SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEDIA DISTRIBUTION AND MANAGEMENT
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 method for generating a hierarchical media automation schedule, comprising:
associating, via a server device, each of a plurality of devices with a broadcast region, each broadcast region corresponding to a node in a hierarchical tree for broadcasting to the plurality of regions;
generating, via the server device, a first schedule for a parent node in the hierarchical tree;
generating, via the server device, a second schedule for a child node in the hierarchical tree; and
aggregating the first schedule and second schedule to generate an aggregated set of automation instructions.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, by the server device, the first schedule and second schedule to a first device of the plurality of devices; and
wherein aggregating the first schedule and second schedule further comprises aggregating, by the first device of the plurality of devices, the first schedule and second schedule.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein aggregating the first schedule and second schedule further comprises:
determining, by the first device, that it is in a broadcast region corresponding to the child node in the hierarchical tree; and
aggregating the first schedule and second schedule responsive to the determination.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein aggregating the first schedule and second schedule further comprises:
aggregating, by the server device, the first schedule and second schedules; and
transmitting, by the server device, the aggregated set of automation instructions to a first device of the plurality of devices.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting at least one item of content to one or more of the plurality of devices for playback in accordance with the aggregated set of automation instructions.
6 . A method for propagating edits in a hierarchical media automation system, comprising:
(a) receiving, by a device, a request to edit a schedule in a media automation system, the request identifying a first node in a hierarchical tree corresponding to a broadcast region;
(b) retrieving, by the device, a media automation schedule corresponding to the identified first node;
(c) editing, by the device, the retrieved media automation schedule according to the received request;
(d) identifying, by the device, a second node having a child relationship to the identified first node;
(e) retrieving, by the device, a second media automation schedule corresponding to the identified second node; and
(f) editing, by the device, the second media automation schedule according to the received request.
7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
(g) repeating (d)-(f), by the device, for each node having the child relationship to the first node, the second node, or a third node identified during an iteration of (d)-(f).
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the request identifies an entry to add to a media automation schedule.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the request identifies an entry to delete from a media automation schedule.
10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the edit request identifies a first entry to replace in a media automation schedule with a second entry.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein editing the second media automation schedule according to the received edit request further comprises determining if the second media automation schedule includes the first entry.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein editing the second media automation schedule according to the received edit request further comprises replacing the first entry in the second media automation schedule with the second entry, responsive to determining that the second media automation schedule includes the first entry.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein editing the second media automation schedule according to the received edit request further comprises determining that the second media automation schedule does not include the first entry; and not replacing a third entry in the second media automation schedule with the second entry.
14 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving, by the device, a request to add a node to the hierarchical tree corresponding to a second broadcast region, the request identifying a parent node; and
editing, by the device, the hierarchical tree to add a new node as a child of the identified parent node.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
generating, by the device, a third media automation schedule for the new node corresponding to the media automation schedule of the identified parent node.
16 . A system for generating a hierarchical media automation schedule, comprising:
a server device comprising a processor and a storage device, the processor executing a media automation schedule manager;
the media automation schedule manager configured to:
associate each of a plurality of devices with a broadcast region, each broadcast region corresponding to a node in a hierarchical tree retained in the storage device for broadcasting to the plurality of regions,
generate a first schedule for a parent node in the hierarchical tree, and
generate a second schedule for a child node in the hierarchical tree, the first schedule and second schedule aggregated to generate an aggregated set of automation instructions.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the media automation schedule manager is further configured to transmit the first schedule and second schedule to a first device of the plurality of devices, the first device comprising a second processor configured to aggregate the first schedule and second schedule.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the second processor is further configured to determine that the first device is in a broadcast region corresponding to the child node in the hierarchical tree, and aggregate the first schedule and second schedule responsive to the determination.
19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the media automation schedule manager is further configured to transmit the aggregated set of automation instructions to a first device of the plurality of devices.
20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the media automation schedule manager is further configured to transmit at least one item of content stored in the storage device to one or more of the plurality of devices for playback in accordance with the aggregated set of automation instructions.
21 . A system for propagating edits in a hierarchical media automation system, comprising:
a device comprising a processor and a storage device, the processor executing a media automation schedule manager;
the media automation schedule manager configured to:
(a) receive a request to edit a schedule in a media automation system, the request identifying a first node in a hierarchical tree retained in the storage device corresponding to a broadcast region;
(b) retrieve, from the storage device, a media automation schedule corresponding to the identified first node;
(c) edit the retrieved media automation schedule according to the received request;
(d) identify a second node having a child relationship to the identified first node;
(e) retrieve, from the storage device, a second media automation schedule corresponding to the identified second node; and
(f) edit the second media automation schedule according to the received request.
22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the media automation schedule manager is further configured to:
(g) repeat (d)-(f) for each node having a child relationship to the first node, the second node, or a third node identified during an iteration of steps (d)-(f).
23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the request identifies an entry to add to a media automation schedule.
24 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the request identifies an entry to delete from a media automation schedule.
25 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the request identifies a first entry to replace in a media automation schedule with a second entry.
26 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the media automation schedule manager is further configured to determine if the second media automation schedule includes the first entry.
27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the media automation schedule manager is further configured to replace the first entry in the second media automation schedule with the second entry, responsive to determining that the second media automation schedule includes the first entry.
28 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the media automation schedule manager is further configured to determine that the second media automation schedule does not include the first entry; and not replace a third entry in the second media automation schedule with the second entry.
29 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the media automation schedule manager is further configured to:
receive a request to add a node to the hierarchical tree corresponding to a second broadcast region, the request identifying a parent node; and
edit the hierarchical tree to add a new node as a child of the identified parent node.
30 . The system of claim 29 , wherein the media automation schedule manager is further configured to:
generate a third media automation schedule for the new node corresponding to the media automation schedule of the identified parent node.