displayed in a popup style on the news collection decision table in a central portion of the screen. A work situation table 801 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed by selecting the Camera column in the member-in-charge and device items 711 of the news collection decision table with a manipulation means such as a mouse, not shown, of the news collection staff terminal 11C (for example, clicking the mouse thereon), resulting in displaying the work situation table 801. The associated fields are displayed with shading on the screen to indicate that these fields have been selected.

In the work situation table 801 shown in FIG. 8, a display field 802 and a month display field 803 are positioned in an upper portion, and a work schedule table 804 is displayed in a table form. "Cameraman List" is displayed in the display field
802, and "April" is displayed in the month display field 803, so that a work situation of cameramen in April is listed in the work schedule table 804. When a predetermined member is selected in the work situation table 801 with the manipulation means of the news collection staff terminal 1C, a selected column is displayed with shading. In the case of FIG. 8, since News Collection Date 701 in the news collection decision table indicates "Apr. 14, 1996," a field filled with "14" in the work schedule table 804 in the work situation table 801 is displayed with shading. It can be seen from the work schedule table 804 that "Yamada" and "Ueshima" in charge of camera are "Absent" on "14th day" so that "Narita" is selected on the work schedule table 804
with the manipulation means of the news staff terminal 11C to display it with shading. Simultaneously, "Narita" is inserted in the camera column of the news collection item number "2" in the news collection decision table, and displayed with shading.

The work situation table 804 is additionally provided with a screen scroll function with which a display on the screen can be scrolled to display a desired item by manipulating a horizontal scroll bar 808 and a vertical scroll bar 807 with the manipulation means of the news collection staff terminal 1C.

While in the foregoing description, the work schedule table is referenced on the news collection decision table, a device list may be referenced on the news collection decision table in a similar manner.

(3-2) Operation

When Work Schedule Table 101 displayed on the screen is selected on the work schedule input terminal 11C in the news program production support section 2, a work schedule table as illustrated in FIG. 6 is displayed on a display means such as a monitor, not shown, of the work schedule input terminal 11C, in which each person in charge inputs required information in each column of the work schedule table. Data inputted in the work schedule table are stored in the DB server 7 from the work schedule input terminal 11C through the network 8.

The work schedule table may also be displayed on the device schedule terminal 11A in the news program production support section 2 in a similar manner.

When News Collection Staff 103 displayed on the screen is selected on the news collection staff terminal 11C in the news collection management terminals 11, a news collection decision table as illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed on a display means such as a monitor, not shown, of the news collection management terminal 11. Then, a work schedule table 801 is displayed in a popup style by manipulating a predetermined column in the person-in-charge and devices-to-be-used items 711 in the displayed news collection decision table. Then, a member in the work schedule table 801 is appropriately selected to insert the selected member in the predetermined column of the items 711 in the news collection decision table. Subsequently, when data have been inputted to predetermined columns of the items 711, Register in the variety of buttons 600 is selected with a manipulation means to terminate the assignment of news collection staff in the news collection decision table. Data on the news collection decision table with the selected members registered therein are stored in the DB server 7 from the news collection staff terminal 11C through the network 8. On the device schedule terminal 11A, a reference to a device schedule table may be made similarly to a reference to the work schedule table on the news collection decision table. When "Devices" of the items 711 in the news collection decision table is selected, a device schedule table is displayed as is the case of the work schedule table. As a desired item is selected to input data therein, the data is inputted to the corresponding item column in the news collection decision table. Data registered in the news collection decision table is stored in the DB server 7 from the device schedule terminal 11A through the network 8.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart for referencing a work schedule table for a news collection decision table.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the processing for referencing a work schedule table for a news collection decision table is started (step SP120), initial settings are applied to the work schedule input terminal 11A at step SP121 for displaying a work schedule table on the screen thereof for reference on a news collection decision table.

Next, at step SP122, a news collection decision table as illustrated in FIG. 6 is displayed on the screen of a display means such as a monitor, not shown, of the work schedule input terminal 10.

Then, it is determined at step SP123 whether or not the display of the news collection decision table on the screen is terminated on the work schedule input terminal 10. If it is terminated (when YES), the processing proceeds to step SP125, where the processing for referencing the work schedule table is terminated.

If it is not terminated (when NO), the processing proceeds to step SP124 where it is determined whether or not a staff column is selected on the news collection decision table. The determination as to whether or not the staff column is selected is made by checking whether or not an item in which a staff member is inputted is selected in the items 711 of the news collection decision table.

