HK1063257B - Apparatus and method for building a playlist - Google Patents

Description

Device and method for establishing playlist

Background

I. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to digital cinema. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for creating a playlist in a digital cinema system.

II. Description of the related Art

In the conventional motion picture film industry, a cinema exhibitor receives motion picture film rolls from a motion picture studio or through a distributor for final exhibition in a cinema auditorium. A movie film includes a feature (full-length movie) and a plurality of trailers and other promotional material often referred to as trailers. Theater projectionists can also need or choose to show some of their trailers, often including local promotional or advertising material.

To show, the theatre exhibitor creates a "record board" (pattern) or playlist. This involves arranging the rolls of motion picture film in the order in which they are to be projected and physically splicing the motion picture film for playback by the projector. Sometimes a "Black screen" (Black screen) is seen between the trailers or between the trailer and the feature. A black screen is a several second black film that provides switching and some noticeable effect between different trailers or prints. To create the black screen, the theater projectionist physically splices the black film to the desired segments in the same way that the trailers are put together.

The theatre exhibitor also inserts prompts and logos into the film by attaching a trigger strip to the film. The cues may be attached between programs or within particular feature or trailer. Theatre exhibitors now control the environment of an auditorium by using theatre automation systems. The theatre automation system controls such functions as turning lights on and off, opening and closing curtains and changing projection lenses. The theatre automation system controls these functions by reading a trigger spring physically placed on the film as it passes through a reader connected to the theatre automation system. The trigger strip is typically a metallic or optical tape that is adhered to the film. When the tape passes under the reader, an electrical signal is output to the theatre automation system. There are many available theatre automation systems, and there is no constant way of operating theatre automation systems. That is, where the trigger bar is placed relative to the frames on the film causes different theatre automation systems to behave differently. For example, a trigger spring can be placed on the left side of the film, called the inside cue, in the center of the film, called the center cue, and on the right side, called the outside cue. Other theatre automation systems only look at a single trigger spring regardless of where the trigger bar is placed relative to the frame of the film, or where the bar must be commanded to be placed for reading. In addition, other theatre automation systems attach meaning (meaning) to the combination or sequence of trigger springs.

If a theater projectionist needs to insert a cue at the time of showing a program at the command of the studio at a certain time, the projectionist must physically annotate the frames on the film roll to determine where to insert the cue. Alternatively, the projectionist can estimate where the trigger should be placed by knowing that "X" feet of film equates to "Y" seconds at the time of projection. For example, a "light on" cue could be inserted 10 seconds after the start of the movie. The theatre exhibitor then attaches the metal or optical strip to the film in place by estimating how many feet of film translate into a 10 second delay.

Both the trailer and the feature have associated ratings that determine how appropriate the material is for a given audience. In the United states, levels are marked by the American society for Motion Picture Association (MPAA-Motion Picture Association of America) for movies. However, different jurisdictions have different rating systems, and all jurisdictions are not consistent for a given program rating. Thus, theater operators in a given jurisdiction need to be aware of the types of programs that are scheduled to be shown together.

And the trailers and features use a particular display aspect ratio. Display aspect refers to how the image is filmed and how the studio is to display the image. Typically, the image is projected on a projector using a display Lens (Scope Lens) or Flat Lens (Flat Lens). The display lenses of the movie have a 2.35:1 ratio and the flat mirrors have a 1:85:1 ratio. The ratio is the ratio of the horizontal to vertical dimensions of the image projected onto the silver screen. In addition, various projectors are sensitive to the type of scanning or chroma sampling.

Along with the film roll containing the prints and trailers, the theater projectionist also receives one or more soundtracks for projection with each motion picture film. Soundtracks come in various languages and sound formats. Such as stereo, the sound format 7.1 or 5.1 relates to the number of channels required for the sound format. Because sound systems vary widely from theater to theater, multiple soundtracks are often provided for a given motion picture film studio or distributor.

When a theater exhibitor builds a display panel or playlist, the exhibitor must be careful to ensure that the playlist is accurately built. For example, each image program should have the appropriate loading channel in terms of language and sound format. In addition, the image programs on the display panel should have appropriate ratings. I.e. it has to be ensured that the trailers of the "R" category are not shown together with the movies of the "G" category. In addition, the cues must be inserted in the proper positions and the correct proper mirror must be attached to the projector for viewing at the proper display aspect ratio. Human error is inevitable and too frequent.

Moreover, as the industry moves from film to digitized images and audio programming, the growth of the film industry is occurring. Theaters are not equipped to process digital programs to create "digital display panels".

