Media build for multi-channel distribution

• US 10,097,789 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Stephen David, Porter, James, Milius, Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, MISHAWN N
• Application Number:
  US13/758,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20130208182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,073 Days
• Field of Search: 386239, 386248, 386332, 386232, 37911001, 381 57, 381104, 381107, 381110, 725 90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/01 Conversion of standards , e.g. involving analogue television standards or digital television standards processed at pixel level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8211 the additional signal being a sound signal H04N9/835 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8244 involving the use of subcodes

Abstract

According to one embodiment, methods and systems are disclosed for converting multi-media content to multiple deliverable formats using a conversion workflow. For example, a single source content file can be captured and a plurality of deliverable content files can be derived from the single source content file. Each of the plurality of deliverable content files can be in a format specific to a different distribution channel. That is, a single source media file can be used to automatically build one or more distribution files for a particular channel or channels. Furthermore, the distribution files can be built including logos, branding, open/close graphics, ratings, promo material, etc. The inclusion of these elements can be based on a common set of business rules defining, for example, what elements should be included in different types of distribution files.

Claims

1. A method of converting multi-media content to multiple deliverable formats using a conversion workflow, the method comprising:

capturing, using one or more processors, a single source content file comprising a complete video object with associated video metadata;

storing, using the one or more processors, a plurality of audio tracks with associated audio metadata, wherein the plurality of audio tracks are compatible with the complete video object;

storing, using the one or more processors, a plurality of graphic objects with associated graphic metadata;

receiving, using the one or more processors, a selection of a plurality of different video distribution channels;

deriving, using the one or more processors, a deliverable content file for each of the plurality of different video distribution channels by;

selecting a video transcoder from among a plurality of video transcoders, wherein the video transcoder is specific to the video distribution channel;

selecting an audio track from the plurality of audio tracks, wherein the audio track is specific to the video distribution channel;

selecting a graphic object from the plurality of graphic objects;

transcoding the complete video object into a deliverable content file having a format specific to the video distribution channel;

adding the graphic object to the deliverable content file;

combining the audio track with the deliverable content file; and

aggregating at least the video metadata, the audio metadata, and the graphic metadata to generate a single aggregated metadata file for the deliverable content file; and

delivering, using the one or more processors, a plurality of deliverable content files and the plurality of single aggregated metadata files to the corresponding different video distribution channels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the single source content file further comprises further comprising:

identifying one or more sub-assets within the single source content file based on the conversion workflow;

extracting the one or more sub-assets; and

saving the one or more sub-assets as individual constituent parts of the single source content file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein deriving each deliverable content file further comprises deriving the plurality of deliverable content files from the individual constituent parts of the single source content file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein deriving each deliverable content file is based at least in part on a set of business rules defined by the conversion workflow.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein deriving each deliverable content file further comprises adding branding information to the deliverable content files based on the business rules.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein deriving each deliverable content file further adding rating information to the deliverable content files based on the business rules.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein deriving each deliverable content file further comprises adding content elements to the deliverable content files based on the business rules.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the content elements include closed captioning information.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the content elements include an alternative language soundtrack.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the content elements include digital rights management information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising saving the deliverable content files in a content repository.

12. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to convert multi-media content to multiple deliverable formats by:

capturing a single source content file comprising a complete video object with associated video metadata;

storing a plurality of audio tracks with associated audio metadata, wherein the plurality of audio tracks are compatible with the complete video object;

storing a plurality of graphic objects with associated graphic metadata;

receiving a selection of a plurality of different video distribution channels;

deriving a deliverable content file for each of the plurality of different video distribution channels by;

selecting a video transcoder from among a plurality of video transcoders, wherein the video transcoder is specific to the video distribution channel;

selecting an audio track from the plurality of audio tracks, wherein the audio track is specific to the video distribution channel;

selecting a graphic object from the plurality of graphic objects;

transcoding the complete video object into a deliverable content file having a format specific to the video distribution channel;

adding the graphic object to the deliverable content file;

combining the audio track with the deliverable content file; and

aggregating at least the video metadata, the audio metadata, and the graphic metadata to generate a single aggregated metadata file for the deliverable content file; and

delivering a plurality of deliverable content files and the plurality of single aggregated metadata files to the corresponding different video distribution channels.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein capturing the single source content file further comprises:

identifying one or more sub-assets within the single source content file based on a conversion workflow;

extracting the one or more sub-assets; and

saving the one or more sub-assets as individual constituent parts of the single source content file.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein deriving each deliverable content file further comprises deriving the plurality of deliverable content files from the individual constituent parts of the single source content file.

15. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices comprising a source content file repository and instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute a common conversion workflow by performing operations comprising;

capturing a single source content file comprising a complete video object with associated video metadata;

storing a plurality of audio tracks with associated audio metadata, wherein the plurality of audio tracks are compatible with the complete video object;

storing a plurality of graphic objects with associated graphic metadata;

receiving a selection of a plurality of different video distribution channels;

deriving a deliverable content file for each of the plurality of different video distribution channels by;

selecting a video transcoder from among a plurality of video transcoders, wherein the video transcoder is specific to the video distribution channel;

selecting an audio track from the plurality of audio tracks, wherein the audio track is specific to the video distribution channel;

selecting a graphic object from the plurality of graphic objects;

transcoding the complete video object into a deliverable content file having a format specific to the video distribution channel;

adding the graphic object to the deliverable content file;

combining the audio track with the deliverable content file; and

aggregating at least the video metadata, the audio metadata, and the graphic metadata to generate a single aggregated metadata file for the deliverable content file; and

delivering a plurality of deliverable content files and the plurality of single aggregated metadata files to the corresponding different video distribution channels.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more memory devices comprise additional instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform additional operations comprising:

capturing the single source content file by identifying one or more sub-assets within the single source content file;

extracting the one or more sub-assets; and

saving the one or more sub-assets in the source content file repository as individual constituent parts of the single source content file.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein deriving each deliverable content file is based at least in part on a set of business rules defined by the conversion workflow.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein deriving each deliverable content file further comprises adding branding information to the deliverable content files based on the business rules.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein deriving each deliverable content file further adding rating information to the deliverable content files based on the business rules.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein deriving each deliverable content file further comprises adding content elements to the deliverable content files based on the business rules, wherein the content elements comprise one or more of the following:

closed captioning information;

an alternative language soundtrack; and

digital rights management information.