Method and system for controlling a scheduling order
First Claim
1. A method of populating a media schedule that includes multiple blocks of time to be scheduled, the method comprising:
- selecting a plurality of media items to be scheduled during a first block of time by executing a program instruction in a computer system, wherein the first block of time includes a plurality of schedule slots, and wherein the plurality of schedule slots includes a transition slot adjacent in time to a schedule slot included in a second block of time;
scheduling each of the plurality of schedule slots of the first block of time, except the transition slot, using a first scheduling algorithm by executing a program instruction in a computer system; and
scheduling the transition slot using a second scheduling algorithm being different from the first scheduling algorithm, the second scheduling algorithm to satisfy both horizontal and vertical adjacency requirements, wherein the horizontal adjacency requirements include a requirement that a media item of the plurality of media items is not also scheduled in adjacent schedule slots during a daypart, and the vertical adjacency requirements include a requirement that the media item of the plurality of media items is not also scheduled during a same block of time across adjacent days, by executing a program instruction in a computer system.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A scheduling order can be designated for the delivery and playback of media content (e.g., music, news, other audio, advertising, etc) with respect to particular slots within the scheduling order. The broadcast day is divided into blocks of time that include multiple time slots. One of those time slots, a transition slot, is adjacent to another block of time. The transition slot can be scheduled using a different algorithm than the one used for scheduling the other slots in the same block. At least the transition slot can be scheduled to satisfy both horizontal and vertical adjacency requirements. The remaining slots can be scheduled by selecting a next available media item from one or more categories of media items associated with the block being scheduled.
15 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method of populating a media schedule that includes multiple blocks of time to be scheduled, the method comprising:
-
selecting a plurality of media items to be scheduled during a first block of time by executing a program instruction in a computer system, wherein the first block of time includes a plurality of schedule slots, and wherein the plurality of schedule slots includes a transition slot adjacent in time to a schedule slot included in a second block of time; scheduling each of the plurality of schedule slots of the first block of time, except the transition slot, using a first scheduling algorithm by executing a program instruction in a computer system; and scheduling the transition slot using a second scheduling algorithm being different from the first scheduling algorithm, the second scheduling algorithm to satisfy both horizontal and vertical adjacency requirements, wherein the horizontal adjacency requirements include a requirement that a media item of the plurality of media items is not also scheduled in adjacent schedule slots during a daypart, and the vertical adjacency requirements include a requirement that the media item of the plurality of media items is not also scheduled during a same block of time across adjacent days, by executing a program instruction in a computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of populating a media schedule, the method comprising:
-
selecting a category of media items, by executing a program instruction in a computer system; selecting a slot to be scheduled from a plurality of slots included in a first block of time, by executing a program instruction in a computer system; determining whether the slot to be scheduled is a transition slot, by executing a program instruction in a computer system; and when the slot to be scheduled is a transition slot, selecting a media item, from the category of media items that satisfies both horizontal and vertical adjacency requirements, wherein the horizontal adjacency requirements include a requirement that the media item is not also scheduled in adjacent slots during a daypart, and the vertical adjacency requirements include a requirement that the media item is not also scheduled during a same block of time across adjacent days, by executing a program instruction in a computer system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system comprising:
-
a processor; memory operably associated with the processor; and a program of instructions configured to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, the program of instructions including; at least one instruction to select a plurality of media items to be scheduled during a first block of time, wherein the first block of time includes a plurality of schedule slots, and wherein the plurality of schedule slots includes a transition slot adjacent in time to a schedule slot included in a second block of time; at least one instruction to schedule the plurality of schedule slots of the first block of time, other than the transition slot, using a first scheduling algorithm; and at least one instruction to schedule the transition slot to satisfy both horizontal and vertical adjacency requirements by using a second scheduling algorithm different from the first scheduling algorithm, the second scheduling algorithm to satisfy both horizontal and vertical adjacency requirements, wherein the horizontal adjacency requirements include a requirement that a media item of the plurality of media items is not also scheduled in adjacent schedule slots during a daypart, and the vertical adjacency requirements include a requirement that the media item of the plurality of media items is not also scheduled during a same block of time across adjacent days. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
Specification