Disclosure of Invention

With the advent of digital cinema systems, digital technology has been used to provide cinema theaters worldwide with full-blown movies, trailers, advertisements and other audio/image "film quality" programs. Digital cinema systems employ physical media distribution (e.g., DVD-ROM) or electronic transmission technologies such as satellite to deliver digitized, compressed and encrypted movies to theaters.

Authorized theaters automatically receive the digitized programs and store them, usually with the programs also encrypted and compressed, and upon each presentation, retrieve the digitized information from the storage medium via the local area network, then decrypt, decompress and present using a theater-quality electronic projector with high-quality digital sound.

Next, an apparatus and method for creating a playlist or a digital display panel in a digital cinema system are described. In general, a method of creating a playlist includes displaying at least one image program and at least one audio program. Each image program includes encoded data representing image information and each audio program includes encoded data representing audio information. In response to the designated image program and audio program, compatibility of the selected image program and the selected audio program is verified. In one embodiment, the method can further include connecting a designated audio program to a designated image program to form a selected program, and ordering the selected program into a desired presentation order.

In further embodiments, such as a cue, an insert such as a blank screen embedding the cue may be inserted into the playlist and sorted. In yet another embodiment, the selection of the audio program is limited to a subset of the audio programs, wherein each subset of the audio programs is based on each selected image program.

Each image program and each audio program can have associated indicators such as a rating indicator, an aspect ratio indicator, an audio format indicator and rating indicator, and a show and lens indicator. An incompatible warning indication can be displayed if a mismatch occurs.

In an apparatus of an embodiment, a playlist builder is configured to build a playlist including image and audio programs. In another embodiment, the prompt and blank screen are also in the playlist. Each image and audio program can include an indicator. A compatibility checker is electronically coupled to the playlist builder and is configured to check compatibility of the image and audio programs by comparing indicators from the image and audio programs. The indicators include a level indicator, an aspect ratio indicator, a scan indicator, a chroma sampling indicator, a language indicator, and an audio format indicator. The selected program is created upon verification. In one embodiment, the playlist builder can further include a sorter for sorting the selected programs, cues and black screens into the order to be presented. In yet another embodiment, a scheduler is electronically connected to the playlist builder and is operable to schedule the verified playlists for presentation at the specified times and locations.

It is therefore an aspect of the embodiments to avoid level mismatches between different image programs.

Another aspect of the embodiments is to avoid aspect ratio mismatches between image programs.

Another aspect of the embodiments is to avoid language mismatch between selected audio programs.

Another aspect of the embodiments is to avoid projector mismatch.

Another aspect of the embodiments is to avoid mismatches between audio programs.

It is another aspect of the embodiments to allow for convenient and accurate entry of prompts and offset prompts, and to be able to reference the prompts according to events.

Another aspect of the embodiments is to enable a user to easily sort programming material.

Another aspect of the embodiment is to limit the selection of audio programs to selected image programs.

Another aspect of the embodiments is interfacing with present day theatre automation systems.

Brief Description of Drawings

The features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a digital cinema system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a theater manager and its associated interfaces;

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a process for creating a playlist;

FIG. 4 shows a window displaying a graphical program listing;

FIG. 5 shows a window displaying details of a selected program;

FIG. 6 is a continuation of FIG. 3 showing additional features of the selected program;

FIG. 7 shows a view showing an audio program that may be used for a selected image program;

FIG. 8 illustrates a view showing a selection or setup prompt;

FIG. 9 illustrates a view showing selection or creation of a bias prompt;

FIG. 10 illustrates a window displaying a black screen;

FIG. 11 shows a window displaying an incompatible warning indication due to a level mismatch; and

fig. 12 shows a window displaying the created playlist.

Detailed description of the drawings

In fig. 1, a digital cinema system 100 is shown, the digital cinema system 100 comprising two main systems: at least one central facility or hub 102 and at least one projection or theater subsystem 104. The hub 102 and theatre subsystem 104 have similar designs to the following patents: serial No.09/075.152, filed on 8/5/1998, an unapproved U.S. patent application entitled "apparatus and method for distributing high quality image and audio programs to remote locations"; non-approved U.S. patent application serial No.09/564,174, filed 5/3/2000, entitled "apparatus and method for encoding and storing digital image and audio signals," and non-approved U.S. patent application serial No.09/563,880, filed 5/3/2000, entitled "apparatus and method for decoding digital image and audio signals," all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and are incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment, the image and audio information is compressed and stored on a storage medium and distributed from the hub 102 to the theatre subsystem 104. Typically, the theatre subsystem 104 is used for each theatre or presentation location that receives image or audio information in the network of presentation locations and includes some central equipment and some equipment for each auditorium.

