Television Production Technique

• US 20080231758A1
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Casper, David Alan, Casaccia, Edward Marion, Trethewey, Paul Martell
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/722
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching

Abstract

A television production system (300) affords simplification over the automation of a television program such as a news program by making use of State Memory Objects (S-MEMs), each defining one or more operations for execution by one or more production devices. The S-MEMS serve to control one or more actuators on a control panel (302) so that each actuator on the control panel can control different function of different pieces of production equipment depending on the S-MEM selected.

Claims

1. A method of controlling at least one production device for producing a show, comprising the steps of:

establishing a plurality of states of the at least one production device, each state corresponding to at least one operation executable by the device;

storing the states of the at least one production device as corresponding memory objects which upon execution cause the one production device to execute the at least one operation, which results in generation of a scene;

responsive to selection of each memory object, physically actuating at least one actuator of the at least one production device to control an operation of the at least one production device in accordance with the at least one operation associated with that state memory object so the actuator manifests a status of the production device.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the actuating step further comprises the step of actuating a linear fader.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the actuating step further comprises the step of actuating a switch.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the actuating step further comprises the step of actuating a multi-axis actuator.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the actuating step further comprises the step of actuating a plurality of actuators.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the actuating step further comprises the step of actuating a plurality of actuators each associated with a separate production device.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the actuating step further comprises the step of actuating a plurality of actuators.

16. The method according to claim 5 wherein the actuating step further comprises the step of actuating a plurality of actuators each associated with a separate production device.

7-14. -14. (canceled)

17. Apparatus for controlling at least one production device for producing a television show, comprising the steps of:

means for establishing a plurality of states of the at least one production device, each state corresponding to at least one operation executable by the device;

means for storing the states of the at least one production device as corresponding memory objects which upon execution cause the one production device to execute the at least one operation, which results in generation of a scene

means responsive to selection of each memory object, for physically actuating at least one actuator of the at least one production device to control an operation of the at least one production device in accordance with the at least one operation associated with that state memory object so the actuator manifests a status of the production device.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the actuator comprises a linear fader.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the actuator comprises a switch.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the actuator comprises a multi-axis actuator.