Pre-pitched method and system for video on demand
A network apparatus and a content distribution apparatus are described. The network apparatus is configured to transcode and transmit pre-broadcast content into transcoded content according to a format associated with a content distribution apparatus. The transcoded content includes a distribution indicator to restrict distribution of the transcoded content to one or more remote apparatus. Network apparatus is configured to transmit a “delta file” to content distribution apparatus with transcoded content and instructions to signal modifying the pre-broadcast content. Content distribution apparatus is configured to receive transcoded pre-broadcast content and “delta file” with instructions from network apparatus. Content distribution apparatus removes the distribution indicator from the transcoded pre-broadcast content once the signaling instructions indicates that the broadcast content corresponds with pre-broadcast content. Content distribution apparatus may use the “delta file” to modify the transcoded pre-broadcast content such that the modified pre-broadcast content corresponds with broadcast content with a tolerance.
1. A system for distributing a pre-pitched video-on-demand file to improve on-demand accessibility time of media content after media content broadcast, the system comprising:
a media distribution restrictor configured to generate a distribution restrictor for preventing a content distributor from transmitting media content to at least one remote display device for display thereon;
a pre-broadcast content generator configured to transcode the media content as a pre-pitched video-on-demand (VOD) file that includes the distribution restrictor to prevent distribution of the pre-pitched VOD file including the media content until the distribution restrictor is lifted from the transcoded media content;
a pre-broadcast content transmitting controller configured to transmit the pre-pitched VOD file including the transcoded media content with the distribution restrictor to the content distributor before broadcast of the media content;
a media content correspondence determiner configured to compare the transcoded media content of the pre-pitched VOD file with the broadcast media content to determine a media content correspondence; and
a content distribution controller configured to lift the distribution restrictor from the transcoded media content, such that the pre-pitched VOD file is configured to be transmitted by the content distributor to the at least one remote display device for display thereon once the distribution restrictor is lifted,
wherein the pre-pitched VOD file includes an as-stitched-log that indicates a linear playout of the media content in the pre-pitched VOD file,
wherein the broadcast media content includes an as-run-log of the broadcast media content,
wherein a delta file is generated for at least one different media asset between the media content in the pre-pitched VOD file and the broadcast media content,
wherein the media content correspondence determiner comprises an on-demand comparison engine that on-the-fly compares the as-stitched-log of the pre-pitched VOD file to the as-run-log of the broadcast media content as the media content correspondence determiner receives the broadcast media content,
wherein the on-demand comparison engine determines the media content correspondence based on the comparing of the as-stitched-log and the as-run-log,
wherein the content distribution controller lifts the distribution restrictor from the transcoded media content if the determined media content correspondence is within an acceptable fault tolerance, and
wherein the on-demand comparison engine dynamically re-stitches the pre-pitched VOD file to include the delta file when the at least one different media asset between the media content in the pre-pitched VOD file and the broadcast media content is detected, such that the re-stitched VOD file is configured to be transmitted to the at least one remote display device to be displayed thereon.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the linear playout of the media content in the pre-pitched VOD file comprises a sequence of media assets that include program media, graphics data, audio/video data, watermarking data, and ad-splicing messages.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the distribution restrictor is a metadata file configured as an embargo flag associated with the transcoded media content that controls the content distribution controller to prevent distribution of the pre-pitched VOD file to the at least one remote display device.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the acceptable fault tolerance of the media content correspondence accounts for differences in watermarking timestamps between the as-stitched-log of the pre-pitched VOD file and the as-run-log of the broadcast media content and alternate graphics between the media content of the pre-pitched VOD file and the broadcast media content.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the delta file for at least one different media asset includes an advertisement in the broadcast media content that was not included in the media content in the pre-pitched VOD file.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the content distribution controller is further configured to maintain the distribution restrictor when the media content correspondence is not within the acceptable fault tolerance, such that the content distributor is prevented from transmitting the pre-pitched VOD file to the at least one remote display device until the delta file is stitched into the pre-pitched VOD file.
