U.S. patent application number 11/745031 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for system for management of both pre-show and feature presentation content within a theatre.
Invention is credited to David S. Jones, Jeffrey S. Loewenguth, Leslie G. Moore, Paul Tomblin, Anthony Whyte.
Application Number | 20070204322 11/745031 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35825446 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070204322 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Whyte; Anthony ; et
al. |
August 30, 2007 |
SYSTEM FOR MANAGEMENT OF BOTH PRE-SHOW AND FEATURE PRESENTATION
CONTENT WITHIN A THEATRE
Abstract
A method for enabling seamless transitions for a cinema
presentation package, wherein the cinema presentation package
includes pre-shows, trailers, live events, and main features, the
steps include determining the requirements of specific protocols
corresponding to the cinema presentation that will affect
transitioning between the pre-shows, trailers, live events, and
main features. Transition behaviors have to be identified between
the pre-shows, trailers, live events, and main features that form
the cinema presentation package. Flexibility exists in displaying
the cinema presentation package, and yet the pre-shows, trailers,
live events, and main features are displayed according to the
specific protocols and transition rules associated with the
specific protocols.
Inventors: |
Whyte; Anthony; (Webster,
NY) ; Jones; David S.; (Fairport, NY) ;
Loewenguth; Jeffrey S.; (Webster, NY) ; Moore; Leslie
G.; (Webster, NY) ; Tomblin; Paul; (Rochester,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Frank Pincelli;Patent Legal Staff
Eastman Kodak Company
343 State Street
Rochester
NY
14650-2201
US
|
Family ID: |
35825446 |
Appl. No.: |
11/745031 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10972183 |
Oct 22, 2004 |
7236227 |
|
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11745031 |
May 7, 2007 |
|
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10309867 |
Dec 4, 2002 |
6812994 |
|
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10972183 |
Oct 22, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B 21/00 20130101;
H04N 21/458 20130101; H04N 7/173 20130101; H04N 21/44016 20130101;
H04N 7/165 20130101; H04N 21/26258 20130101; H04N 21/41415
20130101; H04N 21/8549 20130101; H04N 21/812 20130101; H04N 21/4332
20130101; A63J 25/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/146 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/10 20060101
H04N007/10 |
Claims
1. A method for scheduling and presenting digital advertising
content to an audience at an exhibitor site, the method comprising:
(a) reading a relational database that contains records of schedule
items; (b) reading a relational database that contains records of
advertising play lists; (c) reading a relational database that
contains rules of association; and (d) creating relational database
records that associate schedule items in said database with
advertising play lists in said database per association rules in
said database.
2. A method for scheduling and presenting digital advertising
content according to claim 1 further comprising determining if
schedule items are pre-existent or new to the system
3. A method for scheduling and presenting digital advertising
content according to claim 2 further comprising a request for
additional resources to determine a unique identifier for each
schedule item.
4. A method for executing steps in claim 1 whenever new advertising
data is loaded on the system.
5. A method for executing steps in claim 1 whenever new schedule
information is loaded on the system.
6. A method for scheduling and presenting digital advertising
content according to claim 1 further comprising association with
default play list(s) when association rules yield no association
for a schedule item.
7. A method for scheduling and presenting digital advertising
content according to claim 1 wherein a schedule is saved to a
relational database at the end of processing.
8. A method for scheduling and presenting digital advertising
content according to claim 1 wherein said play lists meta-data must
be valid to be eligible for association processing.
9. A method for scheduling and presenting digital advertising
content according to claim 1 further comprising an ability to allow
a play list to be associated even if select content elements
expire.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/972,183, filed on Oct. 22, 2004, entitled "System For
Management of Both Pre-Show and Feature Presentation Content Within
a Theatre", in the names of Anthony Whyte, David S. Jones, Jeffrey
S. Loewenguth, Leslie G. Moore, and Paul Tomblin, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,994 B2, issued on Nov.
