IP Library Granted Patent US 9,078,027
Granted Patent B1
US 9,078,027 · App. 13/833,556 · Granted Jul 7, 2015

Systems and methods for enabling functionality of a trigger mechanism based on log entries in a traffic log

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,078,027
App. No.
13/833,556
Granted
Jul 7, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for enabling functionality of a trigger mechanism based on log entries in a traffic log. An example method involves (i) accessing a stored traffic log, wherein the log includes multiple ordered log entries including a first log-entry and a second log-entry; (ii) making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live show, wherein the first log-entry further corresponds to a broadcast time-period; (iii) making a second determination that the second log-entry is positioned immediately after the first log-entry; (iv) making a third determination that the second log-entry corresponds to a manual start-time type; and (v) responsive to making the three determinations, enabling functionality of a trigger mechanism during the broadcast time-period, wherein the enabled trigger mechanism is configured to cause processing of a next log entry in the log in response to being triggered.

Claims (45)

1. A method comprising:

an automation system accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log, wherein the traffic log includes multiple ordered log entries, the log entries including at least a first log-entry and a second log-entry;

the automation system making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live show, wherein the first log-entry further corresponds to a broadcast time-period;

the automation system making a second determination that the second log-entry is positioned immediately after the first log-entry;

the automation system making a third determination that the second log-entry corresponds to a manual start-time type; and

responsive to the automation system making the first, second, and third determinations, the automation system enabling functionality of a trigger mechanism during the broadcast time-period, wherein the enabled trigger mechanism is configured to cause the automation system to process a next log entry in the traffic log in response to being triggered by a user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the automation system receiving the traffic log from a traffic system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automation system making the first determination comprises the automation system determining that a source identifier stored in a source-identifier field of the first log-entry corresponds to a live-production source.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first log-entry includes a start time, and wherein the broadcast time-period begins at the start time.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

triggering the enabled trigger mechanism; and

responsive to triggering the enabled trigger mechanism, the automation system (i) processing the second log-entry, and (ii) disabling the trigger mechanism.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a physical button.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a virtual button included in an electronic user-interface.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to making the first, second, and third determinations, the automation system providing an alert during the broadcast time-period indicating that the trigger mechanism is enabled.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the automation system detecting a triggering event, wherein the automation system making the first, second, and third determinations occur in response to the automation system detecting the triggering event.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the automation system detecting the triggering event comprises the automation system determining that a start time of a log entry in the traffic log has changed.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automation system making the first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment VC of a live show comprises the automation system making the first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment VC of a news program.

12. An automation system comprising a computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed cause the automation system to perform a set of functions, the set comprising:

accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log, wherein the traffic log includes multiple ordered log entries, the log entries including at least a first log-entry and a second log-entry;

making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live show, wherein the first log-entry further corresponds to a broadcast time-period;

making a second determination that the second log-entry is positioned immediately after the first log-entry;

making a third determination that the second log-entry corresponds to a manual start-time type; and

responsive to making the first, second, and third determinations, the automation system enabling functionality of a trigger mechanism during the broadcast time-period, wherein the enabled trigger mechanism is configured to cause the automation system to process a next log entry in the traffic log in response to being triggered by a user.

13. The television-broadcasting system of claim 12 , the set further comprising receiving the traffic log from a traffic system.

14. The television-broadcasting system of claim 12 , wherein making the first determination comprises determining that a source identifier stored in a source-identifier field of the first log-entry corresponds to a live-production source.

15. The television-broadcasting system of claim 12 , wherein the first log-entry includes a start time, and wherein the broadcast time-period begins at the start time.

16. The television-broadcasting system of claim 12 , the set further comprising:

triggering the enabled trigger mechanism; and

responsive to triggering the enabled trigger mechanism, the processing the second log-entry and disabling the trigger mechanism.

17. The television-broadcasting system of claim 12 , wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a physical button.

18. The television-broadcasting system of claim 12 , wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a virtual button included in an electronic user-interface.

19. The television-broadcasting system of claim 12 , the set further comprising:

responsive to making the first, second, and third determinations, providing an alert during the broadcast time-period indicating that the trigger mechanism is enabled.

20. The television-broadcasting system of claim 12 , the set further comprising the detecting a triggering event, wherein the automation system making the first, second, and third determinations occur in response to detecting the triggering event.

21. The television-broadcasting system of claim 12 , wherein t making the first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment VC of a live show comprises making the first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment VC of a news program.

22. A television-broadcasting system comprising:

a trigger mechanism; and

an automation system connected to the trigger mechanism via a communication network, wherein the automation system includes a computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed cause the automation system to perform a set of functions, the set comprising:

accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log, wherein the traffic log includes multiple ordered log entries, the log entries including at least a first log-entry and a second log-entry;

making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live show, wherein the first log-entry further corresponds to a broadcast time-period;

making a second determination that the second log-entry is positioned immediately after the first log-entry;

making a third determination that the second log-entry corresponds to a manual start-time type; and

responsive to making the first, second, and third determinations, the automation system enabling functionality of the trigger mechanism during the broadcast time-period, wherein the enabled trigger mechanism is configured to cause the automation system to process a next log entry in the traffic log in response to being triggered by a user.

Assignments (5)
PARTIAL RELEASE - REEL/FRAME 036354/0793 Recorded Sep 24, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 050473/0688 →
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 AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 14, 2015
From: GRACENOTE, INC.; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; CASTTV INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 036354/0793 →
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 →