System and method for an adaptive scheduling system architecture

• US 8,423,407 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HBC Solutions Incorporated (AEG Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schepers, Trisha, Falk, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Boyce, Andre
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICKERSON, TIPHANY B
• Application Number:
  US11/701,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,265 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.43, 705/29
• US Class Current: 705/14.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments describe an automatic, adaptive system and method for efficiently and effectively scheduling advertising spots in commercial break locations across various networks, zones, channels, dates, times, and specific products, for example. The disclosed embodiments make use of fixed and relative factors, that may be user-defined, which assign a “cost” to one or more particular breaks which thereby allow for quick and accurate scheduling of spots. The “costs” may represent a value, or desirability, of a break for the advertiser and may be a function of both the fixed and relative factors. The fixed and relative factors may be configurable and may change for different advertising clients, different contract lines, different networks, different spot placement, etc.

The placement of spots may be accomplished through the use of an ordered list which may be generated based on a number of inputs that may be user-selected. A non-limiting example of user inputs may include: spot length, spot cost, contract line priority, beginning date/time of contract line, ending date/time of contract line, a predefined value index for the client, and contract line number, among others.

Claims

1. A method of scheduling, comprising:

(a) providing an ordered list of advertising spots (“

spots”

) to be scheduled wherein each spot has an associated scheduling factor;

(b) selecting a first one of said spots;

(c) providing plural commercial break locations (“

breaks”

) for one or more networks;

(d) determining a first cost for each of said breaks as a function of a predetermined algorithm by a microprocessor based system wherein said algorithm determines said first cost as a function of a predetermined fixed parameter, and wherein said fixed parameter is user defined; and

(e) assigning said first spot to one of said breaks (“

first break”

) which has a lowest first cost

(f) selecting a second one of said spots;

(g) determining a second cost for each unassigned break as a function of said first cost and as a function of a predetermined relative parameter; and

(h) assigning said second spot to one of said unassigned breaks (“

second break”

) which has a lowest second cost.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the lowest second cost is a second cost less than a second predetermined amount.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said relative parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

interval of time between said first break and said second break, difference in day part of said first break and day part of said second break, difference between day of the week of said first break and day of the week of said second break, difference between a first product associated with said first spot and a second product associated with said second spot, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(i) assigning ad copy to each of said first and second spots.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first spot is associated with a first client and said second spot is associated with a second client.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second spots are the same.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second spot are associated with a same contract line.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said fixed parameter and said relative parameter are each user defined.

9. A method of scheduling, comprising:

(a) providing an ordered list of advertising spots (“

spots”

) to be scheduled wherein each spot has an associated scheduling factor;

(b) selecting a first one of said spots;

(c) providing plural commercial break locations (“

breaks”

) for one or more networks;

(d) determining a first cost for each of said breaks as a function of a predetermined algorithm by a microprocessor based system wherein said algorithm determines said first cost as a function of a predetermined fixed parameter, and wherein said fixed parameter is user defined; and

(e) assigning said first spot to one of said breaks (“

first break”

) which has a lowest first cost

(f) selecting a second one of said spots;

(g) determining a second cost for each unassigned break as a function of said first cost and as a function of a predetermined relative parameter;

(h) determining that no unassigned breaks have a second cost less than a second predetermined amount thereby preventing said second spot from being assigned to one of said unassigned breaks;

(i) determining that said second spot has a ranking greater than a ranking for said first spot;

(j) bumping said first spot from said first break; and

(k) assigning said second spot to said first break.

