Systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-overlay DVE with absolute timing restrictions
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein are systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-overlay digital video effect (DVE). In one aspect, a method involves (i) selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-overlay DVE stored in the stunt switcher, and to a first start-time; (ii) selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a video component (VC) and to a second start-time, wherein the second start-time is later than the first start-time; (iii) causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the second start-time; (iv) determining a target time to run the bug-overlay DVE; and (v) causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE proximate the determined target time such that a bug is overlayed on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.
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-overlay digital video effect (DVE) stored in the stunt switcher, and to a first start-time;
selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a video component (VC) and to a second start-time, wherein the second start-time is later than the first start-time;
causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the second start-time;
determining a target time to run the bug-overlay DVE; and
causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE proximate the determined target time such that a bug is overlayed on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first start-time is a top of an hour; wherein the determined target time is either (i) within a range of thirteen minutes after the top of the hour and seventeen minutes after the top of the hour, or (ii) within a range of forty-three minutes after the top of the hour and forty-seven minutes after the top of the hour; and wherein the overlayed bug includes time and/or temperature data.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first start-time is before a top of an hour;
wherein the determined target time is within a range of three minutes before the top of the hour and three minutes after the top of the hour; and wherein the overlayed bug includes a station's call letters.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined target time is a closest time to a predetermined absolute time while also corresponding to a show portion of a show-segment VC.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first log-entry includes a zero duration and wherein the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second log entries are non-adjacent in the log.
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) determining the target time to run the bug-overlay DVE; and (ii) causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE proximate the determined target time such that the bug is overlayed on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher; 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-overlay 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-overlay digital video effect (DVE) stored in the stunt switcher, and to a first start-time;
selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a video component (VC) and to a second start-time, wherein the second start-time is later than the first start-time;
causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the second start-time;
determining a target time to run the bug-overlay DVE;
proximate the determined target time, (i) storing a DVE state of the stunt switcher, (ii) causing the stunt switcher to run a first key-reset DVE, and (iii) causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE such that a bug is overlayed on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher;
making a determination that the bug-overlay DVE has completed running; and
responsive to making the determination that the bug-overlay DVE has completed running, (i) causing the stunt switcher to run a second key-reset DVE, and (ii) restoring the DVE state of the stunt switcher with the stored DVE state.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first start-time is a top of an hour; wherein the determined target time is either (i) within a range of thirteen minutes after the top of the hour and seventeen minutes after the top of the hour, or (ii) within a range of forty-three minutes after the top of the hour and forty-seven minutes after the top of the hour; and wherein the overlayed bug includes time and/or temperature data.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first start-time is before a top of an hour, wherein the determined target time is within a range of three minutes before the top of the hour and three minutes after the top of the hour; and wherein the overlayed bug includes a station's call letters.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the determined target time is a closest time to a predetermined absolute time while also corresponding to a show portion of a show-segment VC.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first log-entry includes a zero duration and wherein the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second log entries are non-adjacent in the log.
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: (i) storing the DVE state of the stunt switcher, (ii) causing the stunt switcher to run a first key-reset DVE; (iii) causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE such that the bug is overlayed on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher; (iv) making the determination that the bug-overlay DVE has completed running; (v) responsive to making the determination that the bug-overlay DVE has completed running, (a) causing the stunt switcher to run the second key-reset DVE; and (b) restoring the DVE state of the stunt switcher with the stored DVE state; 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 15 , 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-overlay 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-overlay digital video effect (DVE) stored in the stunt switcher, and to a first start-time;
selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a video component (VC) and to a second start-time;
causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the second start-time;
determining a target time to run the bug-overlay DVE; and
causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE proximate the determined target time such that a bug is overlayed on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.
20. The television-broadcasting system of claim 19 , 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 scripts that when executed cause performance of the functions of (i) determining the target time to run the bug-overlay DVE, and (ii) causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE proximate the determined target time such that the bug is overlayed on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher; and wherein the set of functions further comprises responsive to determining that the first log-entry includes the identifier, executing the set of scripts.
21. The television-broadcasting system of claim 19 , wherein the first start-time is a top of an hour; wherein the determined target time is either (i) within a range of thirteen minutes after the top of the hour and seventeen minutes after the top of the hour, or (ii) within a range of forty-three minutes after the top of the hour and forty-seven minutes after the top of the hour; and wherein the overlayed bug includes time and/or temperature data.
22. The television-broadcasting system of claim 19 , wherein the first start-time is before a top of an hour, wherein the determined target time is within a range of three minutes before the top of the hour and three minutes after the top of the hour; and wherein the overlayed bug includes a station's call letters.