VERIFICATION OF BROADCAST LOG BY PLAYOUT SYSTEM

• US 20200136734A1
• Filed: 01/02/2020
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Littlejohn, Jeffrey Lee, Allen, Mark R., Jellison, JR., David C., Lutringer, Curt, Brewer, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 11,799,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/375 Commercial
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26241 involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A media playout system receives a broadcast log transmitted from a media scheduling system. The broadcast log includes a restricted show, and the media playout system makes a first determination a blackout period assigned to the restricted show. The blackout period indicates a period of time associated with the restricted show during which at least one media item is prohibited from being scheduled. The media player also determines that the broadcast log indicates that the at least one media item has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period. In response to determining that the at least one media item has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period, the media playout system transmits, to the media scheduling system, a message requesting a replacement media item to replace the at least one media item that has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a media playout system, a broadcast log transmitted from a media scheduling system, wherein the broadcast log includes a restricted show;

determining, at the media playout system, a blackout period assigned to the restricted show, wherein the blackout period indicates a period of time associated with the restricted show during which at least one media item is prohibited from being scheduled;

determining, at the media playout system, that the broadcast log transmitted from the media scheduling system indicates that the at least one media item has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period; and

in response to determining that the at least one media item has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period, transmitting, from the media playout system to the media scheduling system, a message requesting a replacement media item to replace the at least one media item that has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the blackout period based on information included in one or more lists of media items.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the blackout period based on information obtained from an ordering system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the blackout period includes a buffer period adjacent to the restricted show.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the blackout period based, at least in part, on a blackout attribute included in metadata associated with the at least one media item.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the blackout period based, at least in part, on a blackout attribute included in the broadcast log.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the blackout period based, at least in part, on a blackout attribute included in metadata associated with an advertiser record.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, at a media playout system, a broadcast log transmitted from a media scheduling system;

performing, at the media playout system, a verification check on the broadcast log, the verification check identifying media items violating blackout attributes associated with restricted shows; and

in response to the verification check identifying at least one improperly scheduled media item that violates the blackout attributes associated with at least one restricted show, transmitting an error message to the media scheduling system, the error message including information indicating that the at least one improperly scheduled media item was aired.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

in response to the verification check identifying an improperly scheduled media item that violates the blackout attributes associated with at least one restricted show, passing show restriction information associated with the at least one restricted show to an order entry system.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a blackout period based on the blackout attributes, wherein the blackout period indicates a period of time during which one or more particular media items are prohibited from being scheduled.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the blackout period includes a buffer period adjacent to the at least one restricted show.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining the blackout period based, at least in part, on a blackout attribute included in metadata associated with the at least one improperly scheduled.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining the blackout period based, at least in part, on a blackout attribute included in the broadcast log.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining the blackout period based, at least in part, on a blackout attribute included in metadata associated with an advertiser record.

15. A media automation system comprising:

an order entry system including a processor and associated memory;

a scheduling system including a processor and associated memory, the scheduling system coupled to the order entry system;

a media playout system including a processor and associated memory, the media playout system coupled to the scheduling system;

the scheduling system configured to;

receive information associated with advertising orders from the order entry system, the information associated with advertising orders including information identifying advertiser restrictions associated with restricted shows;

generate broadcast logs;

the media playout system configured to;

receiving a broadcast log transmitted from a media scheduling system, wherein the broadcast log includes a restricted show;

determine a blackout period assigned to the restricted show, wherein the blackout period indicates a period of time associated with the restricted show during which at least one media item is prohibited from being scheduled;

determine that the broadcast log transmitted from the media scheduling system indicates that the at least one media item has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period; and

transmitting, to the media scheduling system, a message requesting a replacement media item to replace the at least one media item that has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period.

16. The media automation system of claim 15, wherein the media playout system is further configured to:

determine the blackout period based on information included in one or more lists of media items.

17. The media automation system of claim 15, wherein the blackout period includes a buffer period adjacent to the restricted show.

18. The media automation system of claim 15, wherein the media playout system is further configured to:

determine the blackout period based, at least in part, on a blackout attribute included in metadata associated with the at least one media item.

19. The media automation system of claim 15, wherein the media playout system is further configured to:

determine the blackout period based, at least in part, on a blackout attribute included in a broadcast log.

20. The media automation system of claim 15, wherein the media playout system is further configured to:

determine the blackout period based, at least in part, on a blackout attribute included in metadata associated with an advertiser record.