- Number
- 10212463
- Published
- 2019-02-19
- Filed
- 2013-04-09
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Silverman; Leon et al.
- CPC
- H04N21/2407; H04N21/41415; H04N21/812; H04N21/26291; H04N21/8541
- Verdict
- Set aside digital file distribution to theaters, DRM/distribution
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
Abstract
Systems and methods for efficiently distributing digital cinema files from a server to a theater are disclosed. The systems and methods may comply with DCI requirements. A server updates an original composition playlist, updates a track file associated with the updated composition playlist, and distributes the updated composition playlist and updated track file to one or more theaters over a communications network. The theater is configured to store the updated track file at a storage containing copies of all track files associated with the updated composition playlist and update the theater's original composition playlist to the updated composition playlist. The server may have a database configured to track the composition playlists and associated track files present in each theater in the system.
Background
TECHNICAL FIELD(1) The present disclosure relates generally to digital file distribution techniques and more particularly, some embodiments relate to methods and systems for automating digital cinema file distribution to theaters.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART(2) Recent technological developments that have enabled the digital playback and display of feature films at a high resolution have led to the increasing adoption of digital systems that play back digital cinema content. Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI) is an entity created by the motion picture studios in recognition of the benefits of adopting industry-wide specifications for digital cinema. DCI has defined industry-wide specifications and requirements for the mastering of, distribution of, and theatrical playback of digital cinema content.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE(3) According to various implementations of the disclosed methods and systems, digital cinema files are distributed from a server to a theater. In one implementation, a server receives a request for component parts of a digital content package; the component parts of the digital content package are stored at the server; the component parts of the digital content package are assembled; and the assembled digital content package is encrypted.(4) In another implementation, a server updates an original composition playlist, updates a track file associated with the updated composition playlist, and automatically distributes the updated composition playli
Claims
1. A method for distributing digital cinema file updates over a network from a server to a theater, comprising: storing at the server an original composition playlist, the original composition playlist specifying an order that a first plurality of track files can be played back for presentation of a movie, wherein the first plurality of track files comprise image track files and audio track files corresponding to video and audio content of a first version of the movie; storing at the server one or more new track files comprising only a portion of video or audio content of a modified version of the movie; updating at the server the original composition playlist; the updated composition playlist specifying an order that a second plurality of track files can be played back for presentation of the modified version of the movie, wherein the second plurality of track files comprises at least some of the first plurality of track files corresponding to video and audio content of the first version of the movie and the one or more new track files corresponding to the portion of video or audio content of the modified version of the movie; receiving, over the network, a request from the theater for the one or more new track files and the updated composition playlist; in response to receiving the request from the theater: authenticating the theater; determining at the server what version of a composition playlist corresponding to a presentation of the movie was previously transmitted to the theater by querying a database for a record of a most recent composition playlist of the theater corresponding to a presentation of the movie; and transmitting over the network from the server to the theater the updated composition playlist and the one or more new track files; and after transmitting the updated composition playlist and the one or more new track files, updating the record of the database to record that the updated composition playlist and the second plurality of track files are associated with the theater.
6. A system comprising: a server configured to: store an original composition playlist, the original composition playlist specifying an order that a first plurality of track files can be played back for presentation of a movie, wherein the first plurality of track files comprise image track files and audio track files corresponding to video and audio content of a first version of the movie; store one or more new track files comprising only a portion of content of a modified version of the movie; update an original composition playlist, the updated composition playlist specifying an order that a second plurality of track files can be played back for presentation of the modified version of the movie, wherein the second plurality of track files comprises at least some of the first plurality of track files corresponding to video and audio content of the first version of the movie and the one or more new track files corresponding to the portion of video or audio content of the modified version of the movie; receive, over a network, a request from a theater for the one or more new track files and the updated composition playlist; in response to receiving the request from the theater: authenticating the theater; determining what version of a composition playlist corresponding to a presentation of the movie was previously transmitted to the theater by requesting from a database a record of the theater's most recent composition playlist; and transmit the updated composition playlist and the one or more new track files to the theater over a communications network; and after transmitting the updated composition playlist and the one or more new track files, update the record of the database to record that the updated composition playlist and the second plurality of track files are associated with the theater; and the database communicatively coupled to the server and comprising the record of a most recent composition playlist of the theater corresponding to the presentation of the movie.
9. A system, comprising: a server configured to: receive, over a network, a request from a theater for an updated track file and an updated composition playlist associated with playback of a modified version of a movie, wherein the updated track file comprises only a portion of video or audio content of the modified version of the movie; in response to receiving the request from the theater: authenticate the theater; determine the theater's current composition playlist and current track files, wherein the current composition playlist specifies an order the current track files are played back for a first version of the movie; and transmit the updated composition playlist and the updated track file to the theater over a communications network, wherein the updated composition playlist specifies an order the updated track file and some of the current track files are played back for the modified version of the movie; and after transmitting the updated composition playlist and the one or more new track files, update a record of a database communicatively coupled to the server to record that the updated composition playlist is associated with the theater for playback of the movie; and a security module communicatively coupled to the server.
11. A method for creating a digital cinema package at a server, comprising: receiving a request order at the server for component parts of a digital cinema package; storing at the server the component parts of the digital cinema package; fulfilling the order by assembling the digital cinema package based on the component parts, the assembled digital cinema package comprising a plurality of track files and a composition playlist specifying how the plurality of track files are played back for a presentation of a movie; validating that the digital cinema package is compliant with Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) standards; receiving, over a network, a request from a theater for the validated digital cinema package; in response to receiving the request, transmitting the validated digital cinema package over the network from the server to the theater; and after transmitting the validated digital cinema package, updating a record of a database communicatively coupled to the server to record that the composition playlist and the plurality of track files are associated with the theater.