Abstract:
A system and method suitable for collecting local television signals includes a local collection facility having a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules with a first receiver circuit module and a back-up receiver module. The local collection facility includes the first receiver circuit module receiving and demodulating the first channel signal and forming a first IP signal. The first receiver has a first multicast group. The back-up receiver circuit module receives and demodulates the first channel signal and forming a second signal. The back-up receiver has a second multicast group. A remote facility is spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicates with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul. A primary decoder within the remote facility is communication with the IP backhaul and forms a decoded signal from the first IP signal. The primary decoder belongs to the first multi-cast group. A primary encoder within the remote facility communicates with the primary decoder and forms a first encoded signal from the decoded signal. A multiplexer multiplexes the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal. A monitoring system includes commanding the primary decoder to join the second multicast group and discontinue the first multicast group. The primary decoder forms the decoded signal from the second IP signal.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, and more particularly to a method and system for monitoring and controlling the switching of a back-up receiver module at a local collection facility from a remote facility of a signal collection and uplinking system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     Satellite broadcasting of television signals has increased in popularity. Satellite television providers continually offer more and unique services to their subscribers to enhance the viewing experience. Providing reliability in a satellite broadcasting system is therefore an important goal of satellite broadcast providers. Providing reliable signals reduces the overall cost of the system by reducing the number of received calls at a customer call center. 
     In satellite broadcasting systems, users have come to expect the inclusion of local channels in addition to the channels broadcast for the entire Continental United States. Collecting the channels may be performed in various manners, including providing a manned station that receives the signals. The signals may be uplinked from various locations. Providing manned stations increases the labor costs and thus increases the overall cost of the service. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a means for monitoring and controlling a local signal collection system from a central facility. The local collection facility is suitable for receiving local television channels. 
     In one aspect of the invention, a method of forming an output signal includes providing a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules at a local collection facility. The plurality of primary receiver circuit modules comprises a first receiver circuit module. The method further includes receiving a plurality of channel signals. The plurality of channel signals has a first channel signal. The method also includes communicating the first channel signal to the first receiver circuit module and a second receiver circuit module, forming a first IP signal corresponding to the first channel signal at the first receiver circuit module, communicating the first IP signal corresponding to the first channel signal from the local collection facility through the IP network backhaul to the remote facility, decoding the IP signal to form a first decoded signal, encoding the first decoded signal at a first encoder module into a first encoded signal, multiplexing the first encoded signal into a first multiplexed signal, generating the output signal at the remote facility in response to the multiplexed signal and providing a plurality of back-up receiver circuit modules at the local collection facility. Each of said plurality of back-up receiver circuit modules corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of primary circuit modules. The plurality of back-up receiver circuit modules includes a second receiver circuit module forming a second IP signal from the first channel signal. The method also includes previewing a second receiver circuit module by communicating the second IP signal corresponding to the first channel signal from the local collection facility through the IP network backhaul to the remote facility and when the second IP signal is acceptable, discontinuing the steps of decoding the first IP signal to form a first decoded signal, encoding the first decoded signal at a first encoder module into a first encoded signal, multiplexing the first encoded signal into a first multiplexed signal and generating the output signal at the remote facility in response to the multiplexed signal. The method also includes decoding the second IP signal to form a second decoded signal, encoding the second decoded signal at the first encoder module into a second encoded signal, multiplexing the second encoded signal into a second multiplexed signal and generating the output signal at the remote facility in response to the second multiplexed signal. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, a system suitable for collecting local television signals includes a local collection facility having a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules with a first receiver circuit module and a back-up receiver module. The local collection facility includes the first receiver circuit module receiving and demodulating the first channel signal and forming a first IP signal. The first receiver has a first multicast group. The back-up receiver circuit module receives and demodulates the first channel signal and forming a second signal. The back-up receiver has a second multicast group. A remote facility is spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicates with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul. A primary decoder within the remote facility is communication with the IP backhaul and forms a decoded signal from the first IP signal. The primary decoder belongs to the first multi-cast group. A primary encoder within the remote facility communicates with the primary decoder and forms a first encoded signal from the decoded signal. A multiplexer multiplexes the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal. A monitoring system includes commanding the primary decoder to join the second multicast group and discontinue the first multicast group. The primary decoder forms the decoded signal from the second IP signal. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
         FIG. 1  is an overall system view of a collection and communication system in the continental United States. 
