U.S. patent application number 11/816085 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-06 for methods and appartuses for assisting the production of media works and the like.
This patent application is currently assigned to TERESIS MEDIA MANAGEMENT, INC.. Invention is credited to Keri DeWitt.
Application Number | 20090198719 11/816085 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36916955 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090198719 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeWitt; Keri |
August 6, 2009 |
METHODS AND APPARTUSES FOR ASSISTING THE PRODUCTION OF MEDIA WORKS
AND THE LIKE
Abstract
Systems and methods for assisting one or more users in the
production of a media work from a plurality of recordings are
disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, digital versions of the
recordings are stored on a file-storage server accessible over a
communications network. A media-library server provides an
organized way for users to access and view the digital versions,
and to associate various data files with the digital versions, such
as transcription files, logging files, and storyboard documents.
The exemplary media library generates web pages that enable users
to search and access the digital versions from an internet browser
running on a conventional personal computer. The browser also
enables users to view the digital versions with a
browser-compatible media viewer.
Inventors: |
DeWitt; Keri; (Irvine,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHEPPARD, MULLIN, RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP
333 SOUTH HOPE STREET, 48TH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90071-1448
US
|
Assignee: |
TERESIS MEDIA MANAGEMENT,
INC.
Santa Ana
CA
|
Family ID: |
36916955 |
Appl. No.: |
11/816085 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
February 13, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2006/004987 |
371 Date: |
May 23, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60652455 |
Feb 12, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ; 707/999.1;
707/999.102; 707/999.104; 707/999.2; 707/E17.005; 707/E17.01;
707/E17.044; 709/206 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/951 20190101;
G06F 16/40 20190101; G06F 16/78 20190101; G11B 27/034 20130101;
H04L 65/601 20130101; G06F 16/58 20190101; G06F 16/43 20190101;
G06F 16/71 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/102 ;
707/200; 707/104.1; 709/206; 707/100; 707/E17.044; 707/E17.005;
707/E17.01 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30; G06F 17/00 20060101 G06F017/00; G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Claims
1. A system for assisting one or more users in the production of a
media work from a plurality of recordings, the system comprising: a
file-storage server accessible over a communications network; an
intake unit that receives an electrical signal representative of a
recording and an identifier for the recording, the intake unit
storing a digital version of the recording as a file in the
file-storage server, the file being accessible over the
communications network by reference to a corresponding network
identifier, the intake unit providing a notification of the
presence of the digital version, the notification including at
least the corresponding identifier, network identifier of the
digital version, or both; a media-library server that maintains a
database of digital versions of the recordings and provides a
record thereof in a form that can be viewed by a user, the
media-library server receiving the notification generated by the
intake of a new digital version and adding a record of the digital
version to its database in response to the notification.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the intake unit comprises an
intake record to present to a user for processing of a recording,
and wherein the intake record comprises at least one input field to
receive the identifier for the recording or the network identifier
of the digital version of the recording.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the intake unit comprises two or
more input ports to receive electrical signals representative of
recordings, and wherein the intake unit is configured to
simultaneously process two or more recordings to generate
corresponding digital versions thereof.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the intake unit comprises an input
port that receives an analog signal representative of a recording,
and a digitizing unit that generates a digital version of the
recording from the analog signal.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the intake unit comprises an input
port that receives a digital signal representative of a recording,
and a transcoder that generates a digital version of the recording
from the input digital signal, the digital version having a digital
format that is different from that of the input digital signal.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sub-clip processor
that divides a digital version into segments, and that stores the
segments as respective files in a file-storage server accessible
over the communications network by reference to corresponding
network identifiers, the sub-clip processor notifying the
media-library server of the existence of the sub-clip files.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the intake unit comprises an
intake record to present to a user for processing of a recording,
and wherein the intake record comprises at least one input field to
receive an indication of whether sub-clips are to be generated; and
wherein the intake unit provides a notification to the sub-clip
processor to generate sub-clips of a recording when the user has
provided an indication to generate sub-clips in the at least one
input field of the intake record for the recording, the
notification including at least one of the corresponding identifier
of the recording, the network identifier of the digital version of
the recording, or both.
8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a notification
processor that sends an electronic notification message to one or
more users over the communications network after the completion of
the storing of a digital version of a recording, the electronic
notification message including at least the corresponding recording
identifier, network identifier of the digital version, or both.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the intake unit comprises an
intake record to present to a user for processing of a recording,
and wherein the intake record comprises at least one input field to
receive an indication of the users to notify after the completion
of the storing of a digital version of a recording; and wherein the
intake unit provides a notification to the notification processor
of the indication of the users to notify, the notification
including at least the corresponding identifier of the recording,
network identifier of the digital version of the recording, or
both.
10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a
transcription-logging processor that sends an electronic
notification message to at least one transcribing party over the
communications network after the completion of the storing of a
digital version of a recording, the electronic notification message
including at least one of the corresponding identifier of the
recording, the network identifier of the digital version, or both;
and wherein upon receiving a data file from the at least one
transcribing party, the transcription-logging processor stores the
received data file in a file-storage server accessible over the
communications network by reference to a corresponding network
identifier, and notifies the media-library server of the existence
of the data file.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the intake unit comprises an
intake record to present to a user for processing of a recording,
and wherein the intake record comprises at least one input field to
receive an indication of the at least one transcribing party; and
wherein the intake unit provides a notification to the
transcription-logging processor of the indication of the at least
one transcribing party, the notification including at least one of
the corresponding identifier of the recording, the network
identifier of the digital version of the recording, or both.
12. The system of claim 1 further comprising an access-control
processor that tracks the location of the tangible media of the
recordings according to respective identifiers that are affixed to
the tangible media, the access-control processor comprising a
plurality of asset-control records, with an asset-control record
being assigned to each recording tracked by the access-control
processor, each asset-control record comprising a field to hold the
identifier of its corresponding recording, a field to hold a
representation of the identifier affixed to its corresponding
tangible medium and at least a status field to indicate the
location of the tangible medium, wherein the access-control
processor sends a notification to the media-library server when the
status field of an asset-control record is changed, the
notification identifying the corresponding recording and providing
an updated status.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the intake unit comprises an
intake record to present to a user for processing a recording, and
wherein the intake record comprises at least one input field to
receive a representation of an identifier affixed to the
recording's tangible medium; and wherein the intake unit provides a
notification to the access-control processor of the representation
of the identifier affixed to the recording's tangible medium, the
notification including at least one of the corresponding identifier
of the recording, the network identifier of the digital version of
the recording, or both.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the media-library server further
comprises a database of the library records of the plurality of
recordings, wherein each library record has a field to store the
network address of the digital version of the recording and a
plurality of information fields to store respective pieces of
information about the recording, and wherein the media-library
server further comprises a set of instructions that generate web
page representations of the library records that are accessible
over the communications network.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the media-library server further
comprises an instruction set that generates at least one web page
accessible over the communications network that presents a dialog
box for accepting keywords that may be used to search one or more
fields of the library records.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein at least one library record for
a recording comprises a file-association field for associating one
or more document files with the recording and the recording's
library record, and wherein the media-library server generates at
least one web page accessible over the communications network that
presents a dialog box for accepting a filename or network address
of a document file that is to be added to the file-association
field.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the media-library server further
comprises an instruction set that generates at least one web page
accessible over the communications network that presents a dialog
box for accepting keywords that may be used to search the contents
of document files that have been associated with one or more
library records.
18. A system for assisting one or more users in the production of a
media work from a plurality of recordings, the system comprising: a
file-storage server accessible over a communications network for
storing digital versions of the recordings as files that are
accessible over the communications network by reference to
corresponding network identifiers; a media-library server that
comprises a database of library records of the plurality of
recordings, each library record for a recording having a field to
store the network address of the digital version of the recording
and a plurality of information fields that store respective pieces
of information about the recording, the media-library server
further comprising a set of instructions that generate web page
representations of the library records that are accessible over the
communications network.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the media-library server further
comprises an instruction set that generates at least one web page
accessible over the communications network that presents a dialog
box for accepting keywords that may be used to search one or more
fields of the library records.
20. The system of claim 18 wherein at least one library record for
a recording comprises a file-association field for associating one
or more document files with the recording, and wherein the
media-library server generates at least one web page accessible
over the communications network that presents a dialog box for
accepting a filename or network address of a document file that is
to be added to the file-association field.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the media-library server further
comprises an instruction set that generates at least one web page
accessible over the communications network that presents a dialog
box for accepting keywords that may be used to search the contents
of document files that have been associated with one or more
library records.
22. A system for assisting one or more users in the production of a
media work from a plurality of recordings, the system comprising: a
file-storage server accessible over a communications network; an
intake unit that receives an electrical signal representative of a
recording and an identifier for the recording, the intake unit
storing a digital version of the recording as a file in the
file-storage server, the file being accessible over the
communications network by reference to a corresponding network
identifier; and a notification processor that provides an
electronic notification message to at least a first entity over the
communications network after the completion of the storing of a
digital version of a recording, the electronic notification message
including at least one of the corresponding recording identifier,
the network identifier of the digital version, or both.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first entity is a user of
the system.
24. The system of claim 22 wherein the intake unit comprises a user
interface to display information to the user and to receive input
from a user, a processor, and an instruction set that directs the
processor to present an intake record to the user, the intake
record having an input field to receive at least the identity of
the first entity.
