Multi-Content Media Capture Switching Across Sites

The system segments media content into individual media captures (IMC) and capture scene entries (CSE) with unique identifiers. Each IMC represents a discrete media source that can be independently managed and switched, while CSE groups related IMCs from the same physical location. This segmentation enables flexible recombination and switching across sites without managing entire scene bundles, resolving the contradiction by providing versatility through modular units while keeping individual unit management simple.

The patent introduces a new dimension of identification by adding unique capture identifiers (capture ID) that transcend the traditional capture scene boundary. This allows media content to be identified and switched based on content identity rather than location-based scene grouping, enabling cross-site switching while maintaining systematic organization through the dual-layer identification structure (capture ID + CSE ID).

The system merges multiple individual media captures (IMCs) into multi-content media captures (MCIMCs) by grouping IMCs that share the same capture ID. This combining preserves all original information from each IMC while creating a unified managed entity. The merge operation is facilitated by the common capture ID, which acts as a key for automatic grouping and synchronization, reducing management complexity despite the increased information richness.

The patent uses capture IDs as reusable identifiers that can be copied across multiple IMCs from different sites. When the same capture ID appears in IMCs from different capture scenes or sites, the system automatically recognizes them as corresponding media content and enables synchronized switching. This copying mechanism simplifies the management of compounded captures by providing a universal reference system.

The system performs preliminary assignment of unique capture IDs to media capture sources before actual media switching operations. Each media source (camera, screen capture, etc.) is pre-configured with a unique capture ID that remains consistent across different sites and capture scenes. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time identifier generation and conflict resolution during switching operations, reducing time overhead while maintaining high identification precision.

Instead of managing complex scene-level identifiers and trying to map between different site-specific scene structures, the patent inverts the approach by using simple, reusable capture IDs that are assigned to individual media sources. These capture IDs become the primary key for switching operations, while capture scene entries serve as secondary organizational containers. This inversion simplifies identifier management by focusing on the media source level rather than the scene level.