IP Library Granted Patent US 10,693,931
Granted Patent B2
US 10,693,931 · App. 16/106,242 · Granted Jun 23, 2020

Delivery of broadcast-related content tagged by offline device

Inventors: Jeff Littlejohn (Cincinnati, OH); Bobbi Denise Schuster (San Antonio, TX); Keyin Hsu (San Antonio, TX); Jennifer L. Smith (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
H04L65/60H04H60/46H04H60/66H04H60/74H04L12/18H04L67/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,693,931
App. No.
16/106,242
Granted
Jun 23, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A processing system, which including a processor and associated memory, provides broadcast content to a broadcaster via a communications network. The broadcast content includes multiple broadcast media items. Subsequent to the broadcast content being broadcast, the processing system receives, via the communications network, an information transfer initiated by an end-user device. The information transfer includes tag information indicating a selected broadcast media item previously marked by a user of the end-user device during a period of time the end-user device was disconnected from the processing system. In response to the information transfer, the processing system identifies content related to the selected broadcast media item based on the tag information, and uploads the identified content to the end-user device via the communications network.

Claims (69)

1. A method for use in a processing system including a processor and associated memory, the method comprising:

providing, from the processing system, broadcast content to a broadcaster via a communications network, the broadcast content including:

a plurality of broadcast media items;

unified numbering system (UNS) identifiers associated with individual broadcast media items, the UNS identifiers associating the individual broadcast media items with at least one other media item;

subsequent to the broadcast content being broadcast, receiving at the processing system via the communications network, an information transfer initiated by an end-user device, the information transfer including tag information indicating a selected broadcast media item previously marked by a user of the end-user device during a period of time the end-user device was disconnected from the processing system, wherein the tag information includes a UNS identifier associated with the selected broadcast media item;

in response to the information transfer:

identifying, based on the tag information, content related to the selected broadcast media item, wherein the content related to the selected broadcast media item includes enhanced content associated with a UNS identifier linking the selected broadcast media item to the enhanced content;

retrieving the enhanced content from an enhancement library using the UNS identifier linking the selected broadcast media item to the enhanced content; and

uploading the content related to the selected broadcast media item from the processing system to the end-user device via the communications network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tag information includes:

a selection time indicating a time at which the user selected the selected broadcast media item; and

a station identifier indicating a broadcast station to which the end-user device was tuned at the selection time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the content related to the selected broadcast media item includes the selected broadcast media item.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the information transfer:

selecting, by the processing system, an upload destination based on preferences associated with the user of the end-user device; and

uploading the content related to the selected broadcast media item from the processing system to the upload destination.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the selected broadcast media item includes an advertisement; and

the content related to the selected broadcast media item includes sponsor contact information associated with the advertisement.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the information transfer, selecting, by the processing system, the content related to the selected broadcast media item based on preferences specified by the user of the end-user device.

7. A processing system comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor;

at least one communications interface coupled to the processor and to a communications network;

the processor configured to:

provide broadcast content to a broadcaster via the communications network, the broadcast content including:

a plurality of broadcast media items;

unified numbering system (UNS) identifiers associated with individual broadcast media items, the UNS identifiers associating the individual broadcast media items with at least one other media item;

subsequent to the broadcast content being broadcast, receive at the processing system via the communications network, an information transfer initiated by an end-user device, the information transfer including tag information indicating a selected broadcast media item previously marked by a user of the end-user device during a period of time the end-user device was disconnected from the processing system, wherein the tag information includes a UNS identifier associated with the selected broadcast media item;

in response to the information transfer:

identify, based on the tag information, content related to the selected broadcast media item, wherein the content related to the selected broadcast media item includes enhanced content associated with a UNS identifier linking the selected broadcast media item to the enhanced content;

retrieve the enhanced content from an enhancement library using the UNS identifier linking the selected broadcast media item to the enhanced content; and

upload the content related to the selected broadcast media item from the processing system to the end-user device via the communications network.

8. The processing system of claim 7 , wherein the tag information includes:

a selection time indicating a time at which the user selected the selected broadcast media item; and

a station identifier indicating a broadcast station to which the end-user device was tuned at the selection time.

9. The processing system of claim 7 , wherein:

the content related to the selected broadcast media item includes the selected broadcast media item.

10. The processing system of claim 7 , the processor further configured to:

in response to the information transfer:

select an upload destination based on preferences associated with the user of the end-user device; and

upload the content related to the selected broadcast media item from the processing system to the upload destination.

11. The processing system of claim 7 , wherein:

the selected broadcast media item includes an advertisement; and

the content related to the selected broadcast media item includes sponsor contact information associated with the advertisement.

12. The processing system of claim 7 , the processor further configured to:

in response to the information transfer, select the content related to the selected broadcast media item based on preferences specified by the user of the end-user device.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions, the program of instructions including:

at least one instruction to provide broadcast content to a broadcaster via a communications network, the broadcast content including:

a plurality of broadcast media items;

unified numbering system (UNS) identifiers associated with individual broadcast media items, the UNS identifiers associating the individual broadcast media items with at least one other media item;

at least one instruction to receive at a processing system via the communications network, and subsequent to the broadcast content being broadcast, an information transfer initiated by an end-user device, the information transfer including tag information indicating a selected broadcast media item previously marked by a user of the end-user device during a period of time the end-user device was disconnected from the processing system, wherein the tag information includes a UNS identifier associated with the selected broadcast media item;

at least one instruction to identify, based on the tag information, content related to the selected broadcast media item, wherein the content related to the selected broadcast media item includes enhanced content associated with a UNS identifier linking the selected broadcast media item to the enhanced content;

at least one instruction to retrieve the enhanced content from an enhancement library using the UNS identifier linking the selected broadcast media item to the enhanced content; and

at least one instruction to upload the content related to the selected broadcast media item from the processing system to the end-user device via the communications network.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the tag information includes:

a selection time indicating a time at which the user selected the selected broadcast media item; and

a station identifier indicating a broadcast station to which the end-user device was tuned at the selection time.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the program of instructions further includes:

at least one instruction to select an upload destination based on preferences associated with the user of the end-user device; and

at least one instruction to upload the content related to the selected broadcast media item to the upload destination.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein:

the selected broadcast media item includes an advertisement; and

the content related to the selected broadcast media item includes sponsor contact information associated with the advertisement.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the program of instructions further includes:

at least one instruction to select the content related to the selected broadcast media item based on preferences specified by the user of the end-user device.

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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 046918/0706 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: LITTLEJOHN, JEFF; SCHUSTER, BOBBI DENISE; HSU, KEYIN; SMITH, JENNIFER L.
To: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 046679/0896 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15637669 · Jun 29, 2017
Continuation 15279826 · Sep 29, 2016
Continuation 14639355 · Mar 5, 2015
Continuation 12475288 · May 29, 2009
Related Publication 20180359300A1 · Dec 13, 2018