25. The system of claim 22 wherein the notification processor
comprises a transcription-logging processor and wherein the first
entity comprises a transcribing party; and wherein upon receiving a
data file from the transcribing party, the transcription-logging
processor stores the received data file in a file-storage server
accessible over the communications network by reference to a
corresponding network identifier, and notifies at least a second
entity of the existence of the data file.
26. The system of claim 22 wherein the intake unit comprises a user
interface to display information to the user and to receive input
from a user, a processor, and an instruction set that directs the
processor to present an intake record to the user, the intake
record having an input field to receive at least the identity of
the first entity.
27. A method for assisting one or more users in the production of a
media work from a plurality of recordings, the method comprising:
generating a digital version of a recording as a file in a
file-storage server, the file being accessible over a
communications network by reference to a corresponding network
identifier; and providing a notification of the presence of the
digital version to at least one entity over the communications
network after completing the storing of a digital version of a
recording, the notification including at least one of the
corresponding identifier, the network identifier of the digital
version, or both.
28. The method of claim 27 further comprising: creating a database
of digital versions of the recordings; providing a record thereof
in a form that can be viewed by a user, the media-library server
receiving the notification generated by the intake of a new digital
version and adding a record of the digital version to its database
in response to the notification.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein the database is managed by a
media-library server, and where the at least one entity is the
media library server.
30. The method of claim 28 further comprising: generating sub-clip
segments of a recording and storing the segments in respective
files in a file-storage server, each such file being accessible
over the communications network by reference to a corresponding
network identifier; updating the database to reflect the presence
of the sub-clip segments and their respective network
identifiers.
31. The method of claim 28 further comprising: receiving a data
file having information about a recordings; updating the database
to reflect the presence of the data file.
32. The method of claim 28 further comprising: receiving
notification of a data file having information about a recording,
the notification including the data file's filename or the network
identifier, or both; updating the database to reflect the existence
of the data file and at least one of its filename and network
identifier.
33. The method of claim 28 further comprising: tracking the storage
status of the tangible media of the recording; updating the
database to reflect the storage status of the recording's tangible
media.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for
assisting users in the production of media works and the like from
a plurality of recordings and other content assets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The entertainment industry has developed a new genre of
movie/television entertainment called "Reality TV," or "unscripted
programming." In this genre, untrained actors are placed in various
settings with general direction and rules to guide their
interactions, but without a specific script for actions or dialog.
Beforehand, the production staff has a general idea of the
storyline for the production, but the final storyline will depend
upon the interactions that take place. Several video cameras are
located within the settings and record the interactions among the
actors for long periods of time. Various stimuli may be introduced
into the settings by the production staff to provoke unpredictable
interactions among the actors. After several settings have been
videotaped for several hours over several days by several cameras,
the production staff reviews hundreds to thousands of hours of
videotape and constructs a final storyline for the TV production
(i.e., media work).
[0003] In a typical production, the raw video material is reviewed
by several people, typically in the range of 10 to 50, each doing a
specific task, such as logging, transcribing, scanning for story
points, story writing, and setting creative directions. To review
raw video material, each of the hundreds of videotapes is
duplicated several times, and the duplicates are distributed among
the production staff. The large number of tapes has, however,
created several problems that hamper and delay the production, and
that increase the need for additional staffing to manage the
distribution of duplicate tapes. As a first problem, the
duplication of the videotapes requires time and expensive
duplicating equipment. This has created a significant bottleneck in
getting the video material to the production staff. As a second
problem, the task of duplicating tens to hundreds of tapes as
quickly as possible often creates a haphazard work environment
where the original tapes and duplicates can be misplaced, lost,
mislabeled, mixed up, and/or stolen. As a third problem, the large
volume of duplicate tapes complicates the tape management and
distribution process, and often leads to the failure to distribute
duplicate tapes to key staff production persons for transcription,
logging, and storyline development. As a fourth problem, the large
volume of video material has made it difficult for the production
staff to communicate with one another and correctly identify
important video scenes. This impedes the creativity and
productivity of the producers and the storywriters. As a fifth
problem, the large volume of original tapes makes it difficult to
correlate and communicate all the production information (e.g.,
"shoot packet documentation") associated with the original tapes.
As a sixth problem, the production staff is essentially forced to
work out of a central facility because of the need to have physical
access to the duplicate tapes and associated documentation.
[0004] To date, these problems have hindered the production and
development of unscripted programming. A solution to these problems
is needed to ease the production of unscripted programming and to
enable the genre to expand in new creative directions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides methods and apparatuses that
address these problems.
[0006] The present invention encompasses a first exemplary system
for assisting one or more users in the production of a media work
from a plurality of recordings, with the first exemplary system
comprising a file-storage server accessible over a communications
network, an intake unit, and a media-library server. The intake
unit receives an electrical signal representative of a recording
and an identifier for the recording, and stores a digital version
of the recording as a file in the file-storage server. The
digital-version file is accessible over the communications network
by reference to a corresponding network identifier. The intake unit
provides a notification of the presence of the digital version to
the media-library server. The media-library server maintains a
database of digital versions of the recordings and provides records
thereof in a form that can be viewed by a user, such as by an
internet browser. The media-library server adds a record of the
digital version to its database in response to receiving
notification from the intake unit.
[0007] A preferred embodiment of the first exemplary system may
include a notification processor that sends an electronic
notification message to one or more users over the communications
network upon the completion of the storing of a digital version of
a recording. The electronic notification message includes at least
the corresponding recording identifier, network identifier of the
digital version, or both. Also, a preferred embodiment of the first
exemplary system may include a sub-clip processor that divides a
digital version into segments, and that stores the segments as
respective files in a file-storage server accessible over the
communications network by reference to corresponding network
identifiers. The sub-clip processor notifies, either directly or
indirectly, the media-library server of the existence of the
sub-clip files, and the media-library server includes references to
the sub-clip files in its record. Also, in a preferred embodiment
of the first exemplary system, the media-library server is capable
of associating a data file that contains a transcription and/or
logging of a recording with the digital version of the recording.
This preferred embodiment includes a transcription-logging
processor that sends an electronic notification message to at least
one transcribing party over the communications network after the
digital version of the recording has been stored, the electronic
notification message including at least the corresponding
identifier of the recording, network identifier of the digital
version, or both. Upon receiving the data file from the
transcribing party, the transcription-logging processor stores the
received data file in a file-storage server accessible over the
communications network by reference to a corresponding network
identifier, and notifies the media-library server of the existence
of the data file. Also, a preferred embodiment of the first
exemplary system may comprise an access-control processor that
tracks the location of the tangible media of the recordings
according to respective identifiers that are affixed to the
tangible media. The access-control processor comprises a plurality
of asset-control records, with an asset-control record being
assigned to each recording tracked by the access-control processor.
Each asset-control record comprises a field to hold the identifier
of its corresponding recording, a field to hold a representation of
the identifier affixed to its corresponding tangible medium, and at
least a status field to indicate the location of the tangible
medium. The access-control processor sends a notification to the
media-library server when the status field of an asset-control
record is changed, the notification identifying the corresponding
recording and providing an updated status.
[0008] The features of the first exemplary system eliminate the
need for generation of duplicate tapes (e.g., VHS-work copies), and
the corresponding production bottleneck. The features of preferred
embodiments of this exemplary system simplify and streamline the
management and access of the recordings by providing central access
to the content of the recordings by way of the digital versions, by
electronically notifying users of the presence of the digital
versions, and by monitoring the location of the original
recordings. The features of additional preferred embodiments
increase access to, and review of, the content of the recordings by
providing sub-clips of the records, by managing the procurement of
transcription/logging data files, and by enabling easy access to
the transcription/logging data files.
[0009] The present invention also encompasses a second exemplary
system for assisting one or more users in the production of a media
work from a plurality of recordings. All or part of the second
exemplary system may be incorporated with the first exemplary
system, including the preferred embodiments thereof. The second
exemplary system comprises a file-storage server accessible over a
communications network for storing digital versions of the
recordings as files that are accessible over the communications
network by reference to corresponding network identifiers. The
second exemplary system further comprises a media-library server
that maintains a database of library records of the plurality of
recordings, each library record for a recording having a field to
store the network address of the digital version of the recording
and a plurality of information fields that store respective pieces
of information about the recording, the media-library server
further comprises a set of instructions that generate web-page
representations of the library records that are accessible over the
communications network.
[0010] A preferred embodiment of the second exemplary system has a
media-library server that further comprises an instruction set that
generates at least one web page accessible over the communications
network that presents a dialog box for accepting keywords that may
be used to search one or more fields of the library records. Also,
in a preferred embodiment of the second exemplary system, at least
one library record for a recording comprises a file-association
field for associating one or more document files with the
recording, and wherein the media-library server generates at least
one web page accessible over the communications network that
presents a dialog box for accepting a filename or network address
of a document file that is to be added to the file-association
field.
[0011] The features of the second exemplary system simplify for the
users the tasks of managing and tracking the content of the
recordings. The features of the preferred embodiments of this
exemplary system simplify for the users the task of searching the
content of the recordings, and facilitate communication among the
users.
[0012] The present invention also encompasses a third exemplary
system for assisting one or more users in the production of a media
work from a plurality of recordings. All or part of the third
exemplary system may be incorporated with either or both of the
first and second exemplary systems, including the preferred
embodiments thereof. The third exemplary system comprises a
file-storage server accessible over a communications network, an
intake unit, and a notification processor. The intake unit receives
an electrical signal representative of a recording and an
identifier for the recording, and stores a digital version of the
recording as a file in the file-storage server. The file is
accessible over the communications network by reference to a
corresponding network identifier. The notification processor
provides an electronic notification message to at least a first
entity over the communications network after the completion of the
storing of a digital version of a recording. The electronic
notification message includes at least the corresponding recording
identifier, a network identifier of the digital version, or
both.
