IP Library Granted Patent US 9,426,017
Granted Patent B2
US 9,426,017 · App. 13/872,618 · Granted Aug 23, 2016

Automated content delivery to distributed media outlets

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,426,017
App. No.
13/872,618
Granted
Aug 23, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method can include sending a request to a media content provider requesting media content and receiving the media content and instructions from the media provider. The instructions can be utilized by the media provider to broadcast the media content. The media provider can store the received media content in a database process the instructions then distribute the media content and the instructions to distributed media outlets. The media content provider can receive information indicating that the media content was broadcast by the distributed media outlets according to the instructions.

Claims (61)

1. A method comprising:

receiving at an enterprise hub coupled to a communications network:

media content from a content provider responsive to a media content request by the enterprise hub, the media content to be broadcast by a distributed media outlet; and

linked instructions from the content provider, the linked instructions linking to the media content and to facilitate insertion of the media content into a transaction delivery system of the distributed media outlet;

transmitting, via the communications network, the media content and the linked instructions to the distributed media outlet, wherein the distributed media outlet inserts the media content into the transaction delivery system in accordance with the linked instructions; and

receiving, at the enterprise hub, a broadcast record indicating the media content that was broadcast by the distributed media outlet in accordance with the linked instructions, the broadcast record to enable verification of the broadcast.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transaction delivery system comprises a traffic and billing system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the broadcast record indicating content currently being broadcast by the distributed media outlet.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

transmitting the broadcast record from the enterprise hub to the content provider using the communications network.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

processing the linked instructions at the enterprise hub to determine the distributed media outlet to which the enterprise hub is to transmit the media content.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

processing the linked instructions at the enterprise hub to determine when the enterprise hub is to transmit the media content.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating, at the enterprise hub, a unique identifier with the media content;

distributing the unique identifier with the media content to the distributed media outlet; and

wherein the broadcast record indicating that the media content was broadcast includes the unique identifier associated with the media content.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

validating the linked instructions prior to transmitting the linked instructions to the distributed media outlet.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein further comprising:

validating the linked instructions prior to transmitting the linked instructions to the distributed media outlet.

10. An enterprise hub comprising:

a memory storing a program of instructions;

a communications interface; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the communications interface;

the program of instructions that upon execution cause the processor to:

receive via the communications interface:

media content from a content provider responsive to a media content request by the enterprise hub, the media content to be broadcast by a distributed media outlet; and

linked instructions from the content provider, the linked instructions linked to the media content and to facilitate insertion of the media content into a transaction delivery system of the distributed media outlet; and

transmit, via the communications interface, the media content and the linked instructions to the distributed media outlet, wherein the distributed media outlet inserts the media content into the transaction delivery system in accordance with the linked instructions; and

receive, at the enterprise hub, a broadcast record indicating the media content that was broadcast by the distributed media outlet in accordance with the linked instructions, the broadcast record to enable verification of the broadcast.

11. The enterprise hub of claim 10 , wherein the transaction delivery system comprises a traffic and billing system.

12. The enterprise hub of claim 10 , wherein the broadcast record indicating content currently being broadcast by the distributed media outlet.

13. The enterprise hub of claim 12 , wherein the program of instructions that upon execution further cause the processor to:

transmit the broadcast record to the content provider using the communications interface.

14. The enterprise hub of claim 10 , wherein the program of instructions that upon execution further cause the processor to:

process the linked instructions at the enterprise hub to determine the distributed media outlet to which the enterprise hub is to transmit the media content.

15. The enterprise hub of claim 14 , wherein the program of instructions that upon execution further cause the processor to:

process the linked instructions to determine when the enterprise hub is to transmit the media content.

16. The enterprise hub of claim 10 , wherein the program of instructions that upon execution further cause the processor to:

associate a unique identifier with the media content;

distribute the unique identifier with the media content to the distributed media outlet; and

wherein the broadcast record indicating the media content that was broadcast includes the unique identifier associated with the media content.

17. The enterprise hub of claim 10 , wherein the program of instructions that upon execution further cause the processor to:

validate the linked instructions prior to transmitting the linked instructions to the distributed media outlet.

18. The enterprise hub of claim 10 , wherein the program of instructions that upon execution further cause the processor to:

validate the linked instructions prior to transmitting the linked instructions to the distributed media outlet.

19. A system comprising:

a plurality of distributed media outlets coupled to a communications network, wherein each of the plurality of distributed media outlets include a transaction delivery system including at least one processor and associated memory; and

an enterprise hub including at least one processor and associated memory, the enterprise hub coupled to the communications network, the enterprise hub configured to:

receive, via the communications network, media content responsive to a media content request by the enterprise hub, and linked instructions associated with the media content from a content provider;

determine at least one distributed media outlet of the plurality of distributed media outlets to deliver the media content identified by the linked instructions accompanying the media content;

transmit the media content and the linked instructions to the at least one distributed media outlet of the plurality of distributed media outlets in accordance with the determination; and

wherein the at least one distributed media outlet of the plurality of distributed media outlets configured to:

receive the media content and the linked instructions;

broadcast the media content via the transaction delivery system in accordance with the linked instructions; and

provide the enterprise hub with a broadcast record indicating the media content that was broadcast in accordance with the linked instructions, the broadcast record to enable verification of the broadcast.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the enterprise hub is further configured to:

receive the broadcast record indicating that the media content that was broadcast in accordance with the linked instructions; and

transmit, to the content provider, the broadcast record indicating that the media content that was broadcast in accordance with the linked instructions.

Assignments (21)
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 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 →
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 →
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 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 22, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069752/0941 →
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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2019
From: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 050017/0882 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 20, 2019
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC
Reel/Frame 051080/0072 →
RELEASE OF THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 034008/0027 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; 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: 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 AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049067/0800 →
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2013
From: BASU, KOHINOOR; FERRY, MATTHEW M.; FULBRIGHT, JOHN W.
To: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 030308/0837 →