Systems, methods, and computer program products for multiple aspect ratio automated simulcast production

• US 10,360,944 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2018
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grass Valley Canada (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gvbb Holdings SARL (Vislink Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holtz, Alex, Snyder, Robert J., Benson, John R., Couch, William H., Larocque, Marcel, Hoeppner, Charles M., Tingle, Keith Gregory, Todd, Richard, Smith, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Eileen M
• Application Number:
  US16/105,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20180358051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234372 for performing aspect ratio conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440272 for performing aspect ratio conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching

Abstract

A production system having a first production path, a second production path, and a control system that causes the first production path to generate a show in a first aspect ratio and the second production path to generate the same show in a second aspect ratio. Moreover, the product system can product a show from live material and from archived material. This aspect operates by producing a first show including multiple stories, segmenting the first show, and storing the show segments in an archive. Then, the system produces a second show using live portions as well as show segments retrieved from the archive. The product system can include a media manager that interacts with a server that may be integrated with the production system. The media manager automatically assigns channels/ports of the server when accessing material stored in the server.

Claims

1. A media production and distribution system for generating video content for playout in multiple aspect ratios, the production system comprising:

a media content generator configured to generate a first media content segment configured for media consumption and playout in a first aspect ratio;

a media content format converter configured to automatically crop the first media content segment to create a second media content segment configured for media consumption and playout in a second aspect ratio different than the first aspect ratio;

a media effect controller configured to independently adjust a first transition effect of the first media content segment based on the first aspect ratio and a second transition effect of the second media content based on the second aspect ratio;

a first production channel and a second production channel different from the first production channel; and

a media content manager configured to transmit the first media content segment over a first distribution channel for consumption and playout on a first media consumption device in the first aspect ratio and to transmit the second media content segment over a second distribution channel for consumption and playout on a second media consumption device in the second aspect ratio,

wherein the media content generator is configured to control the first production channel to produce the first media content segment in the first aspect ratio, and to control the second production channel to produce the second media content segment in the second aspect ratio,

wherein each of the first and second transition effects comprises at least one of a cut transition, a fade transition, and a wipe transition based on the first and second aspect ratios, respectively, and

wherein the first aspect ratio is one of a 4;

3 aspect ratio and a 16;

9 aspect ratio and the second aspect ratio is the other of the 4;

3 aspect ratio and the 16;

9 aspect ratio.

2. The media production and distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the media content manager comprises a server including a processor configured to select respective first and second ports of a plurality of ports for transmitting the first and second media content segments over the first and second distribution channels, respectively.

3. The media production and distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the processor comprises a hardware processor that, when executes software, configures the media content format converter to automatically crop the first media content segment to create the second media content segment.

4. The media production and distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the media content manager is configured to simulcast the first and second media content segments over the first and the second distribution channels, respectively.

5. The media production and distribution system according to claim 4, wherein the media content manager is configured to align outputs of the first and second media content segments when simulcast over the first and the second distribution channels, respectively.

6. The media production and distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the media effect controller is configured to generate a user interface configured to receive an insertion of a transition macro into a script and to perform a function associated with the transition macro in generating the first media content segment in the first aspect ratio and the second media content segment in the second aspect ratio.

7. A media production and distribution system for generating video content for playout in multiple aspect ratios, the production system comprising:

a media content generator configured to generate a first media content segment configured for media consumption and playout in a first aspect ratio;

a media content format converter configured to automatically crop the first media content segment to create a second media content segment configured for media consumption and playout in a second aspect ratio different than the first aspect ratio; and

a media content manager configured to transmit the first media content segment over a first distribution channel for consumption and playout on a first media consumption device in the first aspect ratio and to transmit the second media content segment over a second distribution channel for consumption and playout on a second media consumption device in the second aspect ratio.

8. The media production and distribution system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a first production channel and a second production channel different from the first production channel,

wherein the media content generator is configured to control the first production channel to produce the first media content segment in the first aspect ratio, and to control the second production channel to produce the second media content segment in the second aspect ratio.

9. The media production and distribution system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a media effect controller configured to independently adjust a first transition effect of the first media content segment based on the first aspect ratio and a second transition effect of the second media content based on the second aspect ratio,

wherein each of the first and second transition effects comprises at least one of a cut transition, a fade transition, and a wipe transition based on the first and second aspect ratios, respectively.