If selected at step SP124 (when YES), the processing proceeds to step SP126, where it is determined whether or not a work schedule can be inputted for a staff member, in other words, whether or not a work schedule has been inputted for the staff member. This step is provided to determine whether or not a work schedule has been inputted for the staff member because a work schedule has not been inputted for each staff member in the work schedule table so that no work schedules may be displayed for respective staff members in a work schedule table which is displayed in a popup style together with the news collection decision table.

If a staff member for whom a work schedule can be inputted is found at step SP126 (when YES), the processing proceeds to step 127, where a work schedule table is displayed in a popup style together with the news collection decision table, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Next, the processing proceeds to step SP128 where it is determined whether or not selection is made to a staff member who can work on the news collection date from the work schedule table displayed in a popup style together with the news collection decision table. The processing does not proceed to the next step until a staff member who can work is selected at step SP128.

As the selection is made to a staff member who can work at step SP128 (when YES), it is determined at step SP129 whether or not news collection hours on the news collection date overlap with working hours. If they overlap (when YES), the processing proceeds to step SP130 where an error message is displayed to draw attention of a person who is operating a sequence of these processing on the news collection staff terminal 11C.

If they do not overlap at step SP128, the work schedule table displayed in a popup style is erased from the screen (step SP131), and the error message is also erased (step SP132). Then, data on the news collection decision table, through which the news collection staff has been assigned, are registered in the DB server 7 through the network 8. Then, the processing again returns to step SP123 to execute the processing procedure described above.

Incidentally, if a staff member for whom a work schedule cannot be entered is found at step SP126 (when NO), this means that the selected staff member has no work schedule, in which case the processing proceeds to step SP134 where a news collection staff candidate list 110 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed in a popup style.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the news collection staff candidate list 110 displays a list of candidates in charge of each device, from which a desired member can be selected on the screen.

After the news collection staff candidate list 110 is displayed in a popup style at step SP134, it is determined at step SP135 whether or not a staff member has been selected from the list 110. If no staff member has been selected (when NO), the processing again returns to step SP135 to repeat this processing until a staff member is selected. When a staff member is selected from the candidate list at step SP135 (when YES), the candidate list displayed in a popup style on the news collection decision table is erased from the screen (step SP136), and thereafter, the processing returns to step SP132 to execute similar processing to the foregoing.

While described above has been the processing for assigning a news collection staff member from the news collection decision table, processing for assigning a news collection device from the news collection decision table can be executed completely in the same manner, with similar displays provided on the screen. More specifically, instead of the work schedule table displayed in a popup style by the execution of the processing illustrated in FIG. 9, a device schedule table is similarly displayed in a popup style. Then, only by replacing a selection of staff member with a selection of a device, the assignment of a news collection device can be executed on the news collection decision table along the processing described above.

In this way, as information for deciding items for each news collection, such as the work schedule table for assigning a news collection staff member displayed in the news collection decision table, or a device table for assigning a device to be used during news collection, is displayed in a popup style over a portion of the news collection decision table, a person in charge of the creation of the news collection decision table can readily select a member who can work on the news collection date, devices which can be used on the news collection data, and so on based on the popup display. In addition, even if working hours of a member in charge of news collection or using hours of a device or the like are changed while the news collection decision table is being created, such changed contents can be readily recognized by a person in charge of input manipulations.

Further, the work schedule input terminal 11C on which the work schedule table is created, and the device schedule input terminal 11A on which the device schedule table is created are interconnected through the network 8, such that their data are stored in the DB server 7 connected through the network 8, so that the assignment of news collection staff members and the assignment of devices to be used can be readily achieved after confirming ever latest work situations of news collection staff members and device using situation.

In addition, since tasks for creating the news collection decision table are improved in efficiency, an employee in charge of the tasks can concentrate on his essential work.

Furthermore, since the latest work situation and device using situation can be always confirmed, this eliminates a failure in news collection due to improper assignment of news collection staff. (4) About On-Air Manuscript

(4-1) Manuscript Creating Screen

FIG. 11 illustrates an initial screen for inputting an on-air manuscript.

An on-air manuscript refers to a news manuscript that will be actually pronounced by an announcer for each collected news item in a news program. Required information therefor is inputted on the initial screen illustrated in FIG. 11, and an actual on-air manuscript is created on a manuscript input screen illustrated in FIG. 12.

