Media-broadcasting system with broadcast schedule simulation feature
View Patent ↗In one aspect, an example method includes (i) accessing, by a computing system, a broadcast schedule, which indicates that a broadcast of a first media content item is scheduled to be followed by a broadcast of a second media content item, wherein the computing system can operate in a schedule mode or a breakout mode; (ii) switching from operating in the schedule mode to operating in the breakout mode; and (iii) while operating in the breakout mode: (a) simulating a broadcast of the first media content item; (b) making a determination that a particular signal is embedded in the first media content item; (c) responsive to making the determination, simulating a switch from broadcasting the first media content item to broadcasting the second media content item; (d) based on the simulated broadcast of the first and second media content items, generating a simulation log; and (e) presenting the generated log.
1. A method comprising:
accessing, by a computing system, a broadcast schedule, which indicates that a broadcast of a first media content item is scheduled to be followed by a broadcast of a second media content item, wherein the computing system is configured for operating in a schedule mode or a breakout mode, wherein when operating in the schedule mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item scheduled in the broadcast schedule, and wherein when operating in the breakout mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item that is not scheduled in the broadcast schedule;
switching, by the computing system, from operating in the schedule mode to operating in the breakout mode; and
while the computing system operates in the breakout mode:
simulating, by the computing system, a broadcast of the first media content item;
making, by the computing system, a determination that a particular signal is embedded in the first media content item; and
responsive to making the determination, simulating, by the computing system, a switch from broadcasting the first media content item to broadcasting the second media content item.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing system is a sequencing system component of a media-broadcasting system.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second media content item is a commercial, and wherein the particular signal is a commercial roll signal.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the commercial roll signal is an audio tone.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the broadcast schedule indicates that the commercial is associated with a manual start-time type.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based on the simulated broadcast of the first and second media content items, generating, by the computing system, a simulation log, wherein the generated simulation log identifies the first and second media content items.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
presenting, by the computing system, the generated simulation log, wherein presenting the generated simulation log comprises displaying the generated simulation log.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
selecting, by the computing system, an item in the presented simulation log; and
while the computing system operates in the breakout mode:
performing, by the computing system, an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item associated with the selected item.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that upon execution by a processor, cause performance of a set of acts comprising:
accessing, by a computing system, a broadcast schedule, which indicates that a broadcast of a first media content item is scheduled to be followed by a broadcast of a second media content item, wherein the computing system is configured for operating in a schedule mode or a breakout mode, wherein when operating in the schedule mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item scheduled in the broadcast schedule, and wherein when operating in the breakout mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item that is not scheduled in the broadcast schedule;
switching, by the computing system, from operating in the schedule mode to operating in the breakout mode; and
while the computing system operates in the breakout mode:
simulating, by the computing system, a broadcast of the first media content item;
making, by the computing system, a determination that a particular signal is embedded in the first media content item; and
responsive to making the determination, simulating, by the computing system, a switch from broadcasting the first media content item to broadcasting the second media content item.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the computing system is a sequencing system component of a media-broadcasting system.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the second media content item is a commercial, and wherein the particular signal is a commercial roll signal.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the commercial roll signal is an audio tone.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the broadcast schedule indicates that the commercial is associated with a manual start-time type.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , the set of acts further comprising:
based on the simulated broadcast of the first and second media content items, generating, by the computing system, a simulation log, wherein the generated simulation log identifies the first and second media content items.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , the set of acts further comprising:
presenting, by the computing system, the generated simulation log, wherein presenting the generated simulation log comprises displaying the generated simulation log.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , the set of acts further comprising:
selecting, by the computing system, an item in the presented simulation log; and
while the computing system operates in the breakout mode:
performing, by the computing system, an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item associated with the selected item.
17. A computing system configured for performing a set of acts comprising:
accessing, by the computing system, a broadcast schedule, which indicates that a broadcast of a first media content item is scheduled to be followed by a broadcast of a second media content item, wherein the computing system is configured for operating in a schedule mode or a breakout mode, wherein when operating in the schedule mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item scheduled in the broadcast schedule, and wherein when operating in the breakout mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item that is not scheduled in the broadcast schedule;
switching, by the computing system, from operating in the schedule mode to operating in the breakout mode; and
while the computing system operates in the breakout mode:
simulating, by the computing system, a broadcast of the first media content item;
making, by the computing system, a determination that a particular signal is embedded in the first media content item; and
responsive to making the determination, simulating, by the computing system, a switch from broadcasting the first media content item to broadcasting the second media content item.
18. The computing system of claim 17 , wherein the second media content item is a commercial, and wherein the particular signal is a commercial roll signal.
19. The computing system of claim 18 , wherein the commercial roll signal is an audio tone.
20. The computing system of claim 18 , wherein the broadcast schedule indicates that the commercial is associated with a manual start-time type.