Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110087796 | Method and System for Selectively Broadcasting Media During Dayparts - A method and apparatus for broadcasting media events, the method including the steps of providing a sequence of media events in a first server, the sequence of media events including at least one media event and a plurality of advertisement spots; playing the sequence from the first server to a second server prior to a predetermined broadcast time; and storing at the second server at least a part of the sequence received from the first server. The method may further include the steps of skipping, at the second server, spots during the broadcast of a sequence of media events during a spot-free daypart, inserting preferred content media events in the broadcast sequence, and inserting markers indicating whether a media event has been played during a spot-free daypart are to be played in the sequence of media events. | 04-14-2011 |
20110099223 | Method and System for Selectively Broadcasting Media - A method and apparatus for broadcasting media events, the method including the steps of providing a sequence of media events in a first server, the sequence of media events including at least one media event of a first type and a plurality of media events of a second type; playing the sequence from the first server to a second server prior to a predetermined broadcast time; and storing at the second server at least a part of the sequence received from the first server. The method may further include the steps of broadcasting the sequence from the first server at the predetermined broadcast time; broadcasting the stored sequence from the second server at the predetermined broadcast time while continuing to play the sequence from the first server to the second server, the step of broadcasting from said second server further including the steps of skipping at least one media event of a first type, broadcasting a subsequent one of the plurality, and supplementing the stored sequence with media events stored in the second server separately identifiable from the stored sequence. | 04-28-2011 |
20110099250 | Method and System for Selectively Broadcasting Media - A method and apparatus for broadcasting media events, the method including the steps of providing a sequence of media events in a first server, the sequence of media events including at least one media event of a first type and a plurality of media events of a second type; playing the sequence from the first server to a content distribution network (CDN) server prior to a predetermined broadcast time; and storing at the CDN server at least a part of the sequence received from the first server. The method may further include the steps of inserting, at the first server, markers indicating where targeted media events are to be played in the sequence of media events and inserting, at the CDN server, targeted media events supplied by a third server in response to a request to provide media events targeted to information associated with at least one user. | 04-28-2011 |
20110126229 | Managing Under-Filled Spot Blocks - Changes to spot blocks to be broadcast via terrestrial stations can cause paid spots to be removed from corresponding spot blocks on a streaming station. If the streaming station has other spot blocks that are under-filled, the bumped spots can be automatically placed in under-filled spot blocks, allowing the bumped to be placed in an under-filled spot block faster than if human intervention was required. A media traffic system can keep track of the bumped spots, and in response to a request by a media automation system, provide a list of potential spots available for inclusion in the under-filled spot blocks. The automation system selects desired spots for placement in under-filled spot blocks, and notifies the traffic system about which potential spots have been placed. The traffic system removes the spots from its list of available spots to prevent selected spots from being included in future responses. | 05-26-2011 |
20110131272 | Technique of Providing Targeted Media Items - A first message from a client device, received at a server, can include a request to provide at least one media item matching at least one audience parameter. In response to the first message, the server can access a database storing media item information associated with multiple media items to be retrieved using servers other than the server receiving the first message. The media item information can include, a media item identifier, a media item location identifier, and description information. Media items are selected based on a comparison of the audience parameter with the description information and the server sends a reply to the first message, including a list of media items and their location identifiers. | 06-02-2011 |
20120143998 | MODIFIED PLAYLISTS - A modified playlist can be generated by identifying gaps in a playlist, and modifying other content in the playlist to fill the gap. The gap can represent previously unfilled time, or time created by removing part or all of an item already in the playlist. One or more items of content in the playlist can be modified by lengthening or shortening one of the content items in various ways, including changing a rate of playback of some or all of the items of content in the playlist. In some instances the gap can be filled or partially filled by inserting content from another server at the time of broadcast. | 06-07-2012 |
20120173666 | CONTENT ENRICHMENT USING UNIFIED SYSTEM OF UNIQUE IDENTIFIERS - A unified system of unique identifiers is used to match enrichment content with primary content being delivered by subscribers, e.g. broadcasters, in different markets, market segments, etc. Songs, video, advertisements, or other content from multiple different content publishers or databases, each of which may be assigned identifiers using different identification systems, are assigned a unified, unique identifier. The unique identifiers are also mapped to content identifiers used by subscribers. When subscribers provide primary content, for example by broadcasting the content to end users, enrichment content is matched to the unified, unique identifier associated with the content, and appropriate enrichment data and content are sent to the subscriber for distribution along with the primary content. If subscribers or content publishers change their own identifiers associated with content, the content can be un-matched and re-matched with the same or a different unique identifier. | 07-05-2012 |
20130090752 | Song Replacement with Content Scheduling in Streaming Media - When a downstream radio station is streaming content being played on a main radio station, the streaming content can be altered to substitute a different song than the one being played on the main radio station, even if there is a significant difference between the length of the song being played on the main radio station and the substituted song being played on the downstream radio station. After the substituted song has been played, the downstream radio station can resume streaming content from the main radio station. Substitution of the song on the downstream radio station can be performed by using a variable buffer delay, which essentially allows the downstream radio station to substitute different length songs by increasing or decreasing a delay between the play-out of the main station and the play-out of the downstream station. | 04-11-2013 |
20130137362 | Managing Under-Filled Spot Blocks - Changes to spot blocks to be broadcast via terrestrial stations can cause paid spots to be removed from corresponding spot blocks on a streaming station. If the streaming station has other spot blocks that are under-filled, the bumped spots can be automatically placed in under-filled spot blocks, allowing the bumped to be placed in an under-filled spot block faster than if human intervention was required. A media traffic system can keep track of the bumped spots, and in response to a request by a media automation system, provide a list of potential spots available for inclusion in the under-filled spot blocks. The automation system selects desired spots for placement in under-filled spot blocks, and notifies the traffic system about which potential spots have been placed. The traffic system removes the spots from its list of available spots to prevent selected spots from being included in future responses. | 05-30-2013 |
20130304776 | MANAGING UNDER-FILLED SPOT BLOCKS - A media automation system can provide a common program to multiple different servers, for example a terrestrial broadcast radio server and a streaming radio server. Each of the different servers can receive different content blocks to be inserted during breaks in the common program. Media items from existing content blocks can be removed, and different items inserted. If a content block is under-filled, media items can be inserted without removing existing media items. When items are removed or added to a content block, the removal can be reported to a traffic and billing system for appropriate action. Content blocks can be customized by removing or inserting items based on information obtained from a cloud-based application, or some other source. | 11-14-2013 |
20130316640 | SCHEDULE SUBSCRIPTION SYSTEM - A subscription system includes a national subscription server capable of tracking which local stations subscribe to particular radio station music formats, for example AC middays, Top 40 afternoons, morning programs, or overnight Contemporary AC. A local music scheduler can query the subscription server for a log of nationally scheduled content to fill one or more dayparts of a local broadcast schedule. The subscription system can determine where to obtain the requested log, and provide the log to the local scheduler for insertion into a particular daypart of the local clock, while leaving the remaining dayparts free for local scheduling. Trusted subscribers can also be permitted to alter portions of log of nationally scheduled items. Inserting the log of nationally scheduled items into the local clock provides local awareness of both local and national media items scheduled for broadcast. | 11-28-2013 |
20140006560 | UNIFYING CONFLICTING MEDIA IDENTIFIERS | 01-02-2014 |