[0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
enable the facilitation of the production of media works and the
like.
[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide
production staff with more organized access to recordings and other
content assets used to construct media works.
[0015] It is another object of the present invention to enable
production staff to decrease the amount of time needed to create a
media work from recordings and other content assets.
[0016] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
production staff with the ability to explore a greater range of
creativity in their media works.
[0017] These objects and others will become apparent to one of
ordinary skill in the art from the present specification, claims,
and attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary system according to the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary intake record used during an
exemplary intake process according to the present invention.
[0020] FIGS. 3A and 3B show exemplary media access records
according to the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 4A shows an exemplary library record in web-page format
according to the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4B shows an exemplary web page for enabling a user to
edit information and to associate files to a library record
according to the present invention.
[0023] FIGS. 5A and 5B show instances of an exemplary main access
web page to the Asset Library according to the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates the work flow of a typical production
environment according to the prior art.
[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates the work flow of an exemplary production
environment according to the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of an intake unit
according to the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of a component
according to the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of a media-library
server according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] The present invention provides several interconnected
processes and systems that assist users in the production of media
works from content recordings, which may comprise audio recordings,
video recordings, photographs, artwork, production notes, and the
like. The users of the production methods and systems are
collectively referred to as the production staff, and include, but
are not limited to, executives, directors, producers, storywriters,
editors, assistants, and production staffers. A preferred
embodiment 100 of a system according to the present invention is
illustrated in FIG. 1. System 100 comprises a plurality of
components 110-190 that may be interconnected by a
digital-packet-based communications network 105. Communications
network 105 may include local networks and the Internet. We briefly
describe each of the components first, and then follow up with a
more detailed description of their interactions with each other and
with the users of the system. As explained below, while components
110-190 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as separate components coupled to
communications network 105, various components may be combined
together into respective groups.
[0030] An intake unit 110 generates digital versions of audiotapes
and videotapes, generally referred to herein as recordings, and
places the digital version in a file-storage server 120 that is
accessible over communications network 105. A media-library server
130 maintains a database of the stored digital versions of the
recordings and enables users to associate various data files, such
as logging, transcription, and production-note files, with each
digital version. Media-library server 130 includes a digital
version in its listing in response to the digital version being
generated by intake unit 110. A plurality of access portals 150
provide browser-based navigation to the users of system 100 that
enables them to search, listen, and view the digital versions, and
to associate additional information and files with each digital
version in the library listing.
[0031] A notification processor 160 notifies a group of one or more
users by e-mail when a digital version of a recording has been
generated. The members of the group can be configured and changed
by administrators of the system (i.e., users with special access
privileges). Multiple groups can be created, and a user operating
intake unit 110 can select which groups to notify depending upon
the nature of the particular recording that the intake unit is
processing. An e-mail server 170 connected to communications
network 105 provides e-mail accounts to the users, stores the
e-mail messages from notification processor 160, and allows the
users to access their e-mail messages through the access portals
150. As another component of system 100, a transcription-logging
processor 180 sends an electronic request to a user or outside
vendor (both generically referred to herein as a transcribing
party) to create a transcription file, log file, or combination
transcription/log file for a recording when the corresponding
digital version has been generated. Transcription-logging processor
180 receives in return a data file of the transcription and/or log,
loads it into file-storage server 120 or the like, and causes the
media-library server 130 to include the data file in its listing
along with the digital version.
[0032] As an enhancement of system 100, a sub-clip processor 140
can selectively divide a digital version of a recording into
sub-clips based one or more of the following criteria: scene
changes, breaks in time codes, periodic intervals (usually to the
nearest key frame or audio dead space). The sub-clips may be stored
in file-storage server 120 or similar device that is accessible
over communications network 105. As another enhancement, an
access-control processor 190 allocates and maintains a data field
for a bar-code identifier (or other suitable types of identifier)
and an access-history table for each recording. The bar-code field
is capable of storing the identification information contained by a
bar-code identifier affixed to the recording's tangible medium, and
the access-history table is capable of indicating when the
recording's tangible medium is removed from a designated location
198 (e.g., storage vault) and by whom.
[0033] While components 110-190 are illustrated as separate
components coupled to communications network 105, it may be
appreciated that some or all of the components may be combined
together into one or more respective groups. For example,
file-storage server 120 may be combined with one or more of intake
unit 110, media-library server 130 and e-mail server 170;
media-library server 130 may be combined with one or more of intake
unit 110, file-storage server 120, and e-mail server 170; sub-clip
processor 140 may be combined with one or more of intake unit 110,
file-storage server 120, media-library server 130, and processors
160, 170, 180, and 190; and each of components 160, 170, 180, and
190 may be combined with any of components 110-140 and 160-190.
[0034] Having given an overview of preferred embodiments of the
present invention, we now turn to providing a detailed description
thereof.
[0035] Intake unit 110 comprises a user interface 115, a plurality
of input ports coupled to a corresponding plurality of media
readers MR1-MR4 to receive electrical signals representative of the
recording being read (e.g., played) by media readers MR1-MR4, a
processor, and several sets of instructions that direct the
processor in specific tasks, as described below in greater detail.
Intake unit 110 is capable of receiving an electrical signal
representative of a recording on each of its input ports coupled to
the media readers, and of receiving a recording identifier for the
recording from a user operating intake unit 110. The electrical
signal may be in analog form or digital form. The intake unit
stores a digital version of the recording as a file in file-storage
server 120, typically via communications network 105. If the
electrical signal is in analog form, the processor is directed
through a set of instructions to generate a digital version from
the analog signal. If the electrical signal is in digital form, the
processor is directed through another set of instructions to
generate the digital version as a copy of the digital electrical
signal directly or with some modifications, or to generate the
digital version in a different digital format from that of the
digital electrical signal by way of a trans-coding process, as
determined by user input. In all cases, the processor is preferably
directed to include time-stamp codes into the digital version, the
time codes preferably comprising the standard SMPTE format (Society
of Motion Picture and Television Engineers), or a form that can be
later used to generate the SMPTE format.
[0036] The digital version stored on file-storage server 120 can be
accessed by components of system 110 over communications network
105 by reference to a corresponding network identifier. The network
identifier may take any conventional form, including common forms
used for the Internet, wide-area networks, local-area networks, and
the like. One exemplary form of a network identifier suitable for
internet access may be:
https://FileStorageID.ProductionCompany.com/DigitalVersionsDirectory/Rec-
ordingID.xyz
where "https://FileStorage.ProductionCompany.com" indicates the
internet protocol and IP address to file-storage server 120, where
"DigitalVersionsDirectory" indicates the file directory of server
120 where the digital version is stored, where "RecordingID"
uniquely identifies the recording to which the digital version
corresponds, and where "xyz" identifies the media type of the
digital version, such as mpg, avi, mpw, wav, etc. "RecordingID" is
the previously-described recording identifier for the recording (as
provided to intake unit 110 by a user) or is derived from it. If
the components of system 100 are interconnected by a wide-area
network or a local area network, then one exemplary form of a
network identifier may be:
\\FileStorageID\DigitalVersionsDirectory\RecordingID.xyz
where "\\FileStorageID\" indicates the network address to
file-storage server 120, and where "DigitalVersionsDirectory",
"RecordingID", and "xyz" have their previous meanings.
[0037] In preferred embodiments of system 100, intake unit 110
presents to the user, by way of user interface 115, an intake
record to be filled out before a digital version of the recording
is generated. An exemplary record is shown in FIG. 2. It comprises
a field ("Recording Identifier") to receive an identifier for the
recording, a field ("Bar-Code Data") to receive bar-code data of a
bar-code identifier that is affixed to the recording's tangible
medium, a field ("Media Type") to indicate the media type (e.g.,
Beta SP tape, S-VHS tape, digital DV tape, optical disc, audio
record, audio compact disc, etc.), and a field ("File Storage
Location") to indicate where on the network (e.g., the directory on
file-storage server 120) the digital version will be stored, which
will be used to set the "FileStorageID" and
"DigitalVersionsDirectory" portions of the network address of the
digital version. The "Recording Identifier" field will be used to
set or derive the "RecordingID" portion of the network address. To
simplify the presentation of the present invention, and without
loss of generality, we will take the case where the "RecordingID"
portion of the network address for the digital version is identical
to the value provided by the user in the "Recording Identifier"
field of the intake record.
[0038] The intake record further comprises a field ("Input Port")
to indicate on which input port the recording will be received
(e.g., which media reader MR1-MR4 will be used to play the
recording), and a field ("Video Format") to indicate the digital
format of the digital version (optionally including a resolution
field). The contents of the "Video Format" field will determine the
file extension "xyz" of the network address of the digital version.
One or more of the input ports may be preset (i.e., hardwired) to
receive a particular format of electrical signal, such as analog
audio, digital audio, analog YUV format (NTSC or PAL) with
separated analog audio, analog composite video (NTSC or PAL) with
combined audio, digital video (e.g., DV), etc. In such case, intake
unit 110 is programmed with the knowledge of the particular format
for the input port. As another approach, which may be used alone or
in combination with the prior approach, one or more of the input
ports may have two or more connectors to receive different types of
formats. In this case, the intake record may include an additional
selection field (not shown in the figure) for the port where the
user can select which connector is to be used for the input port.
