Multimedia system with improved data management mechanisms

Abstract

A digital multimedia newsroom production system allows users of the system to create, browse and catalog multimedia assets. The system includes a multimedia capture and encoding system that captures multimedia data, and substantially simultaneously provides a first compressed version of the multimedia data having a first resolution, and a second compressed version of the multimedia data having a second resolution that is different than the first resolution; a multimedia storage system, coupled to the multimedia capture and encoding system, that stores multimedia information including the first and second compressed versions of the multimedia data; and a video editing and playback system coupled to the multimedia storage system. The video editing and playback system includes editing circuitry that generates a composition that uses a portion of the first compressed version, and playback circuitry that plays the composition using a portion of the second compressed version that corresponds to the portion of the first compressed version. The multimedia storage system stores multimedia information including the compressed versions of the multimedia data, and provides to a network the first compressed version of the multimedia data substantially simultaneously as the first compressed version is stored.

1 . A multimedia system, comprising: 
 a multimedia capture and encoding system that captures multimedia data, and provides an encoded version of the multimedia data; and    a file system, coupled to the multimedia capture and encoding system, that opens a file at least for write in response to a request from a first request source, opens the file at least for read in response to a request from a second request source, writes the encoded multimedia data to the file while the file is open at least for write and at least for read, and reads encoded multimedia data from the file while the file is open at least for write and at least for read.    
     
     
         2 . The multimedia system of  claim 1 , wherein the multimedia system includes a server coupled to a network, that sends the encoded version of the multimedia data on the network in multicast form.  
     
     
         3 . The multimedia system of  claim 1 , wherein the multimedia system includes a server coupled to a network, that sends the encoded version of the multimedia data on the network in response to a request from a video host.  
     
     
         4 . The multimedia system of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a video host, coupled to a network, that sends a first request to the server for a first portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data, determines an amount of time to wait based on a length of the first portion and a response time of the first request, and sends a second request to the server for a second portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data after waiting the determined amount of time.    
     
     
         5 . A video host for connection via a computer network to a multimedia storage system for storing multimedia data, comprising: 
 means for sending a first request to the multimedia storage system over the computer network for a first portion of the multimedia data;    means for determining an amount of time to wait based on a length of the first portion and a response time of the first request; and    means for sending a second request to the multimedia storage system over the computer network for a second portion of the multimedia data after waiting the determined amount of time.    
     
     
         6 . The multimedia system of  claim 1  wherein the file system writes the encoded version of the multimedia data from the multimedia capture and encoding system by appending to the encoded multimedia data written in the file.  
     
     
         7 . The multimedia system of  claim 1 , wherein the file system writes the encoded version of the multimedia data to a computer data file on a computer readable and writable random access medium.  
     
     
         8 . A multimedia system comprising: 
 means for capturing multimedia data and providing an encoded version of the multimedia data; and    means for opening a file at least for write in response to a request from a first request source;    means for opening the file at least for read in response to a request from a second request source;    means for writing the encoded multimedia data to the file while the file is open at least for write and at least for read; and    means for reading encoded multimedia data from the file while the file is open at least for write and at least for read.    
     
     
         9 . The multimedia system of  claim 8 , wherein the multimedia system further includes means, coupled to a network, for sending the encoded version of the multimedia data on the network in multicast form.  
     
     
         10 . The multimedia system of  claim 8 , wherein the multimedia system further includes: 
 means, coupled to a network, for receiving a request from a video host; and    means, coupled to the network, for sending the encoded version of the multimedia data video to the video host in response to the request.    
     
     
         11 . The multimedia system of  claim 10 , further comprising a video host, the video host comprising: 
 means for sending a first request for a first portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data;    means for determining an amount of time to wait based on a length of the first portion and a response time of the first request; and    means for sending a second request for a second portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data after waiting the determined amount of time.    
     
     
         12 . The multimedia system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for writing includes means for appending to the encoded multimedia data written in the file.  
     
     
         13 . The multimedia system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for writing the encoded multimedia data to the file comprises means for writing the encoded multimedia data to a computer data file on a computer readable and writable medium.  
     
