Claims
- 1. A method of producing one or more elements of a media production, comprising the steps of:
(1) defining a first sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more production devices having a first device type, wherein said first sequence of instructions does not identify a specific production device for receiving a control command; (2) defining a second sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more productions devices having a second device type, wherein said second sequence of instructions does not identify a specific production device for receiving a control command; (3) defining a third sequence of instructions to link said first device type to said second device type, such that output from a production device from said set having said first device type is linked to output from one or more production devices from said set having said second device type; and (4) executing said first sequence, said second sequence, and said third sequence to thereby produce a first element of the media production.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
(5) saving said first sequence, said second sequence, and said third sequence to an element file, said element file being retrievable to re-produce said first element.
- 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:
(6) retrieving said element file; and (7) executing said first sequence, said second sequence, and said third sequence to re-produce said first element.
- 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
(5) defining a fourth sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more productions devices having a third device type, wherein said fourth sequence of instructions does not identify a specific production device for receiving a control command.
- 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein step (4) comprises:
executing said fourth sequence with said first sequence, said second sequence, and said third sequence to thereby produce said first element.
- 6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:
(6) executing said fourth sequence to thereby produce a second element of the media production.
- 7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:
(6) saving said fourth sequence to a second element file, said second element file being retrievable to produce a second element of the media production.
- 8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:
(6) defining a fifth sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more productions devices having a fourth device type, wherein said fifth sequence of instructions does not identify a specific production device for receiving a control command.
- 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprises the step of:
(7) executing said fifth sequence with said fourth sequence to thereby produce a second element of the media production.
- 10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:
(7) saving said fifth sequence to a second element file, said second element file being retrievable to execute said fifth sequence to thereby produce a second element of the media production.
- 11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
(5) specifying a first production device from said set having said first device type, wherein output from said first production device is linked to output from one or more production devices from said set having said second device type.
- 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of:
(6) specifying one or more production devices from said set having said second device type, wherein output from said first production device is linked to output from the specified one or more production devices.
- 13. A method of receiving input from a plurality of production sources to produce a show, comprising the steps of:
(1) enabling creation of a first set of instructions for receiving a first input from a first channel, said first channel being mapped to a specific source; (2) enabling creation of a second set of instructions for receiving a second input from a second channel, wherein said second channel is not mapped to a specific source; and (3) executing said first set and said second set concurrently to produce an element of the show.
- 14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:
(4) mapping said first channel to a video source for supplying video as said first input.
- 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:
(5) identifying one or more audio sources for supplying audio as said second input.
- 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of:
(6) enabling creation of a third set of instructions for receiving audio input from a third channel, wherein said third channel is not mapped to a specific audio source.
- 17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:
(5) identifying a second video source for supplying video as said second input.
- 18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:
(5) identifying a source for supplying a key signal as said second input.
- 19. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:
(4) specifying a device type, such that a production device having said device type is selected as the specific source mapped to said first channel.
- 20. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:
(4) specifying a device type, such that a production device having said device type is identified as the specific source not mapped to said second channel.
- 21. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:
(4) identifying a plurality of sequential sources for supplying said second input.
- 22. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:
(5) identifying a plurality of non-sequential sources for supplying said second input.
- 23. An automation control system for producing one or more elements of a media production, comprising:
first control object for defining a first sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more production devices having a first device type; second control object for defining a second sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more production devices having a second device type; relational means for linking said first control object to said second control object; and activating means for activating said first control object or said second control object upon completion of an event, wherein the activation of said first control object or said second control object executes said first sequence or said second sequence, respectively.
- 24. The automation control system of claim 23, wherein said relational means comprises a link field coupled to said first control object, wherein said link field enables the linking of said first control object to said second control object.
- 25. The automation control system of claim 23, wherein output from a production device having said first device type is linked to output from a production device having said second device type.
- 26. The automation control system of claim 23, wherein said relational means comprises a link table coupled to said first control object, wherein said link table comprises a plurality of tuples, each tuple enabling the linking of output from a production device having said first device type to output from a production device having another device type.
- 27. The automation control system of claim 23, further comprising:
archiving object for grouping said first control object and said second control object to record said first sequence and said second sequence to a template file.
