Digital asset management data model

• US 8,996,589 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Macchietti, Alessandra, El Haffar, Karim
• Primary Examiner(s): Ehichioya, Fred I
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACKES, KRIS E
• Application Number:
  US11/707,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20080109482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,967 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/804
• US Class Current: 707/804
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/164 File meta data generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

A digital asset management system effectively provides full control of compound media assets and their specific components. The digital asset management data model supports the creation and management of multiple levels of granularity or metadata enrichment, and different sets of file types or renditions used throughout the digital asset processing life-cycle. The extensible digital asset management data model allows telecommunications service providers to augment or enrich compound media asset metadata, and thereby, optimize the relationship between media assets, and enhance storage and retrieval functionalities. The digital asset management system solves the technical problems arising from ingesting, storing, and managing rich media assets economically and efficiently.

Claims

1. A digital asset management system for controlling compound media assets comprising:

a communication interface;

a digital asset management database comprising a data model with three related hierarchies that together organize all media asset data and media asset metadata of a specified media asset that includes one or more media asset types and one or more delivery destinations, prior to controlling delivery of the specified media asset, wherein the three hierarchies of the data model include;

an asset description hierarchy comprising asset description objects for all media assets of the specified media asset including asset package information associated with the specified media asset, wherein the asset description objects are populated with attributes that include media asset data, media asset metadata, enriched media asset data, and enriched media asset metadata of the specified media asset;

a compound media asset type description hierarchy that defines the types of media assets associated with the specified media asset and are described in the asset description hierarchy, wherein said compound media asset type description hierarchy comprises compound media asset type description objects wherein each compound media asset type description object;

defines a different type of media asset that is associated with the specified media asset; and

includes attributes of the defined media asset type including one or both of media asset data and media asset metadata attributes that associate the defined media asset type to the specified media asset;

a compound media asset type file hierarchy for the specified media asset comprising compound media asset type file objects wherein each compound media asset type file object is associated with a media asset source or content provider and each compound media asset type file object corresponds to at least one of the objects in the compound media asset type description hierarchy, said compound media asset type file objects comprising;

media asset data attributes and media asset metadata attributes that associate a media asset data file to one of the compound media asset types; and

media asset files comprising physical data representations of renderings associated with the compound media types;

a memory comprising;

an ingestion program for creating the three hierarchies of the data model for the specified media asset, which is operable to;

obtain source media asset data and source media asset metadata asset through the communication interface;

ingest the source media asset data and the source media asset metadata by;

normalizing the source media asset data and source media asset metadata with respect to a defined object format by populating, based on the source media asset data and the source media asset meta data;

 

the media asset description objects;

 

at least one of the compound media asset type description objects; and

 

at least one of the compound media asset type file objects; and

subsequently obtain additional source media asset data and additional source media asset metadata through the communication interface for the specified media asset, when it becomes available from a source;

create said enriched media asset data and said enriched media asset metadata by;

updating at least one of said compound media asset type description objects with new attributes based on the additional source media asset data and the additional source media asset metadata, and

updating at least one of said compound media asset type file objects based on the additional source media asset data or the additional source media asset meta data;

or

defining a new type of compound media asset type description object and one or more corresponding new types of compound media asset file objects for the specified media asset in instances when the additional source media asset data or additional source media asset metadata is based on a newly evolved technology; and

a processor coupled to the communication interface, database and the memory, and operable to execute the ingestion program.

2. The digital asset management system of claim 1, where the additional media asset data, the media additional media asset metadata, or both comprise a diplomatic protocol establishing an information restriction to which a targeted delivery channel for the media asset data, the additional media asset metadata, or both must comply, where the information restriction comprises replacement commentary.

3. The digital asset management system of claim 1, where the asset description hierarchy comprises:

a media asset package description object comprising media asset data and media asset metadata;

a channel description object comprising asset source information;

an electronic program guide object comprising enhanced functionality metadata; and

an exceptions object comprising asset metadata exceptions identified while ingesting, storing and managing the asset.

