Multimedia scheduler
View Patent ↗A song and ad scheduler supporting clip-based and stream-based scheduling of multimedia items generates several hours of schedule in advance. Having multiple channel capability, the scheduler uses as inputs: the channel, associated playlists, rotation pattern for the channel, and associated programming rules to produce a schedule of multimedia items for the channel. Initially, the scheduler produces a schedule for each channel of predetermined length; then it periodically revisits the channel to add more songs, keeping the schedule to the desired length. Length of the initial playlist is configurable. The scheduler uses a producer-consumer model for distributing work. Producer threads periodically scan the system for work to be done. When a producer thread encounters work to be done, e.g. adding to the schedule of a channel, the producer thread places a work request into a queue. Worker threads consume the work requests by fulfilling the requested work.
1. A job scheduling apparatus for scheduling media items for a plurality of network broadcast channels, comprising:
at least one processor programmed to:
provide a work manager, said work manager comprising at least one producer thread, a task queue and at least one worker thread; and
provide one or more scheduler objects associated with each producer thread;
wherein said work manager and associated scheduler objects are configured to create and maintain a job schedule according to predefined criteria, and wherein said at least one producer thread is configured to check a channel at configurable intervals, increment a schedule of said channel to generate work requests, and place said work requests in said task queue;
wherein said worker threads are configured to execute said work requests,
wherein said scheduler objects comprise work creator objects and wherein associating a particular scheduler object with a particular producer thread comprises wrapping a work creator object of said particular scheduler object with said particular producer thread.
2. The job scheduling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to provide:
a main application thread configured to initialize said work manager;
a property manager configured to provide, to said work manager, access to application properties stored in any of properties or configuration files; and
a database connection manager configured to serve as an access point to connect said work manager to a database.
3. The job scheduling apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said main application thread is further configured to initialize a logging system, wherein said logging system is configured to record transactions and activities of said work manager.
4. The job scheduling apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said main application thread is further configured to:
stop said work manager in response to a ‘stop’ or ‘abort’ request.
5. The job scheduling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said predefined criteria comprise any of programming rules, a rotation pattern for each channel, and rotation codes assigned to individual media items.
6. The job scheduling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to access a properties file that specifies parameters to tune operation of said scheduler objects and wherein said properties file specifies at least one of:
work manager properties;
scheduler object properties; and
scheduler-wide properties.
7. The job scheduling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said work creator is further configured to access a database having a plurality of tables, wherein said plurality of tables includes at least one table for one or more of:
current states of said scheduler objects;
an exception log for recording events, wherein said events include rule violations;
enumeration of log messages;
associating rotation patterns to a channel;
rotation patterns created by DJ's;
rule definitions;
associating rules to a channel;
defining channel specific rule values;
channel configset;
channels;
channel-specific ads;
channel-specific playlists;
playlists;
playlists of clips;
clips;
encoding formats;
song location; and
song metadata.
8. The job scheduling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said scheduling apparatus is configured for any of a selection comprising:
creating schedules for clip-based channels; and
creating schedules for stream-based channels.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon to execute a job scheduler, said job-scheduler comprising:
a work manager, said work manager comprising at least one producer thread, a task queue and at least one worker thread; and
one or more scheduler objects associated with each producer thread;
wherein said work manager and associated scheduler objects are configured to create and maintain a job schedule according to predefined criteria, and wherein said at least one producer thread is configured to check a channel at configurable intervals, increment a schedule of said channel to generate work requests, and place said work requests in said task queue;
wherein said worker threads are configured to execute said work requests,
wherein said scheduler obiects comprise work creator obiects and wherein associating a particular scheduler object with a particular producer thread comprises wrapping a work creator object of said particular scheduler object with said particular producer thread.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said scheduler further comprises:
a property manager configured to provide, to said work manager, access to application properties stored in any of properties or configuration files;
a database connection manager configured to serve as an access point to connect said work manager to a database; and
a main application thread configured to initialize said work manager.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein said main application thread is further configured to initialize a logging system, wherein said logging system is configured to record transactions and activities of said work manager.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein said main application thread is further configured to:
stop said work manager in response to a ‘stop’ or ‘abort’ request.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said predefined criteria comprise any of programming rules, a rotation pattern for each channel, and rotation codes assigned to individual media items.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said work manager is further programmed to access a properties file that specifies parameters to tune operation of said scheduler objects and wherein said properties file specifies at least one of:
work manager properties;
scheduler object properties; and
scheduler-wide properties.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said work creator is further configured to access a database having a plurality of tables, wherein said plurality of tables includes at least one table for one or more of:
current states of said scheduler objects;
an exception log for recording events, wherein said events include rule violations;
enumeration of log messages;
associating rotation patterns to a channel;
rotation patterns created by DJ's;
rule definitions;
associating rules to a channel;
defining channel specific rule values;
channel configset;
channels;
channel-specific ads;
channel-specific playlists;
playlists;
playlists of clips;
clips;
encoding formats;
song location; and
song metadata.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said scheduler is configured for any of a selection comprising:
creating schedules for clip-based channels; and
creating schedules for stream-based channels.