BROADCAST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20110280540A1
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Woodman, Nicholas D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

A broadcast management system creates, manages, and streams a broadcast of an event from videos captured from multiple cameras. A video capture system comprising multiple cameras captures videos of the event and transmits the videos to a broadcast management server. The broadcast management server generates a website or other graphical interface that simultaneously displays the captured videos in a time-synchronized manner. A broadcast manager user creates a broadcast by selecting which video to output to the broadcast at any given time. A broadcast map is stored for each broadcast that includes all of the broadcast decisions made by the broadcast manager user such that the broadcast can be recreated at a later time by applying the broadcast map to the raw videos. Using a viewer client, viewers can browse or search for broadcasts and select a broadcast for viewing.

Claims

1. A method for managing a media broadcast, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of video files comprising at least a first video file and a second video file, the first and second video files including timestamps representative of capture start times of the first and second video files relative to a universal clock;

determining replay start times for the first and second video files according to the timestamps such that relative timing of the replay start times matches relative timing of the capture start times;

generating a broadcast management interface comprising a first stream window for playing the first video file and a second stream window for playing the second video file, wherein the broadcast management interface begins replaying the first and second video files according to their determined replay start times;

responsive to receiving a selection of the first stream window while the first video file is playing, streaming the first video file to a broadcast viewer client; and

responsive to receiving a selection of the second stream window while the second video is playing, streaming the second video file to the broadcast viewer client.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting from the first video file, a first identifier of a first camera used to capture the first video file;

associating the first video with the first stream window based on the first identifier;

extracting from the second video file, a second identifier of a second camera used to capture the second video file; and

associating the second video file with the second stream window based on the second identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating a first video load instruction to load the first video file in the first stream window at the replay start time for the first video file;

generating a second video load instruction to load the second video file in the second stream window at the replay start time for the second video file; and

storing the first and second video load instructions.

4. A method for managing a media broadcast, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of videos comprising at least a first video and a second video;

generating a broadcast management interface comprising a first stream window for playing the first video and a second stream window for playing the second video concurrently with the first video, wherein playing of the first and second videos are synchronized with respect to a universal clock;

responsive to receiving a selection of the first stream window while the first video is playing, streaming the first video to a broadcast viewer client; and

responsive to receiving a selection of the second stream window while the second video is playing, streaming the second video stream to the broadcast viewer client.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

generating a broadcast map indicating a sequence of broadcast decisions captured while the first and second videos are playing, the broadcast decisions characterizing the broadcast such that the broadcast can be subsequently recreated by applying the broadcast map to the plurality of videos.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein generating the broadcast map comprises:

responsive to receiving the selection of the first stream window, storing an identifier of the first video and a selection time indicating an elapsed time into the broadcast when the selection occurred.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving an audio voiceover stream concurrently with playing the first and second videos; and

outputting the audio voiceover stream to the broadcast viewer client

8. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the plurality of videos comprises receiving the plurality of videos live as the plurality of videos are being captured.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the plurality of videos comprises receiving complete video files subsequent to the plurality of videos being captured.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

pre-processing the plurality of videos prior to generating the interface, wherein pre-processing comprises generating a sequence of video load instructions, each video load instruction indicating a replay start time to load each video in the plurality of videos and a stream window in which to display each video in the plurality of videos.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

extracting from a video file in the plurality of videos, a timestamp indicative of a capture start time of the video file relative to the universal clock;

extracting from the video file, an identifier of a camera used to capture the video file;

generating a video load instruction indicating a load time for the video file and a stream window in which to load the video file, wherein the load time is based on the extracted capture start time, and the stream window is associated with the camera used to capture the video file.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving account access information from a user of the broadcast management system;

accessing a user account associated with the user; and

providing access to videos associated with the user account.

13. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable program instructions for managing a media broadcast, the program instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform steps of:

receiving a plurality of videos comprising at least a first video and a second video;

generating a broadcast management interface comprising a first stream window for playing the first video and a second stream window for playing the second video concurrently with the first video, wherein playing of the first and second videos are synchronized with respect to a universal clock;

responsive to receiving a selection of the first stream window while the first video is playing, streaming the first video to a broadcast viewer client; and

responsive to receiving a selection of the second stream window while the second video is playing, streaming the second video stream to the broadcast viewer client.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to perform steps of:

generating a broadcast map indicating a sequence of broadcast decisions captured while the first and second videos are playing, the broadcast decisions characterizing the broadcast such that the broadcast can be subsequently recreated by applying the broadcast map to the plurality of videos.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein generating the broadcast map comprises:

responsive to receiving the selection of the first stream window, storing an identifier of the first video and a selection time indicating an elapsed time into the broadcast when the selection occurred.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to perform steps of:

receiving an audio voiceover stream concurrently with playing the first and second videos; and

outputting the audio voiceover stream to the broadcast viewer client

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein receiving the plurality of videos comprises receiving the plurality of videos live as the plurality of videos are being captured.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein receiving the plurality of videos comprises receiving complete video files subsequent to the plurality of videos being captured.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to perform steps of:

pre-processing the plurality of videos prior to generating the interface, wherein pre-processing comprises generating a sequence of video load instructions, each video load instruction indicating a replay start time to load each video in the plurality of videos and a stream window in which to display each video in the plurality of videos.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to perform steps of:

extracting from a video file in the plurality of videos, a timestamp indicative of a capture start time of the video file relative to the universal clock;

extracting from the video file, an identifier of a camera used to capture the video file;

generating a video load instruction indicating a load time for the video file and a stream window in which to load the video file, wherein the load time is based on the extracted capture start time, and the stream window is associated with the camera used to capture the video file.