4. The digital asset management system of claim 1, where the compound media asset type description hierarchy comprises:

a movie description object comprising metadata relating a movie to the specified media asset;

a trailer description object comprising metadata relating a trailer to the specified media asset;

a cover description object comprising metadata relating a cover to the specified media asset;

an audio description object comprising metadata relating audio to the specified media asset; and

an abstract compound media asset type object comprising metadata relating other compound media asset types to the specified media asset.

5. The digital asset management system of claim 1, where the compound media asset type file hierarchy comprises:

a movie file object comprising;

metadata defining a movie file associated with the specified media asset, the movie file comprising a physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset;

a trailer file object comprising;

metadata defining a trailer file associated with the specified media asset, the trailer file comprising a physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset;

a cover file object comprising;

metadata defining a cover file associated with the specified media asset, the cover file comprising the physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset; and

an audio file object comprising;

metadata defining a audio file associated with the specified media asset, the audio file comprising the physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset.

6. The digital asset management system of claim 1, where the compound media asset type file hierarchy comprises:

an abstract compound media asset type file object for new types of media assets comprising;

metadata defining other file types associated with the specified media asset, the abstract file-type file comprising the physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset.

7. The digital asset management system of claim 1, where the memory further comprises a media management program operable to:

edit and repurpose the specified media asset by;

updating the media asset data and the media asset metadata of the specified media asset; and

creating an asset rendition from the updated media asset data and the updated media asset metadata;

publish an asset rendition of the specified media asset by;

creating an asset bundle comprising the asset rendition, wherein an asset bundle comprises a subset of objects from the specified media asset created for a specific delivery channel;

associating the asset bundle with a delivery channel by;

identifying a delivery channel and delivery platform; and

formatting the asset bundle for delivery to a delivery platform; and

scheduling and deploying the asset bundle to the specific delivery platform, and where;

the processor is operable to execute the media management program.

8. The digital asset management system of claim 7, where the media management program is further operable to:

search the digital asset management database, and retrieve media asset data and media asset metadata based on user selection criteria; and

administer the digital asset management system by provisioning a media asset source, and where;

the processor is operable to execute the media management program.

9. The digital asset management system of claim 1, where the ingestion program is further operable to enrich the asset metadata by:

defining unique media asset data and media asset metadata not originally associated with the specified media asset; and

defining unique combinations of compound media asset type description objects and compound media asset type file objects not originally associated with the specified media asset.

10. The digital asset management system of claim 1, where the memory further comprises search, storage, and retrieval optimized combinations of compound media asset type description objects and compound media asset type file objects.

11. A computer implemented method of ingesting a media asset for controlling compound media assets, the method comprising:

defining a digital asset management database that includes a data model with three related hierarchies that together organize all media asset data and media asset metadata of a specified media asset that includes one or more media asset types and one or more delivery destinations, prior to controlling delivery of the specified media asset, comprising;

defining an asset description hierarchy comprising asset description objects for all media assets of the specified media asset including asset package information associated with the specified media asset, wherein the asset description objects are populated with attributes that include media asset data, asset metadata media, unique media asset data and unique media asset metadata of the specified media asset,

defining a compound media asset type description hierarchy that defines types of media assets associated with the specified media asset and are described in the asset description hierarchy, wherein said compound media asset type description hierarchy comprises compound media asset type description objects wherein each compound media asset type description object;

defines a different type of media asset that is associated with the specified media asset; and

includes attributes of the defined media asset type including one or both of media asset data and media asset metadata attributes that associate the defined media asset type to the specified media asset;

defining a compound media asset type file hierarchy for the specified media asset comprising compound media asset type file objects wherein each compound media asset type file object is associated with a media asset source or content provider and each compound media asset type file object corresponds to at least one of the objects in the compound media asset type description hierarchy, said compound media asset type file objects comprising;

media asset data attributes and media asset metadata attributes that associate a media asset data file to one of the compound media types; and

media asset files comprising physical data representations of renderings associated with compound media types;

obtaining source media asset data and source media asset metadata for creating the three hierarchies of the data model for the specified media asset through the communication interface;

ingesting the source media asset data and the source media asset metadata by;

normalizing the source media asset data and source media asset metadata with respect to a defined object format by populating, based on the source media asset data and source media asset meta data;

