Method and system for selectively broadcasting media

• US 7,899,390 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Clear Channel Management Services LP (iHeartMedia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Littlejohn, Jeffrey Lee, Jellison, David C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US11/535,347
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 455/45, 455/186.1, 455/3.06, 455/161.2, 455/3.02, 455/3.05, 455/184.1, 455/185.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/90.3, 379/101.01, 379/90.01, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 709/228, 709/202, 709/203, 709/218, 709/219, 709/231, 709/232, 709/223
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching

Abstract

A method and apparatus for broadcasting media events, the method including the steps of providing a sequence of media events in a first server, the sequence of media events including at least one media event of a first type and a plurality of media events of a second type; playing the sequence from the first server to a second server prior to a predetermined broadcast time; and storing at the second server at least a part of the sequence received from the first server. The method may further include the steps of broadcasting the sequence from the first server at the predetermined broadcast time; broadcasting the stored sequence from the second server at the predetermined broadcast time while continuing to play the sequence from the first server to the second server, the step of broadcasting from said second server further including the steps of skipping at least one media event of a first type, broadcasting a subsequent one of the plurality, and supplementing the stored sequence with media events stored in the second server separately identifiable from the stored sequence.

Claims

1. A method for broadcasting media events, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a sequence of media events in a first server, said sequence of media events including at least one media event of a first type and a first plurality of media events of a second type;

b) playing said sequence from said first server to a second server prior to a predetermined broadcast time;

c) storing at said second server at least a part of said sequence received from said first server; and

d) broadcasting said stored sequence from said second server at said predetermined broadcast time while continuing to play said sequence from said first server to said second server, said step of broadcasting from said second server further comprising stretching at least a portion of said stored sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, said step of broadcasting further comprising:

i) skipping at least one said media event of a first type; and

ii) broadcasting a subsequent one of said first plurality of media events of a second type.

3. The method of claim 2, said step of broadcasting from said second server further comprising the step of stretching said subsequent media event.

4. The method of claim 2, said step of broadcasting from said second server further comprising the step of stretching at least one of subsequent said media events of a second type.

5. The method of claim 2, said step of broadcasting from said second server further comprising the step of stretching all subsequent said media events of a second type.

6. The method of claim 2, said method further comprising the steps of:

a) providing a second plurality of media events of a second type at said second server, said second plurality being separately identifiable from said sequence stored at said second server; and

b) supplementing said sequence stored at said second server with at least one of said second plurality.

7. The method of claim 6, said step of broadcasting from said second server further comprising the step of stretching or compressing said at least one of said second plurality.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said second plurality is a second sequence of media events.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said second sequence is an automation playlist.

10. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the step of re-arranging media events of said sequence stored in said second server prior to broadcasting from said second server.

11. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the step of re-arranging media events of said sequence stored in said second server while broadcasting from said second server.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said sequence is an automation playlist.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said media event of a first type is an advertisement spot.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of media events of a second type comprises songs or video.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said first server and said second server are part of a radio broadcast network.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said first server and said second server are part of a television broadcast network.

17. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

a) providing a second plurality of media events of a second type at said second server, said second plurality being separately identifiable from said sequence stored at said second server;

b) broadcasting said stored sequence from said second server at said predetermined broadcast time while continuing to play said sequence from said first server to said second server, said step of broadcasting from said second server further comprising the steps of;

i) skipping at least one said media event of a first type; and

ii) broadcasting a subsequent one of said first plurality, if available;

or

iii) if said subsequent one of said first plurality is not available, broadcasting at least one of said second plurality.

18. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

a) specifying a minimum amount of play time of said sequence to be stored in said second server during broadcast from said second server;

b) providing a second plurality of media events of a second type at said second server, said second plurality being separately identifiable from said sequence stored at said second server; and

c) broadcasting said stored sequence from said second server at said predetermined broadcast time while continuing to play said sequence from said first server to said second server, said step of broadcasting from said second server further comprising the steps of;

i) skipping at least one said media event of a first type; and

ii) if said minimum amount is stored in said second server, broadcasting a subsequent one of said first plurality;

or

iii) if said minimum amount is not stored in said second server, broadcasting at least one of said second plurality at least until said minimum amount is stored in said second server.

19. The method of claim 2, said method further comprising the steps of:

a) specifying a minimum of play time of said sequence to be stored in said second server during broadcast from said second server;

b) providing a second plurality of media events of a second type at said second server, said second plurality being separately identifiable from said sequence stored at said second server; and

c) if said minimum is not stored at said second server, supplementing said stored sequence with at least one of said second plurality.

20. A method for broadcasting media events, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a sequence of media events in a first server, said sequence of media events including at least one media event of a first type and a first plurality of media events of a second type;

b) playing said sequence from said first server to a second server at said predetermined broadcast time;

c) storing at said second server at least a part of said sequence received from said first server;

d) providing a second plurality of media events of a second type at said second server, said second plurality being separately identifiable from said sequence stored at said second server;

e) broadcasting said second plurality from said second server at said predetermined broadcast time while continuing to play said sequence from said first server to said second server;

f) specifying a minimum amount of play time of said sequence to be stored at said second server; and

g) in response to said minimum amount being stored at said second server, stopping broadcasting of said second plurality and starting broadcasting of said stored sequence from said second server.

