IP Library Granted Patent US 9,043,835
Granted Patent B1
US 9,043,835 · App. 13/970,308 · Granted May 26, 2015

System and method for simultaneously broadcasting multiple media-components

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,043,835
App. No.
13/970,308
Granted
May 26, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system and method for simultaneously broadcasting video components (VSs). In one example, a method includes an automation-system (AS) selecting a log entry including (i) a first identifier that maps to a first VC, and (ii) a second identifier that maps to a second VC; a recording-and-playout device (RAPD) retrieving the first VC; the RAPD sending the retrieved first-VC to an encoder; the encoder generating a first transport-stream (TS) having (i) program-identification (PID) data, and (ii) payload data including the sent first-VC; the encoder sending the generated first-TS to a first outbound-broadcast device (OBD); the encoder sending the generated first-TS to a transport-stream splicer; the AS loading the splicer with the second VC; the splicer generating a second TS having (i) the PID data of the generated first-TS, and (ii) payload data including the loaded second-VC; and the splicer sending the generated second-TS to a second OBD.

Claims (69)

1. A method comprising:

a master-control automation-system (AS) selecting a log entry from a television-broadcast traffic-log, the log entry including (i) a first identifier that maps to a first video-component (VC) and (ii) a second identifier that maps to a second VC;

responsive to the AS selecting the log entry, a recording-and-playout device (RAPD) retrieving the first VC;

the RAPD sending the retrieved first-VC to an encoder;

the encoder generating a first transport-stream (TS) having (i) program-identification (PID) data, and (ii) payload data including the sent first-VC;

the encoder sending the generated first-TS to a first outbound-broadcast device (OBD) for television-broadcast;

the encoder sending the generated first-TS to a transport-stream splicer;

responsive to the AS selecting the log entry, the AS loading the splicer with the second VC;

the splicer generating a second TS having (i) the PID data of the generated first-TS, and (ii) payload data including the loaded second-VC; and

the splicer sending the generated second-TS to a second OBD for television-broadcast, simultaneously while the encoder sends the generated first-TS to the first OBD.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first identifier is included in a house-number field of the selected log-entry, and the second identifier is included in an auxiliary-value field of the selected log-entry.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first VC is different from the second VC, and the first OBD is different from the second OBD.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the RAPD sending the retrieved first-VC to the encoder comprises the RAPD sending the retrieved first-VC to the encoder via a switching network.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the AS loading the splicer with the second VC comprises the AS loading the splicer with the second VC using a file-transfer protocol (FTP).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AS loading the splicer with the second VC occurs before the RAPD retrieves the first VC.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying the second OBD based on the second identifier, wherein sending the generated second-TS to the second OBD for television-broadcast comprises sending the generated second-TS to the identified second-OBD for television-broadcast.

8. A method comprising:

selecting a log entry from a television-broadcast traffic-log, the log entry including (i) a first identifier that maps to a first video-component (VC) and (ii) a second identifier that maps to a second VC;

generating a first transport-stream (TS) having (i) program-identification (PID) data, and (ii) payload data including the first VC;

sending the generated first-TS to a first outbound-broadcast device (OBD) for television-broadcast;

generating a second TS having (i) the PID data of the generated first-TS, and (ii) payload data including the second VC; and

sending the generated second-TS to a second OBD for television-broadcast, simultaneously while sending the generated first-TS to the first OBD.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first identifier is included in a house-number field of the selected log-entry, and the second identifier is included in an auxiliary-value field of the selected log-entry.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first VC is different from the second VC, and the first OBD is different from the second OBD.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the first TS comprises an encoder generating the first TS, and generating the second TS comprises a transport-stream splicer generating the second TS.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying the second OBD based on the second identifier, wherein sending the generated second-TS to the second OBD for television-broadcast comprises sending the generated second-TS to the identified second-OBD for television-broadcast.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first identifier is included in a house-number field of the selected log-entry, and the second identifier is included in an auxiliary-value field of the selected log-entry, and wherein identifying the second OBD based on the second identifier comprises identifying the second OBD based on a prefix of the second identifier.

