Systems and methods for creating a playlist
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for creating one or more playlists of a predefined length. The invention allows dynamic creation of different playlists for differing times, locations, and other circumstances and also provides for the dynamic selection of products for inclusion in a playlist based on the content of one or more of the individual products. Creation of a playlist may be based on a priority scheme with priority values indicating the relative importance of the products. Creation may also involve determining or adjusting the lengths of one or more products selected for the playlist so that the total length of the playlist will equal a set, predetermined, or otherwise predefined playlist length. Methods and systems according to the present invention provide flexible, efficient, and manageable techniques for creating different playlists of similar product types for both varying circumstances (e.g., time, location, etc.) and varying products of those product types (e.g., clear radar versus radar showing movement of a complex storm system). The invention gives an administrator the ability to simply and easily manage the broadcasting of different playlists for different conditions.
1. A method of creating a playlist of a predefined playlist length comprising:
identifying candidate products for potential inclusion in the playlist;
determining playlist products using a priority scheme associated with a particular circumstance, wherein the playlist products are a subset of the candidate products;
determining a product length for each playlist product so that a combined length of the playlist products is equal to the predefined playlist length; and
adjusting the product length of at least one playlist product to a value between a minimum length and maximum length that is associated with each playlist product if the combined length of the playlist products is not equal to the predefined playlist length.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each product has an associated optimal product length and the product length determined for at least one of the playlist products is the associated optimal product length.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product length determined for at least one of the playlist products is the associated minimum product length.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product length determined for at least one of the playlist products is the associated maximum product length.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the priority scheme comprises priority values associated with the candidate products and indicating the relative importance of the products such that products associated with the same priority value have the same relative importance and a first product associated with a first priority value has a greater relative importance than a second product associated with a second priority value.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprises using the priority value of each product in the subset to determine a sequence of products in the playlist.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the priority scheme further comprises an exclusive indicator associated with each product of a subset of products.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the playlist products further comprises selecting only a single product from the subset of products.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining the product length for each playlist products comprises adjusting the product length for playlist products having a same priority value using an assigned step value for each product.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the playlist products further comprises validating product content such that only products having valid content are included.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the product length for at least one playlist products comprises adjusting the length of the product based on content of the product.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the circumstance is a time of day.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the circumstance is a day.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the circumstance is a location.
15. A method of creating playlists of a predefined playlist length comprising:
identifying candidate products for potential inclusion in the playlists;
creating a first playlist by (a) determining first playlist products using a first priority scheme associated with a first circumstance, wherein the first playlist products are a subset of the candidate products; (b) determining a length for each first playlist product so that a combined length of the first playlist products is equal to the predefined playlist length; and (c) adjusting the product length of at least one of the first playlist products to a first value between a minimum length and maximum length that is associated with each playlist product if the combined length of the first playlist products is not equal to the predefined playlist length; and
creating a second playlist by (a) determining second playlist products using a second priority scheme associated with a second circumstance, wherein the second playlist products are a subset of the candidate products; (b) determining a length for each second playlist product so that a combined length of the second playlist products is equal to the predefined playlist length; and (c) adjusting the product length of at least one of the second playlist products to a second value between the minimum length and the maximum length that is associated with each playlist product if the combined length of the second playlist products is not equal to the predefined playlist length.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first circumstance is a first time of day and the second circumstance is a second time of day.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first circumstance is a first day and the second circumstance is a second day.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first circumstance is a first location and the second circumstance is a second location.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first circumstance relates to user preferences.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first circumstance relates to user demographics.
21. The method of claim 15 further comprising remotely controlling selection of the first playlist or second playlist.
22. The method of claim 15 further comprising scheduling the use of the first playlist and second playlist.
23. A method of creating a playlist of a predefined playlist length comprising:
identifying candidate products for potential inclusion in the playlist;
determining playlist products by determining product priority and product validity, wherein the playlist products are a subset of the candidate products;
determining a product length for each playlist product so that a combined length of the playlist products is equal to the predefined playlist length; and
adjusting the product length of at least one playlist product to a value between a minimum length and maximum length that is associated with each playlist product if the combined length of the playlist products is not equal to the predefined playlist length.
24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising determining an order for the playlist products using a product order value associated with each product.