Using A Digital Video Effect To Generate A Video Stream

Abstract

In one aspect, a method involves (i) accessing data representing a traffic schedule for a television broadcast; (ii) selecting a record from the traffic schedule, wherein the record identifies a video source; (iii) determining a type of the identified video source; (iv) using the determined type of the identified video source as a basis to select a DVE; and (v) causing a computing device to run the selected DVE, wherein running the selected DVE causes the computing device to generate a modified version of an input video stream received from the identified video source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in connection with a first computing device and a second computing device, the method comprising:
 making a determination that the second computing device is scheduled to run a second digital video effect (DVE) in connection with a second video stream;   responsive to making the determination that the second computing device is scheduled to run the second DVE in connection with the second video stream, selecting a first DVE, wherein selecting the first DVE comprises using mapping data that maps the second DVE to the first DVE, to select the first DVE; and   causing the first computing device to run the selected first DVE, wherein running the selected first DVE causes the first computing device to generate the second video stream by modifying a first video stream.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein making the determination that the second computing device is scheduled to run the second DVE in connection with the second video stream comprises receiving an indication that the second computing device is scheduled to run the second DVE in connection with the second video stream. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second computing device comprises a stunt switcher and the first computing device comprises a production switcher. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first video stream represents a news program segment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected first DVE is designed such that the first computing device running the selected first DVE causes the first computing device to overlay content on an area of video content represented by the first video stream. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the content is first content and the area is a first area, the method further comprising:
 causing the second computing device to run the second DVE, wherein running the second DVE causes the second computing device to generate a modified version of the second video stream by overlaying second content on a second area of the video content.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first area is positioned below the second area, and
 wherein the first content comprises school-related content.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing the first video stream to be transmitted to the first computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 encoding video content represented by the generated modified version of the second video stream; and   broadcasting the encoded video content.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first DVE is designed such that the first computing device running the first DVE causes the first computing device to overlay first content on a first area of video content represented by the first video stream, wherein the second DVE is designed such that the second computing device running the second DVE causes the second computing device to overlay second content on a second area of the video content, wherein the first and second areas do not overlap. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mapping data identifies that the first DVE is a first type of DVE, wherein the first type of DVE is designed such that running the first type of DVE causes the first computing device to generate the second video stream such that the second video stream is not distorted when modified by the second computing device running the second DVE. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in connection with a first computing device and a second computing device, the computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed by a processor cause performance of a set of acts comprising:
 making a determination that the second computing device is scheduled to run a second digital video effect (DVE) in connection with a second video stream;   responsive to making the determination that the second computing device is scheduled to run the second DVE in connection with the second video stream, selecting a first DVE, wherein selecting the first DVE comprises using mapping data that maps the second DVE to the first DVE, to select the first DVE; and   causing the first computing device to run the selected first DVE, wherein running the selected first DVE causes the first computing device to generate the second video stream by modifying a first video stream.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein making the determination that the second computing device is scheduled to run the second DVE in connection with the second video stream comprises receiving an indication that the second computing device is scheduled to run the second DVE in connection with the second video stream. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the second computing device comprises a stunt switcher and the first computing device comprises a production switcher. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the selected first DVE is designed such that the first computing device running the selected first DVE causes the first computing device to overlay content on an area of video content represented by the first video stream. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the content is first content and the area is a first area, the set of acts further comprising:
 causing the second computing device to run the second DVE, wherein running the second DVE causes the second computing device to generate a modified version of the second video stream by overlaying second content on a second area of the video content.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , the set of acts further comprising causing the first video stream to be transmitted to the first computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , the set of acts further comprising:
 encoding video content represented by the generated modified version of the second video stream; and   broadcasting the encoded video content.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the first DVE is designed such that the first computing device running the first DVE causes the first computing device to overlay first content on a first area of video content represented by the first video stream, wherein the second DVE is designed such that the second computing device running the second DVE causes the second computing device to overlay second content on a second area of the video content, wherein the first and second areas do not overlap. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a production switcher; and   a production switcher controller configured for:
 making a determination that a stunt switcher is scheduled to run a second digital video effect (DVE) in connection with a second video stream; 
 responsive to making the determination that the stunt switcher is scheduled to run the second DVE in connection with the second video stream, selecting a first DVE, wherein selecting the first DVE comprises using mapping data that maps the second DVE to the first DVE, to select the first DVE; and 
 causing the production switcher to run the selected first DVE, wherein running the selected first DVE causes the production switcher to generate the second video stream by modifying a first video stream.