METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED TRANSITION BETWEEN ALTERNATING INDIVIDUAL AND COMMON CHANNEL PROGRAMMING VIA SYNCHRONIZED PLAYISTS
First Claim
1. A method for individual channel playlists synchronization, comprising:
- compiling respective content portions for individual channels to cause endpoints of the respective playlists of said individual channels to attempt to reach a desired synchronization point;
selecting the endpoint of an individual channel playlist compilation as an actual synchronization point for the respective individual channel playlists; and
adding respective filler content portions to the individual channel playlist compilations to cause the respective playlists of said individual channels to end at said actual synchronization point.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system for a synchronized playlist calculation, which is used to calculate playlists and filler media for seamless transitions during the alternation of individual and common channel programming. In various embodiments of the present invention, an optimum switching (synchronization) point is determined for the individual channels. Subsequently, channels not having a termination/end point consistent with the determined switching point are padded with respective filler content (media) to coordinate the termination points of the channels to be synchronized. The amount of filler content needed for each channel is determined respectively for a channel. Similarly, a switching (synchronization) point is determined for the common channel to provide accurate transitions.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for individual channel playlists synchronization, comprising:
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compiling respective content portions for individual channels to cause endpoints of the respective playlists of said individual channels to attempt to reach a desired synchronization point; selecting the endpoint of an individual channel playlist compilation as an actual synchronization point for the respective individual channel playlists; and adding respective filler content portions to the individual channel playlist compilations to cause the respective playlists of said individual channels to end at said actual synchronization point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for common channel playlist synchronization, comprising:
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compiling content portions of a common channel to cause an endpoint of the playlist compilation of said common channel to attempt to reach a desired synchronization point; and selecting as a length for the playlist of said common channel a compilation of said content portions that ends at a point closest to said desired synchronization point. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for synchronizing alternating individual and common channel playlists, comprising:
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for individual channels, compiling respective content portions for individual channels to cause endpoints of the respective playlists of said individual channels to attempt to reach a desired synchronization point for the playlists of said individual channels; selecting the endpoint of an individual channel playlist compilation as an actual synchronization point for the playlists of said individual channels; and adding respective filler content portions to the individual channel playlist compilations to cause the respective playlists of said individual channels to end at said actual synchronization point; for a subsequent common channel, starting said common channel playlist at the actual synchronization point for the playlists of said individual channels; compiling content portions of said common channel to cause an endpoint of the playlist compilation of said common channel to attempt to reach a desired synchronization point for the playlist of said common channel; and selecting as a length for the playlist of said common channel a compilation of said content portions that ends at a point closest to said desired synchronization point for the playlist of said common channel; and for subsequent individual channels, starting said individual channel playlists at the selected actual synchronization point of said common channel playlist. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for synchronizing respective individual channel playlists and a common channel playlist, comprising:
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at least one content source for providing individual channel content, filler content and at least one common channel content; and a controller including a memory for storing at least information regarding the individual channel content, filler content, common channel content and program instructions, and a processor for executing said program instructions, the controller adapted to perform the steps of; for individual channels, compiling respective content portions for individual channels to cause endpoints of the respective playlists of said individual channels to attempt to reach a desired synchronization point for the playlists of said individual channels; selecting the endpoint of an individual channel playlist compilation as an actual synchronization point for the playlists of said individual channels; and adding respective filler content portions to the individual channel playlist compilations to cause the respective playlists of said individual channels to end at said actual synchronization point; for a subsequent common channel, starting said common channel playlist at the actual synchronization point for the playlists of said individual channels; compiling content portions of said common channel to cause an endpoint of the playlist compilation of said common channel to attempt to reach a desired synchronization point for the playlist of said common channel; and selecting as a length for the playlist of said common channel a compilation of said content portions that ends at a point closest to said desired synchronization point for the playlist of said common channel; and for subsequent individual channels, starting said individual channel playlists at the selected actual synchronization point of said common channel playlist. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification