Systems, methods, and computer program products for automated real-time execution of live inserts of repurposed stored content distribution, and multiple aspect ratio automated simulcast production

• US 20040070690A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grass Valley Canada (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gvbb Holdings SARL (Vislink Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holtz, Alex, Benson, John R., Todd, Richard, Tingle, Keith Gregory, Couch, William H., Snyder, Robert J., Hoeppner, Charles M., Smith, Maurice, LaRocque, Marcel
• Granted Patent: US 9,123,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/581
• 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 system, method, and computer program product for producing a show. In an embodiment, the invention is directed to 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 (4:3), and that causes the second production path to generate the same show in a second aspect ratio (16:9). In another embodiment, the invention is directed to producing a show from live material and from archived material. This aspect of the invention operates by producing a first show comprising a plurality of stories, segmenting the first show, and storing the show segments in an archive. Then, the invention produces a second show using live portions as well as show segments retrieved from the archive. The invention is also directed to a media manager that interacts with a server. In some cases, the server is 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 production system, comprising:

a first production path;

a second production path; and

a control system that causes said first production path to generate a show in a first aspect ratio, and that causes said second production path to generate said show in a second aspect ratio.

2. The production system of claim 1, wherein said first aspect ratio is a 4:

3 aspect ratio, and said second aspect ratio is a 16;

9 aspect ratio.

3. The production system of claim 1, wherein said first production path comprises first production devices supporting said first aspect ratio, and said second production path comprises second production devices supporting said second aspect ratio.

4. The production system of claim 3, wherein said control system operates according to a script comprising a plurality of transition macros, at least one of said transition macros, when executed, causing said first production path and said second production path to perform a function, said at least one of said transition macros comprising a first set of instructions that, when executed, cause said first production path to perform said function, said at least one of said transition macros comprising a second set of instructions that, when executed, cause said second production path to perform said function.

5. The production system of claim 1, wherein said control system comprises means for controlling said first production path and said second production path to synchronously generate said show in said first aspect ratio and said show in said second aspect ratio.

6. The production system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for simulcasting said show in said first aspect ratio and said show in said second aspect ratio.

7. A method for producing a show, comprising:

(1) producing a first show comprising a plurality of stories;

(2) segmenting said first show;

(3) storing said show segments in an archive; and

(4) producing a second show comprising live portions and one or more of said show segments from said archive.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (3) comprises:

storing in said archive meta data information indicating the beginning, end, and duration of each of said show segments.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (4) comprises:

retrieving said one or more of said show segments from said archive using said meta data information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein step (4) further comprises:

causing a keyer to modify “

bugs”

contained in said retrieved show segments.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein step (4) comprises:

producing said live portions by executing one or more transition macros, each comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed, control production devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (4) further comprises:

adjusting duration of said live portions to conform said second show to its assigned time duration.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

inserting advertisements into said second show.

14. A system for producing a show, comprising:

means for producing a first show comprising a plurality of stories;

means for segmenting said first show;

means for storing said show segments in an archive; and

means for producing a second show comprising live portions and one or more of said show segments from said archive.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said storing means comprises:

means for storing in said archive meta data information indicating the beginning, end, and duration of each of said show segments.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said second show producing means comprises:

means for retrieving said one or more of said show segments from said archive using said meta data information.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said second show producing means further comprises:

means for causing a keyer to modify “

bugs”

contained in said retrieved show segments.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said second show producing means comprises:

means for producing said live portions by executing one or more transition macros, each comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed, control production devices.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said second show producing means further comprises:

means for adjusting duration of said live portions to conform said second show to its assigned time duration.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for inserting advertisements into said second show.

21. A production system, comprising:

a plurality of production devices, including a server;

a media manager; and

a control system that operates according to a script to produce a show, said script including commands that, when executed, cause said production devices to perform functions;

wherein said media manager automatically determines channels of said server to utilize when accessing material in said server in accordance with execution of said commands.