IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,454,342
Granted Patent B2
US 9,454,342 · App. 14/196,870 · Granted Sep 27, 2016

Generating a playlist based on a data generation attribute

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,454,342
App. No.
14/196,870
Granted
Sep 27, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example method involves determining an attribute associated with an audible version of a news story, wherein the attribute indicates a manner in which data representing the audible version of the news story was generated; using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to generate a playlist of a news program that includes the audible version of the news story; and transmitting the generated playlist to a client device.

Claims (63)

1. A method comprising:

determining an attribute associated with an audible version of a news story, wherein the attribute indicates that a manner in which data representing the audible version of the news story was generated is either (i) by recording a human verbal reading of a text based version of the news story, or (ii) by a text-to-speech system based on data representing the text based version of the news story;

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to generate a playlist of a news program that includes the audible version of the news story; and

transmitting the generated playlist to a client device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as the basis to generate the playlist of the news program that includes the audible version of the news story comprises:

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to select a set of audible news stories from a group of audible news stories, wherein the selected set of audible news stories includes the audible version of the news story; and

using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist, wherein the generated playlist includes references to each audible news story from the selected set of audible news stories.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

selecting a playlist template of the news program; and

using the selected template as a basis to select the set of audible news stories from the group of audible news stories.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

determining an attribute associated with a user of the client device,

wherein selecting the playlist template of the news program comprises using the determined attribute associated with the user as a basis to select the playlist template of the news program.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to determine an arrangement of the selected set of audible news stories, wherein using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist comprises using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist in accordance with the determined arrangement.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

using a predetermined arrangement technique as a basis to determine an arrangement of the selected set of audible news stories, wherein the arrangement technique specifies a threshold value indicating a maximum number of audible news stories generated by the text-to-speech system that may separate audible news stories generated by recorded human verbal readings.

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

using a predetermined arrangement technique as a basis to determine an arrangement of the selected set of audible news stories, wherein the arrangement technique employs a simulated annealing metaheuristic.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause performance of a set of operations comprising:

determining an attribute associated with an audible version of a news story, wherein the attribute indicates that a manner in which data representing the audible version of the news story was generated is either (i) by recording a human verbal reading of a text based version of the news story, or (ii) by a text-to-speech system based on data representing the text based version of the news story;

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to generate a playlist of a news program that includes the audible version of the news story; and

transmitting the generated playlist to a client device.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as the basis to generate the playlist of the news program that includes the audible version of the news story comprises:

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to select a set of audible news stories from a group of audible news stories, wherein the selected set of audible news stories includes the audible version of the news story; and

using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist, wherein the generated playlist includes references to each audible news story from the selected set of audible news stories.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the set of operations further comprise:

selecting a playlist template of the news program;

using the selected template as a basis to select the set of audible news stories from the group of audible news stories; and

determining an attribute associated with a user of the client device, wherein selecting the playlist template of the news program comprises using the determined attribute associated with the user as a basis to select the playlist template of the news program.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the set of operations further comprise:

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to determine an arrangement of the selected set of audible news stories, wherein using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist comprises using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist in accordance with the determined arrangement.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the set of operations further comprise:

using a predetermined arrangement technique as a basis to determine an arrangement of the selected set of audible news stories, wherein the arrangement technique specifies a threshold value indicating a maximum number of audible news stories generated by the text-to-speech system that may separate audible news stories generated by recorded human verbal readings.

13. A server device comprising:

a communication interface;

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the server device to perform a set of operations comprising:

determining an attribute associated with an audible version of a news story, wherein the attribute indicates that a manner in which data representing the audible version of the news story was generated is either (i) by recording a human verbal reading of a text based version of the news story, or (ii) by a text-to-speech system based on data representing the text based version of the news story;

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to generate a playlist of a news program that includes the audible version of the news story; and

transmitting via the communication interface the generated playlist to a client device.

14. The server device of claim 13 , wherein using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as the basis to generate the playlist of the news program that includes the audible version of the news story comprises:

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to select a set of audible news stories from a group of audible news stories, wherein the selected set of audible news stories includes the audible version of the news story; and

using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist, wherein the generated playlist includes references to each audible news story from the selected set of audible news stories.

15. The server device of claim 14 , wherein the set of operations further comprise:

selecting a playlist template of the news program;

using the selected template as a basis to select the set of audible news stories from the group of audible news stories; and

determining an attribute associated with a user of the client device, wherein selecting the playlist template of the news program comprises using the determined attribute associated with the user as a basis to select the playlist template of the news program.

16. The server device of claim 14 , wherein the set of operations further comprise:

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to determine an arrangement of the selected set of audible news stories, wherein using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist comprises using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist in accordance with the determined arrangement.

17. The server device of claim 14 , wherein the set of operations further comprise:

using a predetermined arrangement technique as a basis to determine an arrangement of the selected set of audible news stories, wherein the arrangement technique specifies a threshold value indicating a maximum number of audible news stories generated by the text-to-speech system that may separate audible news stories generated by recorded human verbal readings.

18. A method comprising:

determining an attribute associated with an audible version of a news story, wherein the attribute indicates that a manner in which data representing the audible version of the news story was generated is either (i) by recording a human verbal reading of a text based version of the news story, or (ii) by a text-to-speech system based on data representing the text based version of the news story;

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to generate a playlist of a news program that includes the audible version of the news story; and

traversing the generated playlist, and for each media content item referenced by the playlist, (i) retrieving data representing the media content item, and (ii) using the retrieved data to play out the media.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as the basis to generate the playlist of the news program that includes the audible version of the news story comprises:

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to select a set of audible news stories from a group of audible news stories, wherein the selected set of audible news stories includes the audible version of the news story; and

using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist, wherein the generated playlist includes references to each audible news story from the selected set of audible news stories.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

using the determined attribute associated with the audible version of the news story as a basis to determine an arrangement of the selected set of audible news stories, wherein using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist comprises using the selected set of audible news stories to generate the playlist in accordance with the determined arrangement.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

using a predetermined arrangement technique as a basis to determine an arrangement of the selected set of audible news stories, wherein the arrangement technique specifies a threshold value indicating a maximum number of audible news stories generated by the text-to-speech system that may separate audible news stories generated by recorded human verbal readings.

Assignments (16)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2026
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 074516/0114 →
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
RELEASE (REEL 042262 / FRAME 0601) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 061748/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 17, 2017
From: TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
To: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 042270/0490 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 13, 2017
From: GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042262/0601 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 11, 2017
From: TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
To: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 042221/0543 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 8, 2017
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; CASTTV INC.; TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041656/0804 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2016
From: GRACENOTE, INC.; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040306/0814 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2014
From: CASTTV INC.; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; TRIBUNE PUBLISHING COMPANY, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 032974/0785 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2014
From: PANGULURI, VENKATARAMA ANILKUMAR; KUMAR YARRAM, VENKATA SUNIL; SUNKU, RAGHAVENDRA
To: TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 032354/0336 →