Media Inventory Management. by Anthony DuBoyce, P.Eng IMMAD ECVS Systems Integration

Transcription

1 Media Inventory Management by Anthony DuBoyce, P.Eng IMMAD ECVS Systems Integration

2 Introduction Media Asset Management A fault tolerant broadcast architecture The levels of Media Asset Management Levels of Metadata The role and Critical Interfaces Media Inventory Management Conclusion

3 The Redundant Server Principle H U B HUB ON AIR PROTECT NETWORK 1 RECOVERY MODE FLOW H U B HUB PROTECT ON AIR NETWORK 2

4 Fault Tolerant Program Integration System Node AUTOMATION HUB SERVE R 1 SERVER 1 SERVE R 21 SERVER 2 PROGRAM FILL PROGRAM FILL PROGRAM FILL PROGRAM FILL Program Stream Integration Program Stream Integration Network 1 Main Back-up Back-up Main Network 2 AUTOMATION

5 Fault Tolerant Broadcast Infrastructure System Node AUTOMATION System Node AUTOMATION SERVER A System Node AUTOMATION System Node RAID Cache Disk array Disk array Disk array Disk array HUB SERVE R 1 SERVER 1 SERVE R 12 SERVER 2 PROGRAM FILL PROGRAM FILL PROGRAM FILL System Node PROGRAM FILL AUTOMATION Program Stream Integration Program Stream Integration Network 1 Main Back-up Back-up Main Network 2 SERVER B System Node AUTOMATION SERVER C FILE TRANSFER NETWORK System Node Syste m Node DATA ROBOT DATA ROBOT HUB SERVE R 1 SERVER 3 SERVE R 12 SERVER 4 PROGRAM FILL PROGRAM PROGRAM FILL FILL PROGRAM FILL Program Stream Integration Program Stream Integration Network 3 Main Back-up Back-up Main Network 4 AUTOMATION

6 Fault Tolerant Broadcast Infrastructure System Node approach protects against system-wide failure High levels of redundancy and local storage in critical air chain Extended cache storage reduces wear on data drives and robotic hardware Robotic storage provides system back-up in the event of catastrophic cache failure

7 Fault Tolerant Broadcast Infrastructure Requires a system-wide Inventory Manager to implement instances of a program segment may exist in a variety of disparate locations - ingest servers, central cache, robotic archive (data tape and DVD-RAM), redundant airplay servers different treatment of long-form and short-form program requires a high-level director, programmed according to work-flow methodology and system configuration

8 High Level System Model Ingest Encoding Sales/ Operations Traffic Playlists Elements Captioning CG/SStore Bugs V Chip ratings Downstream Cues Enhanced Program Guide DTV Transport Mux etc. Central Cache File Management Playout System Local Local Local Local Cache Storag Storag Storag e e e Archive Storage Production INGEST STORAGE EMISSION

9 File Management Routes incoming program files to cache, archive or both Controls generation of archive safety copies Broadcasts program files to air servers from cache or archive Optimizes robotic and data drive usage Purges cached files upon command

10 Sales/Operations Needs Program Content content Management information Run lengths Ratings Contributing Elements Browse Annotation Retrieval Keyframes/ Sales/ Operations Traffic Elements Captioning CG/SStore Ingest Encoding Playlists Bugs Central Cache File Management Playout System Local Local Local Local Cache Storag Storag Storag e e e Archive Storage Production INGEST STORAGE EMISSION

11 Content Management Controls collection and storage of annotation data Provides sophisticated database query tools - content retrieval from keywords, keyframes, browse Primarily a sales and operations tool for management of product throughput

12 Broadcast System Management Content Management Annotation Retrieval Keyframes/ Browse Sales/ Operations Traffic Elements Captioning CG/SStore Ingest Encoding Cache Pre-load Ingest Inventory Management Missing Control Lists Purge Routines, File Routing Central Cache File Management Playlists Bugs Playout System Local Local Local Local Cache Storag Storag Storag e e e Archive Storage Production INGEST STORAGE EMISSION

13 Inventory Management Generates and tracks progress of Ingest lists Dictates destination of ingest files - to cache, archive or air server Responds to playlist requests for material - controls push of material to air servers Receives advance notice of required material to pre-load cache

14 Media Asset Management Content Management Annotation Retrieval Keyframes/ Browse Sales/ Operations Traffic Elements Captioning CG/SStore Ingest Encoding "Media Asset Management" Inventory Management Playlists Bugs Central Cache File Management Playout System Local Local Local Local Cache Storag Storag Storag e e e Archive Storage Production INGEST STORAGE EMISSION

15 Media Asset Management Is used to describe: File Management Control and routing of files within networked storage Inventory Management Control and routing of program elements within broadcast system Content Management Annotation and content retrieval of program assets

16 Why Discrete Layers of Media Asset Management? Assists definition of software elements during system specification Is compatible with the fault tolerant system node architecture Enables vendor specialization, resulting in best - in - class system performance Is compatible with current Metadata definitions

17 Metadata Essential Metadata Unique Material ID (UMID), travels with the program file: resides in all MAM databases Technical Metadata Description of program format and related elements: resides in Inventory and Content databases Content Metadata Description of program content: resides in Content databases only

18 Metadata Layers Ingest Encoding Content Metadata Technical, Essential Metadata "Media Asset Management" Technical Metadata Essential Metadata Essential Metadata Content Management Annotation Central Cache Retrieval Keyframes/ Browse Inventory Management File Management Sales/ Operations Traffic Playlists Elements Captioning CG/SStore Bugs Playout System Local Local Local Local Cache Storag Storag Storag e e e Archive Storage Production

19 Inventory Management Interfaces The interface to Sales/Operations enables the look ahead function to pre-load the central cache. A flat-file from the sales Operations database in a pre-defined format is sufficient. A common UMID is a prerequisite of this interface Sales/ Operations To service a variety of automation vendors, a generic software interface (SDK) must be available from the Inventory Manager. Generation of a Missing Materials List is a prerequisite of the automation system. Specification of interface is the role of the System Integrator Ingest Inventory Management Playlists Comprehensive API required for integrated operation. Common element is the UMID. Inventory Manager queries Ingest database for UMID, and instructs File Manager to pull program into storage. Inventory Manager generates Ingest list to Ingest automation File Management Comprehensive API required for integrated operation. Common element is the UMID Inventory Manager dictates storage location of file, (ie cache, archive or both) and generates purge list

20 Where can I buy an Inventory Manager? This function can be performed (with varying degrees of success) by: Single vendor system solutions Sales/ Operations Ingest Inventory Management Playlists File Management

21 Where can I buy an Inventory Manager? This function can be performed (with varying degrees of success) by: Content Management vendors Sales/ Operations Ingest Inventory Management Playlists File Management

22 Where can I buy an Inventory Manager? This function can be performed (with varying degrees of success) by: vendors Sales/ Operations Ingest Inventory Management Playlists File Management

23 Conclusions Specifying a discrete Inventory Manager system layer or module offers the following advantages: allows continued use of legacy automation systems aids system functional specification allows other system modules to perform within their respective areas of expertise potentially improves system modularity and fault tolerance allows selection of best- in- class software and hardware components

24 Conclusions Defining the Inventory Manager as a discrete system layer or module has the following caveats: requires turnkey software systems integration requires exact definition of system function and scope prior to purchase and installation