Systems, methods, and computer program products for automated real-time execution of live inserts of repurposed stored content distribution

• US 9,711,180 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grass Valley Canada (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gvbb Holdings SARL (Vislink Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holtz, Alex, Snyder, Robert J., Benson, John R., Couch, William H., Larocque, Marcel, Hoeppner, Charles M., Tingle, Keith Gregory, Todd, Richard, Smith, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS, EILEEN M
• Application Number:
  US14/542,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20150063787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234372 for performing aspect ratio conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440272 for performing aspect ratio conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product for producing a show. In an embodiment, the invention is directed to a production system having a first production path, a second production path, and a control system that causes the first production path to generate a show in a first aspect ratio (4:3), and that causes the second production path to generate the same show in a second aspect ratio (16:9). In another embodiment, the invention is directed to producing a show from live material and from archived material. This aspect of the invention operates by producing a first show comprising a plurality of stories, segmenting the first show, and storing the show segments in an archive. Then, the invention produces a second show using live portions as well as show segments retrieved from the archive. The invention is also directed to a media manager that interacts with a server. In some cases, the server is integrated with the production system. The media manager automatically assigns channels/ports of the server when accessing material stored in the server.

Claims

1. A method for producing a show, comprising:

producing a first show comprising a plurality of stories by a production system;

after production of the first show, segmenting said first show by the production system to create a plurality of show segments;

storing said plurality of show segments and meta data information indicating the beginning, end, and duration of each of said show segments in an archive by the production system;

receiving, via a user interface, selections by a user for a listing of a second show, wherein the selections for the listing include at least one of the plurality of show segments and at least one live portion;

mapping the listing of the second show to a script based at least partially on the meta data information;

adjusting at least one of the selection of said plurality of show segments and a length of said at least one live portion so that the second show has a total length that conforms to an assigned time duration for the second show; and

producing the second show based on the script.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the producing of the second show comprises:

retrieving said one or more of said selected show segments from said archive using said meta data information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the producing of the second show further comprises:

causing a keyer to modify “

bugs”

contained in said retrieved show segments.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the producing of the second show comprises:

producing said at least one live portion by executing one or more transition macros, each comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed, control production devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of adjusting further comprises:

displaying a total time of the second show on the user interface; and

receiving a control instruction from the user via the user interface to adjust a duration of said at least one live portion to conform said total time of said second show to said assigned time duration.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inserting advertisements into said second show.

7. A system for producing a show, comprising:

means for producing a first show comprising a plurality of stories by a production system;

means for segmenting said first show by the production system after production of the first show to create a plurality of show segments;

means for storing said plurality of show segments and meta data information indicating the beginning, end, and duration of each of said show segments in an archive by the production system;

means for receiving, via a user interface, selections by a user for a listing of a second show, wherein the selections for the listing include at least one of the plurality of show segments and at least one live portion;

means for mapping the listing of the second show to a script based at least partially on the meta data information;

means for adjusting at least one of the selection of said plurality of show segments and a length of said at least one live portion so that the second show has a total length that conforms to an assigned time duration for the second show; and

means for producing the second show based on the script,

wherein the means for producing the first show and the second show comprise at least one processor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said second show producing means comprises:

means for retrieving said one or more of said selected show segments from said archive using said meta data information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said second show producing means further comprises:

means for causing a keyer to modify “

bugs”

contained in said retrieved show segments.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said second show producing means comprises:

means for producing said at least one live portion by executing one or more transition macros, each comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed, control production devices.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for displaying a total time of the second show on the user interface; and

means for receiving a control instruction from the user via the user interface to adjust a duration of said at least one live portion to conform said total time of said second show to said assigned time duration.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for inserting advertisements into said second show.

13. A production system, comprising:

a plurality of production devices, including a server;

a media manager; and

a control system that operates according to a script to produce a show, said script including commands that, when executed, cause said production devices to perform functions to produce the show;

wherein said media manager automatically selects one of a plurality of channels of said server to play out at least one clip according to the script, wherein the selected channel is based on execution of said respective command of the script, and

wherein said media manager tracks air readiness of the at least one clip within the script and provides a notification when the at least one clip is not air ready.