10. A method of scheduling, comprising:

(a) providing an ordered list of advertising spots (“

spots”

) to be scheduled wherein each spot has an associated scheduling factor;

(b) selecting a first one of said spots;

(c) providing plural commercial break locations (“

breaks”

) for one or more networks;

(d) determining a first cost for each of said breaks as a function of a predetermined algorithm by a microprocessor based system wherein said algorithm determines said first cost as a function of a predetermined fixed parameter, and wherein said fixed parameter is user defined; and

,

(e) assigning said first spot to one of said breaks (“

first break”

) which has a lowest first cost;

(f) selecting a second one of said spots;

(g) determining a second cost for each unassigned break as a function of said first cost and as a function of a predetermined relative parameter;

(h) determining that no unassigned breaks have a second cost less than a second predetermined amount thereby preventing said second spot from being assigned to one of said unassigned breaks;

(i) determining that said second spot has a ranking less than a ranking for said first spot; and

(j) placing said second spot on an exceptions list and removing said second spot from said ordered list of spots.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

(k) assigning said second spot to any one of said unassigned breaks.

12. A computer program stored on non-transitory computer-readable media including program instructions for scheduling an advertising spot, the program comprising program instructions for:

(a) providing an ordered list of advertising spots (“

spots”

) to be scheduled wherein each spot has an associated scheduling factor;

(b) selecting a first one of said spots;

(c) providing plural commercial break locations (“

breaks”

) for one or more networks;

(d) determining a first cost for each of said breaks as a function of a predetermined algorithm wherein said algorithm determines said first cost as a function of a predetermined fixed parameter, and wherein said fixed parameter is user defined; and

(e) assigning said first spot to one of said breaks (“

first break”

) which has a lowest first cost

(f) selecting a second one of said spots;

(g) determining a second cost for each unassigned break as a function of said first cost and as a function of a predetermined relative parameter; and

(h) assigning said second spot to one of said unassigned breaks (“

second break”

) which has a lowest second cost.

13. The computer program of claim 12 wherein the lowest second cost is a second cost less than a second predetermined amount.

14. The computer program of claim 12 wherein said relative parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

interval of time between said first break and said second break, difference in day part of said first break and day part of said second break, difference between day of the week of said first break and day of the week of said second break, difference between a first product associated with said first spot and a second product associated with said second spot, and combinations thereof.

15. The computer program of claim 12 further comprising program instructions for:

(i) assigning ad copy to each of said first and second spots.

16. The computer program of claim 12 wherein said first spot is associated with a first client and said second spot is associated with a second client.

17. The computer program of claim 12 wherein said first and second spots are the same.

18. The computer program of claim 12 wherein said first and second spot are associated with a same contract line.

19. The computer program of claim 12 wherein said fixed parameter and said relative parameter are each user defined.

20. A computer program stored on non-transitory computer-readable media including program instructions for scheduling an advertising spot, the program comprising program instructions for:

(a) providing an ordered list of advertising spots (“

spots”

) to be scheduled wherein each spot has an associated scheduling factor;

(b) selecting a first one of said spots;

(c) providing plural commercial break locations (“

breaks”

) for one or more networks;

(d) determining a first cost for each of said breaks as a function of a predetermined algorithm wherein said algorithm determines said first cost as a function of a predetermined fixed parameter, and wherein said fixed parameter is user defined; and

(e) assigning said first spot to one of said breaks (“

first break”

) which has a lowest first cost;

(f) selecting a second one of said spots;

(g) determining a second cost for each unassigned break as a function of said first cost and as a function of a predetermined relative parameter;

(h) determining that no unassigned breaks have a second cost less than a second predetermined amount thereby preventing said second spot from being assigned to one of said unassigned breaks;

(i) determining that said second spot has a ranking greater than a ranking for said first spot;

(j) bumping said first spot from said first break; and

(k) assigning said second spot to said first break.

21. A computer program stored on non-transitory computer-readable media including program instructions for scheduling an advertising spot, the program comprising program instructions for:

(a) providing an ordered list of advertising spots (“

spots”

) to be scheduled wherein each spot has an associated scheduling factor;

(b) selecting a first one of said spots;

(c) providing plural commercial break locations (“

breaks”

) for one or more networks;

(d) determining a first cost for each of said breaks as a function of a predetermined algorithm wherein said algorithm determines said first cost as a function of a predetermined fixed parameter, and wherein said fixed parameter is user defined; and

(e) assigning said first spot to one of said breaks (“

first break”

) which has a lowest first cost;

(f) selecting a second one of said spots;

(g) determining a second cost for each unassigned break as a function of said first cost and as a function of a predetermined relative parameter;

(h) determining that no unassigned breaks have a second cost less than a second predetermined amount thereby preventing said second spot from being assigned to one of said unassigned breaks;

(i) determining that said second spot has a ranking less than a ranking for said first spot; and

(j) placing said second spot on an exceptions list and removing said second spot from said ordered list of spots.