the media asset description objects;

at least one of the compound media asset type description objects; and

at least one of the compound media asset type file objects; and

subsequently obtaining additional source media asset data and additional source media asset metadata through the communication interface for the specified media asset, when it becomes available from a source;

creating said unique media asset data and said unique media asset metadata by;

updating at least one of said compound media asset type description objects with new attributes,

updating at least one of said compound media asset type file objects based on the additional source media asset data or the additional source media asset meta data;

or

defining a new type of compound media asset type description object and one or more corresponding new types of compound media asset file objects for the specified media asset in instances when the additional source media asset data or the additional source media asset metadata is based on a newly evolved technology; and

defining unique combinations of compound media asset type description objects and unique compound media asset type file objects not originally associated with the specified media asset; and

repurposing the specified media asset by;

updating the media asset data and the media asset metadata of the specified media asset with the unique media asset data and the unique media asset metadata; and

creating an asset rendition from the updated media asset data and the updated media asset metadata;

publishing an asset rendition of the specified media asset by;

creating an asset bundle comprising the asset rendition;

associating the asset bundle with a delivery channel by;

identifying a delivery channel and delivery platform; and

formatting the asset bundle for delivery to a delivery platform; and

scheduling and deploying the asset bundle to the delivery platform; and

searching the digital asset management database, and retrieving media asset data and media asset metadata based on user selection criteria; and

provisioning a media asset source.

12. The method according to claim 11, where the unique media asset data, the unique media asset metadata, or both comprise a diplomatic protocol establishing an information restriction to which a targeted delivery channel for the unique media asset data, the unique media asset metadata, or both must comply, where the information restriction comprises replacement commentary.

13. The method according to claim 11, where defining an asset description hierarchy comprises:

establishing a media asset package description object comprising media asset data and media asset metadata;

establishing a channel description object comprising asset source information;

establishing an electronic program guide object comprising enhanced functionality metadata; and

establishing an exceptions object comprising asset metadata exceptions identified while acquiring, ingesting, storing, publishing and managing the specified media asset.

14. The method according to claim 11, where defining a compound media asset type description hierarchy comprises:

establishing a movie description object comprising metadata relating a movie to the specified media asset;

establishing a trailer description object comprising metadata relating a trailer to the specified media asset;

establishing a cover description object comprising metadata relating a cover to the specified media asset;

establishing an audio description object comprising metadata relating audio to the specified media asset; and

establishing an abstract compound media asset type object comprising metadata relating new compound media asset types to the specified media asset.

15. The method according to claim 11, where defining a compound media asset type file hierarchy comprises:

establishing a movie file object comprising;

metadata defining a movie file associated with the specified media asset, the movie file comprising a physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset;

establishing a trailer file object comprising;

metadata defining a trailer file associated with the specified media asset, the trailer file comprising a physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset;

establishing a cover file object comprising;

metadata defining a cover file associated with the specified media asset, the cover file comprising the physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset;

establishing an audio file object comprising;

metadata defining a audio file associated with the specified media asset, the audio file comprising the physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset; and

establishing an abstract compound media asset type file object comprising;

metadata defining other file types associated with the specified media asset, the abstract file-type file comprising the physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset.

16. A product for controlling compound media assets comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable memory comprising processor executable instructions encoded on the non-transitory medium which cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising;

defining a digital asset management database that includes a data model with three related hierarchies that together organize all media asset data and media asset metadata of a specified media asset that includes one or more media asset types and one or more delivery destinations, prior to controlling delivery of the specified media asset, comprising;

defining an asset description hierarchy comprising asset description objects for all media assets of the specified media asset including asset package information associated with the specified media asset, wherein the asset description objects are populated with attributes that include media asset data, media asset metadata, unique media asset data and unique media asset metadata of the specified media asset;

defining a compound media asset type description hierarchy that defines types of media assets associated with the specified media asset and are described in the asset description hierarchy, wherein said compound media asset type description hierarchy comprises compound media asset type description objects wherein each compound media asset type description object;

defines a different type of media asset that is associated with the specified media asset; and