In the central hub 102, a source generator 108 receives film material and produces a digital version of the film. The digital information is compressed and encoded by a compressor/encoder (CE)112 and stored on a storage medium by an integrator storage device 116. Network manager 120 authenticates and sends control information to source generator 108, CE112, and hub storage device 116. Conditional access manager 124 provides specific electronic key information so that only a specified theater is authorized to show a specified program.

Within the theatre subsystem 104, a theatre manager 128 controls one or more auditorium subsystems 132. The theatre manager 128 controls the loading, building of playlists, and the presentation of visual and audio information. The theatre manager can also maintain a history of the image and audio information of the presentation. In one embodiment, each theater manager can include a number of auditorium managers depending on the number of auditoriums in a given theater. In that case, each auditorium manager controls the loading, building playlists, controlling and reviewing presentations, and maintaining the history of its corresponding auditorium. Each auditorium manager also interfaces with an existing Theatre Automation System (TAS)156 for controlling environmental functions.

The theater storage device 136 passes the compressed information stored on the storage medium to the playback module 140 in accordance with the control information received from the theater manager 128. The playback module 140 receives the compressed information from the cinema storage 136 and prepares the compressed information for a predetermined ordering, size and data rate. The playback module 140 outputs the compressed information to the decoder 144. The decoder 144 inputs compressed information from the playback module 140 and performs decryption, decompression and formatting, and outputs image and audio information to the projector 148 and sound module 152. The projector 148 plays image information and the sound module 152 plays inter-sound information in an inter-sound system, both under control of the theatre manager 128.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram 200 of a theater or auditorium manager 204 and its interfaces. The auditorium manager 204 includes a list or database of image programs 208 and audio programs 212. The auditorium manager can also include a list of user-determinable content or prompts 216 and black screens 220. The playlist builder 224 is configured to allow a user to build a playlist. The playlist builder 224 is configured to interface with the compatibility checker 228 to avoid incompatibilities. The final playlist 232 is established after passing the compatibility check. The final playlist is configured to interface with a scheduler 236 that is configured to schedule the final playlist 232 to be presented at a specified auditorium at a specified time. The auditorium manager 204 interfaces with the existing theatre automation systems 244 as necessary for environmental control when playing through the auditorium subsystem 240.

Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram of a process by which a theater manager or auditorium manager creates a playlist 300. In operation, the graphical program listings are displayed to user 304. In an embodiment describing further adjustments with respect to FIG. 4, separate "select programs" views are shown. The image program listings 304 include feature programs, such as movies and trailer programs, which are typically trailer trailers or other promotional or advertising information. Slides, black screens and other image programs can also be listed.

Once the user selects an image program into the playlist (308), the available audio programs or channels are provided (312), in the embodiment described in more detail with reference to fig. 7, a separate "select sound group" window is provided. The available audio program listings 312 provided are limited to those that are compatible with the selected image program 308. The user then selects (316) an audio program associated with the selected image program, which is automatically selected if only one audio program is available for the selected image program. The selected audio program 316 can then be connected to the selected image program 308. The user can then select additional image programs 304 and associated audio programs 312 to create a playlist.

A prompt form 324 can also be provided for the user. In the embodiment described in more detail with reference to FIG. 8, separate "prompt feature" windows are provided. When the cue is selected (328), the playlist holds a command executable for a predetermined time, which sends a signal to the existing theater automation system controlling the auditorium environment. Aspects that may be controlled include turning theatre lights on or off, opening or closing curtains, or adjusting shades. A shade refers to a short curtain that frames the screen on one side of the screen so that the projected image fits well into the screen in the shade, the cues also governing the type of projector or projector lens. Projectors now have multiple lenses that can change from flat lenses to display (Scope) lenses. The cues can also control the type of audio system intended for use, and in alternate embodiments, the cues generated can control many types of theatre automation systems.

The user may also wish to insert a black screen 332. If so, the user selects the icon inserted into the black screen and the window inserted into the black screen appears. Details will be described with reference to fig. 10. The user can then select the length of time for the black screen display (336).

At any time the user can choose to save the record board or playlist at 340. This initiates the compatibility check process 344. In the embodiment described in more detail with reference to FIG. 11, a warning indication of an incompatibility window occurs. A warning is issued when indicators such as level, aspect ratio, language, audio format, scan, projector lens and chroma sampling do not match. Upon successful completion of the compatibility check process, the playlist is created and the process ends 348. The created playlist or digital recording sheet can then be used for scheduling for later review.

In another embodiment, a single video and audio program schedule is provided to the user. The user can then select any combination of image and audio programming into the playlist. In yet another embodiment, the user can initiate by selecting an icon: selecting programs, selecting sound groups, selecting prompts, selecting bias prompts, selecting black screens and other windows. The user can use, for example, a keyboard, a mouse. A standard user input device such as a touch screen or voice command selects the icon.