2, 2004, entitled "Streamlined Methods and Systems for Scheduling
and Handling Digital Cinema Content in a Multi-Theatre
Environment", in the names of Walter C. Bubie, Curtis R. Cates,
David S. Jones, Paul Tomblin, Michael E. McCrackan, and William A.
Orfitelli. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,994 B2 are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention is related to the field of digital cinema,
and more particularly to the use of digitized advertising
information in mixed film projection and digital projection
multi-theater environments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Today's theater management systems are structured for film
projection. Key elements of the systems include a ticketing system,
a film projector, a slide projector, a sound system and a theater
automation system for semi-automatically controlling basic theater
functions such as lighting and audio.
[0004] A typical show is divided into two major time segments,
pre-show slides used for advertisements, trivia, and facility
announcements, and the actual show time composed of show trailers
and the feature film.
[0005] The exhibitor sells pre-show time to screen advertisers. The
screen advertiser then forms advertising contracts with its
clients. Contractual conditions include the number of times an
advertisement must play, what kind of feature film the
advertisement will play with, how long the advertisement will be,
and what the start and end engagement dates will be.
[0006] With today's slide projector advertising systems these
conditions are laborious to fulfill, and are at best based on trust
relationships that cannot be easily verified or repudiated by the
advertiser. These systems therefore do not leave the advertiser
much room for process, product, or profit improvement.
[0007] What advertisers require are flexible systems that give them
control of pre-show advertising content creation, distribution and
projection. What exhibitors require are systems that minimize their
need to support the advertising portion of the show and do not
negatively impact their current feature film workflow and
practices.
[0008] The show time is used to present trailers and feature films.
The theater owner rents films from the originating studios under a
set of terms and conditions. These terms include the financial
arrangements between the two parties, and the start and end
engagement dates. The theater owner does exercise some freedom in
terms of executing the schedule on a day-to-day basis during this
time. The scheduling is completed weekly, but in some cases the
schedule is updated on short notice to accommodate customer
response.
[0009] The schedule is entered into a point of sale ticketing
system that drives a display of the schedule, manages ticket sales
and printing, and reports financials associated with the sales.
Playback execution of this schedule is effectively independent of
that data entry. It is rather a projectionist's interpretation of
the schedule and subsequent physical setup of advertising slides on
slide projectors, and splicing of advertisement, trailer and
feature film content reels on specific instances of projection
equipment that are the manifestation of the schedule. Again, a
laborious process that can benefit significantly from digital
management systems.
[0010] Such systems and methods for presentation of digitized
content in a cinema environment have been disclosed. U.S. Pat. No.
6,829,033 B2, entitled "Presentation Scheduling in Digital Cinema
System" presents a system that supports scheduling of digitized
content in a purely digital cinema system. It recognizes the need
for interfacing with existing theater automation subsystems for
environment control but does not adequately address issues with
"transitional" digital cinema; "transitional" meaning a system that
is comprised of both film projection and digital projection
subsystems and incorporates methods and mechanisms that permit
cooperation of the two. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,700,640 B2,
entitled "Apparatus and Method For Cueing a Theater Automation
System", describes a solution for building digital "platters"
comprised of trailers and feature film content with sensitivity to
attributes such as display aspect ratio, sound track format, and
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) ratings. Again, this
is discussed in the context of pure digital cinema where presenting
alerts to a user at schedule creation time enforces the
compatibility of content. This contrasts the algorithm-driven
schedule assessment to be described here, which encompasses both
hybrid systems utilizing a combination of film projection and
digital projection systems and/or combination systems meeting the
unique needs of pre-show in combination with show time. Lastly, WO
01/13301 entitled "System and Method For Digitally Providing and
Displaying Advertisement Information To Cinemas and Theaters"
discusses a just-in-time advertising model. In this invention,
content providers submit new content data instances to an
algorithmic "carousel" which may not guarantee playback. While this
may suit some advertising situations it is not a widespread
practice and still requires operator support at the exhibition
facility. What is required by advertisers and exhibitors are
systems that at a minimum give them the control to manage their
respective portions of the show time with no additional workflow
and more ideally add new efficiencies to their existing workflow. A
void therefore remains in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more
of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to
one aspect of the present invention, is a method for enabling
seamless transitions for a cinema presentation package, wherein the
cinema presentation package includes pre-shows, trailers, live
events, and main features. The steps include determining the
requirements of specific protocols corresponding to the cinema
presentation that will affect transitioning between the pre-shows,
trailers, live events, and main features. Transition behaviors have
to be identified between the pre-shows, trailers, live events, and
main features that form the cinema presentation package.
