MEDIA BUILD FOR MULTI-CHANNEL DISTRIBUTION

• US 20130208182A1
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Inventors: SMITH, STEPHEN DAVID, PORTER, JAMES, MILIUS, RAY
• Granted Patent: US 10,097,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/441
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/01 Conversion of standards , e.g. involving analogue television standards or digital television standards processed at pixel level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8211 the additional signal being a sound signal H04N9/835 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8244 involving the use of subcodes

Abstract

According to one embodiment, methods and systems are disclosed for converting multi-media content to multiple deliverable formats using a conversion workflow. For example, a single source content file can be captured and a plurality of deliverable content files can be derived from the single source content file. Each of the plurality of deliverable content files can be in a format specific to a different distribution channel. That is, a single source media file can be used to automatically build one or more distribution files for a particular channel or channels. Furthermore, the distribution files can be built including logos, branding, open/close graphics, ratings, promo material, etc. The inclusion of these elements can be based on a common set of business rules defining, for example, what elements should be included in different types of distribution files.

Claims

1. A method of converting multi-media content to multiple deliverable formats using a conversion workflow, the method comprising:

capturing a single source content file; and

deriving a plurality of deliverable content files from the single source content file based on the conversion workflow, wherein each of the plurality of deliverable content files is in a format specific to a different distribution channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the single source content file further comprises:

identifying one or more sub-assets within the single source content file based on the conversion workflow;

extracting the one or more sub-assets; and

saving the one or more sub-assets as individual constituent parts of the single source content file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein deriving the plurality of deliverable content files from the single source content file comprises deriving the plurality of deliverable content files from the individual constituent parts of the single source content file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein deriving the plurality of deliverable content files is based at least in part on a set of business rules defined by the conversion workflow.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein deriving the plurality of deliverable content files comprises trans-coding content from the source content file to the format specific the different distribution channels.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein deriving the plurality of deliverable content files comprises adding one or more graphics to the deliverable content files based on the business rules.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein deriving the plurality of deliverable content files comprises adding branding information to the deliverable content files based on the business rules.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein deriving the plurality of deliverable content files comprises adding rating information to the deliverable content files based on the business rules.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein deriving the plurality of deliverable content files comprises adding content elements to the deliverable content files based on the business rules.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the content elements include closed captioning information.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the content elements include an alternative language soundtrack.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the content elements include digital rights management information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising saving the deliverable content files in a content repository.

14. A machine-readable medium having stored therein a series of instruction which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to converting multi-media content to multiple deliverable formats by:

capturing a single source content file; and

deriving a plurality of deliverable content files from the single source content file based on the conversion workflow, wherein each of the plurality of deliverable content files is in a format specific to a different distribution channel.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein capturing the single source content file further comprises:

identifying one or more sub-assets within the single source content file based on the conversion workflow;

extracting the one or more sub-assets; and

saving the one or more sub-assets as individual constituent parts of the single source content file.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein deriving the plurality of deliverable content files from the single source content file comprises deriving the plurality of deliverable content files from the individual constituent parts of the single source content file.

17. A system comprising:

a source content file repository; and

a deliverable content generation module communicatively coupled with the source content file repository and executing a common conversion workflow, wherein the common conversion workflow causes the deliverable content generation module to capture a single source content file and deriving a plurality of deliverable content files from the single source content file, wherein each of the plurality of deliverable content files is in a format specific to a different distribution channel.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the common conversion workflow causes the deliverable content generation module to capture the single source content file by identifying one or more sub-assets within the single source content file, extract the one or more sub-assets, and save the one or more sub-assets in the source content file repository as individual constituent parts of the single source content file.