         FIG. 2  is a system view at the regional level of the collection and communication system. 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed block diagrammatic view of a local collection facility illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed block diagrammatic view of a remote uplink facility. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagrammatic view of a monitoring system of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a plan view of a local collection receiver monitoring display. 
         FIG. 6B  is a plan view of an uplink monitoring display. 
         FIG. 6C  is a plan view of a thread monitoring display. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a method for operating a local collection facility and remote collection facility. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a back-up receiver decoder circuit module at the local collection facility from a remote facility. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
     As used herein, the term module, circuit and/or device refers to an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical or. It should be understood that steps within a method may be executed in different order without altering the principles of the present disclosure. 
     The present disclosure is described with respect to a satellite television system. However, the present disclosure may have various uses including satellite data transmission and reception for home or business uses. The system may also be used in a cable system or wireless terrestrial communication system. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a collection and communication system  10  includes a satellite  12  that includes at least one transponder  13 . Typically, multiple transponders are in a satellite. Although only one satellite is shown, more than one is possible or even likely. 
     The collection and communication system  10  includes a central facility or Network operations center (NOC)  14  and a plurality of regional or remote uplink facilities (RUF)  16 A,  16 B,  16 C,  16 D,  16 E and  16 F. In a non-satellite system the facilities may be referred to as a remote facility. The regional or remote uplink facilities  16 A- 16 F may be located at various locations throughout a landmass  18  such as the continental United States, including more or less than those illustrated. The regional or remote uplink facilities  16 A- 16 F uplink various uplink signals  17  to satellite  12 . The satellites downlink signals  19  to various users  20  that may be located in different areas of the landmass  18 . The users  20  may be mobile or fixed users. The uplink signals  17  may be digital signals such as digital television signals or digital data signals. The digital television signals may be high definition television signals, standard definition signals or combinations of both. Uplinking may be performed at various frequencies including Ka band. The present disclosure, however, is not limited to Ka band. However, Ka band is a suitable frequency example used throughout this disclosure. The central facility or NOC  14  may also receive downlink signals  19  corresponding to the uplink signals  17  from the various regional or remote uplink facilities and from itself for monitoring purposes. The central facility  14  may monitor and control the quality of all the signals broadcast from the system  10 . 
     The central facility  14  may also be coupled to the regional or remote uplink facilities through a network such as a computer network having associated communication lines  24 A- 24 F. Each communication line  24 A-F is associated with a respective regional or remote uplink site  16 . Communication lines  24 A- 24 F are terrestrial-based lines. As will be further described below, all of the functions performed at the regional or remote uplink facilities may be controlled centrally at the central facility  14  as long as the associated communication line  24 A-F is not interrupted. When a communication line  24 A-F is interrupted, each regional or remote uplink site  16 A-F may operate autonomously so that uplink signals may continually be provided to the satellite  12 . Each of the regional or remote uplink and central facilities includes a transmitting and receiving antenna which is not shown for simplicity in  FIG. 1 . 
     Each of the regional or remote uplink facilities  16 A- 16 F may also be in communication with a local collection facility collectively referred to with reference numeral  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , three local collection facilities are associated with each remote uplink facility  16 . For example, remote uplink facility  16 A has local collection facilities  30 A,  30 B and  30 C associated therewith. Local collection facilities  30 D- 30 S are associated with one of the other remote uplink facilities  16 B- 16 F. Although only three local collection facilities are illustrated for each remote uplink facility  16 , numerous local collection facilities may be associated with each remote uplink facility  16 . The number of local collection facilities  30  may be numerous, such as  40  for each remote uplink facility. The number of local collection facilities  30  is limited by the amount of equipment and the capabilities thereof associated with each remote uplink facility  16 . 
     The local collection facilities  30  are used for collecting local television stations in various designated marketing areas (DMAs). As is illustrated, local collection facility  30 A is located in DMA 1  and local collection facility  30 B is located in DMA 2 . For simplicity, only two DMAs are illustrated. However, each local collection facility may be located in a DMA. 
     The local collection facilities  30  may be in communication with each remote uplink facility  16  through a communication network  32 . As will be described below, the communication network  32  may be an Internet protocol (IP) network. The signals from the local collection facilities  30  may thus be video-over-IP signals. Each of the remote uplink facilities  16  are in communication with each local collection facility  30  through the communication network  32 . As is illustrated, local collection facility  30 A is in communication with the remote uplink facility  16 A through communication network  32 A, while local collection facility  30 B is in communication with the remote uplink facility  16 A through communication network  32 B, and so on. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the regional or remote uplink facilities  16 A- 16 F of  FIG. 1  are illustrated collectively as reference numeral  16 . The regional facilities  16  may actually comprise two facilities that include a primary site  40  (such as the remote uplink facility  16  above) and a diverse site  42 . The primary site  40  may be referred to as a primary broadcast center (PBC). As will be described below, the central site  14  may also include a primary site and diverse site as is set forth herein. The primary site  40  and diverse site  42  of both the central and regional sites may be separated by at least 25 miles, or, more even more such as, at least 40 miles. In one constructed embodiment, 50 miles was used. The primary site  40  includes a first antenna  44  for transmitting and receiving signals to and from satellite  12 . Diverse site  42  also includes an antenna  46  for transmitting and receiving signals from satellite  12 . 
     Primary site  40  and diverse site  42  may also receive signals from GPS satellites  50 . GPS satellites  50  generate signals corresponding to the location and a precision timed signal that may be provided to the primary site  40  through an antenna  52  and to the diverse site  42  through an antenna  54 . It should be noted that redundant GPS antennas ( 52 A,B) for each site may be provided. In some configurations, antennas  44  and  46  may also be used to receive GPS signals. 
     A precision time source  56  may also be coupled to the primary site  40  and to the diverse site  42  for providing a precision time source. The precision time source  56  may include various sources such as coupling to a central atomic clock. The precision time source  56  may be used to trigger certain events such as advertising insertions and the like. 
     The primary site  40  and the diverse site  42  may be coupled through a communication line  60 . Communication line  60  may be a dedicated communication line. The primary site  40  and the diverse site  42  may communicate over the communication line using a video-over-Internet protocol (IP). 
     Various signal sources  64  such as an optical fiber line, copper line or antennas may provide incoming signals  66  to the local collection facility  30 . Incoming signal  66 , as mentioned above, may be television signals. The television signals may be over-the-air high-definition signals, over-the-air standard television signals, or high or standard definition signals received through a terrestrial communication line. The incoming signals  66  such as the television signals may be routed from the local collection facility  30  through the communication network  30  to the primary site  40 , or the diverse site  42  in the event of a switchover. The switchover may be manual or a weather-related automatic switchover. A manual switchover, for example, may be used during a maintenance condition. 
     Users  20  receive downlink signals  70  corresponding to the television signals. Users  20  may include home-based systems, business-based systems or multiple dwelling unit systems. As illustrated, a user  20  has a receiving antenna  72  coupled to an integrated receiver decoder (IRD)  74  that processes the signals and generates audio and video signals corresponding to the received downlink signal  70  for display on the television or monitor  76 . It should also be noted that satellite radio receiving systems may also be used in place of the IRD  74 . The integrated receiver decoder  74  may be incorporated into or may be referred to as a set top box. 
