# US 9,438,944 B1 · Systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a snipe-overlay DVE > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,944 B1 - Document ID: US9438944B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/871,522 - Filed: 2015-09-30 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC - Applicants: Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC - Inventors: Hank J. Hundemer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438944B1 ## CPC - H04N 21/26283: {for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic programme guide data} - G11B 27/034: on discs (G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence) - H04N 5/268: Signal distribution or switching - H04N 21/232: Content retrieval operation {locally} within server, e.g. reading video streams from disk arrays {(storage management G06F3/0604; details of querying and searching of video data from a database G06F16/739)} - H04N 21/234: Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs - H04N 21/23424: {involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement} - H04N 21/239: Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client {content} requests (hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60) - H04N 21/2407: {Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads (arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14)} - H04N 21/26233: {involving content or additional data duration or size, e.g. length of a movie, size of an executable file} - H04N 21/2668: Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles {(information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063)} - H04N 21/4722: for requesting additional data associated with the content - H04N 21/647: Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load, bridging between two different networks, e.g. between IP and wireless {(real-time session protocols H04L65/1101)} - H04N 21/812: {involving advertisement data (advertising per se G06Q30/02)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract Disclosed herein are systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a snipe-overlay video effect (DVE). An example method involves (i) selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, the first log-entry corresponding to a snipe-overlay DVE, to a snipe video, and to a start time; (ii) selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, the second log-entry corresponding to a video component (VC) and the start time; (iii) causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; (iv) making a determination that a threshold time-period has passed since the start time; and (v) responsive to making the determination (a) causing the snipe video to be sent to the stunt switcher, and (b) causing the stunt switcher to run the snipe-overlay DVE, thereby overlaying the snipe video on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for use in a system having a stunt switcher, the method comprising: selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to an overlay digital video effect (DVE) stored in the stunt switcher, to a first video, and to a start time; selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a second video and the start time; causing the second video to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; making a determination that a threshold time-period has passed since the start time; and responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, (i) causing the first video to be sent to the stunt switcher, and (ii) causing the stunt switcher to run the stored overlay DVE. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first log-entry includes a zero duration and wherein the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second log-entry is the next log entry after the first log entry to have a non-zero duration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first log-entry includes the start time represented as an absolute start time, and wherein the second log-entry includes the start time represented as the absolute start time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first log-entry includes a house-identifier field and an identifier stored in the house-identifier field, wherein the identifier maps to a set of program instructions that when executed cause performance of the functions of (i) making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, and (ii) responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, causing the first video to be sent to the stunt switcher, and causing the stunt switcher to run the stored overlay DVE; and wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining that the first log-entry includes the identifier, executing the set of program instructions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the set of program instructions comprises a set of PHP-Hypertext-Preprocessor (PHP) scripts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the stunt switcher running the stored DVE, thereby causing the stunt switcher to overlay the first video on the second video as the second video is being channeled through the stunt switcher. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the determination is a first determination, the method further comprising: making a second determination that the first video has ended; and responsive to making the second determination that the first video has ended, causing the stunt switcher to run a removal DVE, thereby ensuring that the overlayed first video is removed from the second video as a remainder of the second video is being channeled through the stunt switcher. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: adding an indication that the overlay DVE has been run to an as-run log. ### Claim 10 A method for use in a system having a stunt switcher, the method comprising: selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to an overlay digital video effect (DVE) stored in the stunt switcher, to a first video, and to a start time; selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a second video and the start time; causing the second video to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; causing the first video to start being sent to the stunt switcher proximate the start time; and causing the stunt switcher to run the stored overlay DVE proximate the start time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first log-entry includes a zero duration and wherein the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the second log-entry is the next log-entry after the first log entry to have a non-zero duration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first log-entry includes the start time represented as an absolute start time, and wherein the second log-entry includes the start time represented as the absolute start time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first log-entry includes a house-identifier field and an identifier stored in the house-identifier field, wherein the identifier maps to a set of program instructions that when executed cause performance of the functions of causing the first video to start being sent to the stunt switcher proximate the start time, and causing the stunt switcher to run the stored overlay DVE proximate the start time; and wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining that the first log-entry includes the identifier, executing the set of program instructions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the set of program instructions comprises a set of PHP-Hypertext-Preprocessor (PHP) scripts. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: the stunt switcher running the stored DVE, thereby causing the stunt switcher to overlay the first video on the second video as the second video is being channeled through the stunt switcher. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the determination is a first determination, the method further comprising: making a second determination that the first video has ended; and responsive to making the second determination that the first video has ended, causing the stunt switcher to run a removal DVE, thereby ensuring that the overlayed first video is removed from the second video as a remainder of the second video is being channeled through the stunt switcher. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: adding an indication that the overlay DVE has been run to an as-run log. ### Claim 19 A system comprising: a stunt switcher; and an automation system having a computer-readable medium including a set of program instructions, that when executed by the automation system, cause the automation system to perform a set of functions comprising: selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to an overlay digital video effect (DVE) stored in the stunt switcher, to a first video, and to a start time; selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a second video and the start time; causing the second video to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; making a determination that a threshold time-period has passed since the start time; and responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, (i) causing the first video to be sent to the stunt switcher, and (ii) causing the stunt switcher to run the stored overlay DVE. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the first log-entry includes a zero duration and wherein the second log-entry includes a non-zero duration. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the set of functions further comprises: adding an indication that the overlay DVE has been run to an as-run log. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the first log-entry includes a house-identifier field and an identifier stored in the house-identifier field, wherein the identifier maps to a set of scripts that when executed cause performance of the functions of (i) making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, and (ii) responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period has passed since the start time, causing the first video to be sent to the stunt switcher, and causing the stunt switcher to run the stored overlay DVE; and wherein the set of functions further comprises responsive to determining that the first log-entry includes the identifier, executing the set of scripts. ### Claim 23 A method for use in a system having a stunt switcher, the method comprising: selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a first video and to a first start-time; selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to an overlay digital video effect (DVE) stored in the stunt switcher, to a second video, and to a second start-time; causing the first video to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the first start-time; making a determination that a threshold time-period remains before the second start-time; and responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period remains before the second start-time, (i) causing the second video to be sent to the stunt switcher, and (ii) causing the stunt switcher to run the stored overlay DVE. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the first log-entry includes a non-zero duration and wherein the second log-entry includes a zero duration. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the second log-entry is the next log entry after the first log entry. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the first start-time is represented as a manual start time, and wherein the second start-time is represented as a calculated start time. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the second log-entry includes a house-identifier field and an identifier stored in the house-identifier field, wherein the identifier maps to a set of program instructions that when executed cause performance of the functions of (i) making the determination that the threshold time-period remains before the second start-time, and (ii) responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period remains before the second start-time, causing the second video to be sent to the stunt switcher, and causing the stunt switcher to run the stored overlay DVE; and wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining that the second log-entry includes the identifier, executing the set of program instructions. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the set of program instructions comprises a set of PHP-Hypertext-Preprocessor (PHP) scripts. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the determination is a first determination, the method further comprising: making a second determination that the second video has ended; and responsive to making the second determination that the second video has ended, causing the stunt switcher to run a removal DVE. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising: adding an indication that the overlay DVE has been run to an as-run log. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising: the stunt switcher running the stored DVE, thereby causing the stunt switcher to overlay the second video on the first video as the first video is being channeled through the stunt switcher.