Flexibility exists in displaying the cinema presentation package,
and yet the pre-shows, trailers, live events, and main features are
displayed according to the specific protocols and transition rules
associated with the specific protocols.
[0012] Another aspect of the present invention provides a system
for enabling seamless transitions for a cinema presentation
package, wherein the cinema presentation package includes
pre-shows, trailers, live events, and main features, that include
predetermined specific protocols for governing transitions between
the pre-shows, trailers, live events, and main features. Also
included are means for organizing scheduling of the pre-shows,
trailers, live events, and main features; and flexibility. The
present invention enables starting and ending an individual
pre-show, trailer, live event, or main feature in a seamless
fashion.
[0013] A third aspect of the present invention provides a method
for scheduling and presenting digital advertising content to an
audience at an exhibitor site, the method that includes reading a
relational database that contains records of schedule items.
Additional reading steps include reading a relational database that
contains records of advertising play lists; reading a relational
database that contains rules of association; and creating
relational database records that associate schedule items in said
database with advertising play lists in said database per
association rules in said database.
Advantageous Effect of the Invention
[0014] Enables the screen advertiser to manage and control the
pre-show experience. [0015] Enables the theatre owner to manage and
control the showtime experience. [0016] Seamlessly manages the
transition and hand off in control between the pre-show and
showtime period of the theatre experience. [0017] Enables
cooperation with the theatre's ticketing system. [0018] Enables
scheduling pre-show based on feature attributes. [0019] Enables
scheduling pre-show based on theatre attributes. [0020] Enables
avoidance of dark time on screens between pre-show and feature
(transition). [0021] Enables flexible inter-show scheduling. [0022]
Enables scheduling and playback for any digital display device such
as lobby displays. [0023] Enables scheduling pre-show based on
presumed time-of-day populations (time slices). [0024] Enables
theatre owner to fully control the showtime portion of the theatre
experience including show time, and house within the theatre
complex.
[0025] These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will be more clearly understood and
appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates the segmentation of theater show periods
and ownership in the context of a feature presentation.
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates the segmentation of theater show periods
and ownership in the context of a live event alternative
presentation.
[0028] FIG. 3 describes the hierarchical relationships and
scheduling flexibilities among repeating, single-play, transition
playlists and feature presentation time.
[0029] FIG. 4 describes the hierarchical relationships and
scheduling flexibilities among repeating, single-play, transition
playlists and feature presentation time with a late feature
presentation start time.
[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates system components and their
connectivity.
[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates details around the structure of repeating
and single-play playlists and their required segmentation to
support seamless audio and video synchronization.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] This invention acknowledges that void and presents a system
that supports the co-existence of film and digital projection
subsystems and the coexistence of digital pre-show and showtime
systems by automating the reading of exhibitor schedule data and
linking advertising content with feature film or digital showtime
content via an intelligent, configurable algorithm.
[0033] The invention recognizes the unique ownership and business
interests of theater advertising providers, studios, and exhibitors
and proposes the segmentation of what has been referred to as a
theater "showlist". Referring to FIG. 1, we see the showlist as a
timewise contiguous sequence of blocks representing time in a
theater schedule. The showlist comprises a first segment of
digitized pre-show content 5 often taking the form of advertising
or informational announcements. The second segment comprises of
studio trailers 20 of upcoming feature presentations and releases.
