IP Library Granted Patent US 10,909,577
Granted Patent B2
US 10,909,577 · App. 15/986,142 · Granted Feb 2, 2021

Mapping user notifications to specific media streams

Inventors: Daniel N. MacTiernan (Ocean City, NJ); Thomas Drapeau (Harrison, NY); Lasse Hamre (New York, NY); Pablo Calamera (New York, NY); Kevin R. Lockhart (Ogallala, NE); Richard D. Wooden (Ogallala, NE); Jeffrey D. Zigler (Omaha, NE); Jacqueline J. Lockhart (Poway, CA)
Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
G06Q30/0269G06F16/635G06F16/639G06F16/68G06Q30/0207H04L12/18H04L12/1895H04L51/10H04L51/32H04L65/4076H04L65/601H04L67/306
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,909,577
App. No.
15/986,142
Granted
Feb 2, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A media automation system generates multiple instances of a media broadcast stream, which includes core content common to each of the instances of the media broadcast stream, and multiple spot blocks interspersed within the media broadcast stream. Each stream instance is associated with a particular media playout device. A user notification is received and a packaged user notification is generated for inclusion in a particular instance of the media broadcast stream. Packaging the user notification includes obtaining first account information associated with a media delivery platform account of a user associated with a particular media playout device, and second account information associated with a consumer notification service account of the user. The user notification is mapped to the particular media playout device based on the first and second account information, and the packaged user notification is inserted into a first available spot block of the particular instance of the media broadcast stream.

Claims (44)

1. A method for use in a media automation system, the method comprising:

generating, at a media automation system including a processor and associated memory, a plurality of instances of a media broadcast stream for transmission to a plurality of media playout devices, wherein the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream are associated with particular media playout devices, and wherein the media broadcast stream includes core content common to each of the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, and a plurality of spot blocks interspersed within the media broadcast stream;

obtaining mapping information at the media automation system, wherein obtaining the mapping information includes:

obtaining, by the media automation system, media delivery platform account information associating a user of a particular media playout device with a media delivery platform account;

obtaining, by the media automation system, consumer notification service account information associating the user with a consumer notification service account associated with a consumer notification service;

transmitting, from the media automation system to an advertisement server separate from the media automation system, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map a user notification, received at the advertisement server from the consumer notification service, to a particular user, wherein the user notification is selected by the consumer notification service; and

facilitating insertion of the user notification into at least one instance of the media broadcast stream by passing control of inserting content into the at least one instance of the media broadcast stream from the media automation system to the advertisement server during a period of time when core content is not being presented to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inserting, into the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map notifications received from third party sources to the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting to the advertisement server, separate from the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to map notifications received from third party sources to the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media delivery platform account information includes:

user account information linking the user with a streaming radio service.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

wherein the consumer notification service account information includes login information for the consumer notification service account.

6. A media automation system comprising:

a first processor and associated first memory configured to implement a media server, the media server coupled to a media delivery platform;

a second processor and associated second memory configured to implement an advertisement server, the advertisement server coupled to the media server, the media delivery platform, and a consumer notification service;

the media server configured to:

generate a plurality of instances of a media broadcast stream for transmission to a plurality of media playout devices, wherein the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream are associated with particular media playout devices, and wherein the media broadcast stream includes core content common to each of the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, and a plurality of spot blocks interspersed within the media broadcast stream;

obtain media delivery platform account information associating a user of a particular media playout device with a media delivery platform account associated with the media delivery platform;

obtain consumer notification service account information associating the user with a consumer notification service account associated with the consumer notification service;

transmit, to the advertisement server, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map a user notification, received at the advertisement server from the consumer notification service, to a particular user, wherein the user notification is selected by the consumer notification service; and

facilitate insertion of the user notification into at least one instance of the media broadcast stream by passing control of inserting content into the at least one instance of the media broadcast stream from the media automation system to the advertisement server during a period of time when core content is not being presented to the user.

7. The media automation system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

insert, into the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map notifications received from third party sources to the user.

8. The media automation system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit to the advertisement server, separate from the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to map notifications received from third party sources to the user.

9. The media automation system of claim 6 , wherein the media delivery platform account information includes:

user account information linking the user with a streaming radio service.

10. The media automation system of claim 6 , wherein the consumer notification service account information includes login information for the consumer notification service account.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions configured to be stored in a memory and executed by a processor, the program of instructions configured to implement a method comprising:

generating, at a media automation system including a processor and associated memory, a plurality of instances of a media broadcast stream for transmission to a plurality of media playout devices, wherein the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream are associated with particular media playout devices, and wherein the media broadcast stream includes core content common to each of the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, and a plurality of spot blocks interspersed within the media;

obtaining mapping information at the media automation system, wherein obtaining the mapping information includes:

obtaining, by the media automation system, media delivery platform account information associating a user of a particular media playout device with a media delivery platform account o;

obtaining, by the media automation system, consumer notification service account information associating the user with a consumer notification service account associated with a consumer notification service;

transmitting, from the media automation system to an advertisement server separate from the media automation system, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map a user notification, received at the advertisement server from the consumer notification service, to a particular user, wherein the user notification is selected by the consumer notification service; and

facilitating insertion of the user notification into at least one instance of the media broadcast stream by passing control of inserting content into the at least one instance of the media broadcast stream from the media automation system to the advertisement server during a period of time when core content is not being presented to the user.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

inserting, into the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map notifications received from third party sources to the user.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

transmitting to the advertisement server, separate from the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to map notifications received from third party sources to the user.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

wherein the consumer notification service account information includes login information for the consumer notification service account.

Assignments (16)
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 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 →
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 →
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 May 24, 2018
From: MACTIERNAN, DANIEL N.; DRAPEAU, THOMAS; HAMRE, LASSE; CALAMERA, PABLO; LOCKHART, KEVIN R.; WOODEN, RICHARD D.; ZIGLER, JEFFREY D.; LOCKHART, JACQUELINE J.
To: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 045892/0885 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14521722 · Oct 23, 2014
Continuation In Part 14014162 · Aug 29, 2013
Continuation In Part 12229515 · Aug 22, 2008
Provisional Application 60957955 · Aug 24, 2007
Related Publication 20180268442A1 · Sep 20, 2018