IP Library Granted Patent US 9,473,801
Granted Patent B1
US 9,473,801 · App. 13/828,632 · Granted Oct 18, 2016

Systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-removal DVE

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,473,801
App. No.
13/828,632
Granted
Oct 18, 2016
Kind
B1
Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-removal digital-video effect (DVE). In one aspect, a method involves selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-removal DVE stored in the stunt switcher; selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) and a start time; causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; making a determination that a threshold time-period remains in a show portion of the VC; and responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period remains in the show portion of the VC, causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-removal DVE, thereby removing any bug overlayed on the VC as a remainder of the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.

Claims (38)

1. A method for use in a television-broadcasting system having a stunt switcher, the method comprising:

selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-removal digital-video effect (DVE) stored in the stunt switcher;

selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) and a start time;

causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time;

making a determination that a threshold time-period remains in a show portion of the VC; and

responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period remains in the show portion of the VC, causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-removal DVE, thereby removing any bug overlayed on the VC as a remainder of the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a duration field of the first log-entry includes a zero duration value and wherein a duration field of the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second log-entry is the next log entry after the first log-entry to have a duration field having a non-zero duration value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first log-entry includes the start time represented as an absolute start time, and wherein the second log-entry includes the start time represented as the absolute start time.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the VC consists of the show portion.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the VC consists of the show portion and a barter-VC portion, and wherein the show portion is before the barter-VC portion.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first log-entry includes a house-identifier field and an identifier stored in the house-identifier field, wherein the identifier maps to a set of program instructions that when executed cause performance of the functions of (i) making the determination that the threshold time-period remains in the show portion of the VC; and (ii) responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period remains in the show portion of the VC, causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-removal DVE; and wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining that the first log-entry includes the identifier, executing the set of program instructions.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the set of program instructions comprises a set of PHP-Hypertext-Preprocessor (PHP) scripts.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adding an indication that the bug-removal DVE has been run to an as-run log.

10. A method for use in a television-broadcasting system having a stunt switcher, the method comprising:

selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-removal digital-video effect (DVE) stored in the stunt switcher;

selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video component (VC) and a start time;

causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; and

causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-removal DVE proximate an end of a show portion of the VC, thereby removing any bug overlayed on the VC as a remainder of the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein a duration field of the first log-entry includes a zero duration value and wherein a duration field of the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration value.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second log-entry is the next log-entry after the first log entry to have a duration field having a non-zero duration value.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first log-entry includes the start time represented as an absolute start time, and wherein the second log-entry includes the start time represented as the absolute start time.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the VC consists of the show portion.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the VC consists of the show portion and a barter-VC portion, and wherein show portion is before the barter-VC portion.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first log-entry includes a house-identifier field and an identifier stored in the house-identifier field, wherein the identifier maps to a set of program instructions that when executed cause performance of the functions of causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-removal DVE proximate an end of a show portion of the VC; and wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining that the first log-entry includes the identifier, executing the set of program instructions.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the set of program instructions comprises a set of PHP-Hypertext-Preprocessor (PHP) scripts.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

adding an indication that the bug-removal DVE has been run to an as-run log.

19. A television-broadcasting system comprising:

a stunt switcher; and

an automation system having a computer-readable medium including a set of program instructions, that when executed by the automation system, cause the automation system to perform a set of functions comprising:

selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-removal digital-video effect (DVE) stored in the stunt switcher;

selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) and a start time;

causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time;

making a determination that a threshold time-period remains in a show portion of the VC; and

responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period remains in the show portion of the VC, causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-removal DVE, thereby removing any bug overlayed on the VC as a remainder of the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.

20. The television-broadcasting system of claim 19 , wherein a duration field of the first log-entry includes a zero duration value and wherein a duration field of the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration value.

Assignments (6)
PARTIAL RELEASE - REEL/FRAME 040306/0814 Recorded Sep 24, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 050474/0176 →
PARTIAL RELEASE - REEL/FRAME 032125/0204 Recorded Sep 24, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 050475/0448 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 19, 2019
From: CHICAGOLAND TELEVISION NEWS, INC.; KPLR, INC.; KSTU, LLC; KSWB, LLC; KTLA, LLC; KTVI, LLC; KWGN, LLC; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING DENVER, LLC; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING FORT SMITH, LLC; TRIBUNE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE MEDIA COMPANY; TRIBUNE TELEVISION NEW ORLEANS, INC.; WDAF LICENSE, INC.; WDCW, LLC; WGHP, LLC; WGN CONTINENTAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; WHNT, LLC; WJW TELEVISION, LLC; WNEP, LLC; WPIX, LLC; WQAD, LLC; WREG, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050438/0004 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2016
From: GRACENOTE, INC.; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040306/0814 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 23, 2014
From: TRIBUNE COMPANY; CASTTV INC.; CHICAGO TRIBUNE COMPANY, LLC; CHICAGOLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY, LLC; LOS ANGELES TIMES COMMUNICATIONS LLC; SUN-SENTINEL COMPANY, LLC; THE BALTIMORE SUN COMPANY, LLC; THE HARTFORD COURANT COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC; TRIBUNE INTERACTIVE, LLC; TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE TELEVISION NEW ORLEANS, INC.; WDCW, LLC; WGN CONTINENTAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032125/0204 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2013
From: HUNDEMER, HANK J
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 030031/0036 →