The third segment comprises the feature showing 25 itself, also
referred to earlier as the "filmblock". "Ownership" in this context
is assigned to that entity that has specific control of a portion
of the show in terms of what plays, how it is initiated, how it
plays, and how it is terminated. Referring to FIG. 2, we see the
alternative of live event showings where the live event 30 replaces
the time slot of the film or digital feature. FIGS. 4 and 5 present
a hierarchical relationship between the pre-show, trailer, and
feature segments of the showlist. The schedule is hierarchical in
that higher layers have precedence over the lower. The highest
ranking has the right to play at any given time. If the
highest-ranking level does not play, perhaps due to equipment
failure for example, the next lower level will play. This behavior
is essential to the seamless presentation of the showlist. The
larger context or system within which the invention operates is
previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,994 B2, entitled
"Streamlined Methods and Systems For Scheduling and Handling
Digital Cinema Content in a Multi-theater Environment", as is
entirely incorporated herein by reference.
Ticketing System Interface
[0034] Referring to FIG. 5, we see a physical view of the system
which includes both legacy and new system components of a digital
cinema system as it would operate in a theater today. Legacy
aspects of the invention include a ticketing system input and
storage device 120 and its connectivity, and theater automation
system 135 integration. New digital cinema system components
include a core Theater Management System 100 comprising a computer,
database 105 and software with interfacing capabilities to both
legacy and new digital components. Of note is the presence of Wide
Area Network 130 connectivity, such as the Internet or private
managed networks to enable both input and loading of digital
content and output of system status and historical data. The source
and destination of such data is a centralized content distribution
entity 125 and clearinghouse of system data.
[0035] Today's theater ticket systems 120 are typically
computerized devices capable of supporting data entry and storage
of feature show schedules. In particular, the scheduling of the
feature or filmblock portion of the show is stored. Once stored,
this information can drive various other systems that have the
capability to interpret the schedule in its saved form, be it
textual or database bone. An embodiment of the invention includes
interfacing 121 with industry standard ticket systems via a
multiplicity of computer networking techniques such as network file
access or network file transfer. When configured to operate with a
particular system, the invention is aware of new data entry as well
as updated data entry and reacts to this information accordingly.
The invention creates a connection statefulness with the ticket
system such that expectation of updates at a frequency reflective
of normal weekly theater operations can be ensured.
[0036] Lastly, FIG. 5 shows the coexistence of a projection
equipment suite that can be used to drive the seamless showlist
presentation on a single screen 155. This equipment comprises
existing legacy feature film projection 145, new digital feature
projection 150, and new digital advertising projection equipment
145.
Association
[0037] As depicted in FIG. 5, the data from the ticket system 120
will be used primarily to drive "associations" or "schedule
linkages" between digitized advertising content and feature
presentation schedule entries. These entries originate through
human interaction with the ticket system and are thus subject to
inaccuracies and stylistic variations based on different
individuals who interact with the ticket system or different
exhibitor methods and best practices. To respond to these
variations, an embodiment of the invention includes a textual
analysis of data entry that results in either of two "resolution"
paths. The first path involves comparison with existing data stores
and applies word and language pattern matching resulting in a
successful association or a need to construct a request for further
handing by a local system operator or a centralized distribution
125 system entity, such as that which loaded the advertising
content onto the system. The invention then receives and stores the
result of that intervention, thus avoiding the need for future
resolution intervention.
[0038] Once saved, the association between advertising content and
feature presentation content can be applied based on any attribute
or combination of attributes of the feature presentations
themselves, the facility characteristics, or time. Embodiments of
the invention include association based on feature MPAA rating,
genre, originator, screen or playback time. It should be realized
that, once in place, the invention could be extended to apply to
any arbitrary attribute or combination of attributes.