Alternatively, intake unit 110 may include electronic detection
circuitry at each connector to detect the presence of an electrical
signal, and thereby determine which connector and format are being
used.
[0039] The preferred embodiments of the intake record shown in FIG.
2 further comprise a field ("Sub-Clips") indicating whether
sub-clips are to be generated (optionally including a "Criteria"
field for defining the clips), a field ("Notify upon completion of
intake") to indicate the users (and/or groups of users) who will
receive notification upon completion of the digital version, and
one or more fields ("Request Transcript/Log") to indicate whether
the digital version is to be transcribed and/or logged, and by
whom. For the latter two fields, intake unit 110 preferably
presents the user with respective lists of groups of users,
individuals (e.g., other users), and vendors to select from. To
obtain the values for these fields, intake unit 110 can send
request messages over communications network 105 to notification
processor 160 and transcription-logging processor 180 requesting
the names of the groups, individuals, and vendors to be presented
for selection. Processors 160 and 180 can then send reply messages
to intake unit 110 with the requested information. Processors 160
and 180 are configured beforehand with this information by a system
administrator. There are several types of network communications
protocols known to the art for sending and receiving the above
types of messages between components over communications network,
and any one of them may be used to implement the messaging between
component 110 and components 160 and 180. The details of
communications between components are described below in greater
detail.
[0040] To expedite the process of filling out an intake record,
intake unit 110 may comprise a plurality of selectable templates
for the intake records, with each template filling in selected
fields with preset values. For example, a default template may be
used which pre-fills the following fields: File Storage Location,
the video and audio format fields, the sub-clip fields, the
notification fields, and the transcription/logging fields. The user
is then required to enter the recording's identifier, the bar code
on the recording's medium (preferably entered by means of a
conventional, hand-held, bar-code scanner), the input port (i.e.,
MR1, MR2, MR3, or MR4), and preferably his/her name at the bottom
of the intake record. The user is preferably allowed to change the
pre-filled fields to meet particular circumstances. However,
preferred embodiments also enable a system administrator to lock
one or more of the pre-filled fields to set values that cannot be
changed by the user performing the intake process.
[0041] In preferred practices of processing the recordings, a user
obtains the tangible form of a recording, affixes a bar-code
identifier to it, fills out a corresponding intake record for the
recording by way of user interface 115 (preferably scanning the bar
code with a scanner), and places the tangible form in one of media
readers MR1-MR4 to be read. Thereafter, the user issues a start
command to intake unit 110 to start its processing, and issues a
start command to the selected media reader. The former command may
be issued by keystroke or mouse click by the user on the intake
record, and the latter command may be issued by the user pressing a
play button on the media reader. As another approach to issuing the
latter command, the intake unit 110 may send an electronic signal
to the selected media reader via interconnect cable to start
playing when the user issues the start command to intake unit 110.
Intake unit 110 may start storing the digital version at
file-storage server 120 in segments as the intake process occurs,
or may wait until the completion of the intake process before
storing the digital version at server 120. In the latter case, the
entire file may be temporarily stored by a storage device within
intake unit 110.
[0042] When the generation of the digital version of the recording
has been completed, intake unit 110 either directly or indirectly
notifies each of components 130, 140, 160, 180, and 190 of the
completion. The notification may be done by a number of approaches.
As a first exemplary notification approach, intake unit 110 may
inform each of the components individually, by electronic messages,
according to the information contained on the intake record for the
recording. If a component has not been combined with intake unit
110, the e-mail notification message may be conveyed through
communications network 105. If the component is combined with
intake unit 110, the e-mail notification can be done by internal
message (e.g., software-based communication between instruction
sets). Each of components 130, 140, 160, and 180 receives at least
the recording identifier and/or the storage location of the digital
version of the recording, and also receives additional information
fields pertinent to its particular task. In particular, sub-clip
processor 140 additionally receives the sub-clip information
fields, notification processor 160 additionally receives the field
comprising the list of individuals and groups to notify, and
transcription-logging processor 180 additionally receives the
transcription/logging information fields. Access-control processor
190 receives at least the recording-identifier field, the bar-code
field, optionally the media-type field, and preferably the name
field of the user who started the intake process. Each of the
components, of course, may receive more information fields than
indicated above. The conveying of this information indicates the
presence of a new recording and corresponding digital version to
components 130, 140, 160, 180, and 190, which can then undertake
their corresponding tasks.
[0043] In preferred embodiments, each of components 130, 140, 160,
and 180 receives both the recording identifier and the network
identifier of the digital version as part of the notification from
intake unit 110. However, system 100 may be implemented in a manner
where all digital versions are placed in a preset directory on
server 120, and where the file name (i.e., network identifier) of
each digital version comprises the recording identifier. In this
implementation, the recording identifier can be deduced from the
network identifier, and the network identifier can be deduced from
the recording identifier. Thus, in this implementation, each of
components 130, 140, 160, and 180 need only receive the recording
identifier or the network identifier of the digital version as part
of the notification from intake unit 110.
[0044] As a second exemplary notification approach, intake unit 110
can send the contents of the intake record to one of the other
components (or a dedicated component not shown in FIG. 1), and that
component can handle the notification of the other components in
the manner described immediately above. As a third exemplary
notification approach, intake unit 110 can place a copy of the
intake record at a designated storage location (such as under a
specific file directory under file-storage server 120), and each of
the components that needs the notification can comprise a
sub-process that periodically checks the designated storage
location for newly-added intake records. When a newly-added intake
record is detected, the system component can read it and determine
what actions to take based on the data in the record's fields.
Combinations of the above approaches may also be used; for example,
some components may receive direct notification while other
components would periodically check the designated storage location
for newly-added intake records.
[0045] Also upon completion of the intake process, a user removes
the tangible medium of the recording from the media reader, and
places it into the storage vault 198, or gives it to another user
to do so. The storage vault is preferably used to store all of the
media assets, including the tangible media of the recordings,
associated with the production project. Beforehand, the user
notifies access-control processor 190 by way of a user interface
195 that the tangible medium is being placed in storage vault 198.
Access-control processor 190 maintains a database of asset-control
records, with an asset-control record being assigned to at least
each asset that is to be kept in vault 198. User interface 195
comprises a keyboard and screen, and preferably a hand-held
bar-code scanner. The user scans the bar code of the tangible
medium with the bar-code scanner, which provides the bar-code
number to processor 195. Processor 195 searches its database for
the asset-control record that corresponds to the scanned bar-code
number. Beforehand, access-control processor 190 preferably
received a notification from intake unit 110, either directly or
indirectly, containing the pertinent information from the intake
record for the recording's tangible medium. Access-control
processor 190 creates a media-access record for the recording's
tangible medium from this pertinent information, and places the
media-access record in its database of asset-control records. If
processor 195 has not yet received the notification, it can send an
inquiry message to intake unit 110 asking for the recording's
information, or it can check the designated storage location for
newly-added intake records, depending upon how the notification
procedure has been configured (as described above).
[0046] An exemplary media-access record is illustrated in FIG. 3A.
It comprises a field to hold the recording identifier (such as
entered by the user during the intake process), a field to hold the
number of the bar-code that has been affixed to the tangible medium
of the recording, an optional field to indicate the type of medium
(e.g., VHS tape, Beta SP tape, recordable optical disc, art work,
etc.), and another optional field to indicate the location within
storage vault 198. The first three fields of the asset-control
record are received from intake unit 110, unless the media asset
did not undergo the intake process (such as would be the case with
art work). In this case, processor 190 enables the user to create
an asset-control record and fill in the first three fields. The
exemplary asset-control record also comprises an access table that
holds a history of when the medium has been checked out from the
vault and checked in to the vault, and by whom. Each time the
tangible medium of the recording is checked in or checked out of
the vault, the user in charge of the vault scans the bar-code on
the tangible medium with the bar-code scanner. In response, the
access-control processor 190 accesses its database for the
asset-control record of the corresponding recording, and displays a
processing dialog to the user on a screen of interface 195. The
processing dialog box is shown in FIG. 3B in the case where the
tangible medium is being checked out. Each time an asset-control
record is created or updated, access-control processor 190 can be
configured to send an electronic message to media-library server
130 in order to update these components on the status of the
recording's tangible medium. The electronic message provides the
recording identifier, the current status of the tangible medium,
and a network link to the asset-control record. This enables
media-library server 130 to provide the current status of the
recording's tangible medium (checked in or checked out and by
whom), and a network link to the medium's asset-control record to a
user by way of a web page of information about the recording, as
described below in greater detail.
[0047] During the intake process, intake unit 110 performs any
digitization, encoding, and trans-coding indicated by the intake
record. For this, intake unit 110 comprises an audio digitizing
unit, a video digitizing unit, one or more encoders, and/or one or
more trans-coders. The digitizing units are common to the art, and
readily integrated into systems. Encoders and trans-coders are
typically implemented by a data processor operating under the
direction of respective sets of instructions (e.g., "codecs"). Such
instruction sets are commercially available, and can be integrated
into the processor of intake unit 110 without undue
experimentation. As indicated above, intake unit 110 knows the
format of the electronic signal being provided to each of its input
ports for media readers MR1-MR4. With this knowledge, intake unit
110 can readily select an appropriate set of digitization
parameters to configure the digitizing unit (if the input signal is
analog), and an appropriate encoder or trans-coder to generate the
digital version in the format that the user has selected on the
intake record.
