IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,264,752
Granted Patent B1
US 9,264,752 · App. 14/556,636 · Granted Feb 16, 2016

News production system with dynamic media server allocation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,264,752
App. No.
14/556,636
Granted
Feb 16, 2016
Kind
B1
Abstract

An example method involves: (i) accessing data representing a news program schedule that specifies a sequence of events to be carried out using a news production system, wherein the schedule is divided into contiguous portions; (ii) for each portion: determining that m media servers are sufficient to execute any events of that portion and associated with a first device, allocating m media servers to the first device, thereby leaving one or more unallocated media servers, and allocating n media servers, from the unallocated media servers, to a second device; and (iii) for each of the contiguous portions, utilizing at least a portion of the allocated m media servers to carry out the events specified in that portion and associated with the first device and utilizing at least a portion of the allocated n media servers to carry out the events specified in that portion and associated with the second device.

Claims (29)

1. A method for use with a news production system (NPS) comprising multiple media servers, a router, a first destination device, and a second destination device, wherein an output of each of the media servers is connected to a respective input of the router, a first output of the router is connected to an input of the first destination device, and a second output of the router is connected to an input of the second destination device, the method comprising:

accessing data representing a news program schedule that specifies a sequence of events to be carried out using the NPS, wherein the news program schedule is divided into contiguous portions;

for each of the contiguous portions: (i) determining that m media servers are sufficient to execute any events that are of that portion and that are associated with the first destination device, (ii) allocating m media servers to the first destination device, thereby leaving one or more unallocated media servers, and (iii) allocating n media servers, from among the one or more unallocated media servers, to the second destination device; and

for each of the contiguous portions (i) utilizing at least a portion of the allocated m media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and that are associated with the first destination device, and (ii) utilizing at least a portion of the allocated n media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and that are associated with the second destination device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first destination device comprises a display driver.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein an event associated with the first destination device comprises an event where the first destination device executes a digital video effect (DVE).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second destination device comprises a production switcher.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein an event associated with the second destination device comprises an event where the second destination device executes a digital video effect (DVE).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the news program schedule is divided by commercial-break markers into contiguous show-block portions.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the NPS to utilize at least a portion of the allocated m media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and that are associated with the first destination device comprises causing the NPS to utilize the allocated m media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and are that associated with the first destination device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the NPS to utilize at least a portion of the allocated n media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that 11/portion and that are associated with the second destination device comprises causing the NPS to utilize the allocated n media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and are that associated with the second destination device.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed by a processor cause performance of a set of functions, the set of functions in connection with a news production system (NPS) comprising multiple media servers, a router, a first destination device, and a second destination device, wherein an output of each of the media servers is connected to a respective input of the router, a first output of the router is connected to an input of the first destination device, and a second output of the router is connected to an input of the second destination device, the set of functions comprising:

accessing data representing a news program schedule that specifies a sequence of events to be carried out using the NPS, wherein the news program schedule is divided into contiguous portions;

for each of the contiguous portions: (i) determining that m media servers are sufficient to execute any events that are of that portion and that are associated with the first destination device, (ii) allocating m media servers to the first destination device, thereby leaving one or more unallocated media servers, and (iii) allocating n media servers, from among the one or more unallocated media servers, to the second destination device; and

for each of the contiguous portions (i) utilizing at least a portion of the allocated m media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and that are associated with the first destination device, and (ii) utilizing at least a portion of the allocated n media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and that are associated with the second destination device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the first destination device comprises a display driver.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein an event associated with the first destination device comprises an event where the first destination device executes a digital video effect (DVE).

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the second destination device comprises a production switcher.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein an event associated with the second destination device comprises an event where the second destination device executes a digital video effect (DVE).

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the news program schedule is divided by commercial-break markers into contiguous show-block portions.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein causing the NPS to utilize at least a portion of the allocated m media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and are that associated with the first destination device comprises causing the NPS to utilize the allocated m media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and are that associated with the first destination device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein causing the NPS to utilize at least a portion of the allocated n media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and are that associated with the second destination device comprises causing the NPS to utilize the allocated n media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and are that associated with the second destination device.

17. A news production system (NPS) comprising multiple media servers, a router, a first destination device, a second destination device, and a control system wherein an output of each of the media servers is connected to a respective input of the router, a first output of the router is connected to an input of the first destination device, and a second output of the router is connected to an input of the second destination device, wherein the control system is configured for:

accessing data representing a news program schedule that specifies a sequence of events to be carried out using the NPS, wherein the news program schedule is divided into contiguous portions;

for each of the contiguous portions: (i) determining that m media servers are sufficient to execute any events that are of that portion and that are associated with the first destination device, (ii) allocating m media servers to the first destination device, thereby leaving one or more unallocated media servers, and (iii) allocating n media servers, from among the one or more unallocated media servers, to the second destination device; and

for each of the contiguous portions (i) utilizing at least a portion of the allocated m media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and that are associated with the first destination device, and (ii) utilizing at least a portion of the allocated n media servers to carry out the events that are specified in that portion and that are associated with the second destination device.

18. The NPS of claim 17 , wherein the first destination device comprises a display driver and the second destination device comprises a production switcher.

19. The NPS of claim 17 , wherein an event associated with the first destination device comprises an event where the first destination device executes a digital video effect (DVE), and wherein an event associated with the second destination device comprises an event where the second destination device executes a DVE.

20. The NPS of claim 17 , wherein the news program schedule is divided by commercial-break markers into contiguous show-block portions.

Assignments (4)
PARTIAL RELEASE - REEL/FRAME 035249/0937 Recorded Sep 24, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 050475/0386 →
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 Mar 23, 2015
From: GRACENOTE, INC.; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 035249/0937 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2014
From: HUNDEMER, HANK J.
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 034359/0829 →