     
         14 . A method for use in a multimedia system, comprising: 
 capturing multimedia data and providing an encoded version of the multimedia data;    opening a file at least for write in response to a request from a first request source;    opening the file at least for read in response to a request from a second request source;    writing the encoded multimedia data to the file while the file is open at least for write and at least for read; and    reading encoded multimedia data from the file while the file is open at least for write and at least for read.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising sending the encoded version of the multimedia data on a network in multicast form.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 receiving a request over a network from a video host; and    sending the encoded version of the multimedia data video over the network to the video host in response to the request.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 sending a first request over a network for a first portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data;    determining an amount of time to wait based on a length of the first portion and a response time of the first request; and    sending a second request over a network for a second portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data after waiting the determined amount of time.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the writing includes appending to the encoded multimedia data written in the file.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the writing the encoded multimedia data to the file comprises writing the encoded multimedia data to a computer data file on a computer readable and writable medium.  
     
     
         20 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium; and    information stored on the computer readable medium indicative of a program to be executed by a computer to carry out the method of: 
 capturing multimedia data and providing an encoded version of the multimedia data; and  
 opening a file at least for write in response to a request from a first request source;  
 opening the file at least for read in response to a request from a second request source;  
 writing the encoded multimedia data to the file while the file is open at least for write and at least for read; and  
 reading encoded multimedia data from the file while the file is open at least for write and at least for read.  
   
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein method the further comprises sending the encoded version of the multimedia data on a network in multicast form.  
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein method the further comprises: 
 receiving a request over a network from a video host; and    sending the encoded version of the multimedia data video over the network to the video host in response to the request.    
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein method the further comprises: 
 sending a first request over a network for a first portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data;    determining an amount of time to wait based on a length of the first portion and a response time of the first request; and    sending a second request over a network for a second portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data after waiting the determined amount of time.    
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the writing includes appending to the encoded multimedia data written in the file.  
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the writing the encoded multimedia data to the file comprises writing the encoded multimedia data to a computer data file on a computer readable and writable medium.  
     
     
         26 . A multimedia system, comprising: 
 a multimedia capture and encoding system that captures multimedia data and provides an encoded version of the multimedia data; and    an operating system, coupled to the multimedia capture and encoding system, that provides to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data, and substantially simultaneously stores, in a file, the encoded version of the multimedia data.    
     
     
         27 . The multimedia system of  claim 26 , wherein the operating system provides the at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data without having to read the at least a portion of the multimedia data from the file.  
     
     
         28 . The multimedia system of  claim 26 , wherein the operating system reads the at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file and provides the at least a portion of the multimedia data read from the file to the network.  
     
     
         29 . A multimedia system comprising: 
 means for capturing multimedia data and providing an encoded version of the multimedia data;    means for providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data; and    means for substantially simultaneously storing, in a file, the encoded version of the multimedia data.    
     
     
         30 . The multimedia system of  claim 29 , wherein the means for providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data comprises means for providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data without having to read the at least a portion of the multimedia data from the file.  
     
     
         31 . The multimedia system of  claim 29 , wherein the means for providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data comprises means for reading the at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file and means for providing the at least a portion of the multimedia data read from the file to a network.  
     
     
         32 . A method for use in a multimedia system, the method comprising: 
 capturing multimedia data and providing an encoded version of the multimedia data;    providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data; and    substantially simultaneously storing, in a file, the encoded version of the multimedia data.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data comprises providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data without having to read the at least a portion of the multimedia data from the file.  
     
     
         34 . The multimedia system of  claim 32 , wherein the providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data comprises reading the at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file and providing the at least a portion of the multimedia data read from the file to a network.  
     
     
         35 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium; and    information stored on the computer readable medium indicative of a program to be executed by a computer to carry out the method of: 
 capturing multimedia data and providing an encoded version of the multimedia data;  
 providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data; and  
 substantially simultaneously storing, in a file, the encoded version of the multimedia data.  
   
     
     
         36 . The computer program product of  claim 35 , wherein the providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data comprises providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data without having to read the at least a portion of the multimedia data from the file.  
     
