Throttler for rapid start-up of a broadcast automation system

• US 6,437,802 B1
• Filed: 07/14/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NBC Universal Media LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kenny, Kevin Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/352,089
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 345/806, 345/807, 345/716, 345/723, 345/762, 725/50, 725/51, 725/52, 725/53, 725/54
• US Class Current: 715/723
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services

Abstract

A throttler method for rapid start-up for use with broadcast automation systems. A throttler loads an initial playlist while also accepting editing commands. The throttler interleaves these events and commands and generates and modifies the playlist of scheduled events. The throttler sends the events to a broadcast automation system for execution which drives audio and video devices based on the scheduled events, allowing the editing commands to be interleaved with non-editing commands. For unprocessed editing command, a command pair of up to two pieces of information are maintained: one deletion command and one insertion command. Each command, or event, has a unique “event identifier” and is hashed into a rapidly accessible priority queue table, according to urgency.

Claims

1. A throttler used for rapid start-up of a broadcast automation system comprising:

means for loading a playlist containing a schedule of events;

means for accepting a plurality of editing and non-editing commands;

means for interleaving the acceptance of said editing commands with said non-editing commands; and

means for presenting said editing commands and non-editing commands and said playlist to said broadcast automation system, wherein said presenting means presents said editing commands, non-editing commands and playlist in a manner that permits said broadcast automation system to interleave the processing of said editing commands and non-editing commands with execution of the playlist.

2. A throttler as recited in claim 1, wherein said editing commands are either insertion or deletion commands.

3. A throttler as recited in claim 2, wherein each event in the playlist comprises a command pair of no more than one insertion command and no more than one deletion command and a unique event identifier.

4. A throttler as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said command pairs is stored in a rapidly accessible priority queue ordered by urgency of each event in said playlist.

5. A throttler as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said command pairs is addressable by either said event identifier or as a lead element in said priority queue.

6. A throttler as. recited in claim 5, wherein said priority queue allows deletion of a command pair identified by said event identifier anywhere within said priority queue.

7. A throttler as recited in claim 1, wherein said interleaving means comprises:

means for accepting editing commands, and

means for draining commands by mediating delivery of said accepted editing commands to said broadcast automation system.

8. A method for throttling commands for rapid start-up of a broadcast automation system, said method comprising the steps of:

loading a playlist containing a schedule of events;

receiving commands from external interfaces;

determining whether said received commands are editing or non-editing commands;

forwarding non-editing commands to said broadcast automation system;

filling and rescheduling said playlist with said editing commands; and

draining said rescheduled playlist of editing commands to said broadcast automation system in a manner that permits said broadcast automation system to interleave the processing of said editing commands and non-editing commands with execution of the playlist.

9. A method for throttling commands as recited in claim 8, wherein said draining step may interrupt said filling step.

10. A method for throttling commands as recited in claim 8, wherein said filling step or said broadcast automation system enable said draining step.

11. A method for throttling commands as recited in claim 8, wherein said editing commands are either insertion or deletion commands.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein each event in the playlist comprises a command pair of no more than one insertion command and no more than one deletion command and a unique event identifier.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein each of said command pairs is stored in a rapidly accessible priority queue ordered by urgency of each event in said playlist.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein each of said command pairs is addressable by either said event identifier or as a lead element in said priority queue.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said priority queue allows deletion of a command pair identified by said event identifier any where within said priority queue.