Apparatus and method of using the same for internet and intranet broadcast channel creation and management

• US 6,434,621 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hannaway & Associates
• Original Assignee: Hannaway & Associates
• Inventors: Snyder, William P., Pezzillo, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Application Number:
  US09/282,658
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/229, 709/231, 709/223, 725/33, 725/34, 725/35, 725/36
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system for enabling Internet or intranet broadcasting that offers audio automation and webcast automation is disclosed. Multiple webcast channels, or stations, can be created and managed, including Internet Radio, Internet Television, and Scheduled Website Publishing. The channels created can use a variety of media sources, including popular Internet streaming formats. The channels are run using a program schedule created by the webcaster, or by using the system to automatically determine a program schedule utilizing criteria provided by the webcaster or listener. The listener logs onto the Website using a Web browser having player software. Time barriers can be inserted in the program schedule to force a program to run at a specific time. A default script runs a default program in the event an off-air condition occurs. Statutory performance license compliance and reporting is automatically provided for along with automatic advertising insertion. Monitoring and alerting functionality is also provided.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating at least one entry for broadcast on said at least one channel over said network;

(b) inserting said at least one entry into a pending file;

(c) activating a runner command, wherein when no entry from said pending file is being broadcast, said runner command examines said pending file and launches the broadcasting of a next entry from said pending file, wherein said next entry is marked as a running entry;

(d) when said runner command determines that there is no next entry in said pending file for broadcast after said running entry completes broadcasting, scheduling a default entry from a channel default setting as a next entry in said pending file;

(e) when said running entry completes broadcasting, generating a stop event, wherein said stop event indicates that no entry is being broadcast; and

(f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until said at least one channel is terminated.

2. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises the step (a0) performed before step (a):

(a0) creating said at least one channel with internet broadcasting software, wherein said internet broadcasting software is loaded on said computer, and further wherein said internet broadcasting software is accessed on said computer with Web browser software.

3. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises the following step (d0) performed before step (d):

(d0) when said runner command determines that there is no next entry in said pending file for broadcast after said running entry completes broadcasting, calling an auto-schedule script, wherein said auto-schedule script schedules an auto file as a next entry in said pending file, and further wherein, performing step (d) only when said auto-schedule script fails to schedule said auto file as said next entry in said pending file.

4. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 1 wherein said at least one entry generated for broadcast is a streaming media format.

5. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 1 wherein said runner command is executed on a periodic basis, and further wherein, absent the occurrence of a triggering event which causes said runner command to execute upon said occurrence of said triggering event, after the passage of a predetermined period of time, said runner command executes on said periodic basis.

6. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network said method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a plurality of entries for broadcast on said at least one channel over said network;

(b) inserting said plurality of entries into a pending file;

(c) activating a runner command, wherein when no entry from said pending file is being broadcast, said runner command examines said pending file and launches the broadcasting of a next entry from said pending file, wherein said next entry is marked as a running entry;

(d) inserting a live barrier into said pending file at a location within said plurality of entries and after said running entry, wherein said live barrier has a set time;

(e) entering at least one parameter for a live event, wherein said live event is associated with said live barrier;

(f) when said runner command determines that said set time in said live barrier will occur before said next passage of said predetermined period of time, setting an alarm to cause said runner command to execute at said set time in said live barrier; and

(g) when said set time occurs and said alarm executes, executing said runner command, wherein said runner command launches the broadcasting of said live event associated with said live barrier in said pending file.

7. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

(h) selecting at least one entry from said plurality of entries;

(i) selecting at least one advertisement file from a plurality of advertisement files; and

(j) associating said at least one advertisement file with said at least one entry, wherein immediately prior to when said at least one entry is broadcast, said at least one advertisement file is broadcast, and said at least one entry is broadcast immediately thereafter.

8. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 7, wherein step (j) is replaced by the following new step (j):

(j) associating said at least one advertisement file with said at least one entry, wherein immediately after when said at least one entry is broadcast, said at least one advertisement file is broadcast.

9. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 7, wherein step (j) is replaced by the following new step (j):

(j) associating said at least one advertisement file with said at least one entry, wherein at a time during when said at least one entry is broadcast, said at least one advertisement file is broadcast.

10. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

(h) passing said pending file and a played database to a compliance checking routine, wherein said played database contains a plurality of shows that have been broadcast within a recent predetermined period of time;

(i) processing a first entry of said plurality of entries in said pending file in said compliance checking routine; and

(j) returning a value from said processing of said first entry of said plurality of entries in said compliance checking routine, wherein said value indicates a compliance status of said first entry of said plurality of entries.

11. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

(k) repeating steps (i) through (j) for each of said plurality of entries;

(l) displaying a graphical representation of said pending file on a graphics display connected to said computer;

(m) displaying each of said plurality of entries in said pending file whose said compliance status indicates compliance in a first color on said graphics display; and

(n) displaying each of said plurality of entries in said pending file whose said compliance status indicates non-compliance in a second color on said graphics display.

12. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

(h) inserting a run tool as one of said plurality of entries into said pending file;

(i) when said runner command processes said run tool, passing said pending file and a played database to a compliance checking routine, wherein said played database contains a plurality of shows that have been broadcast within a recent predetermined period of time;

(j) when an action value in said run tool is set to run, launching for broadcast a compliant show returned from said compliance checking routine; and

(k) when an action value in said run tool is set to check, replacing said run tool entry in said pending file with said compliant show returned from said compliance checking routine.

13. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

(h) reading a skeleton file into a batch file editor, wherein said skeleton file has a plurality of entries, and further wherein each of said plurality of entries represent a programming type of a predetermined duration;

(i) creating a batch file;

(j) retrieving a first of said plurality of entries from said skeleton file;

(k) passing said first of said plurality of entries, a current contents of said batch file, and a contents database to a compliance checking routine;

(l) adding a compliant show returned from said compliance checking routine to said batch file;

(m) repeating steps (k) through (l) until said batch file contains said returned compliant shows of said predetermined duration; and

(n) repeating steps (j) through (m) for each of said plurality of entries from said skeleton file.

14. A computer implemented method for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

(h) displaying a graphical representation of said pending file on a graphics display connected to said computer;

(i) passing said pending file, a first show from a list of available shows for said channel, and a played database to a compliance checking routine, wherein said played database contains a plurality of shows that have been broadcast within a recent predetermined period of time;

(j) when a return value for said first show from said list of available shows from said compliance checking routine indicates compliance, adding said first show from said list of available shows to a list of compliant shows;

(k) repeating steps (i) through (j) for each of said shows from said list of available shows; and

(l) displaying said list of compliant shows in said graphics display.

15. A computer system for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network, said computer system comprising:

a computer, said computer further comprising

an audio input/output connected to a system bus in said computer for receiving audio analog signals and for outputting said audio analog signals;

a memory connected to said system bus, said memory further comprising

encoder software for converting said audio analog signals into digital format signals;

internet broadcasting software for creating said at least one channel, and for generating at least one entry derived from said digital format signals for broadcast on said channel over said network, wherein said at least one entry is stored in a pending file in said memory, and for activating a runner command within said internet broadcasting software to control said broadcasting, wherein when no entry from said pending file is being broadcast, said runner command examines said pending file and launches broadcasting of a next entry from said pending file, marks said next entry as a running entry, and further wherein when said runner command determines that there is no next entry in said pending file for broadcast after said running entry completes broadcasting, scheduling a default entry from a channel default setting as a next entry in said pending file, and further wherein when said running entry completes broadcasting, said runner command launches broadcasting of a next entry from said pending file;

a communications interface connected to said system bus for receiving data and for sending said at least one entry; and

an external network connection connected to said communications interface for sending said at least one entry received from said communications interface to said network, and for receiving data from said network and sending said data to said communications interface.

16. A computer system for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 15, wherein said internet broadcasting software further comprises:

an auto schedule script, wherein when said runner command determines that there is no next entry in said pending file for broadcast after said running entry completes broadcasting, said auto-schedule script is called, wherein said auto-schedule script schedules an auto file as a next entry in said pending file, and further wherein, said default entry is scheduled only when said auto-schedule script fails to schedule said auto file as said next entry in said pending file.

17. A computer system for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 15 wherein said digital format signals are a streaming media format.

18. A computer system for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 15 wherein said runner command is executed on a periodic basis.

19. A computer system for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 15, further comprising:

a graphics display connected to said system bus, wherein a graphical user interface displays a program schedule, wherein said program schedule is a graphical representation of said pending file.

20. A computer system for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 15, further comprising:

an operator workstation connected to said computer through a local area network, said operator workstation having a graphics display and web browser software, wherein said internet broadcasting software on said computer can be accessed by said operator workstation over said local area network through said web browser software to create and manage said at least one channel for broadcasting over said network.

21. A computer system for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 20, wherein said network is an intranet.

22. A computer system for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 20 wherein said network is the internet.

23. A computer system for creating and managing at least one channel for broadcasting over a network according to claim 22 wherein said operator workstation is connected to said internet, and further wherein said operator workstation accesses said internet broadcasting software on said computer through said internet, wherein said internet is connected to said external network connection, to create and manage said at least one channel for broadcasting over said internet.