In yet another embodiment, the compatibility check process 344 may occur at any point where compatibility is a result. For example, compatibility checks for language, sound format, cues or projector requirements may be run when selecting multiple images and audio programs.

In another embodiment, a playlist builder is a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to display at least one image program and at least one audio program, each image and audio program including encoded data representing image information. The computer readable medium also verifies compatibility of the selected image program and the selected audio program.

In another embodiment, the playlist builder is a computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having an embedded computer readable program for building a playlist, the computer usable medium including means for displaying at least one image program and at least one audio program, each image and audio program including encoded data representing image information. The computer program product further comprises means for verifying the compatibility of the selected image program and the selected audio program.

In another embodiment, the playlist builder is a memory that stores data accessed by processes executed by the processor. The memory includes data structures for storing information in the form of playlists for creating digitized images and audiovisual programs. The memory also includes an indicator indicating compatibility of the image program and the audio program.

Fig. 4 shows a window 400 for displaying a table of image programs. In one embodiment, the program listing includes a name field 404, a duration field 408, and a rating field 412. The skilled artisan can list, for example, aspect ratios, or indications of the type of image program, such as a movie feature, trailer, or advertisement, and the display can also include an indicator field 416 that shows whether the program has been selected. The name field 404 provides the name of the image program and optionally a description reference, and the duration field 408 indicates the length of time required for the image program to be shown at the normal operating rate. It should be noted that the audio program need not be present, or played with the image program.

The rating field 416 indicates the rating of the program, and the rating 412 determines the desirability of the given audience material, in the united states, ratings for movies and titles are marked by the american movie association (MPAA). However, different jurisdictions have different level systems. Thus, the level field 412 can be changed to a level system for a given jurisdiction.

The video program view 400 can also include an add key 420 and a detail key 424. if the user selects the add key 420, the selected program is selected and added to the playlist, and a separate playlist view can be created when the program is selected. Selecting the detail button 424 launches a program detail window that provides additional and more specific information about the selected image program. The program details window will be described in greater detail with reference to fig. 5 and 6, and the close button 428 closes the select program screen 400. And help key 432 provides more specific help to the user in the selection process.

If the user selects the detail button 424, the program detail window shown in fig. 5 and 6 is launched. Program details window 500 may have a series of fields that further describe any given image program. Typically, the setting of the various fields of the detail view begins with a meta descriptor file or a metadata file. The fields may include a duration field 504, a level field 508, a feature field 512, an audit (audio) field 516, a media identification field 520, a description field 524, a media size field 528, a rights field 532, and a creation field 536. Review field 516 refers to the program that maintains a history of which programs are shown at a given time and auditorium. In one embodiment, the fields are configurable so that the user can activate or deactivate this function. The medium identification field 520 or program allocation identifier is a unique identifier for a given image or audio program. The media size field 528 refers to the size of the byte size of the selected program. The copyright field 532 indicates the owner of the copyright for the selected program. The creation field 536 refers to the time and place the digitized program was created.

The program detail screen can also include additional image information, rating information, and logo information. Additional fields include a pixel width field 540. Pixel height field 544, pixel aspect ratio field 548, scan field 552, chroma sampling field 556, and color space field 604 (shown in fig. 6). The pixel width field 540 refers to the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the image program. The pixel height field 544 refers to the number of pixels along the vertical direction of the image program. Pixel aspect ratio field 548 refers to the ratio of the pixel width to the pixel height.

Scan field 552 refers to an indicator such as the type of scan used to create the image program and therefore the type that needs to be decoded. There are two main types of scanning: progressive scanning and interlaced scanning. Both refer to how the image frame is updated. In sequential scanning, pixels are rendered sequentially row by row. In interlaced scanning, pixels are rendered in an interlaced format. Thus, pixels in each even row are rendered, followed by pixels in each odd row. The chroma sampling field 556 refers to an indicator. The chroma sampling format includes 4: 4: 4,4: 4: 2, and 4: 2: 0. the entries in the scan field 552 and chroma sampling field 556 are important for projector compatibility reasons. Some projectors may only be able to process programs scanned in a particular manner or sampled chromaticities.

Fig. 6 shows an additional level field 608 that indicates the level of the program in different jurisdictions and thus the compatibility function according to the administration right impact level. Thus, a theater projectionist can select the rating of a given program and affect the compatibility function of the rating according to jurisdiction.