As a manuscript button 104 is selected in an upper portion of the screen illustrated in FIG. 11 similarly to the screen on which a work schedule table or the like is displayed, "Manuscript List" is displayed in a display field 104, and the initial screen appears for inputting a manuscript. This initial screen is displayed in two separate areas for a news collection manuscript list 231 and an on-air manuscript list 231, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

Here, the news collection manuscript list 231 provides a data list related to news collection manuscripts created by employees in charge (press members) who have collected news materials at news collection locations. The on-air manuscript list
232 provides a data list related to manuscripts (on-air manuscripts) which have been finished by a person in charge (editor) who had checked the news collection manuscripts created by press members, and revised them into a final transmittable form.

First, the news collection manuscript list 231 will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

An item column 231A in the news collection manuscript list 231, which is assigned a number "No" for each news collection item, is composed of "News Collection Item/Title"234 mainly for indicating the title of a news collection item; "Reading Period" 235 for indicating a time period for which an announcer pronounces a news collection manuscript created by a press member; and "News Collection Manuscript ID" 236 for indicating an identification number of the news collection manuscript created by the press member.

An item column 232A in the on-air manuscript list 232, which is assigned a number "No." for each on-air item, is composed of "Item No./On-Air Item" 237 mainly for indicating the contents of an on-air item in brief; "Item Duration" 238 for indicating an item duration for which each on-air item is transmitted; "Reading Time" 239 for indicating a time period for which the on-air manuscript is actually pronounced; and "OA Manuscript ID" 240 for indicating an identification number of the on-air manuscript corrected by an editor, all of which are provided for each item.

Next, the creation of a news collection manuscript will be described.

For creating a news collection manuscript, more specifically, for a press member to create a manuscript based on news materials collected at news collection locations, a manuscript creating screen illustrated in FIG. 12 is opened by selecting a desired item column 231A in the news collection manuscript list 231 on the initial screen for the manuscript creation illustrated in FIG. 11. The creation of a news collection manuscript is advanced mainly on the news reporter terminal 15 in FIG. 1. A news collection manuscript may also be created similarly on any branch office/branch station/club terminal 6. Irrespective of a news collection manuscript created by a similar method to that for creating a news collection manuscript on the news reporter terminal 15 or a simple news collection manuscript, manuscripts created on the branch office/branch station/club terminals 6 are sent to the news reporter terminal 15 through the public line 16 or through the dedicated line 13. In an alternative, all manuscripts may be created on the news reporter terminal 15 without sending manuscripts from the branch office/branch station/club terminals 6.

A news collection manuscript is created on FIG. 12 displayed on a display screen, not shown, of the news reporter terminal 15.

A news collection manuscript shown in FIG. 12 is described.

As mentioned above, the screen for creating a news collection manuscript illustrated in FIG. 12 is displayed by selecting a desired manuscript item in the news collection manuscript list 231A on the initial screen for creating a manuscript in FIG. 11. For reference, FIG. 12 shows an example in which "Entrance Ceremony at XXXXX Elementary School" has been selected from the news collection manuscript list 231A in FIG. 11. In FIG. 12, buttons, Create Manuscript 245A and On-Air Manuscript 245B are provided below buttons including On Screen Work Schedule Table 101, News Collection Schedule 102, and so on. These are buttons for selecting a news collection manuscript or an on-air manuscript for the manuscript creating screen.

A variety of buttons are defined below the manuscript creation button 245A and the on-air manuscript button 245B.

Register 265 is a button for registering a created manuscript. This register button 265 is selected when a created manuscript is to be registered.

Print 266 is selected when a created manuscript is to be printed out by a printing machine such as a printer, not shown, annexed to the terminal.

A lateral specifying button 267 is selected when an inputted and displayed manuscript is to be displayed in a vertically aligned form. For example, in FIG. 12, as the Lateral Specifying 267 is selected for a number "123" 258B vertically displayed when it was inputted in a manuscript input field 258, the number "123" 258B is displayed in a horizontally aligned form as shown in FIG. 12.

Agate 268 is a button for automatically displaying kana letters alongside characters inputted in Chinese characters in an inputted and displayed manuscript. For example, kana letters "{character pullout}" can be displayed alongside the Chinese characters "{character pullout}" 258C in the manuscript input field 258 of FIG. 12 by selecting Agate 268.

General Information 269 is a button for displaying information on the number of letters in an inputted manuscript and an entire reading time required for the manuscript, later described. While the general information is shown in FIG. 13, detailed description thereon will be given later.