[0039] A set of precedence rules (rules that specify what
association rules take precedence over others) is programmatically
applied by the Theater Management System 100. An algorithm will
look for a playlist that is matched to a specific feature title
and, if no match is found, then it could look for a match to the
feature's genre, and, if still no match is found, continue looking
for rating, studio schedule time of day, or screen number. As a
fall-through, the invention can assign a default playlist to avoid
a dark "advertising" screen.
Playback Behaviors
[0040] With the feature schedule data in place and the digitized
pre-show content loaded on the system, a notion of an entire
"showlist" forms. Referring to FIG. 6, this showlist begins
playback at configurable milestones prior to the feature showing.
Advertising pre-show will typically begin with repeating-play 220
content. FIG. 6 shows show the time-wise sequencing of pre-show and
feature presentation portions of the showlist 230. Repeating play
220 content will continue to loop until it meets schedule-wise with
a single play 225 portion of the pre-show. The invention allows for
a variable amount of repeating playlist 220 playback based on what
can be a varying quantity of single play 225 playlist content. This
is illustrated by the time-wise overlapping of these sections, as
seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0041] What is achieved here is a flexible and seamless transition
between repeating and single play pre-show segments. It thusly
allows for a single repeating playlist 220 to play with any or all
of the single play playlists 225 in the system or, the inverse,
where a single, single play 225 playlist can play with any
repeating playlist 220 in the system.
[0042] As mentioned and portrayed in FIGS. 3 and 4, schedule
execution of feature playback is inexact and reflects up the second
decisions which are made based on criteria that are not known nor
available to the pre-show portion of the system. Note the differing
showtime 35 milestones of FIGS. 3 and 4. To react to this, the
invention includes the notion of a "transition" playlist 11 that
allows for late execution of the feature playback while maintaining
uninterrupted playback of advertising content. In the absence of
"transition" 11 content, one embodiment of the invention begins
playback of the repeating playlist 15 portion of the pre-show. The
notion of such a playlist allows ad providers to designate premium
content to this slot which is proximate to feature playback and
therefore represents a highly desirable playback time.
[0043] Another manifestation of unreliable schedule execution
involves early feature playback. Conversely, the invention includes
an interface with well-known theater automation systems 135, as
depicted in FIG. 6, that allow for communication between pre-show
and feature playback equipment. The result is when feature
projection systems start projection, pre-show projection systems
stop projection.
[0044] Lastly, another embodiment of the invention allows for
configuration whereby the end of the pre-show playlists can be used
to signal the beginning of feature playback without the need for
operator intervention. This too is communicated via a theater
automation system 135 interface.
Audio Multiplexing
[0045] Referring to FIG. 6, the invention allows construction of
repeating playlists which can include elementary streams consisting
of either audio 200 or video 205 components or so-called program
streams 210 consisting of both audio and video components. The
implication with "audio only" 200 streams is such that they will
play as "background audio" against the "video only" 205 streams yet
intelligently relinquish to "program stream" 210 audio when
encountered. To achieve this, an embodiment of the invention
includes the formation of "segments" 235 within which advertising
providers can specifically control the playout of specific audio
and video components by designating specific streams as "background
audio", "video only" or "audio/video" sources.
[0046] The invention provides a solution that allows pre-show and
showtime, film and/or digital projection systems to cooperate in a
theater management environment. By integrating with a theater's
pre-existent scheduling system, and automation system advertising
content is scheduled to play with all feature films per advertiser
prescribed rules.
[0047] Each item in the schedule can be referred to as a
"showlist". Showlists comprise playlists, which comprise segments,
which comprise elementary (audio or video) and program (both audio
and video) streams. A showlist is composed of features and
associated playlists. The feature is the nucleus of the
showlist.
[0048] There are two types of playlist: single-play, and repeating.
Single-play playlists are scheduled to start at certain times and
play once through, at most. Repeating playlists are scheduled to
start at a certain time, with their content playing, repeatedly, if
necessary, until a scheduled end time. Playlists are placed
relative to the feature in the showlists with the functions of
pre-show, post-show, and transition. Transition playlists are shown
only as fill between regularly scheduled playlists and features
that do not start or end on time.