Fig. 6 also shows a flag field 612. The flags field 612 may include a description field 616 and a time code field 620. The description field 616 is for ease of understanding of the reference corresponding to a given time. The timecode field 620 indicates the time at which the flag described in the description field 616 occurred. Generally, a token refers to an event related to content. The mark may be a significant point occurring on the feature or end of the feature, and is a mark of the significant point occurring at a particular time. It may be provided that the prompting occurs at some specified time before or after the flag. Examples of important points include opening an advertising banner, starting to close an advertising banner, special effects, closing an advertising banner to a black screen, or closing an advertising banner on a black screen: often, closing a commercial can begin to cross the screen and then at some sudden point the background darkens and the viewer can see the rest of the detailed commercial. Functionally, the operation of the logo is similar to that of a cue, i.e., a trigger is sent to the theatre operating system, initiating certain environmental controls at a specified time.

Fig. 7 shows a display 700 of an audio program selection menu window. In fig. 7, the audio selection menu is limited to the audio programs available for a particular selected image program, such limitation minimizing errors in constructing the playlist. However, this may be configured to allow any audio program to be selected along with any image program. In the example of FIG. 7, selecting the image program "How the Grnch Stole Chrismas" selects "How the Grnch Stole Christmas" image program launches a window 700 of potential audio programs. The audio program window can include a series of fields such as an identification field 704, a language field 708, an audio channel field 712, and a description field 716. The identification field 704 is a unique identifier for a given audio program. Language field 708 indicates the language of the particular audio program. The channel field 712 indicates the sound format of a particular audio program. In one embodiment, the available inter-sound formats are compatible with the Society of motion-Television engineers (mpte-Society of motion recording and Television Engineers) standard 323M. The SMPTE standard 322M describes standard channel type assignments. For example, sound format 5.1 supports left, right, center, left surround, right surround, subwoofer, single surround, left ensemble, and right ensemble audio outputs.

In another embodiment, a rating indicator can be associated with each audio program. Some audio programs originally created for the adult may be "degraded" to become more suitable for younger people. Thus, multiple audio programs of the same audio format are available.

Description field 716 indicates a description of the audio program. In addition, at the help key 720, the user is assisted in selecting an audio program, and after selecting the "OK" key 724, the selected audio program is connected to the selected image program. The connection enables the display of both the image program and the synchronized audio program when played. The process of connecting the two programs is transparent to the user.

FIG. 8 illustrates a selection or setup prompt insertion window 800, which is one aspect of an embodiment that allows for convenient, accurate entry of prompts, and further allows for prompts to be referenced by event rather than just time, which is another aspect, in one embodiment, if the user were to insert a prompt, the user clicks on the icon button 804 which launches the prompt feature window 808. The prompt properties window 808 includes a prompt description field 812 and several fields indicating the type of prompt: medial cue 816, central cue 820, and lateral cue 824. Selecting various combinations of the inner side 816, center 820, and outer side 824 may be considered three combination systems, indicating to the theatre automation system the type of cue to be inserted. Some theatre automation systems attach meaning to the combination of cues and therefore behave differently according to the combination of inside cues 816, center cues 820, and outside cues 824. In other words, selecting different combinations of inner 816, center 820, and outer 824 implies different functionality for different theatre automation systems. Thus, selecting the cue simulates inputting a command to the theatre automation system.

FIG. 9 illustrates a display screen 900 for selecting or establishing a bias prompt insert. In one embodiment, after selecting the offset hint icon 904, a hint properties window 908 for offset hint inserts is launched. The offset hint window 908 can include a series of fields including a hint description field 912, an inside hint 916, a center hint 920, and an outside hint 924. The prompt feature window 908 also enables the user to select a reference point 928 from which the biased prompt insertion is triggered. In one embodiment, a flag is used as the reference point table. For example, the reference point can be the start of a program as shown in FIG. 9. The user then selects the time offset 932 to be none, before, or after, and in minutes: the fraction and number of seconds are entered in the seconds field 936, and the prompt is based on this bias.

The biased cue insert can be placed anywhere in the programming of the playlist that the theatre operator desires. For example, the biased cue can initiate the occurrence of a special effect for a certain time period of a function in the movie. For example, if a scene in a movie has a rocket launch at time 1 hour 26 minutes 32 seconds, the operator wants a special effect like wind to occur 5 seconds after the rocket launch. Thus, the user selects the reference point in field 928 for rocket launch and selects the after (after) box in the time offset field. The user then divides: the seconds field is inserted with "0: 5" for the effect of wind to occur 5 seconds after the rocket is launched. The "rocket launch" time from the start of the program is known internally. Thus, inserting an offset of 5 seconds (0: 5 in field 936) actually translates to 26 minutes 37 seconds from 1 hour after the start of the program.

