Broadcast management system

• US 8,606,073 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Woodman, Nicholas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shibru, Helen
• Application Number:
  US13/104,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20110280540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 386/223, 386234-236, 386/354
• US Class Current: 386/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• 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 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

A broadcast management system creates, manages, and streams a broadcast of an event from videos captured from multiple cameras. A video capture system comprising multiple cameras captures videos of the event and transmits the videos to a broadcast management server. The broadcast management server generates a website or other graphical interface that simultaneously displays the captured videos in a time-synchronized manner. A broadcast manager user creates a broadcast by selecting which video to output to the broadcast at any given time. A broadcast map is stored for each broadcast that includes all of the broadcast decisions made by the broadcast manager user such that the broadcast can be recreated at a later time by applying the broadcast map to the raw videos. Using a viewer client, viewers can browse or search for broadcasts and select a broadcast for viewing.

Claims

1. A method for managing a media broadcast, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of videos comprising at least a first video and a second video;

generating a broadcast management interface for display to a broadcast manager user at a broadcast management client, the broadcast management interface allowing the broadcast manager user to produce a broadcast, and the broadcast management interface comprising a first stream window for playing the first video and a second stream window for playing the second video concurrently with the first video, wherein playing of the first and second videos are synchronized with respect to a universal clock; and

generating, by a processing device, a broadcast map comprising a sequence of entries, the entries characterizing the broadcast such that the broadcast can subsequently be recreated by applying the broadcast map to the plurality of videos, wherein generating the broadcast map comprises;

responsive to receiving a first selection of the first stream window while the first video is playing, creating a first entry in the broadcast map, the first entry comprising an identifier for the first video and a selection time indicating an elapsed time into the broadcast when the first selection occurred; and

responsive to receiving a second selection of the second stream window while the second video is playing, creating a second entry in the broadcast map, the second entry comprising an identifier for the second video and a selection time indicating an elapsed time into the broadcast when the second selection occurred.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an audio voiceover stream concurrently with playing the first and second videos; and

storing the audio voiceover stream in association with the broadcast map.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the plurality of videos comprises receiving the plurality of videos live as the plurality of videos are being captured.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the plurality of videos comprises receiving complete video files subsequent to the plurality of videos being captured.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

pre-processing the plurality of videos prior to generating the interface, wherein pre-processing comprises generating a sequence of video load instructions, each video load instruction indicating a replay start time to load each video in the plurality of videos and a stream window in which to display each video in the plurality of videos.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

extracting from a video file in the plurality of videos, a timestamp indicative of a capture start time of the video file relative to the universal clock;

extracting from the video file, an identifier of a camera used to capture the video file;

generating a video load instruction indicating a load time for the video file and a stream window in which to load the video file, wherein the load time is based on the extracted capture start time, and the stream window is associated with the camera used to capture the video file.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entry further includes a start frame indicating a frame in the first video being displayed when the first selection occurred.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entry further includes a start time indicating an elapsed time into the first video when the first selection occurred.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable program instructions for managing a media broadcast, the program instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform steps of:

receiving, at a broadcast management system, a plurality of videos comprising at least a first video and a second video;

generating a broadcast management interface for display to a broadcast manager user at a broadcast management client, the broadcast management interface allowing the broadcast manager user to produce a broadcast, and the broadcast management interface comprising a first stream window for playing the first video and a second stream window for playing the second video concurrently with the first video, wherein playing of the first and second videos are synchronized with respect to a universal clock; and

generating a broadcast map comprising a sequence of entries, the entries characterizing the broadcast such that the broadcast can subsequently be recreated by applying the broadcast map to the plurality of videos, wherein generating the broadcast map comprises;

responsive to receiving a first selection of the first stream window while the first video is playing, creating a first entry in the broadcast map, the first entry comprising an identifier for the first video and a selection time indicating an elapsed time into the broadcast when the first selection occurred; and

responsive to receiving a second selection of the second stream window while the second video is playing, creating a second entry in the broadcast map, the second entry comprising an identifier for the second video and a selection time indicating an elapsed time into the broadcast when the second selection occurred.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to perform steps of:

receiving an audio voiceover stream concurrently with playing the first and second videos; and

storing the audio voiceover stream in association with the broadcast map.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein receiving the plurality of videos comprises receiving the plurality of videos live as the plurality of videos are being captured.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein receiving the plurality of videos comprises receiving complete video files subsequent to the plurality of videos being captured.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to perform steps of:

pre-processing the plurality of videos prior to generating the interface, wherein pre-processing comprises generating a sequence of video load instructions, each video load instruction indicating a replay start time to load each video in the plurality of videos and a stream window in which to display each video in the plurality of videos.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to perform steps of:

extracting from a video file in the plurality of videos, a timestamp indicative of a capture start time of the video file relative to the universal clock;

extracting from the video file, an identifier of a camera used to capture the video file;

generating a video load instruction indicating a load time for the video file and a stream window in which to load the video file, wherein the load time is based on the extracted capture start time, and the stream window is associated with the camera used to capture the video file.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the first entry further includes a start frame indicating a frame in the first video being displayed when the first selection occurred.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the first entry further includes a start time indicating an elapsed time into the first video when the first selection occurred.