Method and system for controlling a scheduling order per category in a music scheduling system

• US 10,331,735 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Attwell, Nigel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Adam
• Application Number:
  US14/853,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20160004771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4881 Scheduling strategies for dispatcher, e.g. round robin, multi-level priority queues
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4887 involving deadlines, e.g. rate based, periodic
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a scheduling order per category is disclosed. A scheduling order can be designated for the delivery and playback of multimedia content (e.g., music, news, other audio, advertising, etc.) with respect to particular slots within the scheduling order. The scheduling order can be configured to include a forward order per category or a reverse order per category with respect to the playback of the multimedia content in order to control the scheduling order for the eventual airplay of the multimedia content over a radio station or network of associated radio stations. A reverse scheduling technique provides an ideal rotation of songs when a pre-programmed show interferes with a normal rotation. Any rotational compromises can be buried in off-peak audience listening hours of the programming day using the disclosed reverse scheduling technique.

Claims

1. A method for use in a media scheduling system, the method comprising:

storing, at the media scheduling system, at least a first database table including category group options for a plurality of category groups, wherein a particular category group includes a plurality of media items related to a common category, the category group options including;

reverse schedule information indicating whether unslotted category group positions of a particular category group are to be scheduled in a reverse category order or a forward category order, wherein the reverse category order indicates that the unslotted category group positions are to be scheduled from later in time to earlier in time, and the forward category order indicates that unslotted category group positions are to be scheduled from earlier in time to later in time; and

pass order information indicating a pass order in which the plurality of category groups are to be scheduled;

copying pass order information for the plurality of category groups from the first database table to a second database table associated with a particular media station;

identifying the unslotted category group positions in a media schedule associated with the particular media station, the media schedule used by the particular media station to control a media broadcast, by executing a program instruction in the media scheduling system; and

processing the second database table to generate a broadcast schedule by placing media items from the plurality of category groups in the unslotted category group positions in the media schedule, the unslotted category group positions filled in a pass order indicated by the pass order information, and in either a forward order or a reverse order as indicated by the reverse schedule information, by executing a program instruction in the media scheduling system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a particular daypart of a plurality of dayparts to schedule, wherein the particular daypart includes first and second unslotted category group positions of first and second category groups, by executing a program instruction in the media scheduling system;

scheduling the first unslotted category group positions associated with the first category group in a reverse category order, by executing a program instruction in the media scheduling system; and

scheduling the second category group positions associated with the second category group in a forward category order, by executing a program instruction in the media scheduling system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, at the media scheduling system, daypart data settings indicating whether a particular daypart is to be scheduled in a reverse daypart order or a forward daypart order, wherein the reverse daypart order indicates that sub-units of time within the particular daypart are to be scheduled from later in time to earlier in time, and the forward daypart order indicates that sub-units of time within the particular daypart are to be scheduled from earlier in time to later in time; and

scheduling the sub-units of time within the particular daypart in one of a forward daypart order or a reverse daypart order as indicated by the daypart data settings, by executing a program instruction in the media scheduling system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining, using the category group options and the daypart data settings, that the unslotted category group positions of the particular category group are to be scheduled in the reverse category order, and that the particular daypart is to be scheduled in the reverse daypart order, by executing a program instruction in the media scheduling system; and

in response to the determining, scheduling a latest-in-time unslotted category group position included in a latest-in-time sub-unit of the particular daypart before scheduling an earlier-in time unslotted category group position included in the latest-in-time sub-unit, by executing a program instruction in the media scheduling system.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

scheduling at least one unslotted category group position using the reverse category order during a scheduling operation using the forward daypart order, by executing a program instruction in the media scheduling system.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

scheduling at least one unslotted category group position using the forward category order during a scheduling operation using the reverse daypart order, by executing a program instruction in the media scheduling system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a first table further includes:

information indicating whether a Twofer position is to be reverse scheduled.

