Compiling system and method for mass producing individually customized media

• US 5,550,735 A
• Filed: 09/23/1994
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Datavision Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Slade, Michael G., LaBatt, Darren J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny Jr., Donald E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tkacs, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US08/311,198
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 360/14.1, 360/55, 360/78.01, 360/78.02, 360/78.03, 369/14, 369/30, 369/33, 369/34, 369/35, 369/83, 369/84, 369/85, 364/281.6, 364/281.8, 364/401, 364/400, 364/402, 358/335, 358/341, 358/342
• US Class Current: 700/99
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals

Abstract

A compiling system which can mass produce individually customized media, such as videotapes in a highly efficient and cost effective manner. High volume production is realized by matrixing synchronized system resources, such as videodisc players, videocassette recorders, and graphic generator units. The resources are managed using a predetermined client/server model of computing over a local area network. The resources are synchronized by supplying all time dependent system nodes with the same time base criteria, which in turn, is also utilized to synchronize non-time dependent resources.

Claims

1. A compiling system for compiling customized information segment sequences from various information segments, comprising:

M number of destination means for receiving Z number of customized information segment sequences, wherein M and Z are at least equal to two;

N number of resource means coupled to said destination means for storing the various information segments to be transmitted to said destination means for forming said customized information segment sequences, each of said resource means stores at least one information segment which is unique to that resource means, wherein N is at least equal to one;

routing means coupled between said resource means and said destination means for enabling said destination means to access said resource means to supply the information segments to said destination means;

processing means coupled to said routing means for storing user information signals indicative of all of said customized information segment sequences to be compiled, each one of said customized information segment sequences being associated with a given sequence time period;

allocating means coupled to said processing means for allocating said resource means to said destination means on a time sharing basis according to said user information signals for enabling each one of said destination means to access the information segments stored on said resource means;

scheduling means coupled to said processing means and said allocating means for generating a schedule for the compilation of each one of said customized information segment sequences on selected ones of said destination means to enable each one of said destination means to receive the information segments from said resource means without interruption in a time ordered manner for compiling a group of customized information segment sequences during a compiling time period, the customized information segment sequence group including P number of said customized information segment sequences, wherein P is at least equal to two and is less than or equal to M number of destination means, and said compiling time period is substantially less than the combined total of individual ones of said sequence time periods for said P number of customized information segment sequences; and

server means coupled to said scheduling means for supplying the information segments to said destination means according to said schedule for compiling said group of customized information segment sequences during a first one of said compiling time periods;

said server means for subsequently supplying the information segments to said destination means according to said schedule for compiling another group of customized information segment sequences during another compiling time period; and

said server means for continuing to supply information segments to said destination means in additional groups of customized information segment sequences during additional compiling time periods until all of said customized information segment sequences have been compiled.

2. A compiling system according to claim 1, further comprising:

Y number of graphic resource means coupled to said routing means for storing graphic information segments, wherein Y is at least one; and

graphic server means responsive to said scheduling means for supplying at least one of said graphic information segments to said destination means for forming said customized information segment sequences.

3. A compiling system according to claim 2, wherein said graphic resource means is a graphic generator.

4. A compiling system according to claim 3, wherein said graphic generator is a graphic work station.

5. A compiling system according to claim 3, wherein said graphic generator produces customized graphic images for videotapes.

6. A compiling system according to claim 2, further comprising scheduling algorithm means for scheduling use of said destination means, said resource means, and said graphic resource means to facilitate the supplying of information segments and graphic information segments to one or more of said destination means for compiling said group of customized information segment sequences, wherein one or more of said customized information segment sequences of said group contain at least one graphic information segment.

7. A compiling system according to claim 1, wherein said routing means includes a routing switcher unit and a routing switcher control unit.

8. A compiling system, according to claim 1, wherein said scheduling means includes a system control client processor.

9. A method of compiling customized information segment sequences from an assortment of information segments, comprising:

using M number of destination means for receiving Z number of customized information Segment sequences, wherein M and Z are at least equal to two;

using N number of resource means coupled to said destination means for storing the assortment of information segments to be transmitted to said destination means for forming said customized information segment sequences, each of said resource means stores at least one information segment which is unique to that resource means, wherein N is at least equal to one;

storing user information signals indicative of all of said customized information segment sequences to be compiled, each of said customized information segment sequences extending over an associated sequence time period and including at least one of the information segments;

allocating said resource means to said destination means on a time sharing basis according to said user information signals for enabling each of said destination means to access the information segments stored on said resource means;

generating a schedule for the compilation of each of said customized information segment sequences on one of said destination means to enable each of said destination means to receive the information segments from said resource means without interruption in a time ordered manner for compiling a group of customized information segment sequences during a compiling time period, said group of customized information segment sequences including P number of said customized information segment sequences wherein P is at least two and is less than or equal to M, and said compiling time period is substantially less than the sum of said sequence time periods for said P number of customized information segment sequences; and

supplying the information segments to said destination means according to said schedule for compiling said group of customized information segment sequences during said compiling time period.

10. A method of compiling according to claim 9, further comprising:

using Y number of graphic resource means for storing graphic information segments, wherein Y is at least one; and

supplying at least one of said graphic information segments to said destination means for forming said customized information segment sequences according to said schedule.

11. A method of compiling customized information segment sequences according to claim 9, further comprising:

subsequently supplying the information segments to said destination means according to said schedule for compiling another group of customized information segment sequences during another compiling time period; and

continuing to subsequently supply information segments to said destination means in additional groups of customized information segment sequences during additional compiling time periods until all of said customized information segment sequences have been compiled.

12. A compiling system, comprising:

a plurality of destination means for receiving a plurality of customized information segment sequences;

a plurality of resource means coupled to said destination means for storing a plurality of information segments to be transmitted to said destination means to form said customized information segment sequences, wherein each of said resource means stores at least one information segment which is unique to that resource means;

routing means coupled between said destination means and said resource means for enabling said destination means to access said resource means to supply individual ones of said information segments stored by said resource means to said destination means in a controlled manner;

network means coupled to said routing means for controlling the supply of said information segments from said resource means to said destination means to enable said customized information segment sequences to be compiled on said destination means;

video report means coupled to said network means for generating user information signals indicative of each of said customized information segment sequences to be compiled to facilitate the allocation of said resource means to said destination means in a time sharing manner, each of said customized information segment sequences extending over an associated sequence time period and including at least one of said information segments;

scheduling means coupled to said network means for generating script information in response to said user information signals to compile each of said customized information segment sequences on one of said destination means to enable each of said destination means to receive the information segments from said resource means without interruption in a time ordered manner for compiling a group of customized information segment sequences during a compiling time period, wherein said compiling time period is substantially less than the sum of each of said sequence time periods for said group of customized information segment sequences;

said network means including server means responsive to said script information for controlling each of said resource means to supply said information segments to said destination means for compiling said group of customized information segment sequences during said compiling time period.

13. A compiling system according to claim 12, wherein said server means includes resource server means for controlling the plurality of resource means.

14. A compiling system according to claim 12, wherein said server means includes a destination device server for controlling the plurality of destination means.

15. A compiling system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a video monitor for receiving output signals from at least one of the plurality of destination means.

16. A compiling system according to claim 12, wherein said scheduling means includes off-line mode means for controlling at least an individual one of the resource means to operate in an off-line mode to permit access to one of the information segments in preparation of supplying said one information segment to a selected one of the destination means when the selected one of the destination means is available to receive said information segment according to said script information without conflict.