[0048] FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of intake unit 110. In
addition to the connection to communications network 105 and user
interface 115 (previously shown in FIG. 1), intake unit 110 further
comprises a data processor 112 operating under the direction of a
plurality of instruction sets stored on a computer-readable medium
114, and a group 116 of one or more digitizing units (analog and/or
video) coupled between the media readers MR1-MR4 and data processor
112. Data processor 112 comprises one or more bus interfaces to the
digitizing units 116, and I/O ports to user interface 115, such as
to a display, keyboard, and mouse. Computer-readable medium 114 may
comprise the forms of electronic memory, magnetic memory (e.g.,
hard-drive discs), optical memory (e.g., CD-ROMs), or combinations
thereof. The user interface instructions direct the processor to
present an intake record to the user, to enable the user to input
information into the fields of the intake record, and to hand off a
completed intake record to the main control instruction sets for
handling. The main control instruction sets direct data processor
112 to determine how the digitizing units should be configured, and
which encoding and trans-coding instruction to use based on the
information provided in the intake record. The main control
instruction sets further direct data processor 112 to configure and
activate the appropriate digitizing units in group 116 under the
direction of a set of digitizing and coding control instruction
sets, and to direct data processor 112 to undertake the appropriate
encoding and/or trans-coding processes under the direction of the
appropriate encoding and trans-coding instruction sets to generate
the digital version of the recording. The encoding and trans-coding
instruction sets preferably include subsets of instructions that
direct processor 112 to insert SMPTE time codes into the digital
version, preferably while it is being generated. These instruction
sets can also direct data processor 112 to detect the end of the
recording, at which point the main control instruction sets are
notified. Thereafter, the main control instruction sets direct data
processor 112 to determine from the intake record the location
where the digital version is to be stored, to store the digital
version at that location, to further determine which components of
system 100 are to receive notification of the completion of the
digital version, and to send notifications to those components and
to Media Library 130. Alternatively, and as discussed above, the
main control instruction sets may direct data processor 112 to
provide a notification of completion (along with appropriate
information) at a predefined storage location, which is
periodically monitored by the other components. In either case,
these communications are performed by data processor 112 under the
direction of a conventional set of network communication
instruction sets configured to undertake the notification tasks
according to the present invention. Based on the description of the
invention provided herein, it is within the ability of one of
ordinary skill in the art to compose the above-described
instruction sets of intake unit 110.
[0049] The above groups of instruction sets may be run on a
conventional operating system, such as Microsoft Windows or Apple's
MAC OS. The operating system enables instruction sets to be run by
separate parallel processes on data processor 110, with the
operating system allocating recurring slices of processing time to
each of the processes in a multiplexed manner, and providing
communication facilities for the processes to communicate with one
another. As such, the tasks performed by each group of instruction
sets outlined above may be respective parallel processes, with
communications between the tasks of these groups being routed
through the inter-process communication facilities of the operating
system. Conventional operating systems also enable programmers to
run several instruction-set groups under one process, but with each
instruction-set group being handled by a respective thread of
process execution. This enables the programmer to handle the
communications between the instruction-set groups within the
program's own environment, without relying upon the inter-process
communications facilities of the operating system. In this case,
the above group of instruction sets may be run by respective
parallel threads of execution within a single process, with
communications between the tasks of these groups being managed by
data objects and methods that are global to all of the threads. The
tasks directed by the instruction set groups illustrated in FIG. 8
may be allocated to respective processes and/or threads, with data
communications between them. As an example, the respective tasks of
the main control instruction sets, user-interface instruction sets,
and digitizing and coding control instruction sets may be run by
respective execution threads of a single process. The tasks
directed by the encoding and trans-coding instruction sets may be
run as respective execution threads of another process. In this
regard, data processor 112 may include dedicated processing units
to carry out the tasks specified by the encoding and trans-coding
instruction sets.
[0050] As indicated above, intake unit 110 sends and receives
messages from several of the other system components, and selected
ones of the other system components convey messages amongst
themselves, as indicated above and further below. In this
paragraph, we describe how this messaging can be readily
accomplished, as well has how the various components can monitor
file directories for newly added files and the like. In typical
implementations, each of components 110-140 and 160-190 generally
comprises a data processor running under the direction of an
application program (a collection of one or more instruction sets),
which in turn is running on top of an operating system, such as
Windows, Mac OS, UNIX, etc. These elements are shown in FIG. 8 for
intake unit 110, in FIG. 9 for components 120, 140, and 160-190,
and in FIG. 10 for media-library server 130. The instruction sets
of the application program are stored on a computer-readable
medium, and typically comprise main control instruction sets, one
or more task-specific instruction sets that are specific to the
tasks performed by the component, and file and network
communication instruction sets. The main control instruction sets
direct the data processor to provide the main control for the
component, and the user-interface instructions that direct the data
processor to enable a system administrator (and a user in the case
of component 190) to manage, configure, and use the component by
way of the user interface (or by way of a web-based interface
accessible through a portal 150). The file and network
communication instruction sets direct the data processor to obtain
and provide information/data to the file system and other
components of the system over the network through various file
system protocols and network communication protocols. The
instruction sets of each application program can be written in such
languages as C++, Java, Visual Basic, etc. Some of the application
programs, such as that for e-mail server 170, are commercially
written and need only be configured to the specific task. The file
system protocols are built into the operating systems as basic
services, and the network communications protocols are generally
built into the operating systems as basic services (e.g., SMTP,
CDO, POP services), or can be installed as a software layer
operating between the application programs and the operating
system. In any event, each file-system and network-communication
protocol service provides its own application program interface
(API), which comprises a set of command instructions that can be
invoked by the instruction sets of the application program (e.g.,
through function calls and subroutine calls in the programming
languages of C++, Java, Visual Basic, etc.). These API command
instructions enable the sending of text and/or data objects in one
application program to a selected network address or file storage
location, where it can be picked up and read by another application
program. In this case, the other application program periodically
issues an API-command instruction to retrieve data at the selected
network address or file storage location. As to monitoring
directories for the presence of newly-added files, modern operating
systems include file systems that provide their own API with
command instructions that can request the contents of a selected
directory, including information on each file in the directory
(such as file size and creation date). Many file systems are
network enabled, and allow an application program to request the
contents of a selected directory on a network server that is
separate from the component that is running the application
program.
[0051] Portal 150 may comprise a conventional personal computer
running a network communication program that communicates with
network 105, and a network browser program and related programs
that communicate with the network communication program. An
exemplary communication program is the common TCP/IP internet
protocol software (now generally integrated into most computer
operating systems); exemplary browser programs include Netscape
Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer, and exemplary related
programs include commercially available media viewers such as
QuickTime Viewer and Microsoft Media Player. Portal 150 also
provides each user with access to an e-mail account hosted by
e-mail server 170 to receive e-mail notifications from various
components of system 100, such as notification processor 160 and
transcription-logging processor 180. The e-mail access program may
be provided by Microsoft's Outlook, or Apple's Mail program (the
latter of which is generally provided as part of the Mac operating
system).
[0052] Referring to FIG. 10, media-library server 130 comprises a
data processor 132 operating under the direction of a plurality of
instruction sets stored on a computer-readable medium 134, a user
interface 135 coupled to data processor 132 for use by a system
administrator, and a non-volatile data storage device 136 (e.g.,
storage disk) coupled to data processor 132. Computer-readable
medium 134 may comprise the forms of electronic memory, magnetic
memory (e.g., hard-drive discs), optical memory (e.g., CD-ROMs), or
combinations thereof. Instead of having user interface 135,
media-library server 130 may have a web-based interface accessible
by at least one of portals 150 via web browser. Media-library
server 130 has main control instruction sets that direct the data
processor in providing the overall control of server 130, and
user-interface instruction sets to direct data processor 132 to
enable a system administrator to manage and configure the server
through interface 135 and/or the web-based interface. Media-library
server 130 maintains a library record for each recording and other
media asset being produced or used by the production staff. The
library record can be presented to a user as a web page (e.g., html
document or the like) that can be viewed on a portal 150 by the
browser software. An exemplary library record is shown in FIG. 4A
in web-page format, and typically includes: the recording
identifier, the network location and/or network link to the digital
version, the bar code of the tangible medium, the network location
and/or network link to transcription and logging files of the
recording, additional information collected during the intake
process, and additional information added by users after the
library record has been created. Such additional information
typically comprises information on the crew that produced the
recording, the date of production, and links to files that contain
production notes and camera and lighting metadata. To access the
library record of a media asset (e.g., a recording), media-library
server 130 presents a main access page to the user by way of a
portal 150. An exemplary main access page is illustrated in FIG.
5A, and described below in greater detail.
[0053] Media-library server 130 maintains a database of the library
records (the "Library Database") that it can search and present to
users as requested. The Library Database may be physically stored
at file-storage server 120 in a directory designated for the
purpose, or may be stored on a separate file storage device that is
either incorporated with media-library server 130 or separate from
it. The Library Database comprises at least one index file that
contains a plurality of information fields (columns) for storing
information about a plurality of library records (rows), and that
can be searched across one or more of the information fields by
media-library server 130 to find library records that match a
selected search criterion. The Library Database may be constructed
in a number of ways. As one way, the information presented on a
library record (FIG. 4A), including network links to other files,
is placed in one row of the index file under appropriate
information fields (e.g., columns), and all the information fields
can be searched. For this, server 130 has instruction sets (as
shown in FIG. 10) that direct processor 132 to build, modify, and
access the Library Database. A set of computer instructions running
on server 130, indicated in FIG. 10 as "Instruction Sets to present
and edit Library Records," can be provided to access a library
record from the database index file, and to present it to a user.