During playback, an electrical signal is sent to the existing theatre automation system through the relay card when the cue is triggered. In one embodiment, the auditorium manager enables the configuration of the relay card to operate with a plurality of theatre automation systems. The auditorium manager also allows the user to configure the signal according to the requirements of the theatre automation system.

Fig. 10 shows a black screen feature window 1000. This aspect of the embodiments enables convenient and accurate creation of black screen insertion items. To display the black screen for a period of time, the user simply enters the desired number of seconds in the black screen duration field 804. A black screen insertion entry is created in the playlist in the same manner as any image program or reminder. In one embodiment, the black screen command in the playlist is interpreted in the decoder at play. Thus, the decoder plays the black screen directly in seconds defined at the black screen duration 1004. This has the advantage that no interaction with existing theatre automation systems is required, unlike cues.

FIG. 11 illustrates a display 1100 of a warning indication that an incompatibility occurred due to a level mismatch. Since human factors have been removed from the process of constructing the playlist, errors due to incompatibility between the video program, the audio program and the projector are minimized. As shown in FIG. 11, the recording board builder 3 window 1102 includes a name field 1104, a duration field 1108, a level field 1112, an aspect ratio field 1116, and a details field 1120, the details field 1120 containing information such as the language and sound format of the audio program associated with the image program. If any of the programs selected in the recording sheet have a mismatch, a warning window is displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the rating for "Preview: 2001: A Space Odyssey" is defined as PG, while the rest of the program has a G rating. Thus, alert window 1100 shows incompatibility of the level fields. Similarly, warnings regarding aspect ratio, language, sound format or projector compatibility can also occur.

Further, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that any level of warning is triggered to the user, including not allowing the user to complete the build of the scoreboard due to some mismatch. For example, when the PG program and the G program are on the same recording board, the warning is sufficient. However, if the image program with level X is mixed with another program with level G, the warning pointer is changed to a recording board that is absolutely prohibited from being constructed. Similarly, an absolute inhibit command may occur for language incompatibility or aspect ratio incompatibility.

In one embodiment, each level is assigned a value and compared in software to determine if a mismatch in the levels has occurred. For example, the level G is given a value of 10 and the level PG is given a value of 20. Thus, the apparatus or method can simply compare the levels by comparing the values.

Similarly, international levels can be treated in the same way. If the level for one program is in a given jurisdiction and the level for another program is in another jurisdiction, an alert can also be issued. Further, based on a comparison of levels in a given jurisdiction.

Fig. 12 shows a window 1200 for an established playlist. The playlist 1200 shows a start time field 1204, a name field 1208, a duration field 1212, a level field 1216, an aspect ratio field 1220, a details field 1224, and an elapsed time bar 1228. A presentation time field 1204 indicates the occurrence of a particular prompt or the running time of the presentation of the video program, and a detail field 1224 indicates the type of prompt selected (inner, center, outer) and the language and inter-aural format selected for the program. An example of an embedded hint is shown in block 1232. Setting the inside cue occurs 1 minute 42 seconds after the 4 minute 43 second mark. Because the program "How the great store christmas" started showing at the 4 minute 43 second mark, the signal to embed the cues was triggered and sent to the theatre automation system after 1 minute 42 seconds, i.e., at the 6 minute 25 second mark (block 1236).

In FIG. 12, the elapsed time bar 1228 is shown pointing to the bottom of the display. The elapsed time bar 1228 indicates which show was shown at a given time and the sequence of events that occurred from the beginning to the end of the recording board. If the user selects a pointer, such as pointer 1236, the program corresponding to the pointer is highlighted. Thus, if the user selects pointer 1236 (e.g., using a mouse), line 1240 reflecting "How the Green Stole Christmas" is highlighted. Similarly, if row 1240 is highlighted, pointer 1236 is also highlighted.

Fig. 12 also shows a series of user selectable icons, such as a new record board icon 1244, a select record board icon 1248, a save record board icon 1250, a work on other drive icon 1252, a cut off icon 1254, a copy icon 1256, a paste icon 1258, a select program icon 1260 (described in detail with reference to fig. 4), a raise icon 1262 (described in detail with reference to fig. 8), an embed raise icon 1264 (described in detail with reference to fig. 9), a black screen icon 1266 (described in detail with reference to fig. 10), a detail and feature icon 1268 (described in detail with reference to fig. 5 and 6), a delete input times icon 1270, a select sound group 1272 (described in detail with reference to fig. 7), an up arrow icon 1274, and a down arrow icon 1276.

Up arrow icon 1274 and down arrow icon 1276 allow the user to easily and quickly arrange selected programs, black screens and reminders. For example, if the user selects down arrow icon 1276 and the "Cue light down-Cue darkens" row 1280 is highlighted, the user can sort the highlighted columns by using the down arrow keys of the keyboard or clicking and dragging with a mouse or other user device. Thus, the selected programs and cues can be easily ordered in any order desired by the user.

