Presentation scheduling in digital cinema system

• US 20030048418A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boulder Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Technicolor Digital Cinema, LLC
• Inventors: Olmstead, Roger, Mitrani, Michael, Hose, Jesse
• Granted Patent: US 6,829,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 352/123
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/04 Picture "juke-boxes"

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed allow assigning programs for presentation in a digital cinema system. In one embodiment, a scheduler 180 is implemented to generate a schedule in accordance to which decoding modules 140 control playback of data for presentation in the digital cinema systems. The decoding module 140 may operate in an automatic mode and/or manual mode. In automatic mode, the decoding module 140 controls playback based on the schedule, without user intervention. In manual mode, the decoding module 140 cues the user at the appropriate times to control playback based on the schedule.

Claims

1. In a digital cinema system having at least one storage module and at least one auditorium module, a presentation system comprising:

a theatre manager configured to control presentation; and

a scheduler configured to allow assignment of one playlist for presentation, the scheduler further configured to allow assignment of one or more playlists for presentation by generating a schedule.

2. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler is implemented in the theatre manager.

3. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler is configured to store the schedule in the storage module.

4. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler is configured to send a message indicating a change in the schedule if a change is made in the schedule.

5. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the storage module is configured to store one or more programs and wherein the presentation system further comprises:

a playlist builder coupled to the scheduler, the playlist builder configured to generate at least one playlist based on the programs stored in the storage module.

6. The presentation system of claim 5, wherein the playlist builder is configured to store the playlist in the storage module.

7. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler is configured to verify that the system has resources to present contents of each assigned playlist when generating the schedule.

8. The presentation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a decoding module configured to prepare contents of each assigned playlist for playback.

9. The presentation system of claim 8, wherein the decoding module is configured to verify that the presentation system has resources to present the contents of each assigned playlist.

10. The presentation system of claim 8, wherein the decoding module is configured to check the schedule and control playback of each assigned playlist based on the schedule.

11. The presentation system of claim 8, wherein the decoding modules is configured to check the schedule and cue a user to control playback of each assigned playlist.

12. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler is configured to designate a playlist as a repeating playlist.

13. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler is configured to designate a playlist as an intermission playlist.

14. The presentation system of claim 13, wherein the scheduler is configured to enable or disable the intermission playlist and wherein the intermission playlist is presented between each assigned playlist if the intermission playlist is enabled.

15. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler is configured to assign a predetermined playlist for at least two presentations such that one presentation the predetermined playlist initiates before the completion of another presentation of the predetermined playlist.

16. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler is configured to reserve the auditorium module for a specified period of time.

17. The presentation system of claim 1, wherein the scheduler is configured to generate the schedule by displaying a list of playlists, receiving selection of one or more playlists for presentation and generating the schedule based on the selected one or more playlist.

18. The presentation system of claim 17, wherein the scheduler comprises a user interface configured to receive selection of one or more playlists for presentation.

19. The presentation system of claim 18, wherein the user interface is one of a graphical user interface (GUI), a liquid crystal display, soft keys or video graphic array panel.

20. The presentation system of claim 19, wherein the GUI is configured to provide either one or both a theatre view and a screen view.

21. In a digital cinema system, a method for presentation comprising:

generating a schedule to assign one or more playlists for presentation; and

controlling presentation of the assigned one or more playlists based on the schedule.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

sending a message indicating a change in the schedule if a change is made in the schedule.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

verifying that the digital cinema system has resources to present each assigned playlist when generating the schedule.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein generating the schedule comprises:

designating a playlist as a repeating playlist.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein generating the schedule comprises:

designating a playlist as an intermission playlist.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising either one of:

assigning and presenting the intermission playlist between a predetermined two assigned playlists;

or

presenting the intermission playlist between each assigned playlist.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein generating the schedule comprises:

assigning a predetermined playlist for at least two presentations such that a second presentation of the predetermined playlist begins before the end of a first presentation.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein generating the schedule comprises:

reserving an auditorium module for a specified period of time.

29. In a digital cinema system, a presentation system comprising:

means for assigning a single playlist for presentation; and

means for generating a schedule to assign one or more playlists for presentation.

30. The presentation system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for verifying that the system has resources to present each assigned playlist before presenting each assigned playlist.

31. The presentation system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for sending a message indicating a change in the schedule if a change is made in the schedule.

32. The presentation system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for controlling presentation of each assigned playlist.

33. The presentation system of claim 32, wherein the means for controlling presentation comprises:

means for checking the schedule; and

means for controlling playback of contents of the assigned playlist based on the schedule.

34. The presentation system of claim 32, wherein the means for controlling presentation comprises:

means for checking the schedule; and

means for cueing a user to control playback of contents of the assigned playlist.

35. The presentation system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for designating one of the stored playlist as a repeating playlist.

36. The presentation system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for designating one of the stored playlist as an intermission playlist.

37. The presentation system of claim 36, further comprising:

means for enabling or disabling the intermission playlist; and

means for presenting the intermission playlist between each assigned playlist if the intermission playlist is enabled.