Below these various buttons, a display field 246 is provided for indicating an item of a manuscript. This corresponds to a selected manuscript item on the news collection manuscript list 231A of FIG. 11. In the case of FIG. 12, "Entrance Ceremony at xxxx Elementary School" is displayed together with an item number ("Item No.").

Item Duration 247 is displayed on the right side of the display field 246 for indicating a duration for which this item is broadcast. Duration for which Item Name "Entrance Ceremony at xxxx Elementary School" is "00:50," i.e., 50 seconds. A field on the right of this displays Program Name 248 of a program in which this item is broadcast. In the example of FIG. 12, this is an item broadcast in Afternoon News xxx." A field on the right of this indicates a time period for which Item (Item displayed on the display field 246) broadcast in Program Name 248 is pronounced by an announcer. In the example of FIG. 12, a time period for which the manuscript of this item is pronounced is indicated as "00:44," i.e., 44 seconds. A field on the right of this displays Revision 250 for indicating the number of times a created manuscript has been corrected or modified by an editor and then printed out. In the example of FIG. 12, since the manuscript has not been corrected or modified by an editor, "1," i.e., once is displayed.

In addition, in substantially a central portion of the screen, a manuscript input frame 251 is found for displaying an inputted manuscript. A manuscript inputted with an input means such as a keyboard, not shown, provided for the news reporter terminal 15 or the like, is displayed in this manuscript input frame 251. A manuscript input frame 251 is generally composed of a message field 259; material mark fields 252, 260; and manuscript input fields 258, 261. The manuscript input fields 258,
261 are separated into pages by solid lines, and page fields 258A, 261A display to that effect. In the example of FIG. 12, these fields displays "1/2" and "2/2" to indicate that the manuscript input field 258 on the right of the solid line on FIG. 12 is the first page, and the manuscript input field 261 on the left is the second page.

The message field 259 is a field for an input operator to display a brief message in this column. In FIG. 12, "Read" is displayed for "1/2" page, while "NV Material From Here" is displayed for "2/2" page, thus indicating that the "1/2" page of the manuscript is pronounced by an announcer while he appears on the television screen in actual broadcasting, and that the "2/2" page is pronounced while a video material (NV material: News Video material), which was collected in a news collection, is televised in actual broadcasting.

Below the message field 259, the material mark fields 252, 260 are displayed. This material mark indicates each of components in each program displayed in a program component table or cue sheet information, where each component is represented by a mark such as a drawing, characters, or the like so as to readily distinguish whether an actually broadcast video image is assigned to an announcer, or assigned to a video image recorded in a news collection, or the like, as will be described later in detail. In the material mark field 252 of "1/2" page in FIG. 12, "1C Yoshida 00:10" is displayed with characters and a drawing, taken from the program component table or the cue sheet information. This means that announcer Yoshida is imaged with a camera designated number 1 (camera 1: 1C), and announcer Yoshida pronounces a created manuscript for ten seconds.

For displaying a material mark in each of the material mark fields 252, 260, this material mark field 252 or 260 is selected with a selecting means such as a mouse, not shown, provided for the news reporter terminal 15, to display a program component table or cue sheet information, later described, corresponding to a selected manuscript in a popup style together with the manuscript input fields 258, 261. Displayed in the example of FIG. 12 is a popup 253 composed of Component Number 254
assigned to each of components in a program; Broadcasting Duration 255 assigned to each component, for which the component is actually broadcast; and material marks 256, 257. As a desired mark is selected from the displayed popup 253 with a selecting means, not shown, for example, a mouse is "clicked" thereon, and the desired mark is "dropped" at a desired material mark field 252 while the mouse is being "clicked," the material mark 256 in the popup display 253 is displayed in the material mark field
252 of the manuscript input screen. In this event, the display position of this popup display 253 may be freely moved with the selecting means, so that it may be freely moved to a location where the popup display 253 does not hinder the creation of a manuscript.

Also, if the material mark 256 indicative of a camera shot image of announcer "1C Yoshida" illustrated in FIG. 12 is selected, the material mark 256 is displayed as glued in the material mark field 252. Meanwhile, a cursor is moved to a position from which data should be inputted in the manuscript input field 258 of "1/2" page, thus entering an input ready state.

In this way, a manuscript to be pronounced by the announcer is inputted, while confirming the material mark 256 of announcer "1C Yoshida" displayed in the material mark field 252, thereby making it possible to establish a one-to-one correspondence between the material mark 256 and the input manuscript. In addition, since the message displayed in the message field 259 can be confirmed, the announcer can pronounce an on-air manuscript, while readily confirming the contents of a broadcast video image to be transmitted.