     The user  20  may also be a mobile user. The user  20  may therefore be implemented in a mobile device or portable device  80 . The portable device  80  may include but are not limited to various types of devices such as a laptop computer  82 , a personal digital assistant  84 , a cellular telephone  86  or a portable media player  88 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the local collection facility  30  is illustrated in more detail adjacent to the remote uplink facility (RUF)  16 . Several remote facilities may be directed to one remote uplink facility. Several remote uplink facilities may be located across the country. As mentioned above, the local collection facility  30  is in communication with the remote uplink facility  16  through a network  32  such as an IP network. The local collection facility  30  is used for collecting signals in a designated marketing area or other area. The channel signals may be received as over-the-air television signals or through a direct local feed such as an optical fiber or wire. For an over-the-air signal, an antenna or plurality of antennas  100  are provided. The antenna channel signals are directed a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules  104 A-E (collectively referred to as  104 ). The number of receiver circuit modules  104  depends upon various design parameters such as how many channels the designated market includes. Various numbers of receiver circuit modules  104  may be provided. 
     In addition to the receiver circuit modules  104 A-E, back-up receiver circuit modules  106 A-E (collectively referred to as  106 ) may also receive the channel signals. Also, a monitor receiver module  108  may be included at the local collection facility  30 . 
     The receiver circuit modules generally  104 ,  106  and  108  include a tuner module  110  and a demodulator module  112 . The receiver circuit module  104  is used to tune and demodulate the over-the-air signals. The tuner  110  may be fixed-tuned to a particular channel or may be adjustable. The receiver circuit modules  104 A-E are suitable for fixed tuning. The monitor receiver circuit module  108  is particularly suited for multi-channel tuning. The receiver circuit modules  104 ,  106 , as will be described below, may be an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) receiver or a National Television System Committee (NTSC) receiver. In ATSC form the receiver receives the ATSC signal and demodulates it into an MPEG2 signal suitable for distribution over an Internet Protocol (IP) connection and thus may be referred to as an IP signal. 
     The monitor receiver module  108  may be in communication with an antenna switch  114 . The antenna switch  114  is in communication with the antennas  100 . The antenna switch  114  may be used to communicate the output of a particular antenna to the monitor receiver decoder  108 . 
     An asynchronous serial interface (ASI) router  120  may also be provided. This is an optional component. The serial interface router  120  may be a high definition serial digital interface router. The router  120  may receive local feeds  118  directly from the local channel providers. The feeds may also be in MPEG2 format. These may be provided through a wire or optical fiber. The router  120  routes the channel signals received from the local feeds  118  to the receiver circuit monitor receiver module  108  where received signals are decoded. 
     The local collection facility  30  may also include a monitoring integrated receiver decoder (MIRD)  140 . The output of the monitoring IRD  140  may be provided to an MIRD encoder  142 . The IRD  140  may also be referred to as a set top box. The monitoring IRD  140  receives downlinked satellite signals and converts these signals to a decoded signal (HD SDI, for example). The MIRD encoder  142  encodes the signals in a format such as IP format or MPEG 2 format. 
     The output of the monitor IRD encoder  142  and the primary receiver may be communicated to a primary IP switch  146 . The output of the monitor IRD encoder  142  and the back-up receiver modules  106  may be communicated to a back-up IP switch  148 . 
     Both IP switches  146 ,  148  route IP signals such as the MPEG2 signals through the IP network  32 . 
     Each of the outputs of the primary receiver modules  104 , back-up receiver modules  106 , the monitoring IRD  140  and the monitoring receiver  108  may be a monitoring source for the monitoring system  230  described below in  FIG. 4 . The monitoring system may be used to monitor and control the primary receivers  104 , the back-up receivers  106 , the antenna switch  114 , the monitoring IRD  140  and the monitoring receiver  106 . By controlling the multicast group, the proper receiver output is routed through the proper switch and is used as the on-air signal. Switching between primary receivers and back-up receivers will be described below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the IP signals received from the primary switch  146  and the back-up IP switch  148  are routed to a primary ATSC decoder  200  and a back-up ATSC decoder  202 . The decoders  200 ,  202  may decode the ATSC signals MPEG2 signals into an ASI or other serial digital interface signal. It should be noted that, although only one is shown, a separate primary ATSC decoder  200  may be provided for each of the receiver circuit modules  104  in each of the local collection facilities  30 . The decoders  200 ,  202  may also be referred to as MPEG decoders. The decoders may be MPEG2 decoders. Thus, each primary receiver  104  may correspond to a primary decoder  200  and a back-up decoder  202 . The output of each decoder  200 ,  202  is in communication with a receive transfer unit  204 . The receive transfer unit  204  may be a high definition receive transfer unit. The receive transfer unit  204  acts as a switch to switch between the primary decoder  200  and the back-up decoder  202 . Switching may be commanded at the monitoring system. One output of the receiver transfer unit  204  may be in communication with a primary encoder  206 . 
