System and method for multimedia data validation

• US 8,627,507 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vubiquity Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vubiquity Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Stasi, Christopher, Perdue, Kelly, Stasi, Dom
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORTHY, ARAVIND K
• Application Number:
  US12/409,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 726/30, 726/26, 713/165, 713/168, 380/201, 380/229, 380231-233, 709/201, 709/217, 709/224, 709/229, 725/1, 725/25, 725/63
• US Class Current: 726/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1108 Web based protocols, e.g. webRTC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/266 Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

There is disclosed a media file distribution system and method. An asset management and delivery system and method for the distribution of digital files and data is provided. There are two major functions, with sub-functions within each. The system first serves as a fully automated management system for a company involved in video/file distribution, such as in video on demand (VOD) or other digital file industries. The system can ingest, prepare, schedule, transmit, track and report on any aspect of the business chain. Secondly, it also serves as a product for both content providers and recipients to be able to view, manage and run their entire content offering remotely from anywhere through the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for automated validation of a media file for distribution, the method comprising:

receiving a media file via a communication network for distribution, the media file having an asset type and a set of parameter data values, the set of parameter data values including information relating to at least one of a price of the media file, a file format, a processing requirement, a program guide entry format, values that are specific to each content provider, identification of which entities are allowed to change which parameter fields, interface and delivery specifications, allowable file length, a time format, an ID structure, on-screen guide placement information, and a rating;

validating the media file by comparing the received asset type and set of parameter data values with an expected asset type and expected set of parameter data values stored in a computer, according to one or more requirements specific to the media file, the step of validating producing one or more errors or detecting one or more unexpected values in the asset type and the expected set of parameter data values;

correcting the one or more errors or one or more unexpected values in the asset type and the expected set of parameter data values by applying a rules application to the received media file; and

distributing the validated media file according to the corrected set of parameter data values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication network is the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication network is a satellite link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said media file is for use in a video play back.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said media file is for use in gaming.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transforming the validated media file into a specific format and value, before distribution.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said rules application includes rules for pricing structure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said rules application includes rules for populating certain data fields in the media file according to the asset type.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving a media file comprises receiving the media file by polling.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said polling comprises signaling all the sending points on the communication network to determine if any media file has been input;

and

downloading any media file that has been input.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said validated media file is distributed to a plurality of recipient computers, the method further comprising processing the received validated media file by a recipient computer, according to the corrected set of parameter data values specific to said recipient computer.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising checking receiving status of each of the plurality of recipient computers;

and

changing one or more of the parameter data values according to the receiving status of the recipient computers.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of parameter data values further includes information relating to a transmission protocol.

14. A system for automated validation of a media file for distribution, the system comprising:

a processor, memory accessible by the processor, and computer program instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to perform;

receiving a media file via a communication network for distribution, the media file having an asset type and a set of parameter data values, the set of parameter data values including information relating to at least one of a price of the media file, a file format, a processing requirement, a program guide entry format, values that are specific to each content provider, identification of which entities are allowed to change which parameter fields, interface and delivery specifications, allowable file length, a time format, an ID structure, on-screen guide placement information, and a rating;

validating the media file by comparing the received asset type and set of parameter data values with an expected asset type and expected set of parameter data values stored in a computer, according to one or more requirements specific to the media file, the step of validating producing one or more errors or detecting one or more unexpected values in the asset type and the expected set of parameter data values;

correcting the one or more errors or one or more unexpected values in the asset type and the expected set of parameter data values by applying a rules application to the received media file; and

distributing the validated media file according to the corrected set of parameter data values.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said validated media file is distributed to a plurality of recipient computers and the system further comprises computer program instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to perform:

processing the received validated media file by a recipient computer, according to the corrected set of parameter data values specific to said recipient computer.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising computer program instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to perform:

checking receiving status of each of the plurality of recipient computers; and

changing one or more of the parameter data values according to the receiving status of the recipient computers.

17. A computer program product for automated validation of a media file for distribution, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium and computer program instructions recorded thereon and executable by the processor for:

receiving a media file via a communication network for distribution, the media file having an asset type and a set of parameter data values, the set of parameter data values including information relating to at least one of a price of the media file, a file format, a processing requirement, a program guide entry format, values that are specific to each content provider, identification of which entities are allowed to change which parameter fields, interface and delivery specifications, allowable file length, a time format, an ID structure, on-screen guide placement information, and a rating;

validating the media file by comparing the received asset type and set of parameter data values with an expected asset type and expected set of parameter data values stored in a computer, according to one or more requirements specific to the media file, the step of validating producing one or more errors or detecting one or more unexpected values in the asset type and the expected set of parameter data values;

correcting the one or more errors or one or more unexpected values in the asset type and the expected set of parameter data values by applying a rules application to the received media file; and

distributing the validated media file according to the corrected set of parameter data values.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said validated media file is distributed to a plurality of recipient computers and the computer program product further comprises computer program instructions to perform:

processing the received validated media file by a recipient computer, according to the corrected set of parameter data values specific to said recipient computer.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising computer program instructions to perform:

checking receiving status of each of the plurality of recipient computers; and

changing one or more of the parameter data values according to the receiving status of the recipient computers.