Content Add-In for Media Service

• US 20140006559A1
• Filed: 08/29/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Clear Channel Management Services LP (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamre, Lasse, Lockhart, Kevin R., Wooden, Richard D., Zigler, Jeffrey D., Lockhart, Jacqueline J., Drapeau, Thomas, Calamera, Pablo
• Granted Patent: US 9,699,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/687 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling

Abstract

Media consumers can elect to have local news, weather, traffic, or other perishable content inserted into customized media streams. The perishable content is inserted into the media stream as an add-in block containing items associated with a particular locale that matches a user location source preference. The user can specify a static location source preference, or a follow-me, or roaming preference, in which the user'"'"'s current location is used. The perishable content is selected for inclusion in an add-in block by matching a user'"'"'s location preference to a locale associated with the perishable content.

Claims

1. A method of customizing streaming media, the method comprising:

receiving information specifying a location source preference indicating whether perishable content should be provided based on a static location or a variable location of a user, by executing an instruction in a computer;

receiving perishable content items associated with different locales, by executing an instruction in the computer;

determining a source location in accordance with the location source preference, by executing an instruction in the computer; and

inserting, into a custom media stream, an add-in block comprising perishable content items associated with a locale that matches the source location, by executing an instruction in the computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of custom media streams to a user; and

applying the location source preference to determine add-in blocks to be inserted in each of the plurality of custom media streams.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the location source preference is a global preference applicable to a plurality of user devices and custom media streams, and

wherein the method further comprises applying the global preference based, at least in part, on location settings imposed by each of the plurality of user devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining that the location source preference indicates that content should be provided based on a variable location:

receiving location updates from a user device; and

changing the perishable content included in the add-in block inserted into the custom media stream based on the location updates.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining that the location source preference indicates that content should be provided based on a static location:

inserting an add-in block including perishable content associated with the static location, regardless of where the user is currently located.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information specifying a type of custom media stream in which to include the add-in block.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the perishable content from a media automation system; and

inserting the add-in block into a custom radio station to be delivered via a cloud-based content distribution system.

8. A computing device implementing a media delivery platform, the computing device comprising:

a network interface configured to couple the computing device to a media automation system and a plurality of user devices via a communications network;

a processor coupled to the network interface;

a memory coupled to the processor;

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

at least one instruction configured to receive, from the media automation system, a plurality of perishable content items associated with a plurality of different locales;

at least one instruction to receive a location source preference from a first device of the plurality of user devices;

at least one instruction to insert an add-in block into a media-station stream to be delivered to a second device of the plurality of user devices, wherein the add-in block includes perishable content items selected based on the location source preference received from the first device.

9. The computing device of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to provide a plurality of custom media stream types to a user; and

at least one instruction to apply the location source preference to determine add-in blocks to be inserted in each of the plurality of custom media streams.

10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein:

the location source preference is a global preference applicable to a plurality of user devices and custom media streams, and

wherein the method further comprises applying the global preference based, at least in part, on location settings imposed by each of the plurality of user devices.

11. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the location source preference indicates whether perishable content should be provided based on a static location or a variable location of a user.

12. The computing device of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one instruction to respond to a determination that the location source preference indicates that content should be provided based on a variable location by;

receiving a location update from the second device; and

changing the perishable content included in the add-in block inserted into the media stream based on the location update.

13. The computing device of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one instruction to respond to a determination that the location source preference indicates that content should be provided based on a static location by inserting an add-in block including perishable content associated with the static location, regardless of where the second user device is currently located.

14. The computing device of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one instruction to provide, to the second device, an indicator specifying a locale with which the perishable content items included in the add-in block is associated.

15. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the media delivery platform comprises a cloud based content distribution system, and wherein the program of instructions further comprises:

at least one instruction to insert the add-in block into a user customized radio station; and

at least one instruction to deliver the user-customized radio station to the second device via the cloud-based content distribution system.

16. A method comprising:

presenting a user with an option to receive local news, weather, and traffic items in customized media stations received from a media delivery provider, by executing an instruction in the computer;

receiving a user selection indicating a content preference and a location source preference associated with the local news, weather, and traffic items, by executing an instruction in the computer;

receiving local news, weather, and traffic items associated with particular locales, by executing an instruction in the computer;

determining a source location in accordance with the location source preference, by executing an instruction in the computer; and

inserting, into a custom media station, an add-in block comprising local news, weather, and traffic items matching the content preference, and associated with a locale that matches the source location, by executing an instruction in the computer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the location source preference is a global preference applicable to a plurality of user devices and custom media stations;

and wherein the method further comprises;

applying the global preference based, at least in part, on location settings imposed by each of the plurality of user devices.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the location source preference indicates whether the user prefers to receive perishable content based on a static location or on a roaming location basis.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

in response to determining that the location source preference indicates that content should be provided on a roaming location basis;

receiving location updates from a user device;

changing the local news, weather, and traffic items based on the location updates;

in response to determining that the location source preference indicates that content should be provided based on a static location, providing the same local news, weather, and traffic items, regardless of where the user is currently located.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the content preference comprises a preference indicating whether customized talk radio stations, customized music radio stations, or both customized talk radio stations and customized music radio stations should include the add-in block.