Method, system and computer program product for managing media data files and related source information

A media file database comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• and
• information stored on the computer readable medium that, when accessed by a computer is interpreted by the computer to indicate the source medium from which media data in each media data file originates, a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, and a path for accessing the media data file.

A method for creating a media file database for a plurality of media data files, using information stored on a computer readable medium that, when accessed by a computer, is interpreted by the computer to indicate media data stored in the plurality of media data files, and information about the media data including information indicative of a source medium from which the media data originates and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, the method comprising:

• reading the information about the media data, and
• storing information that indicates the source medium from which media data in each media data file originates, a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, and a path for accessing the media data file.

A method for creating a media file database, comprising:

• creating a plurality of media data files, wherein each media data file includes media data from a source medium and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium;
• and
• storing in the media file database information that indicates the source medium from which media data in each media data file originates, the time range in the media data originating from the source medium, and a path for accessing the media data file.

A method for generating a media program, comprising:

• generating a media file database comprising a computer readable medium and information stored on the computer readable medium that, when accessed by a computer is interpreted by the computer to indicate a plurality of media data files, wherein a media data file includes media data stored in a data file, and information that indicates the source medium from which media data in each media data file originates, a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, and a path for accessing the media data file;
• and
• creating a sequence of clips defining the media program, wherein each clip is defined by a reference to a source medium and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium to be used by the clip.

A method for processing media data stored in a media file database comprising a computer readable medium and information stored on the computer readable medium that, when accessed by a computer, is interpreted by the computer to indicate media data stored in a plurality of media data files and information about the media data including information indicative of a source medium from which the media data originates and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, the method comprising:

• receiving an edited sequence of clips defining a media program, wherein each clip is defined by a reference to a source medium and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium to be used by the clip;
• and
• for each clip, identifying a media data file originating from the source medium and accessing the media data file.

A source database of information about source media from which media data originate, comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• and
• information stored on the computer readable medium that, when accessed by a computer is interpreted by the computer to indicate a unique identifier of each source medium, a name for each source medium, a time range of media data on the source medium and relationship information describing relationships among the source media.

A method for creating a source database for a plurality of media data files, wherein each media data file includes media data and information indicative of a source medium from which the media data originates and a time range in the media data originating from the source, the method comprising:

• reading the information indicative of the source medium and time range from each of the plurality of media data files, and
• receiving relationship information associating a time range of media data from a source medium with a time range of media data from one or more other source media;
• storing in the source database information indicative of the relationship information among the source media.

A media file database comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• and
• information stored on the computer readable medium that, when accessed by a computer is interpreted by the computer to indicate a source medium from which media data in each media data file originates, a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, and an identifier for accessing the media data file.

A method for creating a media file database for a plurality of media data files, using information stored on the computer readable medium that, when accessed by the computer, is interpreted by the computer to indicate media data stored in the plurality of media data files, and information about the media data including information indicative of a source medium from which the media data originates and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, the method comprising:

• reading the information about the media data, and
• storing information that indicates the source medium from which media data in each media data file originates, a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, and an identifier for accessing the media data file.

A method for creating a media file database, comprising:

• creating a plurality of media data files, wherein each media data file includes media data from a source medium and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium;
• and
• storing the media file database information that indicates the source medium from which media data in each media data file originates, a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, and an identifier for accessing the media data file.

A method for generating a media program, comprising:

• generating a media file database comprising a computer readable medium and information stored on the computer readable medium that, when accessed by a computer is interpreted by the computer to indicate a plurality of media data files, wherein a media data file includes media data stored in a data file, and information that indicates the source medium from which media data in each media data file originates, a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, and an identifier for accessing the media data file;
• and
• creating a sequence of clips defining the media program, wherein each clip includes information indicative of media data and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium to be used by the clip.

A method for processing media data originating from one or more source media and stored in a plurality of media data files, the method comprising:

• receiving an edited sequence of clips defining a media program, wherein each clip includes information indicative of a reference to media data and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium to be used by the clip;
• and
• for each clip, identifying a media data file including the referenced media data and accessing the media data file.

Apparatus for generating a media program, comprising:

• means for generating a media file database comprising a computer readable medium and information stored on the computer readable medium that, when accessed by a computer is interpreted by the computer to indicate a plurality of media data files, wherein a media data file includes media data stored in a data file, and information that indicates the source medium from which media data in each media data file originates, a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, and a path for accessing the media data file;
• and
• means for permitting a user to specify a sequence of clips defining the media program, wherein each clip is defined by a reference to a source medium and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium to be used by the clip.

Apparatus for processing media data stored in a media file database comprising a computer readable medium and information stored on the computer readable medium that, when accessed by a computer, is interpreted by the computer to indicate media data stored in a plurality of media data files and information about the media data including information indicative of a source medium from which the media data originates and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving an edited sequence of clips defining a media program, wherein each clip is defined by a reference to a source medium and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium to be used by the clip;
• and
• means for identifying, for each clip, a media data file originating from the source medium and for accessing the media data file.

Apparatus for generating a media program, comprising:

• means for generating a media file database comprising a computer readable medium and information stored on the computer readable medium that, when accessed by a computer is interpreted by the computer to indicate a plurality of media data files, wherein a media data file includes media data stored in a data file, and information that indicates the source medium from which media data in each media data file originates, a time range in the media data originating from the source medium, and an identifier for accessing the media data file;
• and
• means for permitting a user to specify a sequence of clips defining the media program, wherein each clip includes information indicative of media data and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium to be used by the clip.

Apparatus for processing media data originating from one or more source media and stored in a plurality of media data files, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving an edited sequence of clips defining a media program, wherein each clip includes information indicative of a reference to media data and a time range in the media data originating from the source medium to be used by the clip;
• and
• means for identifying, for each clip, a media data file including the referenced media data and for accessing the media data file.