- 28. The automation control system of claim 27, wherein said template file includes information for linking said first control object to said second control object.
- 29. The automation control system of claim 27, further comprising:
color means for specifying a color scheme, wherein the automation control system displays said first control object and said second control object in an identical color.
- 30. The automation control system of claim 23, further comprising:
importing means for importing a template file to populate the automation control system with said first control object and said second control object, wherein said relational means is operational to create or modify information for linking said first control object and said second control object.
- 31. The automation control system of claim 23, further comprising:
label means for instructing the automation control system to display a label for at least one of said first control object and said second control object.
- 32. The automation control system of claim 23, further comprising:
source means for identifying a first production device having said first device type, wherein said first control object, when activated, sends a control command to said first production device.
- 33. The automation control system of claim 32, further comprising:
ranging means for identifying one or more production devices having said second device type, wherein said second control object, when activated, sends a control command to said one or more production devices.
- 34. The automation control system of claim 33, further comprising:
label means for instructing the automation control system to display a label for at least one of said first production device and said one or more production devices.
- 35. The automation control system of claim 23, further comprising:
wherein said first control object includes a source type field that enables the specification of said first device type.
- 36. The automation control system of claim 23, further comprising:
a control line for displaying said first control object or said second control object, wherein said control line is assigned a device type and configurable to enable interactions with a production device matching the assigned device type.
- 37. The automation control system of claim 23, wherein placement of said first control object on said control line determines the assigned device type, wherein the assigned device type is said first device type.
- 38. The automation control system of claim 23, further comprising:
a timeline for placing said first control object or said second control object in relations to a spatial coordinate of said timeline.
- 39. An automation control system for producing one or more elements of a media production, comprising:
first control object for defining a first sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more production devices having a first device type; second control object for defining a second sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more production devices having a second device type; at least one control line for displaying said first control object or said second control object, wherein said at least one control line is assigned a device type and configurable to enable interactions with a production device matching the assigned device type; and activating means for activating said first control object or said second control object upon completion of an event, wherein the activation of said first control object or said second control object executes said first sequence or said second sequence, respectively.
- 40. A user interface for producing a show, comprising:
a plurality of control icons, wherein each control icon is associated with one or more instructions for controlling a set of one or more production devices having a common device type; input means for placing a control icon from said plurality of control icons onto the interface; and a first control line, responsive to said input means, for displaying a first control icon from said plurality of control icons, wherein one or more instructions associated with said first control icon are executable to send a control command to a first production device.
- 41. The interface of claim 40, further comprising:
source means for identifying or selecting said first production device.
- 42. The interface of claim 40, further comprising:
naming means for enabling a user to specify a designator for said first production device, wherein said one or more instructions associated with said first control icon include executable instructions for selecting and controlling said first production device.
- 43. The interface of claim 40, further comprising:
a second control line, responsive to said input means, for displaying a second control icon from said plurality of control icons, wherein one or more instructions associated with said second control icon are executable to send a control command to a second production device.
- 44. The interface of claim 43, wherein the device type matching said second control icon differs from the device type matching said first control icon.
- 45. The interface of claim 43, further comprising:
relational means for linking said first control icon with said second control icon.
- 46. The interface of claim 45, wherein said relational means comprises:
means for linking output from said first production device to output from said second production device.
- 47. The interface of claim 45, further comprising:
source means for altering said one or more instructions associated with said first control icon, wherein said one or more instructions, when executed, send a control command to a third production device to link output from said third production device to output from said second production device, wherein said third production device and said first production device have a common device type.
- 48. The interface of claim 43, further comprising:
relational means for linking said first control icon with said second control icon, such that said one or more instructions associated with said first production device are linked to said one or more instructions associated with said second production device.
- 49. The interface of claim 40, further comprising:
a timeline, wherein said input means places a control icon in relations to a spatial coordinate of said timeline, wherein said spatial coordinate is recorded as a property value of the placed control icon.
- 50. The interface of claim 49, further comprising:
a timer for traversing said timeline, wherein said timer activates the placed control icon upon reaching a timer value matching the recorded spatial coordinate for the placed control icon, wherein the place control icon executes one or more instructions associated with the placed control icon upon activation by said timer.