38. In a digital cinema system, a method for generating a schedule comprising:

displaying a list of playlists;

assigning one or more playlists for presentation based on the list; and

generating a schedule based on the one or more assigned playlists.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

verifying that the digital cinema system has resources to present each playlist assigned in the schedule when generating the schedule; and

rejecting assignment of a playlist in the schedule if the digital cinema does not have the resource.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein verifying the resources comprises either one or a combination of:

checking that each image program needed to present each assigned playlist exists;

checking that each audio program needed to present each assigned playlist exists;

checking that no security conflict exists;

checking that no time conflicts are created; and

checking that there is no resource conflicts.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

sending a message that indicates a reason for the rejection.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the schedule comprises either one or a combination of a list of assigned playlist identifications (IDs), times that each assigned playlist is scheduled to be presented, and ID of a decoding module that is to present each assigned playlist.

43. The method of claim 38, further comprising either one or a combination of:

specifying an auditorium module for which each playlist is to be assigned;

specifying a presentation start date of each assigned playlist; and

specifying a presentation end date of each assigned playlist.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

specifying the start time for one day.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

replicating the start time across multiple days, starting on a presentation start date and ending on a presentation end date, if a presentation end date that is later than a presentation start date.

46. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

designating a playlist as a repeating playlist; and

assigning the repeating playlist in the schedule.

47. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

designating a playlist as an intermission playlist.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising either one of:

assigning the intermission playlist in the schedule;

or

presenting the intermission playlist between each assigned playlist in the schedule.

49. In a digital cinema system, a scheduling system for generating a schedule comprising:

means for displaying a list of playlists;

means for assigning one or more playlists for presentation based on the list; and

means for generating a schedule based on the selected one or more playlists.

50. The scheduling system of claim 49, further comprising:

means for verifying that the digital cinema system has resources to present each playlist assigned in the schedule when generating the schedule; and

means for rejecting assignment of a playlist in the schedule if the digital cinema does not have the resource.

51. The scheduling system of claim 50, wherein the means for verifying the resources comprises either one or a combination of:

means for checking that each image program needed to present each assigned playlist exists;

means for checking that each audio program needed to present each assigned playlist exists;

means for checking that no security conflict exists;

means for checking that no time conflicts are created; and

means for checking that there is no resource conflicts.

52. The scheduling system of claim 50, further comprising:

means for sending a message that indicates a reason for the rejection.

53. The scheduling system of claim 49, further comprising either one or a combination of:

means for specifying an auditorium module for which each playlist is to be assigned;

means for specifying a presentation start date of each selected playlist; and

means for specifying a presentation end date of each selected playlist.

54. The scheduling system of claim 53, further comprising:

means for specifying the start time for one day.

55. The scheduling system of claim 54, further comprising:

means for replicating the start time across multiple days, starting on a presentation start date and ending on a presentation end date, if a presentation end date that is later than a presentation start date.

56. The scheduling system of claim 49, further comprising:

means for designating a playlist as a repeating playlist; and

means for assigning the repeating playlist in the schedule.

57. The scheduling system of claim 49, further comprising:

means for designating a playlist as an intermission playlist.

58. The scheduling system of claim 57, further comprising:

means for assigning the intermission playlist in the schedule; and

means for presenting the intermission playlist between each assigned playlist in the schedule.

59. In a digital cinema system, a method for decoding programs for playback comprising:

checking a schedule to determine if there is a schedule entry for presentation, the schedule entry being comprised of one or more programs; and

initiating playback of the schedule entry according to the schedule by appropriately decoding each program of the schedule entry.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein checking the schedule comprises:

determining a next schedule entry for presentation.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein initiating playback comprises:

initiating playback of the next schedule entry according to the time it is scheduled to start.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein determining the next schedule entry comprises:

determining an earliest schedule entry whose start time is equal to or greater than a current time; and

determining the earliest schedule entry as the next schedule entry.

63. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

cueing a user to control the playback of the next schedule entry.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein determining the next schedule entry comprises:

locating a current schedule entry and determining an entry following the current schedule entry to be the next schedule entry; and

otherwise

determining the next schedule entry as the earliest schedule entry whose start time is equal to or greater than a current time.

65. In a digital cinema system, a decoding system for decoding programs comprising:

starting presentation of a currently scheduled playlist from the beginning of the playlist when a start command is received, if the decoding system is in an intermission state;

starting presentation of the currently scheduled playlist from approximately the point the playlist was stopped when a start command is received, if the decoding system is in a paused state;

entering the paused state when a stop command is received before completing the presentation of the playlist; and

entering the intermission state either if a cancel command is received or if the presentation of the playlist is completed.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the decoding system comprises a user interface.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the user interface is one of a graphical user interface (GUI), a liquid crystal display, soft keys or video graphic array panel.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein the user interface comprises either one or a combination of:

a visual indicator that signifies that the decoding system is online,

a visual indicator that signifies that the decoding system is currently processing a playlist, and

a visual indicator that signifies that the decoding system is in the paused state.

69. The system of claim 66, wherein the user interface comprises either one or a combination of:

means for receiving the start command;

means for receiving the pause command; and

means for receiving the cancel command.

70. The system of claim 65, further comprising a theatre manager, wherein the theatre manager comprises a user interface.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the user interface is one of a graphical user interface (GUI), a liquid crystal display, soft keys or video graphic array panel.

72. The system of claim 70, wherein the user interface comprises either one or a combination of:

a visual indicator that signifies that the decoding system is online;

a visual indicator that signifies that the decoding system is currently processing a playlist; and

a visual indicator that signifies that the decoding system is in the paused state.

73. The system of claim 70, wherein the user interface comprises either one or a combination of:

means for receiving the start command;

means for receiving the pause command; and

means for receiving the cancel command.