Media build for multi-channel distribution

• US 8,375,416 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNN, MISHAWN N
• Application Number:
  US11/924,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20080101768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 386/239, 386/245, 704/275, 704/277, 725/137, 348/461, 348/468, 348/589, 381/102, 381/104, 381/107, 381/109, 700/94
• US Class Current: 725/137
• 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 normalizing an audio level of multi-media content, the method comprising:

accessing closed captioning data that is related to the multi-media content;

determining one or more locations in the closed captioning data that correspond to one or more instances of spoken dialog in the multi-media content;

accessing an audio portion of the multi-media content;

locating the one or more instances of spoken dialog within the audio portion of the multi-media content based on the one or more locations in the closed captioning data related to the multi-media content; and

for each of the one or more instances of spoken dialog, detecting an actual sound level of the audio portion of the multi-media content based on the located one or more instances of spoken dialog; and

using the detected actual sound levels of the audio portion of the multi-media content to normalize the audio level of the multi-media content during normal playback.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein locating the spoken dialog within the multi-media content is further based on matching a timestamp on the closed captioning data to a timestamp on the multi-media content.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether an indication of an audio level associated with the multi-media content matches the actual sound level of the audio portion of the multi-media content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the indication of the audio level associated with the multi-media content comprises metadata within the multi-media content.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising, in response to determining that the indication of the audio level associated with the multi-media content does not match the actual sound level of the audio portion of the multi-media content, adjusting the actual sound level of the audio portion of the multi-media content.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising, in response to determining that the indication of the audio level associated with the multi-media content does not match the actual sound level of the audio portion of the multi-media content, adjusting the indication of the audio level associated with the multi-media.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising, in response to determining that the indication of the audio level associated with the multi-media content does not match the actual sound level of the audio portion of the multi-media content, determining whether to adjust the actual sound level of the audio portion of the multi-media content or the indication of the audio level associated with the multi-media.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether to adjust the actual sound level of the audio portion of the multi-media content or the indication of the audio level associated with the multi-media is based at least in part on a set of business rules.

9. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored therein a series of instruction which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to normalize an audio level of multi-media content by:

accessing closed captioning data that is related to the multi-media content;

determining one or more locations in the closed captioning data that correspond to one or more instances of spoken dialog in the multi-media content;

accessing an audio portion of the multi-media content;

locating the one or more instances of spoken dialog within the audio portion of the multi-media content based on the one or more locations in the closed captioning data related to the multi-media content; and

for each of the one or more instances of spoken dialog, detecting an actual sound level of the audio portion of the multi-media content based on the located one or more instances of spoken dialog; and

using the detected actual sound levels of the audio portion of the multi-media content to normalize the audio level of the multi-media content during normal playback.

10. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein locating the spoken dialog within the multi-media content is further based on matching a timestamp on the closed captioning data to a timestamp on the multi-media content.

11. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the processor and having stored therein a series of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to

access closed captioning data that is related to the multi-media content;

determine one or more locations in the closed captioning data that correspond to one or more instances of spoken dialog in the multi-media content;

access an audio portion of the multi-media content;

locate the one or more instances of spoken dialog within the audio portion of the multi-media content based on the one or more locations in the closed captioning data related to the multi-media content; and

for each of the one or more instances of spoken dialog, detect an actual sound level of the audio portion of the multi-media content based on the located one or more instances of spoken dialog; and

use the detected actual sound levels of the audio portion of the multi-media content to normalize the audio level of the multi-media content during normal playback.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein locating the spoken dialog within the multi-media content is further based on matching a timestamp on the closed captioning data to a timestamp on the multi-media content.