Systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-overlay DVE

• US 9,560,424 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tribune Broadcasting Company Incorporated (Nexstar Media Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tribune Broadcasting Company Incorporated (Nexstar Media Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hundemer, Hank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chokshi, Pinkal R
• Application Number:
  US14/724,469
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-overlay digital video effect (DVE). In one aspect, a method involves (i) selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-overlay DVE stored in the stunt switcher, and to a start time; (ii) selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a video component (VC) and the start time; (iii) causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; (iv) making a determination that a threshold time-period has passed since the start time; and (v) responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE, thereby overlaying a bug on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.

Claims

1. A method for use in a television-broadcasting system having an automation system and a stunt switcher, the method comprising:

the automation system selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log that defines a television-broadcast schedule, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-overlay digital video effect (DVE) and to a start time, and wherein a duration field of the first log-entry includes a zero duration value;

the automation system selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a video component (VC) and to the start time, and wherein a duration field of the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration value;

the automation system causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time;

the automation system making a determination that a threshold time-period has passed since the start time; and

responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, the automation system causing the stunt switcher to run the bug-overlay DVE, thereby overlaying a bug on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a start-time field of the first log-entry includes the start time, and wherein a start-time field of the second log-entry includes the start time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second log-entry is a next log entry after the first log-entry to have the non-zero duration value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first log-entry includes the start time represented as an absolute start time, and wherein the second log-entry includes the start time represented as the absolute start time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the VC is a show-segment VC.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first log-entry includes a house-identifier field and an identifier stored in the house-identifier field, wherein the identifier maps to a set of program instructions that when executed, cause performance of the functions of (i) making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, and (ii) responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE, thereby overlaying the bug on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher;

and wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining that the first log-entry includes the identifier, executing the set of program instructions.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the set of program instructions comprises a set of PHP-Hypertext-Preprocessor (PHP) scripts.

8. A method for use in a television-broadcasting system having an automation system and a stunt switcher, the method comprising:

the automation system selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log that defines a television-broadcast schedule, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-overlay digital video effect (DVE) and to a start time, and wherein a duration field of the first log-entry includes a zero duration value;

selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a video component (VC) and to the start time, and wherein a duration field of the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration value;

the automation system causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; and

the automation system causing the stunt switcher to run the bug-overlay DVE proximate the start time, thereby overlaying a bug on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a start-time field of the first log-entry includes the start time, and wherein a start-time field of the second log-entry includes the start time.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second log-entry is a next log-entry after the first log entry to have the non-zero duration value.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first log-entry includes the start time represented as an absolute start time, and wherein the second log-entry includes the start time represented as the absolute start time.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the VC is a show-segment VC.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the first log-entry includes a house-identifier field and an identifier stored in the house-identifier field, wherein the identifier maps to a set of program instructions that when executed, cause performance of the function of causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE proximate the start time, thereby overlaying the bug on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher;

and wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining that the first log-entry includes the identifier, executing the set of program instructions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the set of program instructions comprises a set of PHP-Hypertext-Preprocessor (PHP) scripts.

15. A television-broadcasting system comprising:

a stunt switcher; and

an automation system having a computer-readable medium including a set of program instructions, that when executed by the automation system, cause the automation system to perform a set of functions comprising;

selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log that defines a television-broadcast schedule, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-overlay digital video effect (DVE) and to a start time, and wherein a duration field of the first log-entry includes a zero duration value;

selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a video component (VC) and to the start time, and wherein a duration field of the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration value;

causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time;

making a determination that a threshold time-period has passed since the start time; and

responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, causing the stunt switcher to run the bug-overlay DVE, thereby overlaying a bug on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.

16. The television-broadcasting system of claim 15, wherein a start-time field of the first log-entry includes the start time, and wherein a start-time field of the second log-entry includes the start time.

17. The television-broadcasting system of claim 15, wherein the second log-entry is a next log-entry after the first log entry to have the non-zero duration value.

18. The television-broadcasting system of claim 15, wherein the first log-entry includes the start time represented as an absolute start time, and wherein the second log-entry includes the start time represented as the absolute start time.

19. The television-broadcasting system of claim 15, wherein the VC is a show-segment VC.

20. The television-broadcasting system of claim 15, wherein the first log-entry includes a house-identifier field and an identifier stored in the house-identifier field, wherein the identifier maps to a set of scripts that when executed cause performance of the functions of (i) making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, and (ii) responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE, thereby overlaying the bug on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher;

and wherein the set of functions further comprises responsive to determining that the first log-entry includes the identifier, executing the set of scripts.