Patent Publication Number: US-8990156-B2

Title: Digital asset management method and apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to digital asset management, and is particularly applicable to the management of image files, video files, audio files and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Digital asset management (DAM) includes the ingesting, annotating, cataloguing, storing and retrieving of digital assets, such as digital photographs, animations, videos and music. Examples of derivatives from digital assets include, but are not limited to, images which are copies, at a lower resolution, of the master digital image. Digital asset management systems are computer software and/or hardware systems that aid in the process of digital asset management. In this context, the term “ingesting” refers to putting digital assets into an archive. To put data into an archive (“to ingest it”), the correct data needs to be identified and the target location for the data movement needs to be identified. An ingestion engine is a piece of software that, at a minimum, provides:
         a mechanism for selecting and moving data;   a means for validating data contents;   a method for confirming that writes have occurred correctly and completely;   a means for un-ingesting data when required.       

     In existing DAM systems, the owner of the digital asset stores the master file, together with the derivatives from that master file, in one location. That location is either local (ie, on the premises of the data owner) or remote (eg, at an externally hosted data centre). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In contrast, in one aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a machine-implemented process of digital asset management, the process comprising:
         at a first location:
           storing master digital asset files;   generating at least one derivative digital asset file from each master digital asset file;   storing the derivative digital asset files; and   uploading copies of a sub-set of the stored derivative digital asset files to a second location, and   
           at the second location, storing the uploaded copies of a sub-set of the stored derivative digital asset files.       

     It is preferred that the machine-implemented process of digital asset management further comprises the making available:
         for access by at least one user who is at a third location which is separate from both the first location and the second location;   of the copies of a sub-set of the stored derivative digital asset files which have been uploaded to the second location.       

     It is preferred that the machine-implemented process of digital asset management further comprises the making available at the first location, for access by at least one user who is at the third location; of copies of at least one derivative digital asset file:
         which was generated from a master digital asset file; and   which is not a member of the sub-set of derivative digital asset files.       

     In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a machine implemented process of digital asset management comprising the accessing by a user who is at a third location of the copies of a sub-set of the stored derivative digital asset files which have been uploaded to the second location as described above. 
     In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for implementing a process of digital asset management, the apparatus comprising:
         at a first location, means for:
           storing master digital asset files;   generating at least one derivative digital asset file from each master digital asset file;   storing the derivative digital asset files; and   uploading copies of a sub-set of the stored derivative digital asset files to a second location, and   
           at the second location means for, storing the uploaded copies of a sub-set of the stored derivative digital asset files.       

     It is preferred that the apparatus for implementing a process of digital asset management further comprises means for making available:
         for access by at least one user who is at a third location which is separate from both the first location and the second location;   of the copies of a sub-set of the stored derivative digital asset files which have been uploaded to the second location.       

     It is preferred that the apparatus for implementing a process of digital asset management further comprises means for making available at the first location, for access by at least one user who is at the third location; of copies of at least one derivative digital asset file:
         which was generated from a master digital asset file; and   which is not a member of the sub-set of derivative digital asset files.       

