IP Library Granted Patent US 12,375,763
Granted Patent B2
US 12,375,763 · App. 18/451,981 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Disparate live media output stream playout and broadcast distribution

Inventors: Donald Jude Loheide (Mableton, GA); Gregor McClain Stigall (Douglasville, GA); Nishith Kumar Sinha (Mableton, GA); Nicolas Paul Webb (McDonough, GA)
Assignee: Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
H04N21/458H04N21/4356H04N21/44204H04N21/4524H04N21/4532H04N21/64322H04N21/812H04N21/8146
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,375,763
App. No.
18/451,981
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A stream playout and distribution system is provided for disparate live media output stream playout and broadcast distribution. The system generates a new version of a disparate live media output stream manifest based on insertion of a plurality of segments of at least one of a pre-encoded media asset or a live input stream into the disparate live media output stream manifest. Each segment of the plurality of segments corresponds to a different quality level and a different content encryption mode. The plurality of segments corresponds to broadcast content segments encoded in a first encoding format of the new version of the disparate live media output stream manifest. The system converts the broadcast content segments encoded in the first encoding format to a second encoding format in accordance with a broadcasting protocol.

Claims (62)

1. A system, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

one or more processors configured to:

generate a new version of a disparate live media output stream manifest based on insertion of an indicator of a segment from a plurality of segments of at least one of a pre-encoded media asset or a live input stream into the disparate live media output stream manifest,

wherein each segment of the plurality of segments corresponds to a different quality level and a different content encryption mode, and

wherein the segment corresponds to a broadcast content segment encoded in a first encoding format of the new version of the disparate live media output stream manifest; and

convert the broadcast content segment encoded in the first encoding format to a second encoding format in accordance with a broadcasting protocol.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to correct discrepancies during transaction between the pre-encoded media asset, the live input stream, or a broadcast profile.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pre-encoded media asset, the live input stream, or the broadcast content segment include a broadcast profile, and

wherein the broadcast content segment is converted to the second encoding format based on the broadcast profile.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate the disparate live media output stream manifest based on a playout schedule and content viewing demographics,

wherein the playout schedule includes a schedule for at least one of a non-programming content or a programming content, and

wherein the non-programming content and the programming content included in the playout schedule are selected based on rules governing ad separation, ad exclusivity, ad positioning, data pertaining to regional media assets, or revenue associated with the regional media assets.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to replace the non-programming content and the programming content included in a broadcast schedule with an alternate non-programming content and an alternate programming content,

wherein the alternate non-programming content and the alternate programming content are selected based on the content viewing demographics in real-time or near-real-time, and

wherein the content viewing demographics is based on data received from a media player.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the disparate live media output stream manifest includes at least one of a non-programming content indicator or an overlay indicator.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein a non-programming content is retrieved from an ad decisioning server by a media player in a consumer device, and

wherein the non-programming content is retrieved based on the non-programming content indicator or the overlay indicator encountered by the media player in the disparate live media output stream manifest.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

monitor a real-time or near real-time content viewing demographics based on data received from a media player; and

schedule the pre-encoded media asset based on real-time or near-real-time content viewing demographics.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

re-write the disparate live media output stream manifest to provide a local token server address to the system; and

acquire an authorization token from the system based on a relative pathing.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the disparate live media output stream manifest includes a content replacement indicator, and

wherein the content replacement indicator causes a replacement of the pre-encoded media asset with an alternate pre-encoded media asset or a replacement of the live input stream with an alternate live input stream.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the disparate live media output stream manifest is created for a defined geographical location.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

parse through the disparate live media output stream manifest that includes a graphical treatment indicator to identify a portion in the broadcast content segment where graphical treatment content is to be rendered,

wherein the graphical treatment content corresponds to a promotional logo, an advertiser graphic, or an animation; and

modify the broadcast content segment to include the graphical treatment content prior to conversion of the broadcast content segment into the second encoding format.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second encoding format includes a format that is outputted from an analog interface, a modified resolution of the broadcast content segment, a cropped version of the broadcast content segment, or associated with a location of an entity that distributes broadcast content.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

generate a playout schedule based on an insertion of a schedule for a non-programming content in a broadcast content schedule; and

generate the broadcast content schedule based on broadcast content parameters associated with a programming content,

wherein the programming content is scheduled for a broadcast channel;

and

encode and package a broadcast content to generate the broadcast content segment based on a streaming protocol.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive advanced knowledge of the pre-encoded media asset included in the playout schedule;

pre-download the broadcast content segment of the pre-encoded media asset included in the playout schedule in a storage unit;

obtain the broadcast content segment and produce the new version of the disparate live media output stream manifest based on a content key; and

provide authentication and authorization services to control an access to the broadcast content segment.

16. A method, comprising:

generating, by one or more processors, a new version of a disparate live media output stream manifest based on insertion of an indicator of a segment from a plurality of segments of at least one of a pre-encoded media asset or a live input stream into the disparate live media output stream manifest,

wherein each segment of the plurality of segments corresponds to a different quality level and a different content encryption mode, and

wherein the segment corresponds to broadcast content segment encoded in a first encoding format of the new version of the disparate live media output stream manifest; and

converting, by the one or more processors, the broadcast content segment encoded in the first encoding format to a second encoding format in accordance with a broadcasting protocol.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein at least one of the pre-encoded media asset, the live input stream, or the broadcast content segment include a broadcast profile, and

wherein the broadcast content segment are converted to the second encoding format based on the broadcast profile.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the second encoding format includes a format that is outputted from an analog interface, a modified resolution of the broadcast content segment, a cropped version of the broadcast content segment, or associated with a location of an entity that distributes broadcast content.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer executable instruction that when executed by a processor in a computer, causes the computer to execute operations, the operations comprising:

generating a new version of a disparate live media output stream manifest based on insertion of a plurality of segments of at least one of a pre-encoded media asset or a live input stream into the disparate live media output stream manifest,

wherein each segment of the plurality of segments corresponds to a different quality level and a different content encryption mode, and

wherein the plurality of segments corresponds to broadcast content segments encoded in a first encoding format of the new version of the disparate live media output stream manifest; and

converting the broadcast content segments encoded in the first encoding format to a second encoding format in accordance with a broadcasting protocol.

20. A computer program product including one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause one or more processors to:

generate a new version of a disparate live media output stream manifest based on insertion of an indicator of a segment from a plurality of segments of at least one of a pre-encoded media asset or a live input stream into the disparate live media output stream manifest,

wherein each segment of the plurality of segments corresponds to a different quality level and a different content encryption mode, and

wherein the plurality of segments corresponds to a broadcast content segment encoded in a first encoding format of the new version of the disparate live media output stream manifest; and

convert the broadcast content segment encoded in the first encoding format to a second encoding format in accordance with a broadcasting protocol.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2025
From: WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC.; WARNER MEDIA, LLC; TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC.; HOME BOX OFFICE, INC.; DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; WARNERMEDIA DIRECT LLC; DISCOVERY.COM LLC; WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.; CNN INTERACTIVE GROUP, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072995/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2023
From: LOHEIDE, DONALD JUDE; STIGALL, GREGORY MCCLAIN; SINHA, NISHITH KUMAR; WEBB, NICOLAS PAUL
To: TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC.
Reel/Frame 065195/0914 →