21. The method of claim 20, said step of broadcasting said stored sequence from said second server further comprising the steps of:

a) skipping at least one said media event of a first type; and

b) if said minimum amount is stored in said second server, broadcasting a subsequent one of said first plurality;

or

c) if said minimum amount is not stored in said second server, broadcasting at least one of said second plurality at least until said minimum amount is stored in said second server.

22. The method of claim 20, said method, further comprising the steps of:

a) skipping at least one said media event of a first type;

b) broadcasting a subsequent one of said first plurality; and

c) if said minimum amount is not stored in said second server, supplementing said stored sequence with at least one of said second plurality.

23. The method of claim 20, said step of broadcasting from said second server further comprising the step of stretching or compressing said at least one of said second plurality.

24. The method of claim 20, said step of broadcasting from said second server further comprising the steps of:

a) skipping at least one said media event of a first type; and

b) broadcasting a subsequent one of said first plurality, if available;

or

c) if said subsequent one of said first plurality is not available, broadcasting at least one of said second plurality.

25. The method of claim 20, said method further comprising the step of arranging said second plurality into a sequence.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said sequence is an automation playlist.

27. A system for broadcasting media events, said system comprising:

a) a first server, said first server configured to play a sequence of media events to a second server prior to a predetermined broadcast time, said sequence including at least one media event of a first type and a first plurality of media events of a second type;

b) a second server connected to said first server, said second server configured to receive said sequence from said first server, store at least a part of said sequence, and broadcast said sequence at said predetermined broadcast time while continuing to receive said sequence from said first server, said second server further configured to, while broadcasting, skip at least one said media event of a first type and broadcast a subsequent one of said first plurality; and

c) said second server further configured to stretch said subsequent media event.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said second server is further configured to stretch at least one of subsequent said media events of a second type.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said second server is further configured to stretch all subsequent said media events of a second type.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein said second server is further configured to re-arrange media events of said sequence stored therein prior to broadcasting from said second server.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein said second server is further configured to re-arrange media events of said sequence stored therein while broadcasting from said second server.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein said sequence is an automation playlist.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein said media event of a first type is an advertisement spot.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein said first plurality of media events of a second type comprises songs or video.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein said first server and said second server are part of a radio broadcast network.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein said first server and said second server are part of a television broadcast network.

37. The system of claim 27, wherein

a) said second server is further configured to broadcast a second plurality of media events of a second type, said second plurality being separately identifiable from said sequence stored at said second server, said second server further configured to, while broadcasting, skip at least one said media event of a first type and supplement said sequence stored at said second server with at least one of said second plurality.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said second server is further configured to stretch or compress said at least one of said second plurality.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein said second plurality is a second sequence of media events.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein said second sequence is an automation playlist.

41. The system of claim 27, wherein

a) said second server is further configured to broadcast a second plurality of media events of a second type, said second plurality being separately identifiable from said sequence stored at said second server, said second server further configured to, while broadcasting, skip at least one said media event of a first type, broadcast a subsequent one of said first plurality, if available, or if said subsequent one of said first plurality is not available, broadcast at least one of said second plurality.

42. The system of claim 27, wherein

a) said second server is further configured to broadcast a second plurality of media events of a second type, said second plurality being separately identifiable from said sequence stored at said second server, said second server further configured to store a minimum amount of play time of said sequence during broadcast from said second server, and configured to, while broadcasting, skip at least one said media event of a first type, broadcast, if said minimum amount is stored in said second server, a subsequent one of said first plurality, or if said minimum amount is not stored at said second server, broadcast at least one of said second plurality at least until said minimum amount is stored in said second server.

43. The system of claim 27, wherein said second server is further configured to broadcast a second plurality of media events of a second type, said second plurality being separately identifiable from said sequence stored at said second server, said second server further configured to store a minimum amount of play time of said sequence during broadcast from said second server, and, if said minimum is not stored at said second server, supplement said stored sequence with at least one of said second plurality.

44. A system for broadcasting media events, said system comprising:

a) a first server, said first server configured to play a sequence of media events to a second server at a predetermined broadcast time, said sequence including at least one media event of a first type and a first plurality of media events of a second type;

b) a second server connected to said first server, said second server configured to receive said sequence from said first server and store at least a part of said sequence, said second server further configured to broadcast a second plurality of media events of a second type at said predetermined broadcast time while continuing to receive said sequence from said first server, said second plurality being separately identifiable from said sequence stored at said second server;

c) said second server further configured to store a minimum amount of play time of said sequence during broadcast from said second server and, when said minimum amount is stored in said server, to stop broadcasting said second plurality and start broadcasting said stored sequence from said second server.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein said second server is further configured to skip at least one said media event of a first type;

and broadcast, if said minimum amount is stored in said second server, a subsequent one of said first plurality, or if said minimum amount is not stored in said second server, broadcast at least one of said second plurality at least until said minimum amount is stored in said second server.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein said second server is further configured to skip at least one said media event of a first type;

broadcast a subsequent one of said first plurality; and

, if said minimum amount is not stored in said second server, supplement said stored sequence with at least one of said second plurality.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein said second server is further configured to stretch or compress said at least one of said second plurality.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein said second server is further configured to skip at least one said media event of a first type;

and broadcasting a subsequent one of said first plurality, if available, or if said subsequent one of said first plurality is not available, broadcast at least one of said second plurality.

49. The system of claim 44, wherein said second server is further configured to arrange said second plurality into a sequence.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said sequence is an automation playlist.

51. The system of claim 44, wherein said second server includes a buffer for receiving said sequence.