Multi-port catcher system for media data

Abstract

There is disclosed a media file distribution system and method. An asset management and delivery system and method for the distribution of digital files and data is provided. There are two major functions, with sub-functions within each. The system first serves as a fully automated management system for a company involved in video/file distribution, such as in video on demand (VOD) or other digital file industries. The system can ingest, prepare, schedule, transmit, track and report on any aspect of the business chain. Secondly, it also serves as a product for both content providers and recipients to be able to view, manage and run their entire content offering remotely from anywhere through the Internet.

1 . A system for a multi-port catcher of multimedia file comprising:
 a computer configured to execute a partition application that partitions the computer into multiple partitions;   a data store; and   a network connection for connecting the computer to a network and the data store,   wherein the computer is further configured to execute a catcher application, each partition executing a copy of the catcher application for receiving a separate media file from one or more content providers over the network connection and validating and storing the separate received media file in the data store based on wherefrom the separate received media file was originated.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of further catcher applications, where a first partition executions a first further catcher application, and a second partition executes a second further catcher application. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first catcher application uses a different protocol than the second catcher application. 
     
     
         4 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the partitions is configured as a content provider, such that one or more of the media files are provided internally from the data store into the catcher application without using a separate computer to provide the one or more multi-media files to the catcher application. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the partitions is further configured as a gateway computer to provide gateway processing for each of the other partitions. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote site computer coupled to the network for receiving the validated media file from the data store. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the remote site computer includes a user interface to view and edit the media files stored in the data store. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface is further configured to generate reports from the media files stored in the data store. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said each partition is further configured to cause the computer to receive multiple streams of media files from different satellite receivers. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said each partition is further configured to cause the computer to receive multiple streams of media files from another one of the plurality of catcher applications. 
     
     
         13 . A method for distributing multimedia files, the method comprising:
 partitioning a single computer into multiple partitions;   providing a plurality of catcher applications;   executing a first catcher application by a first partition for receiving a first media file from a first content provider over a computer network;   executing a second catcher application by a second partition for receiving a second media file from a second content provider over the computer network, wherein said first catcher application is substantially simultaneously executed with the aid second catcher application; and   validating and storing the first and second received media files in a data store based on wherefrom the first and second received media file were originated, wherein the first catcher application uses a different protocol than the second catcher application.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein one of the partitions is configured as a content provider, such that one or more of the media files are provided internally from the data store into the catcher application without using a separate computer to provide the one or more multi-media files to the catcher application. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein one of the partitions is further configured as a gateway computer to provide gateway processing for each of the other partitions. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving the validated media file from the data store by a remote site computer coupled to the computer network.