Virtual Production Control Room Provisioning for Remote Media Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Physical production control rooms for media content production are expensive, time-consuming to set up, and underutilized, with remote access limited to certain hardware and firmware, leading to high costs and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

Implementing virtual production control rooms (VPCRs) using cloud computing resources, which are instantiated and configured automatically based on user requirements, reducing reliance on physical hardware and enabling remote accessibility and dynamic allocation of resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If physical production control rooms are used, then equipment operation and control can be performed, but high costs and long setup time are incurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment operationVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of physical production control room equipment through virtual machines and software emulators. These virtual instances replicate the functionality of physical video switchers, audio mixers, and other broadcast equipment, allowing operations to be performed in a virtualized environment without requiring physical hardware presence, thereby eliminating setup time and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical and physical hardware systems with software-based virtual systems. Instead of physical cables, switches, and mixers, the system uses software-defined networking, virtual switching, and digital audio processing to achieve the same broadcast production functions, eliminating the need for physical facility setup and reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If physical production control rooms are built, then media content production can be facilitated, but high construction and maintenance costs are incurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia content productionVSAvoidcosts
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal virtual production control room platform that can serve multiple production functions and scenarios. The same virtualized infrastructure supports video switching, audio mixing, graphic generation, and streaming operations simultaneously, allowing a single virtual environment to replace multiple specialized physical rooms, thereby reducing overall construction and maintenance costs while maintaining full media content production capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the production control room from physical to virtual, from permanent to dynamic. Virtual machines can be provisioned, configured, and decommissioned on-demand based on production needs, allowing resources to be allocated dynamically rather than maintaining fixed physical infrastructure, thus reducing idle resource costs and enabling pay-per-use models.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If physical facilities are used, then equipment can be operated remotely to some extent, but full remote access and dynamic allocation are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote accessVSAvoiddynamic allocation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation through virtualization, where computing, storage, and networking resources can be dynamically provisioned, moved, and scaled based on demand. Virtual production control room instances can be created, modified, or terminated remotely and instantly, allowing full remote access and flexible dynamic allocation that physical facilities cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between users and physical hardware resources. This virtual layer abstracts the underlying physical infrastructure and provides standardized remote access interfaces, enabling users to interact with production equipment through cloud-based virtual machines and web interfaces without being physically present, thus achieving complete remote accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3913484B1Automated instantiation of virtual production control room
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 NBCUNIVERSAL MEDIA LLC
  • EP3913484B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3913484B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3913484B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing an environment for creating media content are disclosed. According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for providing an environment including a virtual production control room (VPCR) for creating media content is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes: requesting, from a user, information regarding the environment to be provided; receiving, from the user, the information; and creating the environment by provisioning a plurality of resources for the VPCR from among a plurality of cloud computing resources based on the received information.