System and method for providing timing data for programming events

• US 7,337,462 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MeeVee, Inc. (LiveUniverse, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MeeVee, Inc. (LiveUniverse, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hitt, Dale Kittrick, Dudkiewicz, Gil Gavriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Salce; Jason P.
• Application Number:
  US09/992,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20020088009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 725/40, 725/32, 725/136, 725/114, 725/138, 725/144, 725/137, 348/465, 348/468, 348/473, 348/476, 348/722, 707/102
• US Class Current: 725/136
• 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: G06F 16/735 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4661 Deriving a combined profile for a plurality of end-users of the same client, e.g. for family members within a home user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4665 involving classification methods, e.g. Decision trees
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8405 represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 : Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 : Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 : Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A video production facility system may produce closed caption data that includes text data and timing data. The system may receive script data for a video program. The system may then determine identifiers for individual programming events that make up the program. The system may then produce closed caption data for the program. The closed caption data may include text data corresponding to the script data, and timing data provided at locations that correspond to the beginning of each of the programming events. The timing data may comprise an identifier of the corresponding programming event. Further timing data may be provided that marks the ends of programming events, or that marks individual segments within a programming event. Related embodiments may pertain to systems that implement such processing. The closed caption data may be synchronized to a video signal based on the display of corresponding text by a teleprompter system that is used in the production of the video program. Timing data may alternatively be provided within the video signal itself.

Claims

1. A method in a television program production system comprising:

receiving script data and rundown data for a television program prior to broadcast of the television program;

processing the script data and the rundown data to define individual segments of the television program prior to broadcast of the program;

determining identifiers for each of the segments of the television program;

creating closed caption data for the television program from the script data, the closed caption data comprising text data corresponding to said script data, and timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of each of the individual segments of the television program, the timing data that corresponds to a segment comprising an identifier of the corresponding segment; and

transmitting the closed caption data including the timing data to receivers of the television program concurrently with broadcasting of the television program.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said closed caption data further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of each segment.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission of the closed caption data is synchronized with transmission of the individual segments of the television program.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein the transmission of the closed caption data is synchronized to the display of corresponding text by a teleprompter system to a person who appears in the television program as a reader of the text.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising storing the television program and the closed caption data on a machine readable storage medium.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the timing data for a segment comprises an identifier associated with the segment and data indicating an amount of time by which the identifier precedes the beginning of the segment.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the timing data for a segment comprises an identifier associated with the segment that is provided in the closed caption data at a location separated from the beginning of the segment by a predetermined amount of time.

8. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the timing data is encoded as hidden closed caption data.

9. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said timing data is accompanied by a timing data marker.

10. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said timing data is encrypted.

11. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein each segment pertains to a different subject and can stand on its own as a complete or individual viewing experience.

12. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the rundown data comprises a list that specifies the individual pieces that make a program.

13. A program-controlled device for producing a television program, the device comprising a computer readable medium having stored therein programming instructions to cause the device to perform processing comprising:

receiving script data and rundown data for a television program prior to broadcast of the television program;

processing the script data and the rundown data to define individual segments of the television program prior to broadcast of the program;

determining identifiers for each of the segments of the television program; and

creating closed caption data for the television program from the script data, the closed caption data comprising text data corresponding to said script data, and timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of each of the individual segments of the television program, the timing data that corresponds to a segment comprising an identifier of the corresponding segment; and

transmitting the closed caption data including the timing data to receivers of the television program concurrently with broadcasting of the television program.

14. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein said closed caption data further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of each segment.

15. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein the transmission of the closed caption data is synchronized with transmission of the individual segments of the television program.

16. The device claimed in claim 15, wherein the transmission of the closed caption data is synchronized to the display of corresponding text by a teleprompter system to a person who appears in the television program as a reader of the text.

17. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein the processing further comprises storing the television program and the closed caption data on a machine readable storage medium.

18. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein the timing data for a segment comprises an identifier associated with the segment and data indicating an amount of time by which the identifier precedes the beginning of the segment.

19. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein the timing data for a segment comprises an identifier associated with the segment that is provided in the closed caption data at a location separated from the beginning of the segment by a predetermined amount of time.

20. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein the timing data is encoded as hidden closed caption data.

21. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein said timing data is accompanied by a timing data marker.

22. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein said timing data is encrypted.

23. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein each segment pertains to a different subject and can stand on its own as a complete or individual viewing experience.

24. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein the rundown data comprises a list that specifies the individual pieces that make a program.

25. A method in a television program production system comprising:

receiving rundown data for a television program prior to broadcast of the television program;

processing the rundown data to identify individual segments of the television program prior to broadcast of the television program;

determining identifiers for each of the segments of the television program; and

broadcasting a video signal representing the television program, the video signal comprising timing data indicating beginnings of the individual segments of the television program, the timing data comprising an identifier of the corresponding segment.

26. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the timing data is provided at locations in the video signal corresponding to the beginning of each corresponding segment.

27. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein said timing data is provided in vertical blanking intervals of the video signal.

28. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein said timing data is provided in data fields of a digital video signal.

29. The method claimed in claim 25, further comprising storing the video signal including the timing data on a machine readable storage medium.

30. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the timing data for a segment comprises an identifier associated with the segment and data indicating an amount of time by which the identifier precedes the beginning of the segment.

31. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the timing data for a segment comprises an identifier associated with the segment that is inserted into the video signal at a location separated from the beginning of the segment by a predetermined amount of time.

32. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein said timing data is accompanied by a timing data marker.

33. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein said timing data is encrypted.

34. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein each segment pertains to a different subject and can stand on its own as a complete or individual viewing experience.

35. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the rundown data comprises a list that specifies the individual pieces that make a program.

36. A program-controlled device for producing a television program, the device comprising a computer readable medium having stored therein programming instructions to cause the device to perform processing comprising:

receiving rundown data for a television program prior to broadcast of the television program;

processing the rundown data to identify individual segments of the television program prior to broadcast of the television program;

determining identifiers for each of the segments of the television program; and

broadcasting a video signal representing the television program, the video signal comprising timing data indicating beginnings of the individual segments of the television program, the timing data comprising an identifier of the corresponding segment.

37. The device claimed in claim 36, wherein the timing data is provided at locations in the video signal corresponding to the beginning of each corresponding segment.

38. The device claimed in claim 36, wherein said timing data is provided in vertical blanking intervals of the video signal.

39. The device claimed in claim 36, wherein said timing data is provided in data fields of a digital video signal.

40. The device claimed in claim 36, further comprising storing the video signal including the timing data on a machine readable storage medium.

41. The device claimed in claim 36, wherein the timing data for a segment comprises an identifier associated with the segment and data indicating an amount of time by which the identifier precedes the beginning of the segment.

42. The device claimed in claim 36, wherein the timing data for a segment comprises an identifier associated with the segment that is inserted into the video signal at a location separated from the beginning of the segment by a predetermined amount of time.

43. The device claimed in claim 36, wherein said timing data is accompanied by a timing data marker.

44. The device claimed in claim 36, wherein said timing data is encrypted.

45. The device claimed in claim 36, wherein each segment pertains to a different subject and can stand on its own as a complete or individual viewing experience.

46. The device claimed in claim 36, wherein the rundown data comprises a list that specifies the individual pieces that make a program.