     Accordingly embodiments of the present invention allow the owners of digital assets to store the original copies of their digital files in a secure environment behind a firewall in a large storage area for preservation and restoration purposes while still using a hosted solution to publish derivatives of the digital file over the Internet, an intranet or an extranet. Organizations can outsource their digital management requirements while they manage the storage of their valuable digital master files. Organizations have the ability to independently manage access rights to derivatives stored at a out-sourced hosting provider while independently managing access to the original masters. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how it may be carried into effect, embodiments of it are shown, by way of non-limiting example only, in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram which illustrates system architecture for implementing embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another schematic diagram which illustrates system architecture for implementing embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  contains work-flow diagrams which illustrate operation of preferred embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates relationships among data elements. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Overall System Architecture 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system  1  for implementing embodiments of the present invention. 
     The system  1  comprises a client environment  2  and a “software as a service” (SAAS) environment  3 . The client environment  2 , the SAAS environment  3  and external users  6  communicate over a network  4  which is preferably the Internet or an intranet. 
     In the client environment  2 , an ingestion engine server  7  connects to the network  4  by way of a firewall  8 . Internal users  5  using a web interface communicate with the ingestion engine server  7  over an internal network which is not illustrated in the figure. The ingestion engine stores files on a storage area network (SAN) or on a local hard drive. In  FIG. 1 , those files are illustrated as being stored in a number of folders, comprising a master files folder  9 , a large derivative files folder  11 , a custom derivative files folder  12 , a preview derivative files folder  13  and a thumbnail derivative files folder  14 . 
     The SAAS environment  3  includes an SAAS server  16 , a SAAS preview derivative files folder  17  and a thumbnail derivative files folder  18 . 
     As is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , it is preferred that the SAAS server  16  has the capability of providing services to any one or more of a plurality of ingestion engine servers  7  on demand. 
     Operation 
       FIG. 3  contains work-flow diagrams which illustrate operation of preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     The “upload files” workflow is illustrated at  19  in  FIG. 3 . An internal user  5  collects digital master files for uploading to the ingestion server. Examples of master files include raw scanned, photographed or record files. Once ready, the internal user  5  logs into the ingestion engine server  7  and logs into the ingestion engine via a web browser to visit an upload page (which is not illustrated in the drawings). In the upload page, the internal user  5  selects the folder that contains the images and clicks an upload button. This function uploads images to the master folder  9  for processing. 
     A listener component on the ingestion engine periodically monitors the master  9  folder for any new files. Once new files are located the ingestion engine traverses through the master folder  9 , registers  27  the files in the ingestion engine database  29  and generates derivatives for this file. As the derivatives files are generated  28  the ingestion engine moves these derivative files to the appropriate folder  11 ,  12 ,  13  or  14  based on the derivative structure. 
     The “publish to SAAS server” workflow is illustrated at  21  in  FIG. 3 . Once files have been ingested by the ingestion server they are available for the internal users  5  to browse via a user interface. The internal users  5  select the preview and thumbnail files to publish  35  to SAAS server and initiate the publish process. The files are sent via HTTP protocol through port  80  to the SAAS server  16 . The SAAS server  16  authenticates the request to publish the preview and thumbnail files and if the user&#39;s credentials are correct the SAAS server  16  proceeds to accept the preview and thumbnail files. Preferably the user&#39;s credentials include a client code, a user identifier and a password. The SAAS server  16  generates an entry in the object table  34  of the SAAS server database  32  as is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Each preview file and each thumbnail file is stored  36  as a record in the SAAS server database  32 . Each record is assigned an object identifier and an item identifier in the object table. The object identifier which is assigned to the object in the table  34  is the concatenation of the client identifier of the relevant internal user  5  and the item identifier of the object within a master file name data table  31  in the ingestion engine database  29 . 
     As is illustrated by work flow  22  in  FIG. 3 , an internal user  5  who has login privileges to do so can login to the SAAS environment  3  and locate the files that were uploaded via the ingestion engine. The uploaded files have details pages associated to them which the internal user  5  can use to edit and manage  37  metadata associated to the images. 
     As is illustrated by work flow  24  in  FIG. 3 , a registered user associated with the client identifier of an ingestion engine can log in to the SAAS environment  3 , and view images that were uploaded by that ingestion engine. Depending, on the permissions assigned to such user, they can perform multiple actions that are available within the SAAS environment  3  on the images to which they have access. 