includes attributes of the defined media asset type including one or both of media asset data and media asset metadata attributes that associate the defined media asset type to the specified media asset;

defining a compound media asset type file hierarchy for the specified media asset comprising compound media asset type file objects wherein each compound media asset type file object is associated with a media asset source or content provider and each compound media asset type file object corresponds to at least one of the objects in the compound media asset type description hierarchy, said compound media asset type file objects comprising;

media asset data attributes and media asset metadata attributes that associate a media asset data file to one of the compound media types; and

media asset files comprising physical data representations of renderings associated with compound media types;

performing for a selected media asset comprising the specified media asset the following steps;

obtaining source media asset data and source media asset metadata for creating the three hierarchies of the data model for the specified media asset through a communication interface;

ingesting the source media asset data and the source media asset metadata by;

normalizing the source media asset data and source media asset metadata with respect to a defined object format by populating, based on the source media asset data and source media asset meta data;

the media asset description objects;

at least one of the compound media asset type description objects; and

at least one of the compound media asset type file objects; and

subsequently obtain additional source media asset data and additional source media asset metadata through the communication interface for the specified media asset, when it becomes available from a source;

create said unique media asset data and said unique media asset metadata by;

updating at least one of said compound media asset type description objects with new attributes,

updating at least one of said compound media asset type file objects base on the additional source media asset data or the additional source media asset meta data;

or

defining a new type of compound media asset type description object and one or more corresponding new types of compound media asset file objects for the specified media asset in instances when the additional source media asset data or the additional source media asset metadata is based on a newly evolved technology; and

defining unique combinations of compound media asset type description objects and compound media asset type file objects not originally associated with the specified media asset; and

repurposing the specified media asset by;

updating the media asset data and the media asset metadata of the specified media asset with the unique media asset data and the unique media asset metadata; and

creating an asset rendition from the updated media asset data and the updated media asset metadata;

publishing an asset rendition of the specified media asset by;

creating an asset bundle comprising the asset rendition;

associating the asset bundle with a delivery channel by;

identifying a delivery channel and delivery platform; and

formatting the asset bundle for delivery to a delivery platform; and

scheduling and deploying the asset bundle to the delivery platform; and

searching the digital asset management database, and retrieving media asset data and media asset metadata based on user selection criteria; and

provisioning a media asset source.

17. The product of claim 16, where the unique media asset data, the unique media asset metadata, or both comprise a diplomatic protocol establishing an information restriction to which a targeted delivery channel for the unique media asset data, the unique media asset metadata, or both must comply, where the information restriction comprises replacement commentary.

18. The product of claim 16, where defining an asset description hierarchy comprises:

establishing a media asset package description object comprising media asset data and media asset metadata;

establishing a channel description object comprising asset source information;

establishing an electronic program guide object comprising enhanced functionality metadata; and

establishing an exceptions object comprising asset metadata exceptions identified while acquiring, ingesting, storing, publishing and managing.

19. The product of claim 16, where defining a compound media asset type description hierarchy comprises:

establishing a movie description object comprising metadata relating a movie to the specified asset;

establishing a trailer description object comprising metadata relating a trailer to the specified asset;

establishing a cover description object comprising metadata relating a cover to the specified asset;

establishing an audio description object comprising metadata relating audio to the specified asset; and

establishing an abstract compound media asset type object comprising metadata relating other compound media asset types to the specified asset.

20. The product of claim 16, where defining a compound media asset type file hierarchy comprises:

establishing a movie file object comprising;

metadata defining a movie file associated with the specified media asset, the movie file comprising a physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset;

establishing a trailer file object comprising;

metadata defining a trailer file associated with a media asset, the trailer file comprising a physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset;

establishing a cover file object comprising;

metadata defining a cover file associated with the specified media asset, the cover file comprising the physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset;

establishing an audio file object comprising;

metadata defining an audio file associated with the specified media asset, the audio file comprising the physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset; and

establishing an abstract compound media asset type file object comprising;

metadata defining other file types associated with the specified media asset, the abstract file-type file comprising the physical data representation of a rendering associated with the specified media asset.