The start time 1204 associated with the program or cue is adjusted accordingly, and in the case of an embedded cue, the embedded cue (as shown at block 1232) is connected to the corresponding program. For example, the embedded hint in block 1232 connects to the program "How the Green Stole Christmas". If the user highlights the column for the program "How the great store Christmas" and wishes to reorder it, the embedded cue will automatically reorder with that program. The start time field 1204 will adjust accordingly for each entry.

Fig. 12 also shows an insert prompt icon 1262. In one embodiment; unlike the case of a drop-down menu with prompt type selection, the user can optionally select the enter prompt icon to select a given prompt, or define its own prompt.

This is the use of image programs that include encoded image information and can include a series of image files. Similarly, an audio program includes encoded audio information, soundtracks, and may include several audio files. It can thus be seen that the image program and audio program can be combined or subdivided into encoded data groups, into any number of manageable image files and audio files.

For example, the illustrated logic blocks, flowcharts, windows, and steps described in connection with the embodiments presented herein may be implemented or performed in hardware or software using Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic, such as registers and FIFOs, discrete hardware components, a processor executing a set of firmware instructions, any conventional programmable software and processor, or any combination thereof. The processor is preferably a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The software can reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. The previous description of the preferred embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention.

Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles found herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims (42)

1. A method of creating a playlist in a digital cinema system, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying the image program list;

receiving an input for selecting an image program;

displaying a list of available audio programs corresponding to the selected image program;

receiving another input selecting an audio program from the list of available audio programs; and

an automatic compatibility process is performed to verify compatibility between the selected image program and the selected audio program, thereby preventing actual creation of a playlist formed of the selected image program and the selected audio program when there is no compatibility.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the designated audio program is concatenated with the designated image program to form the selected program.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising ordering the selected programs into an order in which presentation is desired.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

specifying an insertion item from a group comprising at least one of a prompt, an embedded prompt, and a blank screen; and

the selected programs and inserts are ordered into the order in which they are desired to be presented.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting audio programs is limited to a subset of audio programs, each subset of audio programs being based on each selected image program.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein each image program has an associated indicator, the step of verifying further comprising:

comparing indicators from a group comprising at least one of a level indicator, an aspect ratio indicator, a scan indicator, and a chroma sampling indicator; and

a warning indication of incompatibility is displayed.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein each audio program has an associated indicator, the step of verifying further comprising:

comparing indicators from the group comprising at least one of a language indicator, an audio format indicator, and a level indicator; and

a warning indication of incompatibility is displayed.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein each image program has a projector lens indicator, the step of verifying further comprising:

comparing the projector lens indicators for each image program; and

a warning indication of projector incompatibility is displayed.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising: if the same image program or the same audio program is selected more than once, a warning is displayed.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising: a selected program to be shown at a specified time is scheduled.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising: a selected program to be shown at a designated auditorium is scheduled.

12. A method of creating a playlist in a digital cinema system, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one image program title list, each image program title representing encoded data representing image information;

displaying at least one corresponding audio program list in response to the selected image program title, each corresponding audio program representing encoded data representing audio information; and

in response to a selected audio program, an automatic compatibility process is performed to verify compatibility between the selected image program title and the selected audio program, thereby preventing actual creation of a playlist formed of the selected image program title and the selected audio program when compatibility does not exist.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: the specified audio program is concatenated with the specified image program to form the selected program.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising ordering the selected programs into an order in which presentation is desired.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

designating an insertion from a group comprising at least one of a cue, an embedded cue and a blank screen; and

the selected programs and inserts are ordered into the order in which they are desired to be presented.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein each image program has an associated indicator, the step of verifying further comprising:

comparing indicators from a group comprising at least one of a level indicator, an aspect ratio indicator, a scan indicator, and a chroma sampling indicator; and

a warning indication of incompatibility is displayed.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein each audio program has an associated indicator, the step of verifying further comprising:

comparing indicators from the group comprising at least one of a language indicator, an audio format indicator and a level indicator, and

a warning indication of incompatibility is displayed.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein each image program has a projector lens indicator, the step of verifying further comprising:

comparing the projector lens indicators for each image program; and

a warning indication of projector incompatibility is displayed.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising: if the same image program or the same audio program is selected more than once, a warning indication is displayed.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising scheduling the selected program to be shown at the specified time.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising scheduling the selected program to be shown at the designated auditorium.