This set of instructions receives a request from a user (via a
portal 150) to view a particular library record, finds the record
in the index file based on information provided to it by the user,
reads out the information fields corresponding to the requested
library record, generates an html-based web page for the library
record (e.g., FIG. 4A) with the information fields formatted
according to a preset template, and transmits the web page
electronically to the user's portal 150. The request by the user is
typically sent by way of an html request message, which can be
initiated by the clicking of an html link, a search box, or a view
link on the main web page (FIG. 5A). These instruction sets may
comprise a common-gateway interface (CGI) scripts.
[0054] As a second way of constructing the Library Database,
media-library server 130 can store a pre-generated web page for
each library record, each web page having a unique filename, and
can construct the index file as indicated above, with the exception
that some of the information fields can be removed (those that are
not commonly searched), and with the exception that a new
information field is added to contain the unique filenames of the
pre-generated web pages. Data processor 132 is directed in these
tasks by the "Instruction Sets to build, modify, and access the
Library Database." When a user requests a library record, server
130 can search the index file to find the index record and unique
filename for the library record based on the criteria provided by
the user, locate the corresponding pre-generated web page using the
unique filename, and transmit it electronically to the user's
portal 150. Data processor 132 is directed in these tasks by the
"Instruction Sets to present and edit Library Records," and may
comprise a common-gateway interface (CGI) script. In some
instances, the user can provide server 130 with the unique filename
directly, as could be the case when the user clicks on an html link
to the desired web page, in which case a search of the index file
would not be necessary. Based on the description of the invention
provided herein, it is within the ability of one of ordinary skill
in the art to compose the above-described instruction sets.
[0055] In each of the above ways of constructing the Library
Database, the "Instruction Sets to build, modify, and access the
Library Database" and the index file may be implemented using a
commercially-available Structured-Query Language (SQL) database,
such as Microsoft Access, or by other commercially available
databases. Each of these databases provides an API with
corresponding command instructions for creating, accessing, and
modifying columns and rows of the index file (i.e., creating,
accessing, and modifying individual database records), and for
obtaining data sets of database records matching particular search
criteria. The instruction sets for directing server 130 in the
tasks of receiving requests from users, obtaining the database
information, and providing it to the users in each of the above
ways can be implemented with commercially-available Common Gateway
Interface (CGI) program scripts that can be configured for specific
tasks, or can be implemented by specifically written CGI scripts
with the aid of commercially-available CGI script development
tools. In general, the CGI scripts can directly access the API of
the database programs, or simple intermediate interfaces can be
written in C++ and other languages to connect the CGI scripts with
the API of a database program. For the second way of constructing
the Library Database, the web pages may be pre-generated by
commercially-available scripts for generating web pages (e.g.,
template-based scripting programs). While the above ways use a
single index file, it may be appreciated that two or more separate
index files with different groupings of information fields may be
used to optimize the search speed for different types of
searches.
[0056] When media-library server 130 receives notification that a
new recording has been processed by intake unit 110, it creates a
library record for the recording. This includes updating the index
file to include a row for the new library record, and includes
generating a pre-generated web page for the library record (if the
second way of constructing the Library Database is used). For this,
server 130 comprises a group of "Instruction Sets to create and
update Library Records" (FIG. 10) that direct data processor 132 to
do these tasks. These instruction sets also direct data processor
132 to receive information from sub-clip processor 140,
transcription/logging processor 180, and access-control processor
190 about recordings and their respective digital versions, and to
update the Library Database with the received information. These
instruction sets can be written as CGI scripts or can be in
programming languages such as C++, Java, Visual Basic, etc. In
either case, command instructions to the API of the database
software can be used to update the index file, and the APIs of the
communications-protocol services of the operating systems can be
used to communicate messages between server 130 and intake unit
110. Based on the description of the invention provided herein, it
is within the ability of one of ordinary skill in the art to
compose these instruction sets.
[0057] In exemplary embodiments, in order to enable users to add or
change information on an asset-library record of a media asset, a
network link is provided on the web page of the media asset (or the
main access web page) to pull up another web page that enables a
user to make additions and changes. The link is shown in FIG. 4A as
the "Click to Edit This Page" button, and it pulls up the "Edit
Asset Library Record" web page shown in FIG. 4B. This web page is
generated by media-library server 130 (as directed by the
"Instruction Sets to present and edit Library Records") and it
reproduces the current information of the record. The fields of the
record that are allowed to be changed by the user are placed in
editable dialog boxes. These fields typically include the Segment
Title, Tape Name, Producer, Field Producer, the Camera/Crew
personnel, the Shoot location, and the Shoot Date fields.
Media-library server 130 can be configured by a system
administrator to only allow certain fields to be edited by selected
users. For example, production coordinators may be the only users
allowed to edit the Segment Title and Tape Name fields, while the
producers, field producers, and assistant producers would be the
only users allowed to edit the Producer, Field Producer,
Camera/Crew, Shoot Location, and Shoot Date fields. Storywriters,
creative directors, and production staffers would not be allowed to
edit these fields. The web page of FIG. 4B also has dialog boxes
that enable users to change or remove production note files and
secondary files, and to add new files. An existing file can be
deleted by removing it from the dialog box, or it can be changed to
another file by clicking on the "Browse Files" button, which brings
up a search box that enables the user to search file directories
accessible over communications network 105, and to enter the name
of a different file into the editable dialog box. At least one
empty dialog box is provided to add another production note to the
page, and at least one empty dialog box is provided to add another
secondary file to the page. To add a file, a user types a new
filename into the empty box, or clicks on the "Upload File" button.
In the first case, a blank document with the given name and file
extension will be created in a preset directory for the production
notes or the secondary files for the media asset. In the second
case, the "Upload File" button will bring up a search box that
enables the user to search the network resources and local computer
drives for a desired file, which is then copied (i.e., "uploaded")
to the preset directory for the production notes or the secondary
files for the media asset.
[0058] Once the user has edited the dialog boxes of interest, the
user clicks on the "Click to Save Changes" button. This sends an
html request back to media-library server 130. The request contains
an identifier for each editable field and a corresponding value for
each editable field. Server 130 examines the values of these fields
for differences with respect to the current form of the
corresponding media library record to determine the changes
requested by the user, makes the changes on the corresponding media
library record to update it, and sends the user a revised web page
(FIG. 4A) for confirmation. The modified web page (FIG. 4A) will
list the newly added documents, along with hyperlinks (i.e.,
network links) that all users can click on to access the documents.
Conventional html record formatting may be used to implement the
editable dialog boxes, and conventional CGI scripts may be used to
implement the instruction sets that direct media 130 in providing
the "Edit Asset Library Record" web page to the user and in making
the changes requested by the user. The edit web page shown in FIG.
4B also has a "Cancel" button which enables the user to end the
editing process without making changes to the library record. This
may be implemented as a network link back to the "Asset Library
Record" web page shown in FIG. 4A. Referring to FIG. 10, data
processor 132 is directed to perform the above tasks by the
"Instruction Sets to present and edit Library Records."
[0059] Media-library server 130 preferably enables the users to
search the contents of the transcription files, the log files, the
production note files, and the secondary documents that are
associated with a media asset. The contents may be searched by time
code reference as well as text words (both being generically
referred to herein as "keywords"). This can be accomplished in a
number of ways. As one example, media server 130 creates an index
file of these documents, the index file having at least the network
identifier of the document and the asset record that it is
associated with. When a user requests a search of these documents,
which may be done by way of the second search box shown in each of
FIGS. 5A and 5B, media-library server 130 runs a search of the
files listed in the index to find matches to the keywords. The
searching may be done by invoking a file system search program,
such as that integrated into the Microsoft Windows operating
system, or a commercially available network-based search engine,
similar to those provided by Yahoo and Google. (Each of these
search engines can typically be configured to build a searching
index of the files for faster searching.) The results may then be
presented to the user by a webpage, with an indication of the
network link to each matching file and an indication of the media
asset that it is associated with and a link to the library record
of that media asset. These tasks can be readily implemented with
instruction sets that direct the operation of the data processor
132 of media-library server 130 to perform the above tasks
("Instruction Sets to search Primary and Secondary Documents" in
FIG. 10). The instruction sets can be based on CGI scripts, or
other as well as other scripts, and can use command instructions to
the API of the file system. Based on the description of the
invention provided herein, it is within the ordinary skill of a
person in the art to compose these scripts.
[0060] Referring back to FIG. 4A, when access-control processor 190
sends an electronic message to media-library server 130 to update
the storage status of a recording's tangible medium, server 130
updates the library record to reflect the information provided in
the electronic message. The electronic message may be sent and
received by using instruction sets similar to those described above
for other electronic messaging. The electronic message typically
contains the recording identifier, an indication of the status of
the tangible medium (e.g., checked in, checked out), and a network
link to a web page that provides the contents of the asset-control
record (e.g., such as that depicted in FIG. 3A) for the tangible
medium, which includes the access history. The provision of the
recording identifier in the electronic message enables the
corresponding library record to be found and updated with the new
status information. Media-library server 130 can also insert into
the library record the network link to a web page that brings up
the asset-control record for the tangible medium. This enables
media-library server 130 to provide the current status of the
recording's tangible medium (checked in or checked out), and a
network link to a web page that displays the medium's asset-control
record, which has the access history of the tangible medium.