     A group of channels may share a back-up encoder  208 . The router  210  is used to route the output of the RTU  204  to the back-up encoder  208 . The RTU output from a plurality of different channels may be provided as an input to the router  210  so that one of the outputs may be selected for the back-up encoder  208 . 
     The output of the primary encoder  206  and the back-up encoder  208  are provided to a primary multiplexer  212  and a back-up multiplexer  214 . The output from a plurality of primary encoders for a plurality of different channels may be provided to the primary multiplexer and the back-up multiplexer  212 ,  214 . The encoders  206 ,  208  may provide the multiplexers signals from various remote local collection facilities. 
     The multiplexers  212 ,  214  are used to generate a multiplexed signal that is communicated to a respective primary advanced transport processing system (ATPS)  218  and a back-up advanced transport processing system (ATPS)  220 . The advanced transport processing systems  218 ,  220  convert the multiplexed signals into an advanced transport stream such as a DIRECTV® A3 transport stream. The ATPSs  218 ,  220  may act as an encryption module for inserting encryption into the transport stream. 
     A primary modulator  222  and a back-up modulator  224  receive the transport stream from the respective primary ATPS  218  or the back-up ATPS  220 . The primary modulator  222  and the back-up modulator  224  modulate the transport stream and generate an RF signal at a frequency such as an L-band frequency. An RF switch  226  may be referred to as an intermediate frequency (IF) switch  226 . The RF switch provides one output signal to the uplink RF system  228 . The uplink signal may then be communicated to the satellite  12  of  FIG. 1 . Should the system not be a satellite system, the signal may be communicated terrestrially through a distribution system in a wired or wireless manner. Several circuits  210 - 226  may be included in a remote facility  16 , each one corresponding to one transponder on the satellite. 
     A monitoring system  230  may be in communication with and monitor and control the decoder  200 ,  202 , the RTU  204 , the router  210  the encoders  206 , 208  and the multiplexers  212 ,  214  for communicating with the various local collection facilities. In addition, the monitoring system  230  may be in communication with the primary ATPS  218 , the back-up ATPS  220 , the primary modulator  222  and the back-up modulator  224 . The monitoring system  230  may be referred to as an advanced broadcast monitoring system  230 . 
     It should be noted that multiple local collection facilities  30  may be coupled to a remote collection facility  16 . 
     The diverse uplink facility or diverse site  42  illustrated in  FIG. 4  may include a primary and back-up ATPS, a modulator and RF switch. The monitoring system  230  may control the signals to the diverse site  42 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the monitoring system  230  of  FIG. 4  is illustrated in further detail. The monitoring system  230  receives signals through the network  32 . As mentioned above, feeds from various uplink systems such as various IF switches  226 , may be provided to an L-band router  300 . An ASI router  302  may be used to route the signals from the local collection facilities to a decoder  304 . The decoder may be an ATSC decoder. Decoder  304  may be optional should the signals already be decoded at the local collection facility. The L-band router  300  may be in communication with a monitor IRD  306 . The output of the monitor IRD  306  and the decoders  304  are provided to a multi-viewer or plurality of multi-viewers  308 . A remote uplink facility monitor router  310  is used to provide signals to the monitor network encoders  312  which in turn provide signals to a monitor feed network  314 . The L-band routers may also provide signals to a demodulator  316 . The output of the demodulator  316  and the monitor network encoders  312  may be provided to the monitor feed network  314 . The monitor feed network  314  may be various types of transmission means used to communicate between the remote uplink facilities  16  and the network operation center  14 . 
     The remote uplink facility  16  may generate monitoring display  350  as well. The monitoring displays  350  may also be used to control the various functions at the local collection facilities. The monitoring displays may be in communication with the monitor router  310 . 