22. The computer program of claim 21 further comprising program instructions for:

(k) assigning said second spot to any one of said unassigned breaks.

23. A system for scheduling, comprising:

a database comprising;

an ordered list of advertising spots (“

spots”

) to be scheduled wherein each spot has an associated scheduling factor, and

a plurality of commercial break locations (“

breaks”

) for one or more networks; and

a microprocessor operatively connected to said database, said microprocessor comprising;

circuitry for selecting a first one of said spots;

circuitry for determining a first cost for each of said breaks as a function of a predetermined algorithm wherein said algorithm determines said first cost as a function of a predetermined fixed parameter, and wherein said fixed parameter is user defined; and

circuitry for assigning said first spot to one of said breaks (“

first break”

) which has a lowest first cost;

circuitry for selecting a second one of said spots;

circuitry for determining a second cost for each unassigned break as a function of said first cost and as a function of a predetermined relative parameter; and

circuitry for assigning said second spot to one of said unassigned breaks (“

second break”

) which has a lowest second cost.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said circuitry for assigning assigns said second spot to one of said unassigned breaks which has a second cost less than a second predetermined amount.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said relative parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

interval of time between said first break and said second break, difference in day part of said first break and day part of said second break, difference between day of the week of said first break and day of the week of said second break, difference between a first product associated with said first spot and a second product associated with said second spot, and combinations thereof.

26. The system of claim 23 further comprising circuitry for assigning ad copy to each of said first and second spots.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein said first spot is associated with a first client and said second spot is associated with a second client.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein said first and second spots are the same.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein said first and second spot are associated with a same contract line.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein said fixed parameter and said relative parameter are each user defined.

31. A system for scheduling, comprising:

a database comprising;

an ordered list of advertising spots (“

spots”

) to be scheduled wherein each spot has an associated scheduling factor, and

a plurality of commercial break locations (“

breaks”

) for one or more networks; and

a microprocessor operatively connected to said database, said microprocessor comprising;

circuitry for selecting a first one of said spots;

circuitry for determining a first cost for each of said breaks as a function of a predetermined algorithm wherein said algorithm determines said first cost as a function of a predetermined fixed parameter, and wherein said fixed parameter is user defined; and

circuitry for assigning said first spot to one of said breaks (“

first break”

) which has a lowest first cost;

wherein said circuitry for assigning said second spot determines that no unassigned breaks have a second cost less than a second predetermined amount thereby preventing said second spot from being assigned to one of said unassigned breaks, determines that said second spot has a ranking greater than a ranking for said first spot, bumps said first spot from said first break, and assigns said second spot to said first break.

32. A system for scheduling, comprising:

a database comprising;

an ordered list of advertising spots (“

spots”

) to be scheduled wherein each spot has an associated scheduling factor, and

a plurality of commercial break locations (“

breaks”

) for one or more networks; and

a microprocessor operatively connected to said database, said microprocessor comprising;

circuitry for selecting a first one of said spots;

circuitry for determining a first cost for each of said breaks as a function of a predetermined algorithm wherein said algorithm determines said first cost as a function of a predetermined fixed parameter, and wherein said fixed parameter is user defined; and

circuitry for assigning said first spot to one of said breaks (“

first break”

) which has a lowest first cost;

wherein said circuitry for assigning said second spot determines that no unassigned breaks have a second cost less than a second predetermined amount thereby preventing said second spot from being assigned to one of said unassigned breaks, determines that said second spot has a ranking less than a ranking for said first spot, places said second spot on an exceptions list, and removes said second spot from said ordered list of spots.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said circuitry for assigning said second spot assigns said second spot to any one of said unassigned breaks.