Broadcasting system, encoder, multiplexing apparatus, multiplexing method, system switching apparatus, and synchronization control apparatus

A system switching apparatus comprising:

• a first time reproducer configured to reproduce TAI (International Atomic Time) time from a PTP (Precision Time Protocol) packet included in an IP packet which is communicated from a first multiplexing apparatus side;
• a first converter configured to determine a time length in which an STC (System Time Clock) counter value laps, to calculate a remainder of the time length relative to the TAI time reproduced by the first time reproducer, and to generate a time for PCR (Program Clock Reference), based on the remainder;
• a second converter configured to convert the TAI time, which is reproduced by the first time reproducer, to a time with precision of a first frequency;
• a first delay jitter absorption unit configured to perform, based on the time with the precision of the first frequency converted by the second converter, correction of a delay and jitter by using timestamp information which is stamped on an RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) packet including a plurality of TS (Transport Stream) packets in the IP packet output from the first multiplexing apparatus side, and to separate the TS packets from the RTP packet;
• a first buffer configured to buffer the TS packets separated by the first delay jitter absorption unit;
• a first multiplexing unit configured to multiplex the TS packets buffered in the first buffer;
• a second time reproducer configured to reproduce TAI time from a PTP packet included in an IP packet which is output from a second multiplexing apparatus side;
• a third converter configured to determine a time length in which an STC counter value laps, to calculate a remainder of the time length relative to the TAI time reproduced by the second time reproducer, and to generate a time for PCR, based on the remainder;
• a fourth converter configured to convert the TAI time, which is reproduced by the second time reproducer, to a time with the precision of the first frequency;
• a second delay jitter absorption unit configured to perform, based on the time with the precision of the first frequency converted by the fourth converter, correction of a delay and jitter by using timestamp information which is stamped on an RTP packet including a plurality of TS packets in the IP packet output from the second multiplexing apparatus side, and to separate the TS packets from the RTP packet;
• a second buffer configured to buffer the TS packets separated by the second delay jitter absorption unit;
• a second multiplexing unit configured to multiplex the TS packets buffered in the second buffer;
• and
• a system switching timing generator configured to control the first buffer and the second buffer, such that when a TS packet designated as a switching point is first buffered in the first buffer and is then buffered in the second buffer, the TS packet is not transmitted during a period from when the TS packet designated as the switching point arrives at the first buffer until when the TS packet arrives at the second buffer, and the TS packet is transmitted at a timing when the TS packet designated as the switching point arrives at the second buffer.