- 51. The interface of claim 50, wherein said timeline is delimited by frames.
- 52. A user interface for producing a show, comprising:
a plurality of control icons, wherein each control icon is associated with one or more instructions for controlling a set of one or more production devices having a common a device type; and a control line for displaying a control icon from said plurality of control icons, wherein said control line is assigned a device type and configurable to enable interactions with a production device matching the assigned device type.
- 53. The interface of claim 52, wherein the displayed control icon determines the assigned device type.
- 54. A user interface for producing a show, comprising:
a plurality of control icons, wherein each control icon is associated with one or more instructions for controlling a set of one or more production devices having a common a device type; input means for placing a control icon from said plurality of control icons onto the interface; and a plurality of control lines, responsive to said input means, for displaying said plurality of control icons, wherein each control line is assigned a device type and configurable to enable interactions with a production device matching the assigned device type.
- 55. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having control logic embedded in said medium for causing a computer to produce one or more elements of a media production, said control logic comprising:
first means for causing the computer to define a first sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more production devices having a first device type; second means for causing the computer to define a second sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more production devices having a second device type; third means for causing the computer to link said first sequence to said second sequence; and fourth means for causing the computer to execute said first sequence or said second sequence.
- 56. The computer program product according to claim 55, further comprising:
fifth means for causing the computer to group said first control object and said second control object to record said first sequence and said second sequence to a template file.
- 57. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having control logic embedded in said medium for causing a computer to produce one or more elements of a media production, said control logic comprising:
first means for causing the computer to define a first sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more production devices having a first device type; second means for causing the computer to define a second sequence of instructions that, when executed, send a control command to a set of one or more production devices having a second device type; third means for causing the computer to display, on at least one control line, a first control object associated with said first sequence or a second control object associated with said second sequence, wherein said at least one control line is assigned a device type and configurable to enable interactions with a production device matching the assigned device type; and fourth means for causing the computer to execute said first sequence or said second sequence.
- 58. A method of managing a collection of macro element files for producing one or more media productions, comprising the steps of:
(1) importing a macro element file from said collection; (2) placing one or more control objects associated with said macro element on a display; (3) activating a first control object from the placed one or more control objects to access the property parameters for said first control object; (4) modifying said property parameters to specify build information for producing an element of a media production; and (5) creating a macro element template file comprising said first control object and the modified property parameters.
- 59. A method of managing a collection of macro element template files for producing one or more media productions, comprising the steps of:
(1) placing one or more control objects onto a display; (2) activating said one or more control objects to access property parameters for said one or more control objects; (3) modifying said property parameters to specify build information for producing an element of a media production; and (4) creating a macro element template file comprising said one or more control objects and the modified property parameters.
- 60. The method according to claim 59, wherein step (3) further comprises the step of:
(5) modifying said property parameters to specify a device type for a set of one or more production devices.
