Methods and Apparatus for Managing a Content Stream

• US 20130024287A1
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Gusikhin, Oleg Yurievitch, Strumolo, Gary Steven, Tonshal, Basavaraj
• Application Number:
  US13/185,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20130024287A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.62
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request for media playback sent from a vehicle computing system (VCS) and aggregating a plurality of user, environmental and vehicle data elements for at least one known consumer in a vehicle to receive media. The embodiment also includes requesting media plans from a plurality of media provision sources, the plan based at least in part on the aggregated user, environmental and vehicle data elements. The method further includes reviewing the media plans to select a plan received responsive to the request that best corresponds to the user, environmental and vehicle data elements. Also, the method includes sending the selected plan to the VCS for playback.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a request for media playback sent from a vehicle computing system (VCS);

aggregating a plurality of user, environmental or vehicle data elements for at least one consumer in a vehicle to receive media;

requesting one or more media plans from a plurality of media provision sources, the plan based at least in part on the aggregated user, environmental or vehicle data elements;

reviewing the one or more media plans to select a plan received responsive to the request that best corresponds to the user, environmental or vehicle data elements; and

sending the selected plan to the VCS for playback.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental elements include a geographic location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental elements include at least weather data relating to weather at the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data elements include at least a vehicle speed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data elements include at least a time of day.

6. The method of claim 1, further including:

comparing the aggregated user, environmental or vehicle data elements to historical user data having similar elements associated therewith, to determine what music was preferred when similar elements were previously present; and

wherein the requesting further includes requesting that at least a portion of the media plan include music similar to music preferred when similar elements were previously present.

7. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a request relating to an advertisement played in conjunction with a media stream;

storing, with respect to a requesting user'"'"'s profile, information relating to the media stream and advertisement; and

analyzing stored information to determine future potential schema for delivery of media and advertising content.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information relating to the media stream includes a song title.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the information relating to the media stream includes a song type.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the information relating to the media stream includes a song artist.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the information relating to the advertisement includes a manufacturer or service provider.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the information relating to the advertisement includes a product category.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the information relating to the advertisement includes a product name.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the analyzing includes comparing information relating to the media stream to information related to previous media streams when a request was made relating to previous advertisements played in conjunction with previous media streams.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the analyzing includes comparing information relating to the advertisements with information relating to previous advertisements for which a request was made.

16. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a request for media playback sent from a vehicle computing system (VCS);

aggregating a plurality of user, environmental or vehicle data elements for at least one consumer in a vehicle to receive media;

requesting one or more media plans from a plurality of media provision sources, the plan based at least in part on the aggregated user, environmental or vehicle data elements;

reviewing the one or more media plans to select a plan received responsive to the request that best corresponds to the user, environmental or vehicle data elements;

sending the selected plan to the VCS for playback, wherein the plan includes at least one advertisement;

receiving a user-input request responsive to the at least one advertisement; and

processing the user request responsive to the at least one advertisement.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the processing includes emailing information to a driver email account.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the processing includes processing a purchase of a product advertised in the advertisement.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the processing includes sending a text message including additional information to a driver'"'"'s mobile device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the processing includes sending additional media relating to a product advertised in the advertisement for playback in the vehicle.