System and method for scheduling clips

1. A system for use with multiple video players, the system comprising a computer-readable medium including a set of program instructions, that when executed, cause performance of a set of functions comprising:

accessing a first list that includes ordered clip identifiers separated at least into a first block of clip identifiers and a second block of clip identifiers;

accessing a second list that includes ordered player identifiers, wherein the number of player identifiers is less than the number of clip identifiers in the first and second blocks combined;

assigning to each clip identifier in the first block in order a respective one of the player identifiers selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with one of the player identifiers such that a final clip identifier in the first block is assigned one of the player identifiers other than a final one of the player identifiers;

assigning to each clip identifier in the second block in order a respective one of the player identifiers selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with an initial one of the player identifiers; and

traversing the ordered clip identifiers in the first block and the second block, and for each traversed clip identifier, causing a video player identified by the one of the player identifiers assigned to the traversed clip identifier to load a clip identified by the traversed clip identifier.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein assigning to each clip identifier in the first block in order a respective one of the player identifiers selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with one of the player identifiers comprises assigning to each clip identifier in the first block in order a respective one of the player identifiers selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with starting an initial one of the player identifiers.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of functions further comprises:

making a determination that an initial clip identifier of the first block is an initial clip identifier of a block of a rundown, wherein assigning to each clip identifier in the second block in order a respective one of the player identifiers selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with an initial one of the player identifiers occurs in response to making the determination.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first list is part of a rundown for a news program, wherein the first block of clip identifiers corresponds to a first block of the news program, and wherein the second block of clip identifiers corresponds to a second block of the news program.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first list is part of a traffic schedule for a program broadcast, wherein the first block of clip identifiers corresponds to a first block of the program broadcast, and wherein the second block of clip identifiers corresponds to a second block of the program broadcast.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the players comprises one of a video player device and a software-based video player executing on a computing device.

7. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computing device to perform a set of functions comprising:

accessing a first list that includes ordered clip identifiers C 1 . . . C n separated at least into a first block of clip identifiers C 1 . . . C j and a second block of clip identifiers C j+1 . . . C k ;

accessing a second list that includes ordered player identifiers P 1 . . . P x , wherein x<k;

assigning to each clip identifier C 1 . . . C j , in order a respective one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x such that the clip identifier C j is assigned one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x−1 ;

assigning to each clip identifier C j+1 . . . C k in order a respective one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with the player identifier P 1 ; and

traversing the clip identifiers C 1 . . . C k , and for each traversed clip identifier, causing a video player identified by the one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x assigned to the traversed clip identifier to load a clip identified by the traversed clip identifier.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein assigning to each clip identifier C 1 . . . C j , in order a respective one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x comprises assigning to each clip identifier C 1 . . . C j in order a respective one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with the player identifier P 1 .

9. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the set of functions further comprises:

making a determination that the clip identifier C j+1 is an initial clip identifier of a block of a rundown, wherein assigning to each clip identifier C j+1 . . . C k in order a respective one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with the player identifier P 1 occurs in response to making the determination.

10. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the first list is part of a rundown for a news program, wherein the first block of clip identifiers corresponds to a first block of the news program, and wherein the second block of clip identifiers corresponds to a second block of the news program.

11. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the rundown comprises a commercial-break marker, and wherein the first block of clip identifiers and the second block of clip identifiers are separated from each other by the commercial-break marker.

12. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the set of functions further comprises:

making a determination that the rundown has been initialized or edited, wherein assigning to each clip identifier C 1 . . . C j in order a respective one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x such that the clip identifier C j is assigned one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x−1 and assigning to each clip identifier C j+1 . . . C k in order a respective one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with the player identifier P 1 occur in response to making the determination.

13. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the first list is part of a traffic schedule for a program broadcast, wherein the first block of clip identifiers corresponds to a first block of the program broadcast, and wherein the second block of clip identifiers corresponds to a second block of the program broadcast.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the first block of clip identifiers and the second block of clip identifiers are separated from each other by a reference to a particular video source.

15. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the player comprises one of a video player device and a software-based video player executing on a computing device.

16. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the set of functions further comprises:

for each traversed clip identifier, causing the player identified by the one of the player identifiers P 1 . . . P x assigned to the traversed clip identifier to play out the respective loaded clip.

17. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computing device to perform a set of functions comprising:

accessing a first list that includes ordered clip identifiers separated at least into a first block of clip identifiers and a second block of clip identifiers;

accessing a second list that includes ordered player identifiers, wherein the number of player identifiers is less than the number of clip identifiers in the first and second blocks combined;

assigning to each clip identifier in the first block in order a respective one of the player identifiers selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with one of the player identifiers such that a final clip identifier in the first block is assigned one of the player identifiers other than a final one of the player identifiers;

assigning to each clip identifier in the second block in order a respective one of the player identifiers selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with an initial one of the player identifiers; and

traversing the ordered clip identifiers in the first block and the second block, and for each traversed clip identifier, causing a video player identified by the one of the player identifiers assigned to the traversed clip identifier to load a clip identified by the traversed clip identifier.

18. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein assigning to each clip identifier in the first block in order a respective one of the player identifiers selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with one of the player identifiers comprises assigning to each clip identifier in the first block in order a respective one of the player identifiers selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with starting an initial one of the player identifiers.

19. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein the set of functions further comprises:

making a determination that an initial clip identifier of the first block is an initial clip identifier of a block of a rundown, wherein assigning to each clip identifier in the second block in order a respective one of the player identifiers selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with an initial one of the player identifiers occurs in response to making the determination.

20. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein the first list is part of a rundown for a news program, wherein the first block of clip identifiers corresponds to a first block of the news program, and wherein the second block of clip identifiers corresponds to a second block of the news program.

21. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein the first list is part of a traffic schedule for a program broadcast, wherein the first block of clip identifiers corresponds to a first block of the program broadcast, and wherein the second block of clip identifiers corresponds to a second block of the program broadcast.

22. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the players comprises one of a video player device and a software-based video player executing on a computing device.