Workflow System for Satellite Content Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Satellite television systems face challenges in efficiently processing and managing content and metadata for simultaneous broadcasting and pay-per-view services, leading to high resource utilization and complexity in content delivery.

Innovation Solution

A content processing system that receives and processes content, generates material identifications, creates inventory lists, formats files, and communicates conditional access data, enabling efficient storage and distribution of content through a workflow system and video transport processing system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If satellite television systems broadcast content to multiple users simultaneously, then user access to content is enabled, but satellite resource consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery capabilityVSAvoidsatellite resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments content processing into multiple specialized components: content reception module, processing module, formatting module, and distribution module. This segmentation allows parallel processing of content for multiple users simultaneously, reducing the time each content item needs to be processed and thereby decreasing overall satellite resource consumption while maintaining the ability to serve multiple users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary content processing and formatting before distribution to multiple users. Content is received, processed, and formatted into standard broadcast formats in advance, so that when distribution to multiple users is required, the content is already prepared and can be transmitted efficiently without consuming additional satellite resources during the actual broadcast.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If content processing system handles both broadcast and pay-per-view services, then service variety is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice varietyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal content processing framework that handles both broadcast and pay-per-view services through the same core infrastructure. The content reception module, processing module, and formatting module serve dual purposes for different service types, reducing system complexity by avoiding separate dedicated systems for each service while maintaining the ability to provide diverse services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a content management system as an intermediary that coordinates between different service types (broadcast and pay-per-view). This mediator manages content inventory, tracks usage rights, and routes content appropriately based on service type, simplifying the overall system architecture by centralizing control logic rather than distributing complex decision-making across multiple components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If content is processed and formatted for broadcast, then content delivery efficiency is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous content processing where the content reception module, processing module, and formatting module operate in an ongoing pipeline rather than batch processing. Content is continuously received, processed, and formatted, eliminating idle time between processing stages and reducing overall processing time while maintaining high delivery efficiency through uninterrupted workflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs content formatting into standard broadcast formats as a preliminary action before distribution. By pre-formatting content during the processing stage rather than during distribution, the system reduces the time required during actual content delivery, improving overall productivity while the preliminary formatting time is absorbed into the background processing workflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8875209B2Method and system for receiving content in a content processing system using a workflow system

Publication Date: 2014.10.28 DIRECTV LLC

AI summary

A system and method for receiving data in a content processing system includes a receiving system receiving content and metadata, an incoming folder storing the content and a content management system receiving a notice signal corresponding to receiving of content and metadata. The content management system generates a material identification for the content, creating an inventory list at the content management system and communicating the matter identification to the workflow system. The workflow system processes the content into formatted files and storing the formatted files in a broadcast folder. The content management system communicates conditional access data to video transport processing system. The workflow system communicates a status message to the content management system when the formatted files are stored in the broadcast folder.