10. The media production and distribution system according to claim 9, wherein the media effect controller is configured to generate a user interface configured to receive an insertion of a transition macro into a script and to perform a function associated with the transition macro in generating the first media content segment in the first aspect ratio and the second media content segment in the second aspect ratio.

11. The media production and distribution system according to claim 7, wherein the media content manager comprises a server including a processor configured to select respective first and second ports of a plurality of ports for transmitting the first and second media content segments over the first and second distribution channels, respectively.

12. The media production and distribution system according to claim 11, wherein the processor comprises a hardware processor that, when executes software, configures the media content format converter to automatically crop the first media content segment to create the second media content segment.

13. The media production and distribution system according to claim 7, wherein the media content manager is configured to simulcast the first and second media content segments over the first and the second distribution channels, respectively.

14. The media production and distribution system according to claim 13, wherein the media content manager is configured to align outputs of the first and second media content segments when simulcast over the first and the second distribution channels, respectively.

15. The media production and distribution system according to claim 7, wherein the first aspect ratio is one of a 4:

3 aspect ratio and a 16;

9 aspect ratio and the second aspect ratio is the other of the 4;

3 aspect ratio and the 16;

9 aspect ratio.

16. A media production and distribution system for generating video content for playout in multiple aspect ratios, the production system comprising:

a media content format converter configured to automatically convert at least one media content segment from a first production format in a first aspect ratio to a second production format in a second aspect ratio different than the first aspect ratio; and

a media content manager configured to transmit the at least one media content segment in the first production format over a first distribution channel for consumption and playout on a first media consumption device in the first aspect ratio and to transmit the at least one media content segment in the second production format over a second distribution channel for consumption and playout on a second media consumption device in the second aspect ratio.

17. The media production and distribution system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a first production channel and a second production channel different from the first production channel,

wherein the media content format converter includes a media content generator configured to control the first production channel to produce the at least one media content segment in the first production format, and to control the second production channel to produce the at least one media content segment in the second production format.

18. The media production and distribution system according to claim 16, wherein the media content format converter is configured to crop the at least one media content segment in the first production format to create the at least one media content segment in the second production format configured for media consumption and playout in the second aspect ratio.

19. The media production and distribution system according to claim 18, wherein the first aspect ratio is one of a 4:

3 aspect ratio and a 16;

9 aspect ratio and the second aspect ratio is the other of the 4;

3 aspect ratio and the 16;

9 aspect ratio.

20. The media production and distribution system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a media effect controller configured to independently adjust a first transition effect of the at least one media content segment in the first production format based on the first aspect ratio and a second transition effect of the at least one media content in the second production format based on the second aspect ratio,

wherein each of the first and second transition effects comprises at least one of a cut transition, a fade transition, and a wipe transition based on the first and second aspect ratios, respectively.

21. The media production and distribution system according to claim 20, wherein the media effect controller is configured by a plurality of transition macros, with the plurality of transition macros comprising a first set of instructions for causing a first production path to perform a first function based on the first aspect ratio, and a second set of instructions for causing a second production path to perform a second function based on the second aspect ratio, the first production path being different from the second production path.

22. The media production and distribution system according to claim 20, wherein the media effect controller is configured to generate a user interface configured to receive an insertion of a transition macro into a script and to perform a function associated with the transition macro in generating the at least one media content segment in the first production format and the at least one media content segment in the second production format.

23. The media production and distribution system according to claim 16, wherein the media content manager comprises a server including a processor configured to select respective first and second ports of a plurality of ports for transmitting the at least one media content segments in the first and second production formats over the first and second distribution channels, respectively.

24. The media production and distribution system according to claim 23, wherein the processor comprises a hardware processor that, when executes software, configures the media content format converter to automatically crop the first media content segment to create the second media content segment.

25. The media production and distribution system according to claim 16, wherein the media content manager is configured to simulcast the at least one media content segment in the first and second production formats over the first and the second distribution channels, respectively.

26. The media production and distribution system according to claim 25, wherein the media content manager is configured to align outputs of the respective at least one media content segment when simulcast over the first and the second distribution channels, respectively.