     
         37 . The computer program product of  claim 35 , wherein the providing to a network at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data comprises reading the at least a portion of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file and providing the at least a portion of the multimedia data read from the file to a network.  
     
     
         38 . A multimedia system including: 
 a file system that receives a request from a first request source to open a file at least for write, opens the file at least for write in response to the request from the first request source, receives a request from a second request source to open a file at least for read, opens the file at least for read in response to the request from the second request source, receives while the file is open at least for write in response to the request from the first request source and open at least for read in response to the request from the second request source, a request from the first request source to write multimedia data to the file, writes data indicative of multimedia data to the file in response to the request from the first request source to write, receives, while the file is open at least for write in response to the request from the first request source and open at least for read in response to the request from second request source, a request from the second request source to read multimedia data from the file, reads multimedia data from the file in response to the request from the second request source, and provides data indicative of the multimedia data read from the file in response to the request from the second request source.    
     
     
         39 . A multimedia system including: 
 a) means for receiving a request from a first request source to open a file at least for write;    b) means for opening the file at least for write in response to a);    c) means for receiving a request from a second request source to open a file at least for read;    d) means for opening the file at least for read in response to c);    e) means for receiving, while the file is open at least for write in response to a) and open at least for read in response to b), a request from the first request source to write multimedia data to the file;    f) means for writing data indicative of multimedia data to the file in response to e);    g) means for receiving, while the file is open at least for write in response to a) and open at least for read in response to b), a request from the second request source to read multimedia data from the file;    h) means for reading multimedia data from the file in response to g); and    i) means for providing data indicative of the multimedia data read from the file in h).    
     
     
         40 . A method for operating a file system of a multimedia system, the method including: 
 a) receiving a request from a first request source to open a file at least for write;    b) opening the file at least for write in response to a);    c) receiving a request from a second request source to open a file at least for read;    d) opening the file at least for read in response to c);    e) receiving, while the file is open at least for write in response to a) and open at least for read in response to b), a request from the first request source to write multimedia data to the file;    f) writing data indicative of multimedia data to the file in response to e);    g) receiving, while the file is open at least for write in response to a) and open at least for read in response to b), a request from the second request source to read multimedia data from the file;    h) reading multimedia data from the file in response to g); and    i) providing data indicative of the multimedia data read from the file in h).    
     
     
         41 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium; and    information stored on the computer readable medium indicative of a program to be executed by a computer to carry out the method of: 
 a) receiving a request from a first request source to open a file at least for write;  
 b) opening the file at least for write in response to a);  
 c) receiving a request from a second request source to open a file at least for read;  
 d) opening the file at least for read in response to c);  
 e) receiving, while the file is open at least for write in response to a) and open at least for read in response to b), a request from the first request source to write multimedia data to the file;  
 f) writing data indicative of multimedia data to the file in response to e);  
 g) receiving, while the file is open at least for write in response to a) and open at least for read in response to b), a request from the second request source to read multimedia data from the file;  
 h) reading multimedia data from the file in response to g); and  
 i) providing data indicative of the multimedia data read from the file in h).  
   
     
     
         42 . An apparatus for use in a multimedia system, the apparatus comprising: 
 a video host that sends a first request to the multimedia storage system over a computer network for a first portion of multimedia data, determines an amount of time to wait based on a length of the first portion and a response time of the first request, and sends a second request to the multimedia storage system over the computer network for a second portion of the multimedia data after waiting the determined amount of time.    
     
     
         43 . A method for use in a multimedia system, the method comprising: 
 sending a first request to a multimedia storage system over a computer network for a first portion of multimedia data;    determining an amount of time to wait based on a length of the first portion and a response time of the first request; and    sending a second request to the multimedia storage system over the computer network for a second portion of the multimedia data after waiting the determined amount of time.    
     
     
         44 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium; and    information stored on the computer readable medium indicative of a program to be executed by a computer to carry out the method of: 
 sending a first request to a multimedia storage system over a computer network for a first portion of multimedia data;  
 determining an amount of time to wait based on a length of the first portion and a response time of the first request; and  
 sending a second request to the multimedia storage system over the computer network for a second portion of the multimedia data after waiting the determined amount of time.  
   
