Method, system and computer program product for full news integration and automation in a real time video production environment

• US 20020054244A1
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Snyder, Robert, Hoeppner, Charles, Holtz, Alex, Fres, Gilberto, Tingle, Keith G.
• Application Number:
  US09/822,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054244A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/60 Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client , e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8541 involving branching, e.g. to different story endings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

An automated video production system having full news integration and automation. The automated video production system enables a producer to create a show rundown by selecting news stories for a live or live-to-tape video show. The system supports real time conversion of the show rundown into computer readable broadcast instructions for executing the news program. After the broadcast instructions are created, the director can instruct the system to execute the broadcast instructions in either a fully or semi-automatic mode. The fully integrated and automated video production system periodically monitors and synchronizes the show rundown with the broadcast instructions. After the show has been broadcasted, the broadcast instructions and a video recording of the show is stored for future use. For instance, the broadcast instructions can be retrieved and used in another show. Similarly, the recording of the show can be retrieved and re-broadcasted, for example, over the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for producing a show in a video production environment having at least one processing unit in communications with a plurality of video production devices, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a show rundown comprising a plurality of news story files selected from a story bin; and

(b) converting said show rundown into broadcast instructions formatted for being executed on an automated video production system.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein each of said news story files includes a script formatted for a teleprompting means and graphic effects to be executed on said automated video production means.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(c) monitoring inter-file activity and synchronizing said show rundown with said broadcast instructions.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein said step (c) further comprises the step of:

(i) periodically polling said show rundown to detect inter-file modifications, including changes within said news story file or the addition or deletion of news stories to said show rundown.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein said step (c) further comprises the step of:

(ii) updating said broadcast instructions with said inter-file modifications to implement said synchronization.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein said step (ii) further comprises the step of:

(A) updating only an unexecuted portion of said broadcast instructions.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein said step (ii) further comprises the step of:

(B) adjusting said unexecuted broadcast instructions such that a total execution time for said broadcast instructions does not exceed a predetermined time.

8. A method of claim 3, wherein said step (c) further comprises the step of:

updating said broadcast instructions in real time with inter-file modifications, including changes within said news story file or the addition or deletion of news stories to said show rundown.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising the step associating a broadcast element file with each news story file of said plurality of news story files to link a group of video production commands to each news story file.

10. A method of claim 9, wherein said step (b) further comprises the step of populating a broadcast instructions time sheet with video production icons formatted to instruct the automated video production system to execute video production commands, wherein a group of video production icons is associated with a broadcast element file.

11. A system for producing a show in a video production environment having at least one processing unit in communications with a plurality of video production devices, comprising:

means for receiving a show rundown comprising a plurality of news story files selected from a story bin; and

means for converting said show rundown into broadcast instructions formatted for being executed on an automated video production means.

12. A system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for monitoring inter-file activity and synchronizing said show rundown with said broadcast instructions

14. A computer program product according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third computer readable program code means for monitoring inter-file activity and synchronizing said show rundown with said broadcast instructions.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embedded in said medium for causing an application program to execute on a computer used to produce a show in a video production environment having at least one processing unit in communications with a plurality of video production devices, said computer readable program code means comprising:

a first computer readable program code means for receiving a show rundown comprising a plurality of news story files selected from a story bin; and

a second computer readable program code means for converting said show rundown into broadcast instructions formatted for being executed on an automated video production means.