Digital Data Clearinghouse Workflow Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for media delivery across various devices and platforms has led to complexity in managing and processing multimedia content, with existing systems struggling to efficiently handle content transformation, distribution, and advertisement insertion in a scalable and automated manner.
Innovation Solution
A digital data clearinghouse (DDC) system that allows users to create workflows by interconnecting work units, associate parameters with these workflows as presets, and schedule tasks for content processing, enabling automated content transformation, distribution, and advertisement insertion across different devices and platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual content processing and distribution is used, then flexibility in handling different devices and platforms is maintained, but productivity and efficiency deteriorate due to increasing media demand complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments content processing into discrete, modular work units that can be independently configured and executed. Each work unit represents a specific processing task (e.g., transcoding, packaging, distribution) that can be assembled into workflows through the visual workflow manager, enabling efficient handling of complex media delivery requirements without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The workflow manager provides a universal platform that handles multiple content processing functions through a single interface. The system can manage various work units (transcoding, packaging, distribution, advertisement insertion) and adapt to different devices and platforms through configurable parameters, eliminating the need for separate manual processing systems.
2Productivity
If automated workflow systems are implemented, then productivity and efficiency are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to the complexity of creating and managing workflows
Solution Approach 1:
The visual workflow manager acts as an intermediary between users and the complex automated processing system. It provides a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, allowing users to create and configure workflows without needing to understand the underlying complex automation logic, thus maintaining ease of operation while achieving high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service through pre-configured work units and templates that can be readily assembled into workflows. Users can independently create and modify workflows using the visual interface without requiring expert knowledge of content processing systems, making automation accessible to operational personnel.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing content processing systems are used, then current media delivery requirements are met, but adaptability to new devices and platforms deteriorates as media demand increases
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow system is dynamically configurable to adapt to new devices and platforms as they emerge. Work units and their parameters can be modified and reconfigured through the visual workflow manager without requiring system redesign, enabling the platform to scale efficiently and accommodate evolving media delivery requirements while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system generate a workflow identifier, create a workflow that includes a first work unit, assign the workflow identifier to the workflow, update the workflow by adding a second work unit to the workflow, receive a work order to process the workflow, decompose the workflow into constituent work units in response to the work order, instantiate tasks that correspond to the constituent work units, and execute a work unit process for each of the tasks.