Subsequently, a manuscript for "2/2" page is inputted as is the case of the aforementioned example, after the manuscript for "1/2" page has been inputted on the news reporter terminal 15 or the like.

As a desired material mark field 260 is selected, a popup 253 is similarly displayed. A desired component mark is selected and glued in the material mark field 260, and a manuscript is actually inputted in the manuscript input frame 261. While confirming "NV Elementary School in City 00:40" displayed in the material mark field 260, a manuscript to be pronounced by an announcer during the transmission of this video material is inputted. Thus, the material mark 257 and the manuscript on "2/2" page can be placed in one-to-one correspondence, so that the announcer can pronounce the on-air manuscript while readily confirming the contents of the broadcast video image on the air.

Number of Characters 263 on the manuscript input screen indicates the number of characters inputted in the entirety of this item and the number of characters in the manuscript inputted in this page. In the example of FIG. 12, since Number of Characters 263 displays "89/218," this indicates that the number of characters inputted in the entire manuscript of two pages is "218" characters, of which "89" characters in the manuscript are inputted in the first page ("1/2" page).

Reading Time 264 on the manuscript input screen, which functions similarly to Number of Characters 263, indicates a total reading time assigned to this item, and a reading time available for this page of the manuscript. In the example of FIG.
12, "00:10/00:44" is displayed, indicating that a total reading time is 44 seconds for two pages, and a time available for pronouncing the first page ("1/2" page) is 10 seconds out of 44 seconds.

Below the manuscript input fields 258, 261 (in a lower portion of the manuscript input screen), a variety of function selecting buttons are displayed.

The function selecting buttons comprises F1key 251A to which a deletion function is assigned for deleting an inputted manuscript; F2 key 251B to which an insertion function is assigned for inserting necessary words in a sentence of a manuscript; F4key 251C to which a move function is assigned for moving a specified sentence to a desired position; F5 key 251D to which a copy function is assigned for copying a specified sentence; F7 key 251E to which an undo function is assigned for canceling the preceding processing and returning to the previous but one processing; and F8key 251F to which a register function is assigned for registering an inputted manuscript.

On the other hand, when the number of characters and a reading time are desirably confirmed for all pages of a manuscript thus inputted, General Information 269 within a variety of buttons positioned above the manuscript input field 258 may be selected to display General Information 269A illustrated in FIG. 13.

General Information 269A displays the number of characters and a reading time for each page of a manuscript. In the example of FIG. 13, General Information 269A is composed of Page 269B, Number of Characters 269C, and Reading Time 269D. The number of characters in the "first" page of a manuscript is "89" characters, and a reading time allocated to an announcer for pronouncing this page is "00:18," i.e., 18 seconds. The number of characters in the "second" page is indicated as "72/161" which represents that the number of characters in the "second" page is 72 characters, and a total number of characters in the first and second pages of the manuscript amounts to 161 characters. A reading time for the announcer to pronounce the "second" page is indicated as "00:14/00:32" which represents that the reading time for the "second" page is 14 seconds and a total time for pronouncing the first and second pages of the manuscript amounts to 32 seconds.

If no error is determined after confirming information related to General Information 269A, the popup 253 displayed on the manuscript creating screen illustrated in FIG. 12 is closed, and the register button 265 is selected. By selecting the register button 265, a created manuscript is stored in the DB server 7 as an on-air manuscript file from the news reporter terminal 15 through the network 8.

Then, as the print button 266 is selected, the on-air manuscript is printed out from a printing machine such as a printer, not shown, provided for the news reporter terminal 15. The announcer can correctly pronounce the manuscript while confirming the printed manuscript.

Incidentally, it is contemplated that after an on-air manuscript has been inputted as described above, components of a program itself is changed on the desk terminal 18 or the like in the news program production support section 2.

Even in such a case, each item in the popup 253 displayed on the manuscript creating screen following any change in components of a program component table is also changed in real time, so that a manuscript can be correctly inputted from the manuscript creating screen in accordance with a changed item.

(4-2) Operation

FIG. 14 illustrates a flow chart for creating an on-air manuscript with reference to each item in the aforementioned program component table in a popup.

As the on-air manuscript creation processing is started (step SP161), the initial screen illustrated in FIG. 11 is displayed (step SP162).