14. A television-broadcasting system comprising:

a recording-and-playout device (RAPD);

a switching network;

an encoder, wherein the RAPD is connected to the encoder via the switching network;

a first outbound-broadcast device (OBD) connected to the encoder;

a transport-stream splicer connected to the encoder;

a second OBD connected to the splicer;

a master-control automation-system (AS) connected to the RAPD, the switching network, and the splicer, wherein the AS is configured to (i) select a log entry from a television-broadcast traffic-log, the log entry including (a) a first identifier that maps to a first video-component (VC) and (b) a second identifier that maps to a second VC, and (ii) responsive to selecting the log entry, cause (a) the RAPD to retrieve the first VC, and (b) load the splicer with the second VC;

wherein the RAPD is configured to send the retrieved first-VC to the encoder;

wherein the encoder is configured to (i) generate a first transport-stream (TS) having (a) program-identification (PID) data, and (b) payload data including the sent first-VC, (ii) send the generated first-TS to the first OBD for television-broadcast, and (iii) send the generated first-TS to the splicer; and

wherein the splicer is configured to (i) generate a second TS having (a) the PID data of the generated first-TS, and (b) payload data including the loaded second-VC; and (ii) send the generated second-TS to the second OBD for television-broadcast, simultaneously while the encoder sends the generated first-TS to the first OBD.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second identifier is included in an auxiliary-value field of the selected log-entry.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first identifier is included in a house-number field of the selected log-entry.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first VC is different from the second VC, and the first OBD is different from the second OBD.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the AS is configured to load the splicer with the second VC using a file-transfer protocol (FTP).

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the AS is configured to load the splicer with the second VC before the causing the RAPD to retrieve the first VC.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the AS is further configured to (i) identify the second OBD based on the second identifier, and (ii) send the generated second-TS to the identified second OBD for television-broadcast.

21. A method comprising:

a master-control automation-system (AS) selecting a log entry from a radio-broadcast traffic-log, the log entry including (i) a first identifier that maps to a first audio-component (AC) and (ii) a second identifier that maps to a second AC;

responsive to the AS selecting the log entry, a recording-and-playout device (RAPD) retrieving the first AC;

the RAPD sending the retrieved first-AC to an encoder;

the encoder generating a first data-stream (DS) including the sent first-AC;

the encoder sending the generated first-DS to a first outbound-broadcast device (OBD) for radio-broadcast;

the encoder sending the generated first-DS to a transport-stream splicer;

responsive to the AS selecting the log entry, the AS loading the splicer with the second AC;

the splicer generating a second DS that maintains the continuity of the generated first DS, and that includes the loaded second-AC; and

the splicer sending the generated second-DS to a second OBD for radio-broadcast, simultaneously while the encoder sends the generated first-DS to the first OBD.

22. A method comprising:

a master-control automation-system (AS) selecting a log entry from a traffic-log, the log entry including (i) a first identifier that maps to a first video-component (VC) and (ii) a second identifier that maps to a second VC;

responsive to the AS selecting the log entry, a recording-and-playout device (RAPD) retrieving the first VC;

the RAPD sending the retrieved first-VC to an encoder;

the encoder generating a first transport-stream (TS) having (i) program-identification (PID) data, and (ii) payload data including the sent first-VC;

the encoder sending the generated first-TS to a first outbound-broadcast device (OBD) for broadcast;

the encoder sending the generated first-TS to a transport-stream splicer;

responsive to the AS selecting the log entry, the AS loading the splicer with the second VC;

the splicer generating a second TS having (i) the PID data of the generated first-TS, and (ii) payload data including the loaded second-VC; and

the splicer sending the generated second-TS to a second OBD for broadcast, simultaneously while the encoder sends the generated first-TS to the first OBD.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the RAPD sending the retrieved first-VC to the encoder comprises the RAPD sending the retrieved first-VC to the encoder via a switching network.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the AS loading the splicer with the second VC comprises the AS loading the splicer with the second VC using a file-transfer protocol (FTP).

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the first OBD comprises an Internet feed.

Assignments (7)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2013
From: HUNDEMER, HANK J
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 031055/0143 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 21, 2013
From: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 031075/0082 →