Although content has been around for a long time, the problem of managing and finding it has grown substantially over the last decade. This is a clue to the increase in number of output channels and the amount of content being produced. With the pressure to produce more faster whilst retaining quality, considerable improvements in efficiency are required. Emerging digital formats and digital production tools make fully digital media production without using physical carriers possible. Based on that, file-based production, archive and delivery workflows are established. Besides achieving the required efficiency improvements, fully digital environments also enable new ways of collaboration, communication and commercial exploitation of content. Content management plays a key role in this process since it provides the platform for handling digital media.

Professional Content Management Systems: Handling Digital Media Assets:

• Deals with several aspects related to content management in professional media production, handling and delivery.

• Focuses on the broadcast industry but also considers requirements of other content rich organisations. Covers the entire workflow from the introduction of the media into the system, through the production stages to archiving.

• Introduces the main media formats and encoding principles and the way content is represented in the system - including metadata standards and frameworks.

• Studies the framework architecture and a matching infrastructure for content management systems, recognising the fact that such a system has to integrate seamlessly into existing environments and established business processes.

With an accessible and thorough approach, Professional Content Management Systems: Handling Digital Media Assetsoffers an overview of this complex topic to students, engineers and technical managers, in the area of data, storage management and multimedia.

Focusing on audiovisual, visual, audio, text, and structured media objects, this volume discusses the concepts, principles, and systems related to media and broadcast operations. The book discusses the workflow of content production, encoding standards, metadata principles, file formats, system integration, new research, and especially, the content management system architecture and infrastructure. The authors are practitioners working with German companies.
Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

"For  anyone working in this industry, the book is worth having as a long-term reference." (Computing Reviews.com, September 15, 2005)

"…the most complete work in this area…I recommend this book to students, engineers, and managers involved or interested in the handling and management of multimedia content." (Computing Reviews.com, September 16, 2005)

Content and content management are core topics in the IT and broadcast industry. This text clearly defines these terms for those learning the field. It should also help to clarify the subject area, define problematic issues and establish a universal understanding of content and its management.

Content and Content Management are core topics in the IT and broadcast industry. However these terms have not been clearly defined for those learning the field. The topic is complex and users from different industries have different backgrounds and a varied understanding of content issues. Multimedia Content Management helps to clarify the subject area, define problematic issues and establish a universal understanding of content and its management.

* Provides clarity in the subject area

* Defines potential problems and establishes a universal understanding

* Builds an architectural framework upon this account and different aspects of the industry and solutions are reviewed

* Comprehensively describes the different users working and accessing content, the applications and workflows

Essential reading for students, engineers and technical managers, in the area of data, storage management and multimedia, requiring an overview of this complex topic. The topics discussed will also prove highly insightful for executive managers and media professionals with a technical understanding and broadcast executives in the field.

Preface.

1. Introduction.

2. Content-Related Workflows.

3. Essence.

4. Content Representation and Metadata.

5. File Formats.

6. Content Management.

7. Content Management System Infrastructure.

8. System and Data Integration in CMS.

9. Applications.

10. Future Trends.

References.

Acronyms.

Index.