System and method for parallel conversion, compilation, and distribution of content

• US 7,912,892 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Educational Testing Service
• Original Assignee: Educational Testing Service
• Inventors: Willian, Kenneth, Hofmann, Gerald, Leas, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo; Joshua
• Application Number:
  US10/627,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,797 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709203-207, 709/246, 434/350
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Systems and methods for parallel conversion, compilation, and distribution of content are disclosed. An application interface may be provided that enables a user to request the conversion of content items into formats well suited for presentation. The request may include a set of deliverables. Each deliverable may include an associated content item and a corresponding associated format to which to convert the associated content item. The request may be processed by a “pipeline” application. The pipeline application calls existing applications or proprietary applications associated with a delivery channel, and the pipeline application may customize the content items for conversion into the corresponding formats. The pipeline application may convert the associated content items using a plurality of parallel processing threads, each thread corresponding to an associated deliverable, whereby each thread converts the associated content item to the corresponding associated format. The pipeline application may compile the converted content, and distribute the compiled content to selected presentation devices.

Claims

1. A method for converting deliverables, the method comprising:

preparing a plurality of deliverables for conversion from an initial format to a plurality of different file type formats suitable for presentation, each deliverable of the plurality of deliverables including an associated content item and a corresponding associated format to which to convert the associated content item, each corresponding associated format including at least one specified translated human language;

wherein preparing the plurality of deliverables for conversion comprises customizing each of the associated content item using customization menus prior to the conversion by selecting a human language to translate a deliverable to the specified translated human language, specifying a valid identifier that is required to access and present a deliverable of the plurality of deliverables at each of a plurality of presentation devices, and specifying a time window defining a start timestamp and a stop timestamp during which a deliverable of the plurality of deliverables may be accessed at the plurality of presentation devices;

converting associated content items of the plurality of deliverables using a plurality of parallel processing threads to create converted deliverables in the plurality of different file type formats, each thread of the parallel processing threads corresponding to an associated deliverable, whereby said each thread converts the associated content item from the initial format to the corresponding associated format;

compiling the converted deliverables in the plurality of different file type formats into a single compilation file for distribution over a plurality of delivery channels;

posting the single compilation file as content to the plurality of delivery channels; and

delivering the content to the plurality of presentation devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request from a user to convert the plurality of deliverables to the plurality of different file type formats suitable for presentation, the request including a selected delivery channel over which to distribute the converted deliverables.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding associated format to which to convert the associated content item is external to the associated content item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding associated format indicates a file format to which to convert an associated content item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein converting includes translating text of a content item to the specified translated human language when the specified translated human language differs from a language of the text of the content item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a content item is associated with multiple file type formats to which to convert the content item.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated content item is defined in extensible markup language, wherein one of the corresponding associated format is a WAV file format.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated content item is an exam, wherein the exam is administered by one or more of the presentation devices.

9. A method for conversion of deliverables, the method comprising:

providing a user interface that enables a user to enter a request for converting a plurality of deliverables from an initial format to a plurality of different file type formats suitable for presentation, each deliverable of the plurality of deliverables including an associated content item and a corresponding associated format to which to convert the associated content item, each corresponding associated format including at least one specified translated human language;

preparing associated content items of the plurality of deliverables for conversion based on corresponding associated formats;

wherein preparing the associated content items for conversion comprises customizing each of the associated content item using customization menus prior to the conversion by selecting a human language to translate a deliverable to the specified translated human language, specifying a valid identifier that is required to access and present a deliverable of the plurality of deliverables at each of a plurality of presentation devices, and specifying a time window defining a start timestamp and a stop timestamp during which a deliverable of the plurality of deliverables may be accessed at the plurality of presentation devices;

converting the associated content items using a plurality of parallel processing threads to create converted deliverables in the plurality of different file type formats, each thread of the parallel processing threads corresponding to an associated deliverable, whereby said each thread converts the associated content item from the initial format to the corresponding associated format;

compiling the converted deliverables in the plurality of different file type formats into a single compilation file for distribution over a plurality of delivery channels;

posting the single compilation file as content to the plurality of delivery channels; and

delivering the content to the plurality of presentation devices.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the user interface comprises providing the user interface that enables the user to enter the request including a selected delivery channel over which to distribute the converted deliverables.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the corresponding associated format to which to convert the associated content item is external to the associated content item.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the corresponding associated format indicates a file format to which to convert an associated content item.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein converting includes translating text of a content item to the specified translated human language when the specified translated human language differs from a language of the text of the content item.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein a content item is associated with multiple file type formats to which to convert the content item.

15. A computer-implemented system for converting deliverables, the system comprising:

a server computer;

a database accessible by the server computer, the server computer configured to execute steps, comprising;

preparing a plurality of deliverables for conversion from an initial format to a plurality of different file type formats suitable for presentation, each deliverable of the plurality of deliverables including an associated content item and a corresponding associated format to which to convert the associated content item, each corresponding associated format including at least one specified translated human language;

wherein preparing the plurality of deliverables for conversion comprises customizing each of the associated content item using customization menus prior to the conversion by selecting a human language to translate a deliverable to the specified translated human language, specifying a valid identifier that is required to access and present a deliverable of the plurality of deliverables at each of a plurality of presentation devices, and specifying a time window defining a start timestamp and a stop timestamp during which a deliverable of the plurality of deliverables may be accessed at the plurality of presentation devices;

converting associated content items of the plurality of deliverables using a plurality of parallel processing threads to create converted deliverables in the plurality of different file type formats, each thread of the parallel processing threads corresponding to an associated deliverable, whereby said each thread converts the associated content item from the initial format to the corresponding associated format;

compiling the converted deliverables in the plurality of different file type formats into a single compilation file for distribution over a plurality of delivery channels;

posting the single compilation file as content to the plurality of delivery channels; and

delivering the content to the plurality of presentation devices.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising receiving a request from a user to convert the plurality of deliverables to the plurality of different file type formats suitable for presentation, the request including a selected delivery channel over which to distribute the converted deliverables.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the corresponding associated format to which to convert the associated content item is external to the associated content item.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the corresponding associated format indicates a file format to which to convert an associated content item.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein a content item is associated with multiple file type formats to which to convert the content item.