When a predetermined manuscript item is selected from the item field 231A of news collection manuscript list 231, the processing proceeds to step SP163 where the screen is switched from the initial screen illustrated in FIG. 11 to the manuscript creating screen illustrated in FIG. 12.

Next, the processing proceeds to step SP164 where it is determined whether or not the processing on the manuscript creating screen is terminated. This is a determination as to whether or not the on-air manuscript creation processing is terminated or not. If terminated (when YES), the processing proceeds to step SP165 where the creation processing is terminated. If not terminated (when NO), the creation processing proceeds to step SP166.

At step SP166, it is determined whether or not a material mark input field has been selected on the manuscript creating screen and a mouse button has been depressed. This is determined by checking whether or not a mouse has been clicked on the material mark input field 252 or 260 on the manuscript creating screen of FIG. 12. If it is determined that the mouse button has not been depressed (when NO), an indication is given to indicate that no material mark input field has been selected and the mouse button has not been depressed, followed by the processing again proceeding to step SP164. If depressed (when YES), the processing proceeds to step SP167.

At step SP167, the popup 253 for indicating a program component table or cue sheet information illustrated in FIG. 12 is displayed together with the manuscript creating screen.

Next, the processing proceeds to step SP168 where it is determined whether or not a desired material mark has been selected from the displayed popup 253. This step is repeated until a selection is made.

When selected (when YES), the processing proceeds to step SP169 where the material mark selected from the popup 253 is displayed in the material mark input field of the manuscript creating screen, and the popup 253 is closed. In this event, since the material mark includes a component duration displayed therein as described above, the component duration can be confirmed without viewing the component duration displayed in the program component table or the cue sheet information. Then, at step SP169, a manuscript is actually inputted.

Next, the manuscript creation processing proceeds to step SP170 where it is determined whether or not the register button 265 has been selected. This is a step provided for determining whether or not a created manuscript is to be stored in the DB server 7 after all manuscript input tasks have been completed. This step SP170 is repeated until the register button 265 is depressed.

When the register button is depressed (when YES), the processing proceeds to step SP171 where data on the inputted manuscript or the like is registered in the DB server 7. Then, the manuscript creation processing again proceeds to step SP164 and is repeated until the manuscript creation processing is terminated (until NO is determined at step SP164).

By repeating the foregoing processing, a material mark is selected from the popup display for each of the material mark input fields on the manuscript creating-screen, and a manuscript to be pronounced by an announcer is inputted. In this way, each of manuscripts divided for each of components in a program (the manuscript input field 258 and the manuscript input field 261) are corresponded to a material mark (a material mark displayed in the material mark field 252 and a material mark displayed in the material mark field 260) on a one-to-one basis, thus associating on-air manuscripts with the program component table (or the cue sheet information) to create readily readable manuscripts for announcers.

Also, since data on the program component table or the like corrected or modified on the desk terminal 18 or the like in the news program production support section 2 are registered in the DB server 7, such corrections or modifications are reflected to the program component table or the like displayed on the manuscript creating screen in real time, thus making it possible to correct or modify a manuscript likewise along the corrected or modified components. This prevents announcers from erroneously pronouncing manuscripts on the air due to discrepancies between manuscripts and components of a program.

Incidentally, in the embodiment described above, an on-air manuscript is printed out so that an announcer pronounces the printed manuscript. The present invention, however, is not limited to this. Alternatively, a display screen such as a monitor may be provided on a desk in front of an announcer to display an on-air manuscript mentioned above on this display screen, such that the announcer pronounces the displayed on-air manuscript.

In addition, while the foregoing embodiment has been described for an example in which an on-air manuscript is created on the desk terminal 18, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, a manuscript may be created on an arbitrary terminal connected to the network. In addition, in this alternative, similar effects can be produced to those of the foregoing embodiment. (5) Program Component Table

(5-1) Creation of Program Component Table

The program component table will be described below in detail.

The program component table is created on the desk terminal 18 in the news program production support section 2 in the program production and transmission apparatus of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the news program production and transmission apparatus is connected to the master room 36B through the interface. In this embodiment, the master room is connected through the gateway 40 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Then, program data required to create a program table and a program component table is sent from the master room 36B to the desk terminal 18 through the gateway 40. On the desk terminal 18, a program table and a program component table are automatically created based on the program data sent thereto from the master room 36B.

