Cloud Media Automation Fallback for Satellite Broadcasting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current satellite-based media distribution systems for broadcasting are either simple and costly or complex and expensive, often requiring manual operation and local production studios for adding local or regional programming, lacking automation and scalability.

Innovation Solution

A cloud-based media distribution system that uses a hierarchical media automation schedule to aggregate and propagate edits, allowing for centralized management and automation of media playback across multiple regions, reducing costs and complexity by moving business logic to the cloud and enabling remote maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual switching and local production studios are used for adding local or regional programming, then content customization capability is improved, but device complexity and deployment cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent customization capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-service content delivery where the centralized media management system automatically pushes content to downlink sites and handles playback without requiring manual intervention or local production studios. The automation system manages content distribution, scheduling, and playback across multiple regions independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The centralized media management system performs multiple functions including content storage, scheduling, automated distribution, and playback control across all downlink sites, replacing the need for separate local production studios and manual switching operations at each site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If manual switching operations are performed at downlink sites, then content delivery reliability is improved, but productivity and operational efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery reliabilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical switching operations with an automated electronic control system that manages content playback and distribution through software-based scheduling and automated signal routing, eliminating the need for human operators at downlink sites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The centralized media management system acts as an intermediary between content sources and downlink sites, automatically managing content distribution and playback scheduling, thereby ensuring reliable content delivery without requiring manual operations at remote locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If local production studios are deployed at downlink sites, then content adaptability is improved, but deployment cost and device complexity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal content capabilityVSAvoiddeployment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the content production and management functions from local downlink sites and consolidates them into a centralized media management system, allowing downlink sites to receive and playback content without requiring local production studios or editing environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges content storage, scheduling, distribution, and playback control functions into a single centralized media management platform, enabling all downlink sites to access and playback content from this unified system without requiring separate local production facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11038936B2Systems and methods for automation fallback for retrieving and playing content

Publication Date: 2021.06.15 GRASS VALLEY CANADA

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to a single card solid-state play out server for retrieving or receiving content from a network or cloud based storage, and playing content according to an automated playlist received from a media distribution and management system.