8. A media scheduling system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a program of instructions stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, the program of instructions including;

at least one instruction to store at least a first database table including category group options for a plurality of category groups, wherein a particular category group includes a plurality of media items related to a common category, the category group options including;

reverse schedule information indicating whether unslotted category group positions of a particular category group are to be scheduled in a reverse category order or a forward category order, wherein the reverse category order indicates that the unslotted category group positions are to be scheduled from later in time to earlier in time, and the forward category order indicates that unslotted category group positions are to be scheduled from earlier in time to later in time; and

pass order information indicating a pass order in which the plurality of category groups are to be scheduled;

at least one instruction to copy pass order information for the plurality of category groups from the first database table to a second database table associated with a particular media station;

at least one instruction to identify the unslotted category group positions in a media schedule associated with the particular media station; and

at least one instruction to process the second database table to generate a broadcast schedule by placing media items from the plurality of category groups for placement in the unslotted category group positions in the media schedule, the unslotted category group positions filled in a pass order indicated by the pass order information, and in either a forward order or a reverse order as indicated by the reverse schedule information.

9. The media scheduling system of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to select a particular daypart of a plurality of dayparts to schedule, wherein the particular daypart includes first and second unslotted category group positions of first and second category groups;

at least one instruction to schedule the first unslotted category group positions of the first category group in a reverse category order; and

at least one instruction to schedule the second unslotted category group positions of the second category group in a forward category order.

10. The media scheduling system of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to store daypart data settings indicating whether a particular daypart is to be scheduled in a reverse daypart order or a forward daypart order, wherein the reverse daypart order indicates that sub-units of time within the particular daypart are to be scheduled from later in time to earlier in time, and the forward daypart order indicates that sub-units of time within the particular daypart are to be scheduled from earlier in time to later in time; and

at least one instruction to schedule the sub-units of time within the particular daypart in one of a forward daypart order or a reverse daypart order as indicated by the daypart data settings.

11. The media scheduling system of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one instruction to make a determination, using the category group options and the daypart data settings, that the unslotted category group positions of the particular category group are to be scheduled in the reverse category order, and that the particular daypart is to be scheduled in the reverse daypart order; and

at least one instruction to schedule, in response to the determination, a latest-in-time unslotted category group position included in a latest-in-time sub-unit of the particular daypart before scheduling an earlier-in time unslotted category group position included in the latest-in-time sub-unit.

12. The media scheduling system of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one instruction to schedule at least one unslotted category group position using the reverse category order during a scheduling operation using the forward daypart order.

13. The media scheduling system of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one instruction to schedule at least one unslotted category group position using the forward category order during a scheduling operation using the reverse daypart order.

14. The media scheduling system of claim 8, wherein the at least a first table further includes:

information indicating whether a Theme position is to be reverse scheduled.

15. The media scheduling system of claim 8, wherein the at least a first table further includes:

information indicating an order in which the plurality of category groups are to be scheduled.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of computer executable instructions, the program of computer executable instructions including:

at least one instruction to store, in a database table, category group options for a plurality of category groups, wherein a particular category group includes a plurality of media of a category, the category group options including;

reverse schedule information indicating whether unslotted category group positions of a particular category group are to be scheduled in a reverse category order or a forward category order;

at least one instruction to identify the unslotted category group positions in a media schedule associated with a particular media station; and

at least one instruction to process the database table to generate a broadcast schedule by placing media items from the plurality of category groups for placement in the unslotted category group positions in the media schedule, the unslotted category group positions filled using a forward order or a reverse order as indicated by the reverse schedule information.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one instruction to select one or more dayparts of a plurality of dayparts to schedule, wherein the one or more dayparts include first and second unslotted category group positions of first and second category groups;

at least one instruction to schedule the first unslotted category group positions of the first category group in a reverse category order; and

at least one instruction to schedule the second unslotted category group positions of the second category group in a forward category order.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one instruction to store daypart data settings indicating whether a particular daypart is to be scheduled in a reverse daypart order or a forward daypart order; and

at least one instruction to schedule the particular daypart in one of a forward daypart order or a reverse daypart order as indicated by the daypart data settings.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one instruction to make a determination, using the category group options and the daypart data settings, that the unslotted category group positions of the particular category group are to be scheduled in the reverse category order, and that the particular daypart is to be scheduled in the reverse daypart order; and

at least one instruction to schedule, in response to the determination, a latest-in-time unslotted category group position included in a latest-in-time sub-unit of the particular daypart before scheduling an earlier-in time unslotted category group position included in the latest-in-time sub-unit.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the category group options include information indicating that the unslotted category group positions are to be scheduled in reverse order over a defined date and time period.