IP Library Granted Patent US 8,532,562
Granted Patent B2
US 8,532,562 · App. 12/968,839 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

Method and system for selectively broadcasting media during dayparts

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,532,562
App. No.
12/968,839
Filed
Dec 15, 2010
Granted
Sep 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Examiner
LEE, JOHN J
Art Unit
2648
USPC
455/3.02
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 and a plurality of advertisement spots; 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 skipping, at the second server, spots during the broadcast of a sequence of media events during a spot-free daypart, inserting preferred content media events in the broadcast sequence, and inserting markers indicating whether a media event has been played during a spot-free daypart are to be played in the sequence of media events.

Claims (45)

1. A method comprising:

identifying a daypart of an event log, the event log including a sequence of both spots and content media events prior to being configured;

identifying, in the daypart of the event log, a plurality of spots;

broadcasting a spot-free daypart including the content media events included in the daypart of the event log and excluding the spots; and

generating a list of the content media events broadcast during the daypart that includes a title of each content media event and a time of broadcast of each content media event.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving user input indicating at least one preferred content media event, wherein user input is received via a process comprising a web service contemporaneously with entry of the user input by the user; and

inserting the preferred content media event into the event log, wherein the preferred content media event is inserted into the event log contemporaneously with receiving user input.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the preferred content media event is smart-aware.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising stretching at least one of the content media events in the event log.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

marking the content media events broadcast during the daypart.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

checking a feature status indicating whether content media events are to be skipped; and

skipping content media events based on the feature status.

7. A method comprising:

identifying a daypart of an event log, the event log including a sequence of both spots and content media events prior to being configured;

identifying, in the daypart of the event log, a plurality of spots;

broadcasting a sponsored-by daypart including the content media events included in the daypart of the event log and excluding the spots; and

inserting sponsor identification media events that identify the broadcast as a sponsored-by broadcast into the event log; and

broadcasting only the content media events and sponsor identification media events in the event log.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving user input indicating at least one preferred content media event, wherein user input is received via a process comprising a web service contemporaneously with entry of the user input by the user; and

inserting the preferred content media event into the event log, wherein the preferred content media event is inserted into the event log contemporaneously with receiving user input.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the preferred content media event is smart-aware.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising stretching at least one of the content media events in the event log.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

generating a list of the content media events broadcast during the daypart that includes a title of each content media event and a time of broadcast of each content media event.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

marking the content media events broadcast during the daypart.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

checking a feature status indicating whether content media events are to be skipped; and

skipping content media events based on the feature status.

14. A system comprising:

a first server, the first server configured to:

identify a daypart of an event log, the event log including a sequence of both spots and content media events prior to being configured,

identify, in the daypart of the event log, a plurality of spots,

broadcast a spot-free daypart including the content media events included in the daypart of the event log and excluding the spots; and

check a feature status indicating whether content media events are to be skipped, and skip or not skip content media events based on the feature status.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first server is further configured to:

receive user input indicating at least one preferred content media event, wherein user input is received via a process comprising a web service contemporaneously with entry of the user input by the user;

insert the preferred content media event into the event log, wherein the preferred content media event is inserted into the event log contemporaneously with receiving user input; and

stretch at least one of the content media events in the event log.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first server is further configured to generate a list of the content media events broadcast during the daypart that includes the title of the content media events and the time that the content media events were broadcast.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first server is further configured to mark the content media events broadcast during the daypart.

Assignments (20)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT TO CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 075557/0138 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (REEL/FRAME 050017/0882) Recorded Jan 1, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069795/0626 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (REEL/FRAME 049067/0800) Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069795/0423 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (REEL/FRAME 049079/0814) Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069795/0488 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 29, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 069795/0912 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069793/0758 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069794/0248 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 27, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069792/0335 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 23, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069762/0453 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 5, 2020
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052144/0833 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 23, 2019
From: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U. S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 051143/0579 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2019
From: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 050017/0882 →
RELEASE OF THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 034008/0027 Recorded May 10, 2019
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: AMFM TEXAS BROADCASTING, LP; AMFM RADIO LICENSES, LLC; CAPSTAR RADIO OPERATING COMPANY; CAPSTAR TX, LLC; CITICASTERS CO.; CITICASTERS LICENSES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.; IHEARMEDIA + ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL INVESTMENTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049149/0773 →
RELEASE OF THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 035109/0168 Recorded May 10, 2019
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: AMFM RADIO LICENSES, LLC; CAPSTAR RADIO OPERATING COMPANY; CAPSTAR TX, LLC; CITICASTERS CO.; CITICASTERS LICENSES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.; IHEARMEDIA + ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; AMFM TEXAS BROADCASTING, LP; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049149/0714 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049067/0800 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049067/0606 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049079/0814 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2015
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035109/0168 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 21, 2014
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034026/0037 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2014
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL INVESTMENTS, INC.; CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034008/0027 →