Network-based Cooperative TV Program Production System

A new DTPP (Desk-Top Program Production) system has been developed that enables multiple program producers (directors) working at different locations to collaborate over a computer network and prepare a single program for broadcasting. In this system, information is shared among users by exchanging data edited on non-linear editing terminals in program post-production work over a network in real time. In short, the new DTPP system provides a collaborative work space for producing TV programs. The system does not make use of a special server for collaborative work but rather multiple interconnected editing terminals having the same functions. In this configuration, data at a terminal which has just been edited by some operation is forwarded to all other connected terminals for updating. This form of information sharing, however, requires that some sort of data synchronizing method be established since multiple terminals are operating on the same data simultaneously. We therefore adopt a method whereby the system synchronizes the clocks on each terminal at the time of connection and sends an operation time stamp together with edited data. This enables most recently modified data to be identified and all information on all terminals to be updated appropriately. This paper provides an overview of this new collaborative DTPP system and describes the techniques for exchanging edited data and synchronizing data.