System and methods for cloud-based media play out
View Patent ↗The present disclosure is directed to cloud-based media distribution and management systems, providing pushing of content to regional playout servers geographically dispersed for local rebroadcasting of network based content. Automation may be controlled through a hierarchical system, allowing easy and efficient playlist editing and media control. In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a playout server for retrieving or receiving content from a network or cloud based storage, and playing content according to an automated playlist received from a media distribution and management system.
1. A media play out system, comprising:
a first device, comprising a first processor and a first storage device, the first processor configured for transmitting a hierarchical broadcast media automation schedule from the storage device to a second device via a network; and
the second device, comprising a second processor, a media router, a second storage device, and at least one media output interface connected to the media router, the second processor configured for:
receiving the hierarchical automation schedule from the first device,
identifying a node within the hierarchy corresponding to the second device,
aggregating media automation instructions of the identified node and each parent node of the identified node from the hierarchical automation schedule,
controlling the media router in accordance with the aggregated automation instructions,
retrieving at least one item of content identified in the aggregated automation instructions,
storing the retrieved at least one item of content in the second storage device,
playing the retrieved at least one item of content via the media output interface from the second storage device, in accordance with the aggregated automation instructions,
determining whether a first item of content is available for playback at a first time designated for playback of the first item of content in the aggregated automation instructions,
identifying a child node of the hierarchical automation schedule including the instruction designating playback of the first item of content at the first time, responsive to a determination that the first item of content is not available for playback,
iteratively searching for a parent node of the child node including an instruction designating playback of a second item of content at the first time, and
playing the second item of content in the second storage device via the media output interface, responsive to locating the parent node.
2. The media play out system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor is further configured for controlling the media router to switch among a plurality of media sources according to the aggregated automation instructions.
3. The media play out system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor is further configured for identifying a node within the hierarchy responsive to the identified node corresponding to a broadcast region including the second device.
4. The media play out system of claim 3 , wherein the second processor is further configured for identifying a lowest tier node within the hierarchy corresponding to the broadcast region including the second device.
5. The media play out system of claim 1 , wherein aggregating automation instructions of the identified node and each parent node comprises replacing an automation instruction of a first node with a corresponding automation instruction from a second node, the second node a child of the first node.
6. The media play out system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor is further configured for transmitting a log of executed automation instructions to the first device.
7. A method for cloud-based media play out, comprising:
transmitting, by a first device to a second device via a network, a hierarchical media automation schedule stored in a storage device of the first device;
receiving, by the second device from the first device, the hierarchical media automation schedule;
identifying, by the second device, a node within the hierarchy corresponding to the second device;
aggregating, by the second device, media automation instructions of the identified node and each parent node of the identified node from the hierarchical media automation schedule;
determining, by the second device, whether a first item of content is available for playback at a first time designated for playback of the first item of content in the aggregated media automation instructions;
identifying, by the second device, a child node of the hierarchical media automation schedule including the instruction designating playback of the first item of content at the first time, responsive to a determination that the first item of content is not available for playback;
iteratively searching, by the second device, for a parent node of the child node including an instruction designating playback of a second item of content at the first time and
playing the second item of content via the media output interface, responsive to locating the parent node; and
controlling, by the second device, a media router of the second device in accordance with the aggregated media automation instructions.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
retrieving, by the second device, at least one item of content identified in the aggregated media automation instructions; and
playing, by the second device, the retrieved at least one item of content via the media output interface, in accordance with the aggregated media automation instructions.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein playing the retrieved at least one item of content via the media output interface further comprises storing the retrieved at least one item of content in the second storage device; and playing the retrieved at least one item of content from the second storage device.
10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising controlling, by the second device, the media router to switch among a plurality of media sources according to the aggregated media automation instructions.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising identifying a node within the hierarchy responsive to the identified node corresponding to a broadcast region including the second device.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising identifying a lowest tier node within the hierarchy corresponding to the broadcast region including the second device.
13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising replacing a media automation instruction of a first node with a corresponding media automation instruction from a second node, the second node a child of the first node.
14. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting, by the second device, a log of executed media automation instructions to the first device.
15. A media play out system, comprising:
a first device, comprising a first processor and a first storage device, the first processor configured for transmitting a hierarchical broadcast media automation schedule from the storage device to a second device via a network; and
the second device, comprising a second processor, a media router, a second storage device, and at least one media output interface connected to the media router, the second processor configured for:
receiving the hierarchical automation schedule from the first device,
identifying a node within the hierarchy corresponding to the second device,
aggregating media automation instructions of the identified node and each parent node of the identified node from the hierarchical automation schedule,
determining whether a first item of content is available for playback at a first time designated for playback of the first item of content in the aggregated automation instructions,
identifying a child node of the hierarchical automation schedule including the instruction designating playback of the first item of content at the first time, responsive to a determination that the first item of content is not available for playback,
iteratively searching for a parent node of the child node including an instruction designating playback of a second item of content at the first time, and
playing the second item of content in the second storage device via the media output interface, responsive to locating the parent node.
16. The media play out system of claim 15 , wherein the second processor is further configured for controlling the media router to switch among a plurality of media sources according to the aggregated automation instructions.
17. The media play out system of claim 15 , wherein the second processor is further configured for identifying a node within the hierarchy responsive to the identified node corresponding to a broadcast region including the second device.
18. The media play out system of claim 17 , wherein the second processor is further configured for identifying a lowest tier node within the hierarchy corresponding to the broadcast region including the second device.
19. The media play out system of claim 15 , wherein aggregating automation instructions of the identified node and each parent node comprises replacing an automation instruction of a first node with a corresponding automation instruction from a second node, the second node a child of the first node.
20. The media play out system of claim 15 , wherein the second processor is further configured for transmitting a log of executed automation instructions to the first device.