Referring to FIG. 10, the "Instruction Sets to create and update
Library Records" comprises instructions to direct data processor
132 to perform these tasks. The instruction sets can be based on
CGI scripts, or other scripts, and can use command instructions to
the API of the file systems of the components to accomplish the
electronic messaging. Based on the description of the invention
provided herein, it is within the ordinary skill of a person in the
art to compose these scripts.
[0061] Upon completion of the intake process, notification
processor 160 receives electronic notification from intake unit 110
of at least the recording identifier and/or the file-storage
location of the recording's digital version, and a list of groups
and/or individuals to notify. Notification processor 160 then
generates an e-mail message for each group and/or individual to
notify, and sends the e-mail messages to e-mail server 170. The
e-mail message contains at least the recording identifier and/or
the file-storage location of the recording's digital version, and a
text message indicating that the intake process for the recording
has been completed. E-mail server 170 stores these messages so that
the users of the system can access them through portals 150. E-mail
server 170 may comprise, for example, a data processor running
Microsoft's Exchange software or Apple's Mac OS X server software
(see FIG. 9 for a general configuration of processor 170). The
tasks done by Notification processor 160 can be readily implemented
with instruction sets that direct the operations of the data
processor of notification processor 160 (also see FIG. 9 for a
general configuration of processor 160). Notification processor 160
can be implemented in a number of ways. As one straightforward way,
a set of instructions directs processor 160 to receive or otherwise
obtain the above-identified information from intake unit 110, and
then to generate e-mail messages and send them to the accounts of
the designated individuals on e-mail server 170. The instruction
set can be written in scripts or programming languages such as C++,
Java, Visual Basic, etc. In order to receive the electronic
notification from intake unit 110, the instruction set can comprise
command instructions to an API of a communication protocol service
to read electronic messages sent by intake unit 110. Alternatively,
the instruction set can comprise command instructions to the API of
the file server to check for files placed in a preset directory
that are designated to hold communications from intake unit 110 to
processor 160, as described above. The instruction set can comprise
conventional programming instructions to compose a text message
having the information provided in the electronic notification from
intake unit 110, and to identify, from the electronic notification,
the e-mail addresses of the individuals who are to receive the text
message. The instruction set can further comprise command
instructions to the API of the SMTP communication protocol to send
an e-mail to each e-mail address, with the body of the e-mail
comprising the text message. The text message and each e-mail
address may be stored in a respective string variable when they are
generated, and can be passed as variables in a command instruction
to the API of the communication protocol. Based on the description
of the invention provided herein, it is within the ability of one
of ordinary skill in the art to compose these instruction sets.
[0062] Also upon completion of the intake process,
transcription-logging processor 180 receives notification of at
least the recording identifier and/or the file-storage location of
the recording's digital version, an indication of whether
transcription and/or logging is to be done, and the identity of the
party that is to perform the transcription/logging. Processor 180
then generates an e-mail request message to the transcribing party.
The request message provides at least the recording identifier
and/or the file-storage location of the digital version, and may
include the service requested (transcription, logging, or both) if
the level of service is not prearranged, and the requested
turnaround time (TAT). This part of transcription-logging processor
180 can be implemented in a number of ways. As one straightforward
way, it may be implemented in the same straightforward way that
processor 160 is implemented to do its notifications (as described
immediately above), except that the contents of the text message
contains the information that the transcribing party needs, and the
e-mail address is that of the transcribing party.
[0063] The transcribing party thereafter views the digital version
through an access portal 150 or the like, and generates a data file
that has transcribed dialog and/or logging information. In
preferred embodiments, the data file preferably comprises a
Microsoft rich-text format document, or the like. Such formats
enable the transcribing party to place in the transcription file
hyperlinks to specific video and/or audio frames of the digital
version. When the transcription is completed, the party sends back
a data file for processor 180 to handle. The return of the data
file may be accomplished in a number of ways. As one
straightforward way, the transcribing party may send the data file
to a preset file storage directory (such as on file-storage server
120) by the well-known file-transfer protocol (FTP), and processor
180 may be configured to periodically check this directory for
newly added data files. (The file storage device can have an FTP
service program running to accept the FTP files.) The name of this
file storage directory can be contained in the request e-mail sent
by processor 180, or can be prearranged. The filename of the data
file may contain the recording identifier so that processor 180 can
identify the data file and properly correlate it with the
recording, or the recording identifier may be placed inside of the
data file and then later read by processor 180 to make the
identification. Also, the request e-mail sent by processor 180 may
specify the filename for the transcribing party to use. The
instruction set to direct processor 180 in these tasks can be very
similar to the instruction set used to direct processor 180 to
receive information from intake unit 110. The instruction set
directs processor 180, such as with the use of command instructions
to the API of the file system, to periodically check the file
directory for returned data files and to read the filenames and/or
contents of newly added data files. Then, standard programming
instructions direct processor 180 to determine the recording
identifier to which the data file pertains from the filename and/or
contents of the data file.
[0064] As another way of handling the return of the data file, the
transcribing party may send a reply e-mail to processor 180
containing the data file as an e-mail attachment. The recording
identifier (or another identifier) is placed in the body of the
reply e-mail or in the data file so that processor 180 can
correlate the transcription file with the recording. A POP
communication-protocol service may be used by the operating system
running processor 180 to receive the e-mail and attachment. An
instruction set may then direct processor 180 with the use of
command instructions to the API of the POP service to read the
e-mail, and standard programming instructions direct processor 180
to determine the recording identifier to which the data file
pertains from the filename and/or contents of the attached data
file.
[0065] Once processor 180 receives the data file, it places it in
an appropriate file storage location (such as on file-storage
server 120) if it has not already been placed there by the
transcribing party (such as through the above-described FTP
protocol). This can be readily accomplished with a command
instruction to the API of the file system to copy the file from one
location (e.g., the e-mail attachment) to another location (e.g., a
designated place on file-storage server 120).
[0066] With that done, transcription-logging processor 180 causes
media-library server 130 to update the library record for the
recording to include a network link to the transcription data file.
This can be accomplished by processor 180 sending a request message
to media-library server 130 containing the recording identifier and
a network link to the transcription file. The instructions to
direct components 180 and 130 in this electronic messaging can be
implemented in the same ways as those described above for other
electronic messaging. As for updating the library record to include
a network link to the transcription data file, the "Instruction
Sets to create and update Library Records" of server 130 (FIG. 10)
can be augmented to include instructions to update the
"Transcript/Log Link" field to include the network link to the
transcription data file. The instruction sets can be based on CGI
scripts, or other scripts, and can use command instructions to the
API of the file systems of the components and to the API of the
database that manages the index file(s). Based on the description
of the invention provided herein, it is within the ordinary skill
of a person in the art to compose these scripts.
[0067] Processor 180 may comprise the form shown in FIG. 9, with
instruction sets directing its data processor to perform the
above-described tasks. Based on the description of the invention
provided herein, it is within the ability of one of ordinary skill
in the art to compose these instruction sets.
[0068] As indicated above, sub-clip processor 140 can be activated
after the intake process to divide the digital version of the
recording into sub-clips based on selectable criteria, and then to
store each sub-clip as a separate file. The digital version is
preferably retained in its original, full form. The sub-clips can
be stored in file-storage server 120. Typically, the filename for
each sub-clip comprises the recording identifier (just as the main
digital version preferably does), and includes a suffix identifier
that is unique to the sub-clip. The suffix may comprise a numeric
index (such as ".sub.--001," ".sub.--002," etc.), an alpha index
(such as "_A," "_B," etc.), or an alphanumeric index (such as
"_A1," "_A2," etc.). Three such sub-clips with corresponding
network links are shown in the library record of FIG. 4A. Once
sub-clip processor 140 has generated the sub-clip files, it can
send a message to media-library server 130 informing it of the
names of the sub-clip files, and other optical information, such as
the criteria used to define the sub-clip boundaries. As another
notification approach, sub-clip processor 140 can place the
sub-clip files in a prearranged file directory, and media-library
server 130 can periodically check the file directory for newly
added files, and associate the new sub-clips to the appropriate
library record by parsing the sub-clip filename for the recording
identifier. In either event, media-library server 130 then updates
the library record for the recording to include a listing of the
sub-clips and corresponding hyperlinks. The instruction sets for
these tasks ( which are part of "Instruction Sets to create and
update Library Records" shown in FIG. 10) can be implemented in the
same way as the instruction sets used to update the library record
with a network link to the transcription data file, as described
above. Based on the description of the invention provided herein,
it is within the ordinary skill of a person in the art to compose
these scripts.
[0069] The above-described tasks done by sub-clip processor 140 can
be readily implemented with instruction sets that direct the
operations of the data processor of processor 140 to perform those
tasks (see FIG. 9 for a general configuration of processor
140).
[0070] As we described before, access to the library records (e.g.,
as shown in FIG. 4A) of the media assets may be provided to the
user by way of the exemplary main access web page shown in FIG. 5A.