     The network operation center  14  may include an ASI router  330  for the selection of signals from a particular remote uplink facility. The ASI signals may be routed to an ATSC decoder  332  and a monitor IRD  334 . The ATSC decoder  332  may provide the signals to a monitor router  336 . A monitor wall  338  may be used to generate monitoring signals for use at the network operation center. A workstation  340  may also receive the signals from the network operation center monitor router  336 . The ATSC decoders  332  and the monitor IRDs  334  may provide the signals to a quality assurance (QA) room  342 . Screen displays at the monitor wall  338 , the workstation  340  and the quality assurance room  342  are used for monitoring the various remote uplink facilities. The workstation  340  may also be used for control purposes. Signals are provided to the remote uplink facility and ultimately to the local collection facilities should a problem arise with the signals. Ultimately the control signals may be communicated back through the network  32 . 
     The network operation center  14  may also include multiple workstations  340  as well as a large monitor wall  338 . The workstations  340  may have access to various control surfaces that can configure the monitor walls  338  as well as signals fed to the various monitors at the station. 
     Control of the on-air failure recovery devices as well as the monitoring functions for every LCF and RUF are accomplished through control surfaces such as touch screens and keyboards together with a GUI at the workstations  340  in the network operation center  14 . The control surfaces may be application-specific and present the status and control options for various multiple configurations for the application. The quality assurance (QA) room  342  may not have any control functions therein. The monitors  350  may be coupled to the monitor network encoders  315  for displaying various views from the remote uplink facility and the local collection facilities. 
     The decoders  332  may be MPEG decoders since the signal may be in MPEG form when received from the remote uplink facility. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6A , a local collection facility monitor is generated having four local collection facility channels  410 ,  412 ,  414 , and  416 . Each display may also include an under-monitor display  418  used to identify the particular channel signal. The under-monitor displays  418  may display the actual channel number, the station identification or other information and the like. 
     In  FIG. 6B , an uplink monitor is illustrated having an uplink channel one  420 , an uplink channel two  422 , an uplink channel three  424 , and an uplink channel four  426 . An under-monitor display  428  may also be included with each of the displays  420 - 426 . The uplink channels receive the uplink channel signals so that they may be monitored. The uplink channel signals provide an indication as to the uplink channel. Various selections may be made for the particular uplink channels for the particular remote uplink facilities. 
       FIG. 6C  includes an uplink channel signal  440  and a local collection facility IRD signal  442 . The local collection facility IRD signal  442  may be received through the monitoring IRD located at the local collection facility. This is illustrated in  FIG. 3  as reference numeral  140 . The display may also display a channel from the local collection facility, the back-up receiver channel or the local collection facility monitor receiver. Both displays  440  and  442  may include an under-monitor display  450 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and.  7 , a method of operating the system illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is illustrated. It should be noted that several local collection facilities and thus a plurality of primary and back-up receivers may be in communication with the remote facility  16 . The remote facility  16  may ultimately include a plurality of decoders and encoders for each channel and a back-up encoder that is shared by several channels. The encoder outputs may be multiplexed together. 
     Step  510  generates primary receiver signals and back-up receiver signals at a local collection facility or a plurality of local collection facilities. The primary receiver signals and the back-up receiver signals may be received through a tuner that is tuned to the channel signal received through the antenna  100  or through a direct cable connection  118 . In the receiver, the signal may be demodulated in the demodulator  112 . The demodulated signals may be MPEG2 signals that are also IP signals capable of transmission through the IP backhaul  32 . 
     In step  512 , the receiver signals are communicated to the IP switches  146 ,  148 . The primary receivers provide signals to the primary IP switch  146 . The back-up receivers  106  communicate signals through the back-up IP switch  148 . 
     The IP signal, such as the MPEG2 signals, is communicated through the IP backhaul to a primary decoder  200  or a back-up decoder  202 . Each decoder may correspond to a single one of the receivers. The back-up decoders may correspond to one of the back-up receivers. The decoders may be assigned to the multicast group assigned to the corresponding receiver. This may be controlled by the monitoring system. 
