System and method for providing broadcast listener participation

• US 20150213121A1
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Myers, Theodore N., Lockhart, Kevin R., Zigler, Jeffrey D., Sledge, Alan L., Wooden, Richard D., Lockhart, Jacqueline J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services

Abstract

A method of allowing listeners to participate in broadcast programming is provided, the method generally comprising one or more of providing a library of media elements accessible by a plurality of listeners; receiving from each of at least two of the listeners a playlist of media elements, wherein at least one of the media elements in each playlist is from the library of media elements; editing the playlists using broadcast scheduling software; providing the edited playlists to the plurality of listeners for playback, and for feedback regarding the playlists; and receiving feedback from at least one of the listeners regarding the playlists. A system and apparatus are similarly provided.

Claims

1. A media broadcast system comprising:

a Broadcast Automation Content server configured to control broadcast program content;

a Media Scheduling database configured to store media scheduling data, including media elements;

a Consumer Participation Interface database coupled to the Media Scheduling database, and configured to store selected media elements chosen from media elements stored in the Media Scheduling database;

a Consumer Participation Interface server coupled to the Consumer Participation Interface database, the Consumer Participation Interface server programmed with instructions to;

control access by one or more media consumers to one or more of the selected media elements;

maintain a Consumer Participation Graphical User Interface (GUI), the Consumer Participation GUI configured to enable the one or more media consumers to;

create a playlist by arranging a plurality of the selected media elements to create a user-submitted playlist;

submit the user-submitted playlist to the Consumer Participation Interface server; and

transmit the user-submitted playlist to the Broadcast Automation Content server.

2. The media broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the Consumer Participation GUI is further configured to provide the one or more media consumers access to playlist assembler software.

3. The media broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the Consumer Participation GUI is further configured to:

enable the one or more media consumers to include a local media element stored on a consumer computer in the user-submitted playlist.

4. The media broadcast system of claim 3, wherein the Consumer Participation Interface server is further configured to:

upload the local media element from the consumer computer; and

store the local media element in the Consumer Participation Interface database.

5. The media broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the Consumer Participation Interface server is further configured to provide the Consumer Participation GUI to a Media Station Website Hosting server via a communication network.

6. The media broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the Consumer Participation Interface server is configured to host the Consumer Participation Interface GUI for use by a plurality of media stations.

7. The media broadcast system of claim 1, wherein:

the Broadcast Automation Content server is further configured to transmit broadcast media elements to the Consumer Participation Interface server; and

the Consumer Participation Interface server is further configured to transmit the broadcast media elements to the Consumer Participation Interface database.

8. A method for use in a media broadcast system, the method comprising:

storing selected media elements in a Consumer Participation Interface database,

using computer hardware to implement a Consumer Participation Interface server, the Consumer Participation Interface server providing a layer of isolation between a broadcaster'"'"'s computer system and one or more media consumers, at least in part, by controlling access of the one or more media consumers to one or more of the selected media elements;

hosting, on the Consumer Participation Interface server, a Consumer Participation Interface for a plurality of media stations, wherein hosting the Consumer Participation Interface includes maintaining a Consumer Participation Graphical User Interface (GUI), the Consumer Participation GUI configured to enable the one or more media consumers to;

create a playlist by arranging a plurality of the selected media elements to create a user-submitted playlist;

submit the user-submitted playlist to the Consumer Participation Interface server;

transmitting the user-submitted playlist from the Consumer Participation Interface server to a Broadcast Automation Content server; and

using the Broadcast Automation Content server to incorporate the user-submitted playlist into a broadcast.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing the one or more media consumers access to playlist assembler software through the Consumer Participation GUI.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

using the Consumer Participation GUI to enable the one or more media consumers to include a local media element in the user-submitted playlist.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

uploading the local media element from a consumer computer to the Consumer Participation Interface server; and

storing the local media element in the Consumer Participation Interface database.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting the Consumer Participation GUI from the Consumer Participation Interface server to a Media Station Website Hosting server via a communication network.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting broadcast media elements from the Broadcast Automation Content server to the Consumer Participation Interface server; and

transmitting the broadcast media elements from the Consumer Participation Interface server to the Consumer Participation Interface database.

14. A media broadcast system comprising:

a Broadcast Automation Content server configured to control broadcast program content;

a Consumer Participation Interface database configured to store selected media elements;

a Consumer Participation Interface server coupled to the Consumer Participation Interface database, the Consumer Participation Interface server programmed with instructions to;

control access by one or more media consumers to one or more of the selected media elements;

maintain a Consumer Participation Graphical User Interface (GUI), the Consumer Participation GUI configured to enable the one or more media consumers to;

create a playlist by arranging a plurality of the selected media elements to create a user-submitted playlist;

submit the user-submitted playlist to the Consumer Participation Interface server;

transmit the user-submitted playlist to the Broadcast Automation Content server; and

the Broadcast Automation Content server further configured to incorporate the user-submitted playlist into a broadcast.

15. The media broadcast system of claim 14, wherein the Consumer Participation GUI is further configured to provide the one or more media consumers access to playlist assembler software.

16. The media broadcast system of claim 14, wherein the Consumer Participation GUI is further configured to:

enable the one or more media consumers to include a user-generated media element in the user-submitted playlist.

17. The media broadcast system of claim 16, wherein the Consumer Participation Interface server is further configured to:

upload the user-generated media element from a consumer computer; and

store the user-generated media element in the Consumer Participation Interface database.

18. The media broadcast system of claim 14, wherein the Consumer Participation Interface server is further configured to provide the Consumer Participation GUI to a Media Station Website Hosting server.

19. The media broadcast system of claim 14, wherein the Consumer Participation Interface server is configured to host the Consumer Participation Interface GUI for use by a plurality of media stations.

20. The media broadcast system of claim 14, further comprising:

a Broadcast Automation Database storing broadcast media elements;

the Broadcast Automation Content server further configured to transmit at least some of the broadcast media elements to the Consumer Participation Interface server; and

the Consumer Participation Interface server further configured to transmit the broadcast media elements to the Consumer Participation Interface database.