- 61. The method according to claim 60, further comprising the step of:
(6) displaying said one or more control objects on a separate control line configurable to enable interactions with a production device matching the specified device type for the displayed control object.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/468,972, filed May 9, 2003, by Snyder et al., entitled “Building Macro Elements for Production Automation Control,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/208,810, filed Aug. 1, 2002, by Holtz et al., entitled “Method, System, and Computer Program Product for Producing and Distributing Enhanced Media,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/386,753, filed Jun. 10, 2002 (now abandoned), by Holtz et al., entitled “Method, System and Computer Program Product for Producing and Distributing Enhanced Media,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; as well as the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/309,788, filed Aug. 6, 2001 (now abandoned), by Holtz, entitled “Webcasting and Business Models,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0003] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/836,239, filed Apr. 18, 2001, by Holtz et al., entitled “Method, System and Computer Program Product for Producing and Distributing Enhanced Media Downstreams,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0004] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/634,735, filed Aug. 8, 2000, by Snyder et al., entitled “System and Method for Real Time Video Production and Multicasting,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. entitled “System and Method for Real Time Video Production and Multicasting,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/482,683, filed Jan. 14, 2000, by Holtz et al., entitled “System and Method for Real Time Video Production and Multicasting,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/215,161, filed Dec. 18, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,452,612), by Holtz et al., incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0005] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/822,855, filed Apr. 2, 2001, by Holtz et al., entitled “Method, System and Computer Program Product for Full News Integration and Automation in a Real Time Video Production Environment,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/193,452, filed Mar. 31, 2000 (now abandoned), by Holtz et al., entitled “Full News Integration and Automation for a Real time Video Production System and Method,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0006] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/832,923, filed Apr. 12, 2001, by Holtz et al., entitled “Interactive Tutorial Method, System and Computer Program Product for Real Time Media Production,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/196,471, filed Apr. 12, 2000 (now abandoned), by Holtz et al., entitled “Interactive Tutorial System, Method and Computer Program Product for Real Time Video Production,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0007] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/247,783, filed Sep. 20, 2002, by Holtz et al., entitled “Advertisement Management Method, System, and Computer Program Product,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/363,098, by Holtz, filed March 12, 2002 (now abandoned), entitled “Sales Module to Support System for On-Demand Internet Deliver of News Content,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; as well as the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/323,328, by Holtz, filed Sep. 20, 2001 (now abandoned), entitled “Advertisement Management Method, System, and Computer Program Product,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0008] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/431,576, filed May 8, 2003, by Snyder et al., entitled “Time Sheet for Real Time Video Production System and Method,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/378,655, filed May 9, 2002 (now abandoned), by Holtz et al., entitled “Enhanced Timeline,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0009] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/434,458, filed May 9, 2003, by Snyder et al., entitled “Director Interface for Production Automation Control,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/378,656, filed May 9, 2002 (now abandoned), by Holtz et al., entitled “Director's Interface,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0010] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/434,461, filed May 9, 2003, by Holtz et al., entitled “Systems, Methods, and Computer Program Products for Automated Real-Time Execution of Live Inserts of Repurposed Stored Content Distribution, and Multiple Aspect Ratio Automated Simulcast Production,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/378,657, filed May 9, 2002 (now abandoned), by Holtz, entitled “Automated Real-Time Execution of Live Inserts of Repurposed Stored Content Distribution,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; as well as the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/378,672, filed May 9, 2002 (now abandoned), by Holtz, entitled “Multiple Aspect Ratio Automated Simulcast Production,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0011] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/434,460, filed May 9, 2003, by Snyder et al., entitled “Autokeying Method, System, and Computer Program Product,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/378,671, filed May 9, 2002 (now abandoned), by Snyder et al. entitled “Automated Keying Method, System, and Computer Program Product,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0012] The following United States and PCT utility patent applications have a common assignee and contain some common disclosure:
[0013] “System and Method For Real Time Video Production and Multicasting,” PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US01/00547, by Snyder et al., filed Jan. 9, 2001, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety;
[0014] “Method, System and Computer Program Product for Full News Integration and Automation in a Real Time Video Production Environment,” PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US01/10306, by Holtz et al., filed Apr. 2, 2001, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety;
[0015] “Real Time Video Production System and Method,” U.S. application Ser. No. 10/121,608, filed Apr. 15, 2002, by Holtz et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety;
[0016] “Method, System and Computer Program Product for Producing and Distributing Enhanced Media Downstreams,” PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US02/12048, by Holtz et al., filed Apr. 17, 2002, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety;
[0017] “Playlist for Real Time Video Production,” U.S. application Ser. No. 10/191,467, filed Jul. 10, 2002, by Holtz et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety;
[0018] “Real Time Video Production System and Method,” U.S. application Ser. No. 10/200,776, filed Jul. 24, 2002, by Holtz et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety;
[0019] “Method, System and Computer Program Product for Producing and Distributing Enhanced Media,” PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US02/24929, by Holtz et al., filed Aug. 6, 2002, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety;
[0020] “Advertisement Management Method, System, and Computer Program Product,” PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US02/29647, filed Sep. 20, 2002, by Holtz et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; and
[0021] “Video Production System for Automating the Execution of a Video Show,” PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US03/14427, filed May 9, 2003, by Holtz et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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May 2003 |
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Continuation in Parts (10)
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