[0049] The exhibitor performs feature film schedule data entry via
the schedule system computer program. This system saves the
schedule in a database, or file-based form accessible by other
computer systems. With this information, printouts of the schedule
are attached to each projector and are referred to by the
projectionist to determine how and when feature film projection
equipment is to be operated.
[0050] Advertising content playlists and their association rules
are received by the system via electronic network and media
distribution means. The playlists and their rules are interpreted
and saved in a database program. Each day, content that is needed
to fulfill the screens' daily schedule is copied to a computer
system that drives the digital projection system for that screen.
As a scheduled feature playback time approaches repeatable and
single play playlists associated with that feature will begin to
play subject to the computer system receiving signals from the film
projection system (via theater automation system) that feature film
playback has begun. At this point digital advertising playback is
terminated.
[0051] Schedule execution at the exhibitor is by nature inexact due
to the fact that it is a projectionist's action that is often the
triggering mechanism to start a feature film showing. If the time
is reached where feature film playback has not started per the
ticket system schedule, a digital transitional playlist will be
played and projected.
[0052] Schedule execution at the exhibitor is by nature inexact.
This is due to a lack of absolute time synchronization between the
schedule system and digital advertising system along with the fact
that it is a projectionist's action that is often the triggering
mechanism to start a feature film showing, or to conscious
decisions at exhibition to delay the show start time. In order to
accommodate this an aspect of the invention is an interface with
the theater's automation system that interprets automation signals
in the context of the theater schedule.
[0053] The exhibitor performs feature film schedule data entry via
the schedule system computer program. This system saves the
schedule in a database, or file based form accessible by other
computer systems. The showtime schedule can be automatically
utilized for initiating the showing of a film or digital showtime
feature. It is common for shows to be delayed despite automatically
scheduling the start time due to long ticket lines, for example. If
the time is reached where feature film playback has not started per
the ticket system schedule--delayed due to manual intervention at
the theatre--a digital transitional playlist will be played and
projected.
[0054] It is one aspect of this invention to provide a system which
automatically controls the pre-show as per the contract with the
screen advertiser while allowing the exhibitor to control the
showing of the show time feature--and managing the transition and
hand off in control between the two aspects of the theatre
experience.
[0055] The schedule therefore drives the start of pre-show
repeating and single-play playlists followed by an optional
transitional playlist if the feature is not started on time.
Another aspect of the invention includes a response to an
interruption in digital feature or film projection that will begin
digital projection of a transitional playlist. And finally, another
aspect of the invention is a configurable response to the end of
film projection that begins digital playback of a repeating
playlist.
[0056] The invention has been described with reference to a
preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that
variations and modifications can be effected by a person of
ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the
invention.
Parts List
[0057] 5 Pre-Show Showlist Section [0058] 10 Single Play Playlist
[0059] 11 Transition Playlist [0060] 15 Repeating playlist Pre-show
showlist section [0061] 20 Trailer Showlist Section [0062] 25
Feature Showlist Section [0063] 30 Live Event showlist section
[0064] 35 Feature Start Time Line [0065] 100 Theater Management
Server [0066] 105 Theater Management Server--Database [0067] 110
Association Engine [0068] 115 Screen Content Player [0069] 120
Theater Ticket System [0070] 121 Theater Ticket System Connectivity
[0071] 125 Centralized Content Distribution Server [0072] 130 Wide
Area Network Connectivity [0073] 135 Theater Automation System
[0074] 140 Advertising Projector [0075] 145 Feature Projector--Film
Projection [0076] 150 Feature Projector--Digital Projection [0077]
155 Cinema Screen [0078] 200 Showlist Audio Only Content [0079] 205
Showlist Video Only Content [0080] 210 Showlist Audio/Video Content
[0081] 215 Playlist Repeat Point [0082] 220 Repeating Playlist
[0083] 225 Single Play playlist [0084] 230 Showlist [0085] 235
Segments
* * * * *