System and method for collaborative, peer-to-peer creation, management & synchronous, multi-platform distribution of profile-specified media objects

Abstract

In a television programming management system, contributors access television programming functionality of legacy systems using a web-based interface provided by a network operations center. The network operations center is a best-of-breed J2EE-based implementation that provides a middleware interface to legacy systems. Using the interface provided by the network operations center, contributors can access any functionality required to create and distribute television programming. The present invention provides security features through a classifier. User of playlists allows synchronization of created objects. Television programming can be performed by users and contributors.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 987,943, filed Nov. 16, 2001, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 248,558, filed Nov. 16, 2000, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to the creation, management and distribution of media objects. More specifically, the present invention relates to the creation, management and distribution of media objects using a standards-based, open system approach and central server configuration utilizing J2EE, middleware and / or XML functionality to integrate legacy systems into a web-based environment so that they can be accessed by a variety of contributors to create television broadcasts and associated enhanced media services. [0004] 2. Background of the Invention [0005] Television production and / or distribution have remained essentially uncha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a scalable J2EE implementation running best-of-breed middleware that can integrate television broadcast legacy systems and equipment into a singular J2EE system. The middleware provides a browser-based interface to the system and allows users to customize their viewing experience and products for users based on user preferences. A centralized operations center controls security, files access, creation, management, and distribution of object-oriented television programming using playlists and hierarchical user and / or client classifications. The system design is capable of creating, storing, managing, and distributing media elements among \"group members\" without reference to a play list. The technical effects of the invention include scalability, customization, and synchronization of television product creation, management, and distribution."

Problems solved by technology

However, even with these flexible computing environments, large media companies adhere to the old model regarding terrestrial broadcasting, cable TV and / or Direct to Home (DTH) television networks due to 1) the desire to continue to depreciate existing capital equipment and support systems and / or 2) the complexity and cost associated with replacing and / or integrating all of the related equipment, subsystems and / or applications into a singular automated, IP-enabled system.

Developing such systems and / or applications is costly, time-consuming and extremely complex.

In addition, due to the proprietary nature of legacy and existing TV systems, they are limited in their ability to integrate with other systems and / or scale, if they can even scale at all.

Even after the system and / or application is developed; it may not accurately perform the functionality originally required due to the requirement of integrating numerous proprietary systems and / or applications.

This approach results in a practically unmanageable matrix of subsystem interaction and coordination that will result in working out residual bugs and / or adding omitted functionality only adds cost and delay to the effort.

A significant problem with these systems is that they were not designed with any intention to communicate with other systems.

Consequently, even small integration can be very difficult and subject to error.

Another problem associated with conventional television production is that it is a single object, push technology.

Thus, there is no targeting of content to meet the needs of the viewer.

Despite the promise of the Internet, and web-based technologies in general, these technologies have not made their way into the television production and broadcast arena on a large scale.

Thus, there have been no “cradle-to-grave” implementations of a broadcast environment.

However, there are no systems that integrate the various broadcast equipment, legacy support systems and / or distribution systems to provide integrated cradle-to-grave functionality for synchronous distribution of object oriented media products across various distribution platforms to provide scalable, profile-driven and / or interactive media products.

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