Retrieval and playout of media content
View Patent ↗An example method involves accessing a playlist defining a sequence of media content items including a first media content item and a second media content item; retrieving, from one or more server devices, first data representing the media content items of the received playlist, and using the retrieved first data to playout the media content items in accordance with the sequence defined by the playlist; determining a status of an event, and using the determined status of the event as a basis to determine a condition; making a determination that the determined condition has been satisfied; and responsive to making the determination that the determined condition has been satisfied, (i) retrieving second data representing a media content item related to the event, and (ii) using the retrieved second data to playout the media content item related to the event in between playing out the first and second media content items.
1. A method comprising:
accessing, by a client device, a playlist defining a sequence of media content items including a first media content item and a second media content item, wherein the first and second media content items are immediately adjacent to each other in the defined sequence;
using the accessed playlist, requesting and receiving, by the client device, from one or more server devices, first data representing the media content items of the accessed playlist, and using the received first data to playout the media content items; and
while playing out at least one of the media content items represented by the received first data:
(a) determining, by the client device, a status of an event, and using, by the client device, the determined status of the event as a basis to determine a condition, wherein the condition corresponds to a relationship between a content category type and respective content category types of at least one of the media content items that has been played out;
(b) making, by the client device, a determination that the determined condition has been satisfied; and
(c) responsive to making the determination that the determined condition has been satisfied, (i) requesting and receiving, by the client device, from the one or more server devices, second data representing a media content item that is related to the event and that is not specified in the accessed playlist, and (ii) using, by the client device, the retrieved second data to playout the media content item related to the event in between playing out the first and second media content items.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the event comprises a sporting event, and wherein determining the status of the event comprises determining whether or not the sporting event is in progress.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined condition comprises a condition that a threshold duration has passed since another media content item related to the event has been played out in connection with a separation between media content items of the playlist.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined condition comprises a condition that a threshold number of media content items related to the event have been played out in connection with a separation in between media content items of the playlist.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the accessed playlist, requesting and receiving, by the client device, from one or more server devices, first data representing the media content items of the accessed playlist, and using the received first data to playout the media content items comprises:
traversing, by the client device, the accessed playlist; and
for each media content item of the media content items, requesting and receiving, by the client device, from the one or more server devices, data representing the media content item, and using the received data to playout the media content item.
6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed by a processor cause performance of a set of acts comprising:
accessing a playlist defining a sequence of media content items including a first media content item and a second media content item, wherein the first and second media content items are immediately adjacent to each other in the defined sequence;
using the accessed playlist, requesting and receiving, from one or more server devices, first data representing the media content items of the accessed playlist, and using the received first data to playout the media content items; and
while playing out at least one of the media content items represented by the received first data:
(a) determining a status of an event, and using the determined status of the event as a basis to determine a condition, wherein the condition corresponds to a relationship between a content category type and respective content category types of at least one of the media content items that has been played out;
(b) making a determination that the determined condition has been satisfied; and
(c) responsive to making the determination that the determined condition has been satisfied, (i) requesting and receiving, from the one or more server devices, second data representing a media content item that is related to the event and that is not specified in the accessed playlist, and (ii) using the retrieved second data to playout the media content item related to the event in between playing out the first and second media content items.
7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the event comprises a sporting event, and wherein determining the status of the event comprises determining whether or not the sporting event is in progress.
8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the determined condition comprises a condition that a threshold duration has passed since another media content item related to the event has been played out in connection with a separation between media content items of the playlist.
9. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the determined condition comprises a condition that a threshold number of media content items related to the event have been played out in connection with a separation in between media content items of the playlist.
10. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein using the accessed playlist, requesting and receiving, from one or more server devices, first data representing the media content items of the accessed playlist, and using the received first data to playout the media content items comprises:
traversing the accessed playlist; and
for each media content item of the media content items, requesting and receiving, from the one or more server devices, data representing the media content item, and using the received data to playout the media content item.
11. A method comprising:
accessing, by a server device, a playlist defining a sequence of media content items including a first media content item and a second media content item, wherein the first and second media content items are immediately adjacent to each other in the defined sequence, wherein a client device is configured to use the accessed playlist to request, from the server device, first data representing the media content items of the accessed playlist, wherein the server device is configured to transmit the first data to the client device in response to the request, and wherein the client device is further configured to use the first data received from the server device to playout the media content items; and
while a client device is playing out at least one of the media content items:
(a) determining, by the server device, a status of an event, and using, by the server device, the determined status of the event as a basis to determine a condition, wherein the condition corresponds to a relationship between a content category type and respective content category types of at least one of the media content items that has been played out;
(b) making, by the server device, a determination that the determined condition has been satisfied; and
(c) responsive to making the determination that the determined condition has been satisfied, (i) retrieving, by the server device, second data representing a media content item that is related to the event and that is not specified in the accessed playlist, and (ii) transmitting, by the server device, to the client device, the retrieved second data for playout of the media content item related to the event in between playing out the first and second media content items.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the event comprises a sporting event, and wherein determining the status of the event comprises determining whether or not the sporting event is in progress.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determined condition comprises a condition that a threshold duration has passed since another media content item related to the event has been played out in connection with a separation between media content items of the playlist.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determined condition comprises a condition that a threshold number of media content items related to the event have been played out in connection with a separation in between media content items of the playlist.