Station override of requests for enriching content
View Patent ↗A unified system of unique identifiers is used to match enrichment content with primary content being delivered by subscribers, e.g. broadcasters, in different markets, market segments, etc. Requests for available enrichment content can be granted or denied based on whether or not a station override is active. A station override can be used to specify whether or not enriching content is transmitted to, or withheld from, particular stations, and in some cases the station override can be used to prevent some or all slave stations associated with particular master stations from receiving enrichment content if the station override is associated with a master station.
1. A method comprising:
associating, by a Unified Numbering System (UNS) server, a first UNS identifier with a primary media content item, wherein the first UNS identifier is selected from a set of unique identifiers;
associating, by the UNS server, at least one second UNS identifier with at least one enrichment content item, wherein the at least one second UNS identifier is selected from the set of unique identifiers;
establishing an indirect link between the primary media content item and the at least one enrichment content item by storing a relational entry linking the at least one second UNS identifier with the first UNS identifier;
receiving, from a media automation system associated with a media station, a network message including a request for delivery of enrichment content associated with the primary media item,
determining whether a station override is active, wherein the station override indicates whether available enrichment content will be transmitted to the media station in response to the request; and
transmitting or withholding transmission of the available enrichment content to the media station in accordance with the station override.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the station override is set on a per-master station basis, the method further comprising:
obtaining a list identifying media stations operating under control of particular master stations.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining, based on the list, that the media station operates under control of a first master station; and
in response to determining that the media station operates under control of the first master station, withholding transmission of the available enrichment content to the media station.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
determining, based on the list, that the media station operates under control of a second master station; and
in response to determining that the media station operates under control of the second master station, transmitting the available enrichment content to the media station.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network message includes an original push-now-playing (PNP) message.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that a station identifier included in the original PNP message is an enterprise station identifier associated with a master station.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
generating an updated PNP message by updating the enterprise station identifier included in the original PNP message to refer to a slave station associated with the master station; and
processing the updated PNP message.
8. A system comprising:
at least one processor and memory programmed to implement:
a Unified Numbering System (UNS) server configured to:
associate a first UNS identifier with a primary media content item, wherein the first UNS identifier is selected from a set of unique identifiers;
associate at least one second UNS identifier with at least one enrichment content item, wherein the at least one second UNS identifier is selected from the set of unique identifiers;
an enhancement database configured to establish an indirect link between the primary media content item and the at least one enrichment content item by storing a relational entry linking the at least one second UNS identifier with the first UNS identifier;
a communications interface configured to receive, from a media automation system associated with a media station, a network message including a request for delivery of enrichment content associated with the primary media content item;
the at least one processor further programmed to:
determine an active status of a station override, wherein the station override indicates whether the at least one enrichment content item will be transmitted to the media station in response to the request;
make a transmit determination based on the active status of the station override, wherein the transmit determination determines whether to transmit or withholding transmission of the at least one enrichment content item; and
the communications interface further configured to transmit the at least one enrichment content item in accordance with the transmit determination.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the station override is set on a per-master station basis; and
the at least one processor is further programmed to obtain a list identifying media stations operating under control of particular master stations.
10. The system of claim 9 , the at least one processor further programmed to:
determine, based on the list, that the media station operates under control of a first master station; and
in response to determining that the media station operates under control of the first master station, withhold transmission of the at least one enrichment content item to the media station.
11. The system of claim 10 , the at least one processor further programmed to:
determine, based on the list, that the media station operates under control of a second master station; and
in response to determining that the media station operates under control of the second master station, transmit the at least one enrichment content item to the media station.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the network message includes an original push-now-playing (PNP) message.
13. The system of claim 12 , the at least one processor further programmed to:
determine that a station identifier included in the original PNP message is an enterprise station identifier associated with a master station.
14. The system of claim 13 , the at least one processor further programmed to:
generate an updated PNP message by updating the enterprise station identifier included in the original PNP message to refer to a slave station associated with the master station; and
process the updated PNP message.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions, the program of instructions comprising:
at least one instruction to associate a first UNS identifier with a primary media content item, wherein the first UNS identifier is selected from a set of unique identifiers;
at least one instruction to associate at least one second UNS identifier with at least one enrichment content item, wherein the at least one second UNS identifier is selected from the set of unique identifiers;
at least one instruction to establish an indirect link between the primary media content item and the at least one enrichment content item by storing a relational entry linking the at least one second UNS identifier with the first UNS identifier;
at least one instruction to receive, from a media automation system associated with a media station, a network message including a request for delivery of enrichment content associated with the primary media item,
at least one instruction to determine whether a station override is active, wherein the station override indicates whether available enrichment content will be transmitted to the media station in response to the request; and
at least one instruction to transmit or withholding transmission of the available enrichment content to the media station in accordance with the station override.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the station override is set on a per-master station basis, the program of instructions further comprising:
at least one instruction to obtain a list identifying media stations operating under control of particular master stations.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , the program of instructions further comprising:
at least one instruction to determine, based on the list, that the media station operates under control of a first master station; and
at least one instruction to withhold transmission of the available enrichment content to the media station in response to determining that the media station operates under control of the first master station.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , the program of instructions further comprising:
at least one instruction to determine, based on the list, that the media station operates under control of a second master station; and
at least one instruction to transmit the available enrichment content to the media station in response to determining that the media station operates under control of the second master station.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the network message includes an original push-now-playing (PNP) message.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , the program of instructions further comprising:
at least one instruction to determine that a station identifier included in the original PNP message is an enterprise station identifier associated with a master station;
at least one instruction to generate an updated PNP message by updating the enterprise station identifier included in the original PNP message to refer to a slave station associated with the master station; and
at least one instruction to process the updated PNP message.