22. Apparatus in a digital cinema system configured to enable the creation of a playlist, the apparatus comprising:

means for displaying at least one list of image program titles, each image program title representing encoded data representing image information.

Means responsive to the selected image program title list for displaying at least one corresponding audio program, each audio program representing encoded data representing audio information; and

means for performing an automatic compatibility process in response to the selected audio program to verify compatibility between the selected image program title and the selected audio program to prevent actual creation of a playlist formed by the selected image program title and the selected audio program when compatibility does not exist.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising: means for linking a specified audio program to a specified image program to form a selected program.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: means for ordering the selected programs into an order in which presentation is desired.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for designating an insertion item from a group comprising at least one of a prompt, an embedded prompt, and a blank screen; and

means for ordering the selected programs and inserts into an order desired for presentation.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each image program has an associated indicator, the step of verifying further comprising:

means for comparing indicators from a group comprising at least one of a level indicator, an aspect ratio indicator, a scan indicator, and a chroma sampling indicator; and

means for displaying a warning indication of incompatibility.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each audio program has an associated indicator, the step of verifying further comprising:

means for comparing indicators from the group comprising at least one of a language indicator, an audio format indicator, and a level indicator; and

means for displaying a warning indication of incompatibility.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each image program has a projector lens indicator, the step of verifying further comprising:

means for comparing the projector lens indicators for each image program; and

means for displaying a warning indication of projector incompatibility.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: and means for displaying a warning if the same image program or the same audio program is selected more than once.

30. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising means for scheduling selected programs to be shown at specified times.

31. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising means for scheduling the selected program to be shown at the designated auditorium.

32. In a digital cinema system, a cinema management apparatus comprising:

a playlist builder configured to build a playlist including the image and audio programs based on the selected displayed image program and the selected corresponding displayed audio program; and

an automatic compatibility checker electronically connected to the playlist builder, the compatibility checker configured to verify compatibility between the image and audio programs based on the selected displayed image program title and the selected corresponding displayed audio program, thereby preventing actual creation of a playlist formed from the image and audio programs when compatibility is not present.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the playlist further comprises a cue.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the playlist further comprises embedded hints.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the playlist further comprises a black screen.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a scheduler electronically connected to the playlist builder, wherein the scheduler is configured to schedule the validated playlist for presentation at the specified time and place.

37. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the playlist builder further comprises a sorter, wherein the sorter is configured to sort the selected programs into an order in which presentation is desired.

38. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein each image program has an associated indicator, the compatibility checker further comprising:

a verifier configured to compare indicators from a group including at least one of a level indicator, an aspect ratio indicator, a scan indicator, and a chroma sampling indicator.

39. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein each audio program has an associated indicator, the compatibility checker further comprising: a verifier configured to compare indicators from a group comprising at least one of a language indicator, an audio format indicator, and a level indicator.

40. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein each image program has a projector lens indicator, the compatibility checker further comprising: a validator configured to compare the projector lens indicators for each image program.

41. A method of creating a playlist in a digital cinema system, the method comprising:

displaying at least one image program list, each image program representing encoded data representing image information;

displaying at least one corresponding list of audio programs in response to the selected image program from the list, each program in the list of audio programs representing encoded data representing audio information; and

performing an automatic compatibility process in response to the selected audio program to verify compatibility between the selected image program and the selected audio program, thereby preventing actual creation of a playlist formed by the selected image program and the selected audio program when compatibility does not exist,

wherein each image program and each audio program in the list includes an indicator, wherein the step of verifying further comprises:

linking the designated audio program to the designated image program to form a selected program upon verification;

specifying an insertion item from a group comprising at least one of a prompt, an embedded prompt, and a blank screen; and

the selected programs and inserts are ordered into the order in which they are desired to be presented.

42. A method of creating a playlist in a digital cinema system, the method comprising:

displaying at least one image program list, wherein each image program in the image program list represents image information;

displaying at least one audio program list in response to a selected image program, each audio program in the audio program list representing audio information; and

performing an automatic compatibility process in response to the selected audio program to verify compatibility between the selected image program and the selected audio program, thereby preventing actual creation of a playlist formed by the selected image program and the selected audio program when compatibility does not exist,

wherein each image program and each audio program includes an indicator, wherein the step of verifying further comprises:

comparing the indicator to an indicator from the group comprising at least one of a level indicator, an aspect ratio indicator, a scan indicator, a chroma sampling indicator, a language indicator, and an audio format indicator;

displaying a warning indicating incompatibility;

linking the designated audio program to the designated image program to form a selected program upon verification;

specifying an insertion item from a group comprising at least one of a prompt, an embedded prompt, and a blank screen; and

the selected programs and inserts are ordered into the order in which they are desired to be presented.