     As is illustrated by workflow  23  in  FIG. 3 , external users  6  can select a list of images and request the download of those images. The SAAS server refers to the object identifier of the image to determine the client identifier of the files requested for download and the type of derivative. Once the client identifier is determined, a web service request is sent to the ingestion engine  7  that prepares the files for delivery. These files are compressed for faster downloads. If the requested derivative is not one of the standard derivatives that reside with the ingestion engine, then the ingestion engine initiates a custom derivative generation process  38  to create the requested derivative. When the requested derivative file(s) are ready, a response is send back to the SAAS server. One preferred form for notifying this response to the requester is by e-mail. Preferably, this e-mail contains a link back to the SAAS server. The user can visit the “my requests” page and click on the link to download. 
     The requestor can download the files directly from the client ingestion engine server  7 . The ingestion engine server  7  tracks the files which have been uploaded and derivatives which have been generated as it stores these in a logical structure based on derivative configuration. 
     Various embodiments of the invention may be embodied in many different forms, including computer program logic for use with a processor (eg., a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, or general purpose computer), programmable logic for use with a programmable logic device (eg., a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other PLD), discrete components, integrated circuitry (eg., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), or any other means including any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, predominantly all of the communication between users and the server is implemented as a set of computer program instructions that is converted into a computer executable form, stored as such in a computer readable medium, and executed by a microprocessor under the control of an operating system. 
     Computer program logic implementing all or part of the functionality where described herein may be embodied in various forms, including a source code form, a computer executable form, and various intermediate forms (e.g., forms generated by an assembler, compiler, linker, or locater). Source code may include a series of computer program instructions implemented in any of various programming languages (e.g., an object code, an assembly language, or a high-level language such as Fortran, C, C++, JAVA, Ruby, or HTML) for use with various operating systems or operating environments. The source code may define and use various data structures and communication messages. The source code may be in a computer executable form (e.g., via an interpreter), or the source code may be converted (e.g., via a translator, assembler, or compiler) into a computer executable form. 
     The computer program may be fixed in any form (e.g., source code form, computer executable form, or an intermediate form) either permanently or transitorily in a tangible storage medium, such as a semiconductor memory device (e.g., a RAM, ROM, PROM, EEPROM, or Flash-Programmable RAM), a magnetic memory device (e.g., a diskette or fixed disk), an optical memory device (e.g., a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), a PC card (e.g., PCMCIA card), or other memory device. The computer program may be fixed in any form in a signal that is transmittable to a computer using any of various communication technologies, including, but in no way limited to, analog technologies, digital technologies, optical technologies, wireless technologies (e.g., Bluetooth), networking technologies, and inter-networking technologies. The computer program may be distributed in any form as a removable storage medium with accompanying printed or electronic documentation (e.g., shrink wrapped software), preloaded with a computer system (e.g., on system ROM or fixed disk), or distributed from a server or electronic bulletin board over the communication system (e.g., the internet or world wide web). 
     Hardware logic (including programmable logic for use with a programmable logic device) implementing all or part of the functionality where described herein may be designed using traditional manual methods, or may be designed, captured, simulated, or documented electronically using various tools, such as computer aided design (CAD), a hardware description language (e.g., VHDL or AHDL), or a PLD programming language (e.g., PALASM, ABEL, or CUPL). 
     Programmable logic may be fixed either permanently or transitorily in a tangible storage medium, such as a semiconductor memory device (e.g., a RAM, ROM, PROM, EEPROM, or Flash-Programmable RAM), a magnetic memory device (e.g., a diskette or fixed disk), an optical memory device (e.g., a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), or other memory device. The programmable logic may be fixed in a signal that is transmittable to a computer using any of various communication technologies, including, but in no way limited to, analog technologies, digital technologies, optical technologies, wireless technologies (e.g., Bluetooth), networking technologies, and internetworking technologies. The programmable logic may be distributed as a removable storage medium with accompanying printed or electronic documentation (e.g., shrink wrapped software), preloaded with a computer system (e.g., on system ROM or fixed disk), or distributed from a server or electronic bulletin board over the communication system (e.g., the interne or world wide web). 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Throughout this specification, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and corresponding parts of speech are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. 
     In the claims, each dependent claim is to be read as being within the scope of its parent claim or claims, in the sense that a dependent claim is not to be interpreted as infringed unless its parent claims are also infringed.