Apple's new patent hints at Collaborative Media Production with Final Cut Pro

fcp.co

This week Apple won a patent that specifically details various collaborative media production processes. There's a lot of detail in the document too - could this be a hint of what is to come for Final Cut Pro X?

The patent was awarded this week but was originally filed back in 2008. Final Cut Pro gets a mention, but so does Final Cut Express and quite remarkably iMovie which makes you think that FCPX wasn't on the radar at the time.

There is a lot of information in the patent which we hope somebody will go over with a fine toothed comb looking for possible clues to upcoming functionality. The fact that Apple has a patent doesn't mean that a feature will magically appear in a new version, but this document does provide an insight into how deeply Apple has considered the collaborative workflow process.

No pictures at the moment, all we get from the document bizzarely is the request to install an old version of QuickTime. We have pushed the boat out and ordered a copy of the patent so we'll post the diagrams when they arrive.

After reading the online document twice we found out the following:

• Collaborative working can be available over any communication network, private, public or the internet.
• Collaboration can be time separated or instant.
• More than one person can be working on the project at any one time.
• Notes, audio comments or metadata can be inserted onto the work to highlight changes needed.
• The originator of the project can maintain editorial control.
• The originator of the project can approve or block revisions by collaborators.
• Files can be exchanged to sync originators & collaborators media - background synching too.
• A publish & subscribe model is possible.
• Permissions can be set for example to allow change of titles but not move any of the edits.
• Communication between parties is possible whilst editing and/or reviewing. read more...