     In step  516 , decoded IP signals are formed at the decoder. Both the primary and back-up decoder form decoded signals. The decoded signals are provided to the RTU  204  or switch. The RTU may be controlled to select one of the inputs of the primary decoder  200  or the back-up decoder  202  as its output signal. The output signal of the switch is provided to the primary encoder  206  and to a router  210 . The router  210  may be coupled a plurality of RTU outputs so that the back-up encoder  208  may be used for a plurality of different channel signals. In this example, a 16×1 router is used to potentially route one of 16 signals to the back-up encoder  208  upon a failure. 
     In step  518 , the encoders are encoded into an MPEG4 format or other type Of format. The encoded signals are then provided to the multiplexers  212 ,  214 . A plurality of encoded signals from various channels is multiplexed together in step  520 . 
     After multiplexing, a transport stream is formed in the primary advanced transport processing system and the back-up advanced transport processing system. The transport signals are modulated in the primary modulator  222  and the back-up modulator  224  for the respective primary and back-up transport processing systems. The modulator modulates the signal in step  524 . In step  526 , the IF switch switches between the primary stream or the back-up stream. If errors occur, as determined by the monitoring system  230 , one stream or the other stream may be chosen. 
     In step  526 , uplink signals are formed in an uplink RF system in response to the output of the switch  226 . The modulated signals are communicated through an RF uplink system to a satellite  228 . The system may also be used for non-satellite systems and thus the uplink RF system may provide input to a cable network or an over-the-air system. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a method for controlling the switching from a primary receiver circuit module to a back-up receiver module in a local collection facility from a remote facility is illustrated. In step  610 , the channel to control is chosen at the control location. This channel will be referred to as a first channel or identified channel. The control location may be the network operation center or the remote uplink facility  16 . The channel may be automatically identified by the monitoring system  230 . 
     In step  612 , the primary and back-up multicast group source address in the local collection facility corresponding to the channel identified in step  610  is identified. The multicast group may be formed using Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) version 3. In step  614 , the RTU or switch  204  is identified for the channel in step  610 . The state of the RTU is also determined. That is, which output the RTU is providing is determined. 
     In step  616 , the on-air decoder is identified based on the switch state of the RTU. In step  618 , the on-air multicast group for the decoder is identified. 
     In step  620 , an alternate multicast decoder address in step  618  is determined. This corresponds to the other decoder such as the back-up decoder if the primary is used or the primary decoder if the back-up is used. 
     In step  622 , a thread decoder in the monitoring system is set-up to monitor the identified channel. The thread decoder of the monitoring console is commanded to leave its current multicast group and join the multicast address for the identified channel. The various decoders and routers are set to route the signals to the screen display associated with the console. 
     In step  624 , the thread decoders are tuned according to the thread decoders for the monitoring system are tuned according to the station identification. In step  626 , the monitoring system is used to view the alternate receiver such as the back-up receiver that may be used for the channel. In step  628 , other channels are blocked from using the alternate receiver. In step  630 , if the signals through the alternate receiver are acceptable or not acceptable, then step  632  ends. This may be performed by the operator determining that the signals are not acceptable or automatically by the operator not responding within a certain amount of time from displaying the alternate channel. In step  634 , the process for switching to a back-up channel begins. 
     In step  636 , the primary and back-up decoders are commanded to leave the current multicast group for the channel. In step  638 , the primary and back-up decoder are commanded to join the new multicast group corresponding to the back-up receiver. In step  640 , a verification signal verifying the joining may be generated and communicated to the monitoring system. 
     In step  642 , the monitoring decoders may be identified and commanded to leave the multicast group currently joined. The monitoring decoders may be tuned to the program identification for the local channel source for the selected monitoring system. The alternate receiver, which is now on the air, should be visible in the local collection facility display in the thread monitor (e.g.  442  of  FIG. 6C ). 
     During the process the operator may cancel or revert to the original receiver view in step  644 . Thus, the thread decoder may leave the current multicast group and place the still-on-air signal such as the primary signal back to the monitoring system. 
     Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification and the following claims.