Using Multi Media Players to Insert Data Items into a Media Stream of a Streaming Media

• US 20100275221A1
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Clear Channel Management Services LP (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Inventors: DuVall, Mark, Gilbert, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0263 based upon Internet or website rating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

Playback of a tagged audio stream at a user'"'"'s computer can be controlled using a first media player. When the first media player detects a tag in the tagged audio stream, it mutes the volume of the first media player, and transfers playback control to a second media player operating at the same computer. The second media player controls playback of untagged media content, and in response to detecting completion of the untagged media content, returns playback control to the first media player. In this way, multiple media players in a client device can control the playback of audio content and the insertion of spots into that content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

controlling the playback of a tagged audio stream using a first media player at a user computer

the first media player detecting a tag in the tagged audio stream;

the first media player muting the volume of the first media player and transferring playback control to a second media player, the second media player at the user computer;

controlling playback of untagged media content using the second media player; and

in response to completion of the untagged media content, the second media player and returning playback control to the first media player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the first media player and the second media player in a transparent mode in which switching control between the first media player and the second media player is transparent.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using a web page in which the first media player and the second media player are embedded to acquire user registration information, and user input indicating which of a plurality of audio streams the first media player is to play back.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the untagged media content includes spots selected from a spot list generated based on user registration information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a limited bandwidth network connection;

caching the untagged media content in a cache of a web browser, wherein the untagged media content comprises spots; and

providing the spots from the web browser cache to the second media player during a time when the second media player is controlling playback.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using a web browser to facilitate passing playback control between the first media player and the second embedded media player.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the first media player passing playback control to the second media player in response to detecting a begin tag; and

the second media player passing playback control to a third media player before returning playback control to the first media player.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

memory operably associated with the processor;

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

at least one instruction to control the playback of a tagged audio stream using a first media player;

at least one instruction to detect a tag in the tagged audio stream using the first media player;

at least one instruction to mute the volume of the first media player and transfer playback control to a second media player using the first media player;

at least one instruction to control playback of untagged media content using the second embedded media player; and

at least one instruction to be executed in response to completion of the untagged media content, the at least one instruction to return playback control to the first media player using the second media player.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to operate the first media player and the second media player in a transparent mode, in which the first media player and the second media player are not visible to a user even when active.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to use a web page in which the first media player and the second media player are embedded to acquire user registration information, and user input indicating which of a plurality of audio streams the first media player is to play back.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the untagged media content includes spots selected from a spot list generated based on user registration information.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to detect a limited bandwidth network connection;

at least one instruction to cache the untagged media content in a cache of a web browser, wherein the untagged media content comprises spots; and

at least one instruction to provide the spots from the web browser cache to the second media player during a time when the second media player is controlling playback.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to use a web browser to facilitate passing playback control between the first media player and the second embedded media player.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to use the first media player to pass playback control to the second media player in response to detecting a begin tag; and

at least one instruction to use the second media player to pass playback control to a third media player before returning playback control to the first media player.

20. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to use the first media player to pass playback control to the second media player in response to detecting a begin tag; and

at least one instruction to use the second media player to pass playback control to a third media player before returning playback control to the first media player.

15. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions to be stored in a memory and executed by a processor, the program of instructions comprising:

at least one instruction to control the playback of a tagged audio stream using a first media player;

at least one instruction to detect a tag in the tagged audio stream using the first media player;

at least one instruction to mute the volume of the first media player and transfer playback control to a second media player using the first media player

at least one instruction to control playback of untagged media content using the second embedded media player; and

at least one instruction to be executed in response to completion of the untagged media content, the at least one instruction to return playback control to the first media player using the second media player.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one instruction to operate the first media player and the second media player in a transparent mode, in which the first media player and the second media player are not visible to a user even when active.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one instruction to use a web page in which the first media player and the second media player are embedded to acquire user registration information, and user input indicating which of a plurality of audio streams the first media player is to play back.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one instruction to detect a limited bandwidth network connection;

at least one instruction to cache the untagged media content in a cache of a web browser, wherein the untagged media content comprises spots; and

at least one instruction to provide the spots from the web browser cache to the second media player during a time when the second media player is controlling playback.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one instruction to use a web browser to facilitate passing playback control between the first media player and the second embedded media player.