IP Library Granted Patent US 11,444,993
Granted Patent B2
US 11,444,993 · App. 16/538,960 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Media asset distribution

Inventors: David C. Jellison, Jr. (Ogallala, NE); Martin Blazek (Ogallala, NE)
Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
H04L65/60H04L65/611H04L65/762H04N21/26241H04N21/26258H04N21/6587H04N21/8456H04L65/612
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,444,993
App. No.
16/538,960
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Multiple media delivery subsystems are connected via a communications network, and are configured to transfer broadcast content among themselves. A media distribution device communicates with the media delivery subsystems via the communications network. The media delivery subsystems transmit temporal priority messages to the media distribution device. A temporal priority message is used to indicate a temporal priority of a media item from the perspective of the media delivery subsystem associated with the message. The media distribution device manages transfers of broadcast content from one media delivery subsystem to another media delivery subsystem in accordance with the temporal priority messages.

Claims (51)

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of media delivery subsystems coupled to each other via a communications network, the plurality of media delivery subsystems configured to transfer broadcast content among themselves, wherein the plurality of media delivery subsystems including a first media delivery subsystem and a second media delivery subsystem, and wherein the broadcast content includes at least one media item;

a media distribution device coupled to the plurality of media delivery subsystems via the communications network, and configured to transfer the broadcast content from the media distribution device to the first media delivery subsystem;

the second media delivery subsystem is configured to transmit a temporal priority message to the media distribution device, wherein the temporal priority message indicates a temporal priority of the at least one media item from a perspective of the second media delivery subsystem, wherein a particular temporal priority indicates a time-related priority for transmitting a particular media item to a particular media delivery subsystem; and

the media distribution device further configured to manage transmission of broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem in accordance with the temporal priority.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to receiving the at least one media item at the first media delivery subsystem, automatically populating the at least one media item into a broadcast playlist.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the media distribution device is further configured to transfer, to the first media delivery subsystem, metadata associated with the broadcast content, the metadata configured to limit redistribution of the broadcast content.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first media delivery subsystem is configured to transfer broadcast content to the second media delivery subsystem by copying a data file including a media asset to a mapped network address corresponding to the second media delivery subsystem.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

the first media delivery subsystem is configured to transfer broadcast content to a second media delivery subsystem in accordance with the temporal priority message.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

managing transmission of broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes managing transfers of chunks of data including media items and associated metadata.

7. A method comprising:

transferring broadcast content from a media distribution device to a first media delivery subsystem, wherein the broadcast content includes a media item;

receiving, at the media distribution device, a temporal priority message from a second media delivery subsystem, wherein the temporal priority message indicates a temporal priority of the media item from a perspective of the second media delivery subsystem, and wherein a particular temporal priority indicates a time-related priority for transmitting a particular media item to the second media delivery subsystem; and

managing, by the media distribution device, transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem in accordance with the temporal priority message.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

transferring broadcast content to the first media delivery subsystem includes transferring metadata associated with the broadcast content, the metadata configured to limit redistribution of the broadcast content.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

transmitting the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes copying a data file including a media asset to a mapped network address corresponding to the second media delivery subsystem.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

managing transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes managing transfers of chunks of data including media items and associated metadata.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

transmitting the media items in at least a first chunk of data; and

transmitting the associated metadata in at least a second chunk of data different from the at least a first chunk of data.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

a size of the at least a first chunk of data is based on a broadcast schedule.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

managing transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes managing an order in which the broadcast content is transmitted.

14. A media distribution device comprising:

a processor;

memory associated with the processor;

a program of instructions to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, the program of instructions including instructions to:

transfer broadcast content from the media distribution device to a first media delivery subsystem, wherein the broadcast content includes a media item;

receive, at the media distribution device, a temporal priority message from a second media delivery subsystem, wherein the temporal priority message indicates a temporal priority of the media item from a perspective of the second media delivery subsystem, and wherein a particular temporal priority indicates a time-related priority for transmitting a particular media item to the second media delivery subsystem; and

manage transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem in accordance with the temporal priority message.

15. The media distribution device of claim 14 , wherein transferring broadcast content from a media distribution device to a first media delivery subsystem includes:

at least one instruction to transfer metadata associated with the broadcast content, the metadata configured to limit redistribution of the broadcast content.

16. The media distribution device of claim 14 , wherein:

transmitting the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes copying a data file including a media asset to a mapped network address corresponding to the second media delivery subsystem.

17. The media distribution device of claim 14 , wherein:

managing transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes managing transfers of chunks of data including media items and associated metadata.

18. The media distribution device of claim 17 , wherein:

transmitting the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes:

transmitting the media items in at least a first chunk of data; and

transmitting the associated metadata in at least a second chunk of data different from the at least a first chunk of data.

19. The media distribution device of claim 14 , wherein:

managing transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes managing an order in which the broadcast content is transmitted.

Assignments (12)
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: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 074565/0405 →
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 069794/0248 →
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 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 051806/0806 →
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 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 Recorded Nov 23, 2019
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 051099/0333 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 050039 FRAME 0200. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 21, 2019
From: JELLISON, DAVID C., JR.; BLAZEK, MARTIN
To: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050116/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2019
From: JELLISON, DAVID C., JR.; BLAZEK, MARTIN
To: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050039/0200 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 13, 2019
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050041/0123 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15720348 · Sep 29, 2017
Continuation 14036296 · Sep 25, 2013
Related Publication 20190364080A1 · Nov 28, 2019