The program table refers to a table for indicating a start time, an end time, a broadcasting duration and so on for each program. FIG. 16 illustrates an example of the program table. Although details will be described later, the table displays information such as program names, a start time, an end time and so on of each program, and so on for news programs of a day, as shown in FIG. 5.

The program component table refers to a table for indicating components in a program, examples of which are illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18. Although details will be described later, the program component table provides information such as an item name, a start time of each item, and so on for each item of a program.

The program table and the program component table are automatically created on the desk terminal 18 based on program data transferred from the master room 36B through the gateway 40 and the network 8. The program data transferred from the master room include information such as a program ID for identifying each program; a program name indicative of a name or the like of each program; a start time of each program; an end time of each program; distinction as to start and end times have been definite or indefinite (time-adjustable); and so on. The desk terminal 18 automatically creates a program table from these program data. Also, the program data transferred from the master room include a start time and an end time of a CM (commercial) inserted into a program; information for classifying whether a CM is a time-adjustable CM or a definite CM; and so on. The desk terminal 18 automatically creates a program component table based on these program data. The time-adjustable CM will be described later.

The structure of the program table will be described with reference to FIG. 15(A).

A program table shown in FIG. 15(A) is composed of ID 140 for indicating a program ID; Program Name 141; Start Time 142 and End Time 143 of the program; Local 144 for indicating whether or not the program is transmitted to local stations; and Net
145 for indicating whether or not the program is transmitted to other stations in the same network group. "U" in the field of Start Time 142 indicates that the associated program is a time-adjustable program, the start time of which is not definite. Specifically, "U" indicates that although the program is scheduled to start at "08:00" or just at 8 o'clock, it is not definite that the program is started just at 8 o'clock. For reference, since "U" is not displayed in End Time 143 of this program, it is definite that the program will end at "08:25:00" or 8 o'clock 25 minutes.

Next, the structure of the program component table will be described with reference to FIG. 15(B).

A program component table shown in FIG. 15(B) is composed of No. 150 for indicating an item number of each component in a program; Item Name 151 for indicating an item name; Start Time/Duration 152 for indicating a start time of each item and a broadcasting duration of the item; Component Duration 153 of the item; and Organization 154 for indicating how the program is organized.

As shown in FIG. 15(B), the program component table comprises three items. The item number 1 has Item Name "Time-Adjustable CM" or a CM without definite start time, Start Time "08:00:00" or at 8 o'clock, and the duration of the CM indicated as "1:30" or one minute and thirty seconds. Since this CM is a time-adjustable CM, it is not definite that this CM is broadcast just at 8 o'clock. "-3Q" in the field of Component Duration 153 indicates that a CM initiating pulse is sent to the master room
36B connected through the gateway 40 three seconds before the time-adjustable CM is broadcast based on this program component table. The time-adjustable CM initiating pulse will be described later in detail.

Program data transferred from the aforementioned master room 40 are the most basic data in the organization of a program and components in the program, and positioned as "skeleton" data for producing the program. The news program production and transmission system 1 produces and transmits news programs based on these program data. Then, the desk terminal 18 in the news program production support section 2 progresses the creation of components in a program in detail based on the program data transferred from the master room.

Here, the master room 36B is a department responsible for governing the overall broadcasting station with respect to the transmission of programs in the broadcasting station. Then, the master room 36B and the news program production and transmission apparatus 1 are interconnected through the gateway 40 in the network, so that the news program production and transmission apparatus 1 can communicate with the master room to provide reliable broadcasting. Also, a program table and a program component table can be automatically created on the desk terminal 18 from data transferred thereto from the master room 36B, components of a news program can be created in the news program production and transmission apparatus 1, and detailed components of the program can be created from the automatically created program table and program component table. It is therefore possible to provide reliable broadcasting as well as save the effort of producing the program table and the program component table.

Described next will be the creation of further detailed program table and program component table from a program table and a program component table automatically created on the desk terminal 18.

Final program table and program component table are completed on the desk terminal 18 based on a program table and a program component table automatically created based on program data from the master room 36B.

Examples of the program table and the program component table displayed on a display means such as a monitor, not shown, of the desk terminal 18 are illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, respectively.

First, the structure of the program table will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 16.

The program table illustrated in FIG. 16 is automatically created on the desk terminal 18 based on program data transferred thereto from the master room 36B, and displayed on a display means such as a monitor, not shown, of the desk terminal 18.

