IP Library Granted Patent US 10,701,133
Granted Patent B2
US 10,701,133 · App. 15/669,526 · Granted Jun 30, 2020

Simultaneous injection of broadcast instructions

Inventors: Kohinoor Basu (Aliso Viejo, CA); Matthew M. Ferry (Eastvale, CA); John W. Fulbright (Ogallala, NE)
Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
H04L67/06G06Q20/14G06Q30/02G06Q30/0241G06Q30/0253G06Q30/0264G06Q30/0283H04H60/06H04H60/27H04L29/06027H04L63/10H04L65/602H04L67/20H04L67/2804
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,701,133
App. No.
15/669,526
Granted
Jun 30, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A distributed media outlet can include both a traffic and billing system, and a media delivery system that employ separate broadcast logs, or playlists. An enterprise hub can transmit broadcast instructions to the media outlet via an integrated services layer (ISL), which acts as a multidirectional gateway between the enterprise hub and the media outlet. The ISL can synchronize the separate playlists used by the traffic and billing system and the media delivery system by simultaneously injecting the broadcast instructions into both systems included in the media outlet. The media delivery system and traffic and billing system can continually re-synchronize their playlists by, at least in part, relaying information to one another via the integrated services layer.

Claims (64)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an integrated services layer from an enterprise hub, broadcast instructions including information associated with one or more playlists used by at least one distributed media outlet including both a traffic and billing system and a media delivery system, wherein each of the traffic and billing system and the media delivery system maintain separate playlists, and wherein:

the traffic and billing system handles orders and billing for fulfillment of orders by using the broadcast instructions to make a determination regarding whether an order corresponding to the broadcast instructions already exits, and conditionally generating a new order based on the determination; and

the media delivery system uses the broadcast instructions to play out a playlist maintained by the media delivery system in accordance with the broadcast instructions; and

synchronizing the separate playlists by injecting the broadcast instructions into the traffic and billing system and the media delivery system simultaneously.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

a first playlist maintained by the media delivery system includes a main playlist; and

a second playlist maintained by the traffic and billing system includes an advertising playlist.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the media delivery system and traffic and billing system can continually re-synchronize the first playlist and second playlist.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving, at the integrated services layer from the traffic and billing system, information indicating a change in the second playlist; and

transmitting the information indicating a change from the integrated services layer to the media delivery system.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, from the integrated services layer to the enterprise hub, a message confirming receipt of the broadcast instructions by the integrated services layer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the broadcast instructions comprise copy group metadata.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving, at the integrated services layer from the media delivery system, a request for media content specified in the copy group metadata; and

forwarding the request for media content to the enterprise hub.

8. A processing device comprising:

a memory storing a program of instructions;

a processor coupled to the memory, and configured to execute the program of instructions to implement an integrated services layer, the integrated services layer configured to act as a multidirectional gateway between an enterprise hub and at least one distributed media outlet associated with both a traffic and billing system and a media delivery system;

a communications interface coupled to the processor and the memory, the communications interface configured to receive, from the enterprise hub, broadcast instructions including information associated with one or more playlists used by the at least one distributed media outlet, wherein each of the traffic and billing system and the media delivery system associated with the at least one distributed media outlet maintain separate playlists, and wherein:

the traffic and billing system handles orders and billing for fulfillment of orders by using the broadcast instructions to make a determination regarding whether an order corresponding to the broadcast instructions already exits, and conditionally generating a new order based on the determination; and

the media, delivery system uses the broadcast instructions to play out a playlist maintained by the media delivery system in accordance with the broadcast instructions: and

the integrated services layer configured to synchronize the separate playlists by injecting the broadcast instructions into the traffic and billing system and the media delivery system simultaneously.

9. The processing device of claim 8 , wherein:

a first playlist maintained by the media delivery system includes a main playlist; and

a second playlist maintained by the traffic and billing system includes an advertising playlist.

10. The processing device of claim 9 , wherein:

the media delivery system and traffic and billing system can continually re-synchronize the first playlist and second playlist by, at least in part, relaying information to one another via the integrated services layer.

11. The processing device of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving, at the integrated services layer from the traffic and billing system, information indicating a change in the second playlist; and

transmitting the information indicating a change from the integrated services layer to the media delivery system.

12. The processing device of claim 8 , wherein the communications interface is further configured to:

transmit, from the integrated services layer to the enterprise hub, a message confirming receipt of the broadcast instructions by the integrated services layer.

13. The processing device of claim 8 , wherein:

the broadcast instructions comprise copy group metadata for a plurality of distributed media outlets; and

the integrated services layer transmits the copy group metadata to traffic and billing systems and to media delivery systems associated with different distributed media outlets of the plurality of distributed media outlets.

14. The processing device of claim 8 , wherein the integrated services layer is further configured to:

receive, from the media delivery system, a request for media content specified in copy group metadata; and

forward the request for media content to the enterprise hub.

15. A system comprising:

at least one distributed media outlet coupled to a communications network, wherein the at least one distributed media outlet includes a traffic and billing system and a media delivery system, each of the traffic and billing systems maintaining separate playlists;

an enterprise hub including at least one processor and associated memory;

an integrated services layer coupled to the at least one distributed media outlet and the enterprise hub, the integrated services layer implemented on a device including at least one processor and associated memory, the integrated services layer configured to:

act as a multidirectional gateway between the enterprise hub and the at least one distributed media outlet;

receive, from the enterprise hub, broadcast instructions including information associated with one or more playlists used by the at least one distributed media outlet;

synchronize the separate playlists by injecting the broadcast instructions into the traffic and billing system and the media delivery system simultaneously, wherein:

the traffic and billing system handles orders and billing for fulfillment of orders by using the broadcast instructions to make a determination regarding whether an order corresponding to the broadcast instructions already exits, and conditionally generating a new order based on the determination; and

the media delivery system uses the broadcast instructions to play out a playlist maintained by the media delivery system in accordance with the broadcast instructions.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein:

a first playlist maintained by the media delivery system includes a main playlist; and

a second playlist maintained by the traffic and billing system includes an advertising playlist.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein:

the media delivery system and traffic and billing system can continually re-synchronize the first playlist and second playlist by, at least in part, relaying information to one another via the integrated services layer.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

receiving, at the integrated services layer from the traffic and billing system, information indicating a change in the second playlist; and

transmitting the information indicating a change from the integrated services layer to the media delivery system.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the integrated services layer is further configured to:

transmit, to the enterprise hub, a message confirming receipt of the broadcast instructions by the integrated services layer.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the integrated services layer is further configured to:

receive, from the media delivery system, a request for media content specified in copy group metadata; and

forward the request for media content to the enterprise hub.

Assignments (17)
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 →
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 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 23, 2019
From: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U. S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 051143/0579 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2019
From: IHEART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 050017/0882 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2019
From: IHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC.; IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049079/0814 →
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: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049067/0606 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2017
From: BASU, KOHINOOR; FERRY, MATTHEW M.; FULBRIGHT, JOHN W.
To: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 043207/0665 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 4, 2017
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 043455/0527 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 15241874 · Aug 19, 2016
Continuation 13872618 · Apr 29, 2013
Continuation 12382635 · Mar 19, 2009
Provisional Application 61193218 · Nov 6, 2008
Provisional Application 61064665 · Mar 19, 2008
Related Publication 20170346882A1 · Nov 30, 2017