The main access web page is generated by media-library server 130,
and conveyed to a portal 150 via communications network 105 to
view. The user requests the main access page by typing in the
network address (e.g., Universal Resource Locator, or URL) into the
address box of the browser running on the portal 150. As an
example, the network may take the form of:
"www.theProductionCompany.com/BigCityTrip/ThirdEpisode.html." The
main access web page comprises the title of the project, current
news concerning the project, and the current date. The project
title and news section are configured by a system administrator (a
user having special privileges in configuring the system). The news
section may comprise hyperlinks to other web pages managed by media
library server 130 or other resources of system 100, such as the
day's message from the chief producer, the schedule of shooting for
the day, and the day's e-daily, which generally comprises a listing
of recent additions of media assets to the library. The exemplary
main access web page further comprises a listing of media assets to
select from (typically listing a preset number of the most recently
added, or all of the media assets when the total is less than the
preset number). The listing provides the Recording Identifier, the
Segment Title, and the Shoot Date of the media asset, with a
hyperlink on the Recording Identifier that pulls up the library
record (FIG. 4A) of the media asset when a user clicks on it. The
listing is generated by accessing the database to find a preset
number of the most recently added media assets, which may be
accomplished by the instruction sets described above (e.g., CGI
scripts that interact with the database of library records). At the
top of the listing there is an indication ("Selection Criteria:")
that indicates the criteria used in selecting the library records
that are displayed. In this case, it is the most recently added
records to the library. If the number of library records is greater
than the preset number for display, then the listing includes a
hyperlink ("More . . . ") that brings up an expanded version of the
web page with the next group of most recently-added library
records.
[0071] The main access web page shown in FIG. 5A also comprises a
search box to allow a user to search the library records of the
media assets by keywords, such as "java cafe," "shopping," and
"promenade." When a user initiates such a search, the user's
browser sends back a request to media-library server 130 to conduct
the search. Media-library server 130 conducts the search (as
described above), and sends back a modified main web page in which
the listing of media assets contains the library records that match
the user's search criteria. Such a modified page is shown in FIG.
5B, which was generated in response to a user entering the keyword
"promenade" in the search box. In the modified web page, the field
indicating the present selection criteria has been changed to
"promenade," and a hyperlink has been added after the new selection
criteria to enable the user to return to a listing of most
recently-added media assets.
[0072] In addition, the main access page shown in FIG. 5A comprises
hyperlinks (referred to as "view links" herein) to additional web
pages that list the media assets by Segment Title, Tape Name,
Status, Bar Code, and Schedule.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 10, media-library server 130 comprises
"Instruction Sets to present and edit Main Access Page" that direct
data processor 132 to perform the above tasks. These instruction
sets may be composed from common-gateway interface (CGI) scripts or
common programming languages, such as C++, Java, Visual Basic,
etc., with appropriate command instructions to the APIs of the file
system and database for the library records. Based on the
description of the invention provided herein, it is within the
ability of one of ordinary skill in the art to compose the
above-described instruction sets.
[0074] Conventional internet security protocols, such as
secure-socket interface and public-key interface protocols, may be
added to system 100 to safeguard the electronic communications
among components 110-190.
[0075] To illustrate the benefits and advantages that system 100
and its related processes bring to the production environment, we
first describe the work flow of the current production environment
for reality TV shows, and then describe the new work flows provided
by system 100 and its related processes.
[0076] FIG. 6 illustrates the current production environment. The
production of a network reality TV show typically involves booking
hundreds of stories, sending field crews out to shoot each story.
The Beta SP or DV tapes generated by the field crews are sent by
courier back to the production site, where a postproduction team
duplicates the original tapes to VHS work copies. Several work
copies of each original Beta SP or DV tape are made for
distribution to field producers, producers, executives,
transcriptionists, loggers, writers, editors, and other production
staff. The original Beta SP or DV tapes are stored for later use in
the final editing stage. The loggers and transcriptionists begin
immediately to summarize the action and transcribe the dialog on
each tape, so that the storywriters, editors, executives, and
producers can identify tapes that may have compelling story points,
and start sketching out one or more storyboards for the reality TV
show. Once these tapes are identified, they are reviewed by the
storywriters, directors, executives, field producers, and producers
on VHS tape players to refine the story points and storyboards. The
storywriters and creative directors build the storyboard, sending
the transcriptions to the editors to cut and piece together. During
this time, editors, executives, field producers, and producers
generate a considerable volume of notes to the storywriters and
creative directors as part of the process of developing the final
storyboard for the reality TV show. The notes are consolidated, the
storyboard is finalized, and the pertinent scenes are identified.
The original tapes containing the pertinent scenes are collected,
sent to the video editing staff to be digitized, and then entered
into a video editing system, such as the Apple Final Cut or AVID
Unity video editing system. Using the video editing system, and
working under the direction of key executives, producers,
storywriters, and creative directors, the editing staff pieces the
scenes together into a whole, adds sound tracks, music, and
artwork, and generates a tape of the complete show, which is then
aired at the scheduled time.
[0077] Coordinating all of these activities is significantly
time-consuming and expensive. Typically, generating the VHS work
copies is the most expensive and time-consuming element. It
involves several staff, expensive equipment, thousands of VHS
cassettes, and many hours, since the duplication of each tape is
done at the normal tape-playing rate (1.times.), thereby slowing
the postproduction process. The large volume of video tapes creates
several bottlenecks in the work flow. Creating the VHS work copies,
of course, is a major bottleneck. Transcription and logging of a
large number of tapes also pose major bottlenecks to the process
since the identification of story points and building of
storyboards is often based on reviewing logs and transcripts and
piecing together cut-up transcripts. To address this bottleneck,
the VHS work copies are rush-delivered to local transcriptionists
and loggers at great expense. Once the transcripts are made, there
are further bottlenecks in identifying and sharing the transcripts
and logs for discussion between the storywriters and other
production personnel. The multiple VHS work copies take up a large
amount of storage space and require a large amount of staff time to
manage the checking in and checking out of the tapes. With the
large volume of tapes, the efforts of the production staffers often
interfere and hinder the ability for the crew to efficiently
coordinate and manage the distribution of the VHS work copies,
thereby creating both a management bottleneck and opportunities for
error. Additionally, there are the expenses of handling and storing
the massive tape libraries, providing high-end tape players (edit
decks) and desktop logging systems, managing the logging and
transcription processes, and dealing with multiple vendors. There
is a lack of effective writing tools which impedes creative
productivity, and an inability of the production staff to work
remotely (away from the production site). The difficulty and costs
of the present production approach threaten deadlines and budgets,
and further impede productivity.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 7, when using system 100 and its related
processes in an exemplary production environment, camera footage is
shot, usually at various locations, and the resulting original
tapes sent to intake unit 110 for processing. There can be more
than one instance of intake unit 110, and there is usually at least
one intake unit 110 at the company production site. The tapes are
processed by intake unit 110, and corresponding digital versions
are stored on file storage server 120 and corresponding library
records are created by media-library server 130. As an advantage,
an instance of intake unit 110 may be located at a shooting site
that is remote from the company production site, and the digital
version and notification messages may be transmitted by satellite
or through the internet to the company production site (i.e., to
the other components of system 100). Each original tape need only
be played once, which is far less time consuming than the
duplication process of generating VHS work copies, and which
eliminates the VHS-duplication bottleneck. The tapes processed by
intake unit 110 are then processed by access-control processor 190
and sent to storage vault 198 for safekeeping. E-mail notifications
are then sent to selected users as each tape is processed by intake
unit 110, and the users can then instantly view the digital version
on their access portals 150 without having to wait for VHS-work
copies to be made and delivered to them. This eliminates the
management bottleneck in managing and delivering the work copies
that is present in the prior art work flow. Also, after the intake
process is completed, the request for the transcription and/or log
is quickly sent to the transcribing party by e-mail. Some of the
transcribing parties may be located in other time zones to enable
transcriptions to be done overnight and ready for the next morning.
This is generally not possible in the prior art work flow approach
since a VHS work copy has to be generated and then physically
transported to a local company. As each transcript/log is
completed, it is quickly uploaded onto media-library server 130,
and storywriters, directors, executives, field producers, and
producers can be notified immediately, and start their review of
the record. Media-library server 130 provides an efficient way for
the users to manage and review the recordings, and to share
information by attaching files to the library web pages. In
addition, notes and information can be exchanged between users by
e-mail, and users can copy network links to relevant tapes,
sub-clips, transcripts, and logs into their e-mails for fast and
efficient sharing of ideas and information. The storywriters can
compose storyboards electronically and store them on file-storage
server 120 for other users to view. Once the final storyboard is
completed, the pertinent scenes from the tapes can be directly
loaded into the video editing system directly from media-library
server 130 (or the original tapes can pulled from storage vault 198
and reimported or redigitized at a higher resolution and input into
the video editing system).
[0079] In addition to the above advantages, system 100 eliminates
the need for providing users with high-end tape-playing decks
(e.g., edit decks) since access portals 150 eliminate the need for
the playing decks and since the computers that the users already
have can be used to implement the access portals 150. In addition,
the digital versions can be provided to the access portals in a
manner that prevents copying, thereby greatly improving
security.
[0080] According, the present-invention provides an integrated
end-to-end solution for production companies to bridge the gap
between the shooting of footage and the final storyboard editing
with digital workflow solutions that eliminate waste, improve
production efficiency, and reduce production costs.
[0081] While the present inventions have been particularly
described with respect to the illustrated embodiments, it will be
appreciated that various alterations, modifications and adaptations
may be made based on the present disclosure, and are intended to be
within the scope of the present inventions. While the inventions
have been described in connection with what are presently
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it
is to be understood that the present inventions are not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to
cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *
References