Like the manuscript input screen illustrated in FIG. 12, Work Schedule Table 101 for displaying working situations of staff members; News Collection Schedule Table 102 for displaying a news collection schedule table; News Collection Staff 103 for displaying a news collection decision table for assignment of news collection staff members and so on; Manuscript 104 for displaying the manuscript input screen; and Create Program 105 for displaying a program table or a program component table are displayed in an upper portion of the screen. By selecting this Create Program 105 with a selecting means such as a mouse, not shown, the program table illustrated in FIG. 16 is displayed. Program Creation 105 and a display field 107 are displayed with shading for indicating that the selection has been made.

Broadcasting Date 110 is positioned on the right side of the display field 107, and indicates that a program table for a program to be broadcast on "Apr. 16, 1996 (Tuesday)" is being displayed in this example.

Below the display field 107, a variety of setting buttons 72 are displayed. In the example of FIG. 16, a register-button for registering a program table for storage in the DB server 7, and so on are displayed.

Below the variety of buttons 72, an automatically created program table is displayed in a table form.

The program table is composed of No. 65 for indicating a program number of each program; Program Name 61 for indicating the program name of each program; Situation 69 for indicating whether or not the program has already been broadcast (on the air); Start Time 62 for indicating a start time of the program; End Time 63 for indicating an end time; Broadcasting Duration 64 for indicating a broadcasting duration of the program; Operation Mode 66 for indicating an operation mode of the program; Desk 67 for indicating the responsible of the program; CG 70 for displaying information related to computer graphics; Local Net 68 for indicating information as to whether the program is transmitted to local stations or to stations in the same network group; and Complete Packet 71 for displaying information related to a complete packet.

When a desired program item in the program table is selected on the screen, a program component table indicating components of each program is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 17. FIG. 17 illustrates a program component table of a program of Program Number "1" with Program Name "Wrap Up Time Today" selected in FIG. 16.

In FIG. 17, buttons, Work Schedule Table 101, News Collection Schedule 102, News Collection Staff 102, Manuscript 104, Create Program 105, Search 106, each for displaying associated table, are displayed in an upper portion of the screen, in a structure similar to the program table display screen of FIG. 16. "Program Component Table" is displayed in a display field 107 to indicate that a program selection table is displayed on the screen. Create Program 105 and the display field 107 are displayed with shading to indicate that this table is selected.

Displayed on the right of the display field 107 are a program name column 162 for indicating the program name of this program; a broadcasting date and time column 163 for indicating broadcasting date and time at which this program is broadcast; an operation mode column 164 for indicating an operation mode; a local/net column 165 for indicating whether the program is transmitted to local stations or stations in the same network group; and a remaining time column 166 for displaying a remaining time of the program.

Below the display field 107, a variety of setting buttons 167 are displayed.

Within the variety of setting buttons 167, Register is a button for storing a created program component table in the DB server 7; and Print is a button for printing out the created program component table by a printing machine such as a printer. The remaining buttons will be described later.

Below the variety of buttons 167, a program component table 160 is displayed in a table form.

The program component table 160 is composed of No. 170 for indicating an item number of each item constituting a program; Item Name 171 for indicating an item name; Start Time/Duration 172 for indicating a start time and a broadcasting duration of each item; Component Time 173 for indicating a time at which an initiating pulse is sent to the master room, when a time-adjustable item is specified, together with a broadcasting duration of each item; Video 174 for indicating which video image is represented by the item; Key 175 for displaying key information; Effect 176 for displaying information related to special effects; Audio 177 for displaying information related to audio in the item; MIX 178 for displaying information related to audio mixing; and Telop 179 for displaying information indicative of telop. Details on the respective items will be described later.

Next described is how a new item is added using the created program component table.

When Create Program 105 is selected on the desk terminal 18, the program table illustrated in FIG. 16 is displayed. A program in which an item is to be added is selected from this program table. When selected, a program component table is displayed for the program in which an item is to be added, illustrated in FIG. 17, and the item is inserted into a position at which the item is to be added.

An example of newly adding an item from the program component table will be described with reference to FIG. 18.

When News Collection Item 167A is selected from the variety of setting buttons 167, a news collection item table 181 indicative of news collection items is displayed in a popup style on the program component table screen as illustrated in FIG.
18. This news collection item table 181 comprises data based on a news collection decision table created on the news collection management terminal 11 in the news program production support section 2. Specifically, data on the news collection decision table created on the news collection management table 11 is stored in the DB server 7 through the network 8, so that the data on the stored news collection decision table are converted into the form of the news collection item table 181 illustrated in FIG. 18 for display.

Here, f