Method and system for managing multimedia assets for proper deployment on interactive networks

• US 5,748,956 A
• Filed: 01/13/1995
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Hill Technology Counsel, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Michael D., Lafer, John P., Faust, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US08/372,157
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/619, 395/616, 395/615, 395/200.08, 395/200.19, 364/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method is disclosed for automatically managing multimedia assets for use in a multimedia application. The method includes the step of storing a plurality of multimedia asset data files in the system memory. Next, the method includes automatically categorizing the multimedia asset data files. The method further includes the step of storing identifying information associated with each multimedia asset data file. The method concludes with the step of generating a set of multimedia application asset files based on the steps of categorizing and storing. A system is also disclosed for implementing the steps of the method.

Claims

1. In an application development computer system, a method for automatically managing multimedia assets for use in a multimedia application requiring compatible versions of the multimedia assets for proper deployment on different installation platforms, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of multimedia asset data files, wherein the plurality of multimedia asset data files include asset concepts, asset comparables, and asset instances;

automatically categorizing each one of the plurality of multimedia asset data files as an asset concept, an asset comparable, or an asset instance;

assigning an asset concept identifier which includes a unique identifier and a concept description to each asset concept;

assigning an asset comparable identifier which includes a unique identifier and a concept variation description to each asset comparable;

assigning an asset instance identifier which includes a unique identifier, the associated asset concept identifier, and the associated asset comparable identifier to each asset instance;

storing identifying information including the asset concept identifiers, the asset comparable identifiers, and the asset instance identifiers associated with each one of the plurality of multimedia asset data files; and

generating from the plurality of multimedia asset data files a set of multimedia application asset files compatible for proper use in a multimedia application deployed on an installation platform based on the identifying information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein storing identifying information includes:

prompting a user for asset information for at least one of the plurality of multimedia asset data files;

receiving the asset information; and

storing the asset information with the identifying information associated with the at least one of the plurality of multimedia asset data files.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the asset information includes:

an asset source field;

an asset copyright field; and

an asset format field.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein storing identifying information includes:

determining a project number;

determining a version number; and

determining an installation platform.

5. In an application development computer system, a system for automatically managing multimedia assets for use in a multimedia application requiring compatible versions of the multimedia assets for proper deployment on different installation platforms, the system comprising:

a memory for storing a plurality of multimedia asset data files, wherein the plurality of multimedia asset data files include asset concepts, asset comparables, and asset instances; and

a processor operable with the memory for automatically categorizing each one of the plurality of multimedia asset data files as an asset concept, an asset comparable, or an asset instance, the processor being further operable to assign an asset concept identifier which includes a unique identifier and a concept description to each asset concept, an asset comparable identifier which includes a unique identifier and a concept variation description to each asset comparable, and an asset instance identifier which includes a unique identifier, the associated asset concept identifier, and the associated asset comparable identifier to each asset instance;

wherein said memory stores identifying information including the asset concept identifiers, the asset comparable identifiers, and the asset instance identifiers associated with each one of the plurality of multimedia asset data files and said processor generates from the plurality of multimedia asset data files which are stored in the memory a set of multimedia application asset files compatible for use in a multimedia application deployed on an installation platform based on the identifying information.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising an output device operable with the processor

for prompting a user for asset information for at least one of the plurality of multimedia asset data files, and an input device operable with the processor for receiving the asset information and

for storing the asset information in the memory with the identifying information associated with the at least one of the plurality of multimedia asset data files.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the asset information includes:

an asset source field;

an asset copyright field; and

an asset format field.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the processor is further operable

for determining a project number,

a version number, and

an installation platform.