7. A system for providing on-demand accessibility of time-shifted media content after media content broadcast, the system comprising:
a media distribution restrictor configured to generate a distribution restrictor configured to prevent a content distributor from distributing media content;
a pre-broadcast content encoder configured to transcode the media content as a time-shifted media production that includes the distribution restrictor that controls the content distributor from distributing the transcoded media content until the distribution restrictor is lifted;
a pre-broadcast content transmitting controller configured to transmit the time-shifted media production as a video-on-demand (VOD) file that includes the transcoded media content with the distribution restrictor to the content distributor before broadcast of the media content;
a media comparison engine configured to on-the-fly compare an as-stitched-log of the media content of the time-shifted media production with an as-run-log of broadcast media content to determine a media content correspondence; and
a content distribution controller configured to lift the distribution restrictor from the transcoded media content when the determined media content correspondence is within an acceptable fault tolerance, such that the time-shifted media production is configured to be freely distributed by the content distributor once the distribution restrictor is lifted,
wherein the pre-broadcast content encoder is configured to generate a delta file for at least one different media asset between the media content of the time-shifted media production and the broadcast media content,
wherein the media comparison engine dynamically re-stitches the time-shifted media production to include the delta file upon detecting the at least one different media asset between the media content in the time-shifted media production and the broadcast media content, such that the re-stitched time-shifted media production is configured to be freely distributed by the content distributor.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the content distribution controller lifts the distribution restrictor from the transcoded media content, such that the content distributor can freely transmit the VOD file to at least one remote display device for display thereon once the distribution restrictor is lifted.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the as-stitched-log of the media content of the time-shifted media production comprises a linear playout of the media content that is a sequence of media assets that include program media, graphics data, audio/video data, watermarking data, and ad-splicing messages.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the distribution restrictor is a metadata file configured as an embargo flag associated with the transcoded media content that controls the content distribution controller to prevent distribution of the time-shifted media production to at least one remote display device for display thereon until the embargo flag is lifted.
11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the acceptable fault tolerance of the media content correspondence accounts for differences in watermarking timestamps between the as-stitched-log of the time-shifted media production and the as-run-log of the broadcast media content and alternate graphics between the media content of the time-shifted media production and the broadcast media content.
12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the delta file for at least one different media asset includes an advertisement in the broadcast media content that was not included in the media content of the time-shifted media production.
13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the content distribution controller is further configured to maintain the distribution restrictor when the media content correspondence is not within the acceptable fault tolerance, such that the content distributor is prevented from transmitting the time-shifted media production to at least one remote display device until the delta file is stitched into the time-shifted media production.
14. A system for pre-distribution of time-shifted media content to eliminate distribution delays after media content broadcast, the system comprising:
a pre-broadcast content encoder configured to:
transcode pre-broadcast media content as a time-shifted media production that includes distribution control metadata having a distribution restrictor configured to prevent distribution by at least one media distribution channel of the time-shifted media production before a scheduled broadcast of broadcast media content associated with the transcoded pre-broadcast media content, and
generate a delta file for at least one different media asset between the pre-broadcast media content in the time-shifted media production and the broadcast media content;
a media content transmitter configured to transmit the time-shifted media production including the distribution control metadata to the at least one media distribution channel before the scheduled broadcast of the broadcast media content;
an on-demand comparison engine that dynamically re-stitches the time-shifted media production to include the delta file upon detecting the at least one different media asset between the pre-broadcast media content in the time-shifted media production and the broadcast media content; and
a content distribution controller configured to lift the distribution restrictor upon determining a media content correspondence between the transcoded pre-broadcast media content and the broadcast media content, such that the at least one media distribution channel is authorized to freely distribute the re-stitched and time-shifted media production upon the scheduled broadcast of the broadcast media content.
15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a media distribution restrictor configured to generate the distribution restrictor that is included in the distribution control metadata for preventing the at least one media distribution channel from distributing the time-shifted media production.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein by lifting the distribution restrictor, the time-shifted media production is configured to be freely transmitted to at least one remote display device for display thereon upon lifting the distribution restrictor.
17. The system of claim 16 ,
wherein the time-shifted media production comprises a video-on-demand file that includes the transcoded pre-broadcast media content,
wherein the content distribution controller includes an on-demand comparison engine configured to on-the-fly compare an as-stitched-log of the transcoded pre-broadcast media content in a video-on demand (VOD) file including the pre-broadcast media content with an as-run-log of broadcast media content to determine the media content correspondence, and
wherein the content distribution controller lifts the distribution restrictor from the transcoded pre-broadcast media content when the determined media content correspondence is within an acceptable fault tolerance.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the as-stitched-log of the media content in the time-shifted media production comprises a linear playout of the media content that is a sequence of media assets that include program media, graphics data, audio/video data, watermarking data, and ad-splicing messages.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the distribution restrictor is a metadata file configured as an embargo flag associated with the transcoded pre-broadcast media content that controls the content distribution controller to prevent distribution of the time-shifted media production to at least one remote display device for display thereon until the embargo flag is lifted.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the acceptable fault tolerance of the media content correspondence accounts for differences in watermarking timestamps between the as-stitched-log of the VOD file and the as-run-log of the broadcast media content and alternate graphics between the media content of the VOD file and the broadcast media content.
21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the delta file for at least one different media asset includes an advertisement in the broadcast media content that was not included in the media content in the time-shifted media production.
22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the content distribution controller is further configured to maintain the distribution restrictor when the media content correspondence is not within the acceptable fault tolerance, such that the at least one media distribution channel is prevented from transmitting the time-shifted media production to at least one remote display device until the delta file is stitched into the time-shifted media production.