Media package format for submission to a media distribution system

• US 20080040379A1
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Muller, Max, Suitts, Jason Robert, Currey, Jonathan James
• Granted Patent: US 7,827,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate generally to the submission of media content to a media distribution system and the generation of media items from the media content. The media items may include, for example, audio, video, image, or podcast data. In accordance with one embodiment, a package for use in generating a downloadable digital media content asset includes metadata content that describes how the media content in a plurality of data files including media content can be processed to generate a downloadable digital media content asset, where the package includes information identifying the plurality of data files.

Claims

1. A package for use in generating a downloadable digital media content asset, comprising:

metadata content; and

information identifying a plurality of data files, each of the plurality of data files including media content;

wherein the metadata content describes how the media content in the plurality of data files can be processed to generate one or more digital media content assets.

2. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the package includes one or more metadata files including the metadata content, wherein the metadata content identifies one or more of the plurality of data files.

3. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the package further includes the plurality of data files.

4. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of data files include a file including closed captioning information.

5. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content identifies one or more chapters.

6. The package as recited in claim 5, wherein each of the chapters is identified by a title and has a corresponding start time.

7. The package as recited in claim 5, wherein each of the chapters has an image associated therewith, and wherein the plurality of data files include an image file for each image.

8. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content identifies a territory in which the digital media content asset is to be made available.

9. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes one or more ratings associated with the media content, each of the ratings being associated with a different rating system.

10. The package as recited in claim 9, wherein each of the rating systems is associated with a country or region within a country.

11. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes one or more advisories.

12. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content identifies at least one genre in which the media content has been categorized.

13. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of data files include one or more audio files.

14. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of data files include an audio file including surround sound.

15. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of data files include one or more audio files associated with one or more languages in which the media content can be presented.

16. T The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of data files include one or more audio files associated with different soundtracks in the same language, wherein one or more of the different soundtracks can be selected to accompany the media content.

17. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes subtitle information identifying one or more of the plurality of data files including one or more timed text tracks

18. The package as recited in claim 17, wherein the timed text tracks are provided in one or more languages.

19. The package as recited in claim 18, wherein the timed text tracks are in the same language but represent two or more levels of subtitling.

20. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of data files include bonus material.

21. The package as recited in claim 20, wherein the metadata content further indicates whether the bonus material is available to customers who purchase a pre-order.

22. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the media content includes at least one of music, video, a television episode, or a film.

23. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes a series name and an episode production number, wherein the series name identifies a television series, sporting event season or commercial and wherein the episode production number identifies an episode in the series.

24. The package as recited in claim 23, wherein the metadata content further includes a title of the episode.

25. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes a container identifier and a container position, wherein the container identifier identifies a season for a television series or sporting event and wherein the container position identifies an episode within the season.

26. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes a video type.

27. The package as recited in claim 26, wherein the video type is tv and wherein the media content includes a television episode, sporting event, or commercial.

28. The package as recited in claim 26, wherein the video type indicates that the media content is a film.

29. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content identifies a content provider that provided the package.

30. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes an identifier that identifies the media content.

31. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes at least one of a sales start date indicating a date that the digital media content asset is available for sale, a sales end date indicating a date that the digital media content asset is no longer available for sale, or an indication as to whether the media content is cleared for distribution.

32. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes a pre-order sale start date indicating a date on which a pre-order can be submitted for the media content.

33. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the metadata content includes a checksum for one or more of the plurality of data files.

34. A method of providing digital media content, comprising:

obtaining a package including one or more metadata files and identifying a plurality of data files, each of the plurality of data files including media content and the metadata files including metadata content; and

encoding a digital media file using at least a portion of the media content in the plurality of data files according to at least a portion of the metadata content to provide a downloadable digital media content asset.

35. The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a request for digital media content corresponding to the package;

wherein encoding is performed in response to receiving the request.

36. A method of providing digital media content, comprising:

generating a package including one or more metadata files and identifying a plurality of data files, each of the plurality of data files including media content and the metadata files including metadata content; and

submitting the package to a media content distribution system, thereby enabling a digital media file to be encoded using at least a portion of the media content in the plurality of data files according to at least a portion of the metadata content.

37. A computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions for providing digital media content, comprising:

instructions for generating a package including one or more metadata files and identifying a plurality of data files, each of the plurality of data files including media content and the metadata files including metadata content; and

instructions for submitting the package to a media content distribution system, thereby enabling a digital media file to be encoded using at least a portion of the media content in the plurality of data files according to at least a portion of the metadata content.

38. An apparatus for providing digital media content, comprising:

means for generating a package including one or more metadata files and identifying a plurality of data files, each of the plurality of data files including media content and the metadata files including metadata content; and

means for submitting the package to a media content distribution system, thereby enabling a digital media file to be encoded using at least a portion of the media content in the plurality of data files according to at least a portion of the metadata content.

39. An apparatus for providing digital media content, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

generating a package including one or more metadata files and identifying a plurality of data files, each of the plurality of data files including media content and the metadata files including metadata content; and

submitting the package to a media content distribution system, thereby enabling one or more digital media files to be encoded using at least a portion of the media content in the plurality of data files according to at least a portion of the metadata content.