US 5,311,423 A · Schedule management method

Abstract

A method of managing information used and generated in the scheduling and exhibition of performances is disclosed. A video network includes a video server that operates several video recorders to simultaneously exhibit video performances or programs on a plurality of channels. The video server is controlled in real time in accordance with data presented to it in an exhibition plan. The exhibition plan is generated through the performance of an exhibition manager process which operates on a computer. The exhibition manager manages information related to the performances to be exhibited, schedules the performances in accordance with user-supplied timing data, prints reports, and maintains a personal information manager having a database describing studios, contacts, and other information related to licensing the performances for exhibition on the network. The information related to performances includes repeat factors and short titles which the exhibition manager calculates. The scheduling activities of the exhibition manager automatically schedule repeated exhibitions of a performance in accordance with the performance's repeat factor. An inventory manager takes the exhibition manager's schedule and automatically expands it to schedule individual media copies of performances. The inventory manager automatically prints purchase orders and tracks media copies after they are received. Unique codes are affixed to the media copies and to the places where the media copies might possibly reside. Portable scanners are used to associate an employee id, a media copy code, a location code, and a date and time stamp together to track inventory and to provide accountability for the media copies.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of efficiently and accurately managing the exhibition of predetermined performances throughout an interval of time, said method comprising the steps of:

entering data describing said predetermined performances into a computer, each of said performances having a unique data record associated therewith, said entering step further comprising the steps of:
including data describing run times for said predetermined performances in said data records;
and
automatically calculating repeat factors for said predetermined performances, said repeat factors defining minimum intervals between beginning times for two back-to-back performances and said repeat factors being greater than said run times.

1 more element

A method of efficiently and accurately scheduling the exhibition of a first plurality of performances on a second plurality of channels, said method comprising the steps of:

entering data identifying said performances and run times therefor into a computer, each of said performances having a unique data record associated therewith;
calculating repeat factors for said performances, said repeat factors being greater than corresponding run times;
storing said repeat factors with corresponding data records;
receiving information identifying a channel for which exhibitions of one of said performances are to be scheduled;
receiving information identifying a first playing time for said one of said performances;
receiving information identifying said data record for said one of said performances;
associating said data record identifying information relative to said first playing time;
calculating a second playing time substantially by adding said repeat factor to said first playing time;
and
associating said data record identifying information relative to said second playing time.

7 more elements

A method of efficiently and accurately managing the exhibition of a first plurality of performances on a second plurality of channels throughout an interval of time, said method comprising the steps of:

entering data identifying said performances and run times therefor into a computer, each of said performances having a unique data record associated therewith;
calculating repeat factors for said performances, said repeat factors being greater than corresponding run times;
storing said repeat factors with corresponding data records;
first receiving information identifying a channel for which exhibitions of one of said performances are to be scheduled;
second receiving information identifying first and last playing times for said one of said performances;
third receiving information identifying said data record for said one of said performances;
first associating said data record identifying information relative to said first playing time;
calculating subsequent playing times substantially by adding said repeat factor to a previous playing time until one of said subsequent playing times is greater than said last playing time;
and
subsequent associating said data record identifying information relative to said second playing time;
repeating said first, second, and third receiving steps, said first associating step, said calculating step, and said subsequent associating step for each of said second plurality of channels to produce an exhibition plan;
and
controlling a video server to exhibit said performances in accordance with said plan.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Schedule management method

Life of this patent

Schedule management method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21