     
     
         45 . A system for reading video data over a network from a file from a file system for storing at least one file in which an encoded version of video data is stored, the file system being responsive to requests to provide at least a portion of the at least one file, the system comprising: 
 a video host that requests from the file system over the network an initial portion of the at least one file, determines a response time for receiving the initial portion, and requests further portions of the at least one file from the file system over the network according to the response time for receiving the initial portion and a desired playback rate of the received video data.    
     
     
         46 . A system for reading video data over a network from a file from a file system for storing at least one file in which an encoded version of video data is stored, the file system being responsive to requests to provide at least a portion of the at least one file, the system comprising: 
 means for requesting from the file system over the network an initial portion of the at least one file;    means for determining a response time for receiving the initial portion; and    means for requesting further portions of the at least one file from the file system over the network according to the response time for receiving the initial portion and a desired playback rate of the received video data.    
     
     
         47 . A method for reading video data over a network from a file from a file system for storing at least one file in which an encoded version of video data is stored, the file system being responsive to requests to provide at least a portion of the at least one file, the method comprising: 
 requesting from the file system over the network an initial portion of the at least one file;    determining a response time for receiving the initial portion; and    requesting further portions of the at least one file from the file system over the network according to the response time for receiving the initial portion and a desired playback rate of the received video data.    
     
     
         48 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium; and    information stored on the computer readable medium indicative of a program to be executed by a computer to carry out the method of reading video data over a network from a file from a file system for storing at least one file in which an encoded version of video data is stored, the file system being responsive to requests to provide at least a portion of the at least one file, the method comprising:    requesting from the file system over the network an initial portion of the at least one file;    determining a response time for receiving the initial portion; and    requesting further portions of the at least one file from the file system over the network according to the response time for receiving the initial portion and a desired playback rate of the received video data.    
     
     
         49 . A system comprising: 
 a video host that sends a first request over a network for one or more portions of multimedia data, receives and plays the one or more portions of multimedia data corresponding to the first request, determines a time to send a second request for one or more portions of multimedia data, the time to send a second request being determined at least in part on an amount of time needed to be through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request, and an amount of time taken between sending the first request and receiving the data corresponding to the first request.    
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the time is determined so as to expect to begin to receive the one or more portions corresponding to the second request a predetermined amount of time before being through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request.  
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the video host further determines the amount of one or more portions of multimedia data to request based at least in part on the amount of time needed to be through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request, and the amount of time taken between sending the first request and receiving the data corresponding to the first request.  
     
     
         52 . A system comprising: 
 means for sending a first request over a network for one or more portions of multimedia data;    means for receiving and playing the one or more portions of multimedia data corresponding to the first request; and    means for determining a time to send a second request for one or more portions of multimedia data, the means for determining including means for determining the time to send a second request based at least in part on an amount of time needed to be through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request, and an amount of time taken between sending the first request and receiving the data corresponding to the first request.    
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the means for determining a time to send a second request includes means for determining a time to send a second request so as to expect to begin to receive the one or more portions corresponding to the second request a predetermined amount of time before being through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the means for determining a time to send a second request further includes means for determining the amount of one or more portions of multimedia data to request based at least in part on the amount of time needed to be through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request, and the amount of time taken between sending the first request and receiving the data corresponding to the first request.  
     
     
         55 . A method comprising: 
 sending a first request over a network for one or more portions of multimedia data;    receiving and playing the one or more portions of multimedia data corresponding to the first request;    determining a time to send a second request for one or more portions of multimedia data, based at least in part on an amount of time needed to be through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request, and an amount of time taken between sending the first request and receiving the data corresponding to the first request.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the determining a time to send a second request includes determining a time to send a second request so as to expect to begin to receive the one or more portions corresponding to the second request a predetermined amount of time before being through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the determining a time to send a second request further includes determining the amount of one or more portions of multimedia data to request based at least in part on the amount of time needed to be through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request, and the amount of time taken between sending the first request and receiving the data corresponding to the first request.  
     
