The present disclosure relates to improvements to movie theater screen handling systems.
Theater Management Systems/Screen Management Systems
Movie theaters can utilize a Theater Management System (TMS) to control the shows the theater puts on, controlling show playlist (SPL) builds, schedules, pre-show advertisements, trailers, key delivery message (KDM) management, and content transfers. Additionally, the theater utilizes one or more Screen Management Systems (SMSs) which function in a similar capacity as the TMS but on a per-screen basis rather than for the entire theater. The TMS can queue up shows with ads, trailers, and main feature (e.g. movie) bundled together based on scheduling input from a Point of Sale (POS) device, which handles ticketing and feature scheduling for the theater.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Similarly, issues identified with respect to one or more approaches should not assume to have been recognized in any prior art on the basis of this section, unless otherwise indicated.
An enterprise TMS (ETMS) can be utilized to create greater uniformity across commonly owned/affiliated theaters or to allow autonomous control of multiple theaters from one off-site location. The ETMS provides rules for the TMSs at the theaters for constructing playlists with appropriate advertising, trailers, cues, and display specifications based on factors such as the location of the theater, the feature being shown, the time the feature is scheduled for, the type of screen being used, and others.
In a first aspect of the disclosure, a computer based system for managing one or more movie theaters is described, the system comprising: an enterprise theater management system server, remote from the one or more movie theaters, configured to provide a show playlist to a movie theater of the one or more movie theaters based on a pre-defined ruleset.
In a second aspect of the disclosure, a computer based system for managing one or more movie theaters is described, the system comprising: an enterprise theater management system server, remote from the one or more movie theaters, configured to provide a show playlist and show schedule to a movie theater of the one or more movie theaters based on a pre-defined ruleset.
The enumeration of aspects of the disclosure is not intended to be limiting: further aspects of the disclosure can be discerned from the details herein.
In another embodiment, the ETMS (101) can define rules and/or templates for show creation, these rules/templates are then pushed to the TMSs (120). The TMSs (120) then use these rules/templates for show creation and scheduling, which is then conveyed to the SMSs (130-1, 130-2, . . . ) so that the shows are played on the appropriate screens at the appropriate times.
In another embodiment, the system can have show creation and scheduling being handled at the ETMS until the network (102) breaks the connection, for whatever reason, between the ETMS (101) and the TMS (120). When the TMS (120) detects that the connection to the ETMS (101) is down, it takes over responsibility for show creation and scheduling for its SMSs (130-1, 130-2, . . . ).
The SPL (320) is a collection of clips/features (CPLs) and automation cues (lights up, lights down, audio volume, etc.) in a specified order. For example, an SPL can include a list of cues to open screen curtains, start audio, show advertisements, dim lights, show trailers, show the features, raise the lights, cut audio, and then close curtains in that order. It can also indicate that 3-D glasses are to be provided to audience members for that particular show and indicate special promotions associated with that show.
The SPL can be in the form of a template of content and cues. The template can be automatically populated from a set of pre-defined rules, and each feature is matched to a template. There are two types of rules: template rules and content rules. Template rules determine which template is used for a given feature. Content rules determine which clips (short piece of audio/video, such as advertising, trailers, policy notifications, pre-rolls, etc.) are tied to particular features. There are various methods of rule behavior: for example, rules based on location (specific theater/auditorium, set of theaters/auditoriums, geographical region, etc.), based on date/time (for example, daytime matinee vs. evening show), based on feature rating (PG, G, R, etc.), based on movie format (2D, 3D, 4K, Dolby Atmos™ sound, etc.), content based (which feature is being shown, or genre of feature), and other information. Given a set of rules/template, a feature to be shown, and a list of available clips and cues, the ETMS (or TMS) can generate an SPL to be scheduled for playback. For example, a 4K feature showing on a 4K screen might allow 4K versions of advertising and trailers.
A CPL is an ordered sequence of reels each referencing sound or picture files. Each reel is analogous to a film reel. The CPL controls the order and timing of the play-out of the reels, typically handled by an SMS. A CPL is also known as a “clip”.
The theater cues include a physical or logical action tied to a specific time within a show. The cues can be programmed into macros
The system can also be envisioned without a TMS (where the ETMS acts as the TMS for the theater). The system can also include SMSs controlled by the ETMS/TMS for screen management. The system can also work without a local manager, for example the features, show schedules, and DCPs can be automatically provided to the ETMS/TMS by a POS feed.
Hardware
In an embodiment of the system, the ETMS can notify the administrator and/or local manager if there are rules or clips that are missing for a complete CPL, if there are features not mapped to templates, or if there are mismatches between the rules and the data provided.
SPLs can include policy information for the features, such as specialized merchandise or promotional items tied to the feature.
A number of embodiments of the disclosure have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
The examples set forth above are provided to those of ordinary skill in the art as a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventor/inventors regard as their disclosure.
Modifications of the above-described modes for carrying out the methods and systems herein disclosed that are obvious to persons of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims. All patents and publications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the levels of skill of those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains. All references cited in this disclosure are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference had been incorporated by reference in its entirety individually.
It is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to particular methods or systems, which can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term “plurality” includes two or more referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/320,585, filed on Apr. 10, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The present application also may be related to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/320,583, filed on Apr. 10, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62320585 | Apr 2016 | US |