Method and system for converting content into multiple formats

• US 9,003,465 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wasden, Mitchell B., Basse, Hanno, Sue, Ranny Q., Jacobs, Mitch C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MONTOYA, OSCHTA I
• Application Number:
  US12/150,153
• Time in Patent Office: 2,538 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14

Abstract

A communication system 10 includes a content processing system 12 and a distribution system 14. The content processing system 12 receives content and stores the content in a first file format in the content repository 40. A workflow system 54 determines a target for the content and routes the content to a content converter 64 corresponding to the target. The content converter 60 converts the content and forms a second file in a second format different than the first format. The content repository 40 stores the second file therein.

Claims

1. A method of forming a content signal comprising:

receiving content;

storing the content in a first format as a first file in a first folder in a content repository;

determining a target for the first file;

communicating the targets and a material identifier to a work flow system;

associating the material identifier with the first file in the first folder of the content repository;

copying the first file to the workflow system;

communicating the first file to a plurality of content converters in response to the targets;

converting the content at the plurality of converters and forming a plurality of converted files in formats different than the first format;

storing the plurality of converted files in a second folder of the content repository;

copying the plurality of converted files to an analyzer tool to form copied files;

analyzing the copied files in the analyzer tool;

when no errors are detected in the analyzer tool, communicating an availability signal to the work flow system;

copying the converted files to a third folder of the content repository in response to the availability signal.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving content comprises receiving at least one of a tape, DVD, compressed file from a satellite receiver or a file from a telephone line.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein analyzing the copied files comprises analyzing if the copied files are valid.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising after analyzing the copied files, generating a report.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising communicating the report to the work flow system.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising when the report is positive, reprocessing the first file.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 prior to storing the content in the content repository, editing the content.

8. A system comprising:

a receiving system receiving content;

a content repository storing the content in a first format as a first file in a first folder;

a work flow system determining targets and a material identifier for the first file and copying the first file to a plurality of content converters corresponding to the targets; and

a plurality of content converters converting the content and forming a plurality of converted files in formats different than the first format;

said content repository storing the converted files in a second folder therein;

an analyzer tool copying the converted files from the content repository to form copied files and communicating an availability signal to the work flow system when no errors are detected;

said work flow system copying the converted files to a third folder of the content repository in response to the availability signal.

9. A system as recited in claim 8 further comprising a distribution system coupled to the content repository for distributing at least one of the converted files to a user.

10. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein the distribution system comprises a transmission system.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the transmission system comprises broadband cable.

12. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the transmission system comprises a satellite system.

13. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the transmission system comprises broadband cable and a satellite system.

14. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the content converter comprises a decoder and an encoder.

15. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the content converter comprises a bitstream converter.

16. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the receiving system comprises at least one of a satellite receiving system, a tape based receiving system, a video disk receiving system and a terrestrial communication receiving system.