     
         58 . A computer product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium; and    data stored on the computer readable medium indicative of instructions to be executed by a computer to carry out the method of:    sending a first request over a network for one or more portions of multimedia data;    receiving and playing the one or more portions of multimedia data corresponding to the first request; and    determining a time to send a second request for one or more portions of multimedia data, based at least in part on an amount of time needed to be through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request, and an amount of time taken between sending the first request and receiving the data corresponding to the first request.    
     
     
         59 . The computer program product  claim 58 , wherein the determining a time to send a second request includes determining a time to send a second request so as to expect to begin to receive the one or more portions corresponding to the second request a predetermined amount of time before being through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request.  
     
     
         60 . The computer program product of  claim 58 , wherein the determining a time to send a second request further includes determining the amount of one or more portions of multimedia data to request based at least in part on the amount of time needed to be through playing the one or more portions corresponding to the first request, and the amount of time taken between sending the first request and receiving the data corresponding to the first request.  
     
     
         61 . A system that receives a multimedia data stream and stores an encoded version of the multimedia data stream in a file, and while receiving and storing, prompts a user to select any one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data stream from the file, receives an indication of the user's selection of one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file, and further while receiving and storing interactively plays for the user, the selected one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file.  
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the multimedia system receives a plurality of multimedia data streams and stores a corresponding plurality of encoded versions of multimedia data streams in a corresponding plurality of files, and while receiving and storing, prompts a user to select any one or more portions of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files, receives an indication of the user's selection of any one or more portions of two or more of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files, and further while receiving and storing, interactively plays for the user, the selected one or more portions of the two or more of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files.  
     
     
         63 . A system comprising: 
 means for receiving a multimedia data stream and storing an encoded version of the multimedia data stream in a file;    means for prompting, while receiving and storing, a user to select any one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data stream from the file;    means for receiving an indication of the user's selection of one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file; and    means for interactively playing, while receiving and storing, the selected one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file for the user.    
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the means for receiving a multimedia data stream and storing includes means for receiving a plurality of multimedia data streams and storing a corresponding plurality of encoded versions of multimedia data streams in a corresponding plurality of files, and wherein the means for prompting includes means for prompting, while receiving and storing, a user to select any one or more portions of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files, and wherein the means for receiving an indication includes means for receiving an indication of a user's selection of any one or more portions of two or more of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files, and wherein the means for interactively playing further includes means for interactively playing, while receiving and storing, the selected one or more portions of the two or more of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files.  
     
     
         65 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a multimedia data stream and storing an encoded version of the multimedia data stream in a file;    prompting, while receiving and storing, a user to select any one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data stream from the file;    receiving an indication of the user's selection of one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file; and    interactively playing, while receiving and storing, the selected one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file for the user.    
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the receiving a multimedia data stream and storing includes receiving a plurality of multimedia data streams and storing a corresponding plurality of encoded versions of multimedia data streams in a corresponding plurality of files, and wherein the prompting includes prompting, while receiving and storing, a user to select any one or more portions of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files, and wherein the receiving an indication includes receiving an indication of a user's selection of any one or more portions of two or more of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files, and wherein the interactively playing further includes interactively playing, while receiving and storing, the selected one or more portions of the two or more of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files.  
     
     
         67 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium; and    data stored on the computer readable medium indicative of a set of instructions to be executed by a computer to carry out a method of: 
 receiving a multimedia data stream and storing an encoded version of the multimedia data stream in a file;  
 prompting, while receiving and storing, a user to select any one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data stream from the file;  
 receiving an indication of the user's selection of one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file; and  
 interactively playing, while receiving and storing, the selected one or more portions of the encoded version of the multimedia data from the file for the user.  
   
     
     
         68 . The computer program product of  claim 67 , wherein the receiving a multimedia data stream and storing includes receiving a plurality of multimedia data streams and storing a corresponding plurality of encoded versions of multimedia data streams in a corresponding plurality of files, and wherein the prompting includes prompting, while receiving and storing, a user to select any one or more portions of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files, and wherein the receiving an indication includes receiving an indication of a user's selection of any one or more portions of two or more of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files, and wherein the interactively playing further includes interactively playing, while receiving and storing, the selected one or more portions of the two or more of the encoded versions of the multimedia data streams from the files.