Granted Patent B2

US 11,146,920 · App. 16/575,604 · Granted Oct 12, 2021

Inventor: David C. Jellison, Jr. (Ogallala, NE)

Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.

H04W4/06

Abstract

Claims (51)

1. A method for execution by a computing device, the method comprises:

configuring one or more content preferences associated with a remote media content processing system;

configuring a content database associated with the remote media content processing system;

configuring a content playback schedule associated with the remote media content processing system;

obtaining a station log associated with one or more other remote media content processing systems;

determining, based on the station log associated with the one or more other remote media content processing systems, whether to transfer an in-production content entry from the remote media content processing system associated with the one or more other remote media content processing systems;

in response to a determination to transfer:

transferring information associated with the remote media content processing system to the one or more other remote media content processing systems, the information including the content preferences, the content database, and the content playback schedule; and

wherein the information provides a configuration for segmented WANcasting of a content item to the remote media content processing system from one or more of the other remote media content processing systems, the segmented WANcasting including establishing the in-production content entry and proper order of a received content segment with respect to other previously-received content segments until the content item is complete.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises associating metadata with the content item, wherein the metadata is received via network at the remote media content processing system.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the metadata is received prior to receipt of a first content segment indicating one or more of: an imminent transfer of content segments associated with the content item, instructions for accepting a transfer connection, instruction to create data file entries in databases for the received content segments and metadata, or instructions to flag the data file entries as in-production.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the metadata is received after receiving all the content segments, the metadata indicating one or more of: all content segments are sent, instructions to re-flag as complete in-production data files of appended content segments, or instructions to close the transfer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more content preferences include parameters associated with the content item that one or more operators of the remote media content processing system are interested in receiving.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the parameters include one or more content items of a specific set of: genres, programs, or artists.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuring the content database includes cataloging content items currently stored locally to the remote media content processing system to ensure that content items already stored locally are not transferred again.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content playback schedule includes one or more of: a schedule of distribution of the content item by the processing system; a list of content items associated with specific time slots in a daypart, day of the week, or a playlist of the content to be broadcast.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein media of the remote media content broadcasting includes: radio broadcasts or internet streaming.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprises providing remote media content processing systems access to the information from a database, via a network connection, at any time.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in a network of remote media content processing systems, a single remote media content processing system stores criteria associated with each of the other remote media content processing systems in the network.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration for segmented WANcasting of the content item to the remote media content processing system from one or more of the other remote media content processing systems further includes metadata comprising any of: information indicating, to the remote media content processing system, a content item to be transferred to the remote media content processing system via an established connection, or transfer specific information.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the metadata includes instructions for building a data file local to the remote media content processing system receiving a content item, where the data file is used to build the content item from received content segments.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the transfer specific information includes any of: number of content segments to be transferred, advertisement spot markers associated with the content item, and instructions for creating a data file to build the content item from transferred content segments.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the in-production content entry is flagged with an indicator that the content item is being built.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the in-production content entry adds subsequently-received content segments by appending to first-received content segments.

17. The method of claim 16 , when each received content segment is received in a sequence of playback of the content item and comprises a unique portion of the content item and appending includes combining two or more content items in substantially proper order of playback or production of the content item in the in-production content entry.

18. The method of claim 17 , when each received content segment includes at least a portion of content common with one or more previously received content segments, such that the content overlaps between two segments and appending content segments combines the content segments such that common content is not repeated.

19. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory element operably coupled to store a program of instructions that cause the processor to:

configure one or more content preferences associated with a remote media content processing system;

configure a content database associated with the remote media content processing system;

configure a content playback schedule associated with the remote media content processing system;

obtain a station log associated with one or more other remote media content processing systems;

determine, based on the station log associated with the one or more other remote media content processing systems, whether to transfer an in-production content entry from the remote media content processing system associated with the one or more other remote media content processing systems;

in response to a determination to transfer:

transfer information associated with the remote media content processing system to the one or more other remote media content processing systems, the information including the content preferences, the content database, and the content playback schedule; and

wherein the information provides a configuration for segmented WANcasting of a content item to the remote media content processing system from one or more of the other remote media content processing systems, the segmented WANcasting including establishing the in-production content entry until the content item is complete.

20. A method for execution by a computing device, the method comprises:

configuring one or more content preferences associated with a remote media content processing system;

configuring a content database associated with the remote media content processing system;

configuring a content playback schedule associated with the remote media content processing system;

obtaining a station log associated with one or more other remote media content processing systems;

determining, based on the station log associated with the one or more other remote media content processing systems, whether to transfer an in-production content entry from the remote media content processing system associated with the one or more other remote media content processing systems;

in response to a determination to transfer:

transferring information associated with the remote media content processing system to other remote media content processing systems, the information including the content preferences, the content database, and the content playback schedule; and

segment WANcasting of a content item to the remote media content processing system from one or more of the other remote media content processing systems, the segmenting including:

receiving metadata from one of the one or more other remote media content processing systems;

establishing the in-production content entry;

receiving a content segment of the content item at the remote media content processing system; and

associating metadata with the content item, wherein the metadata is received via network at the remote media content processing system; and

wherein the metadata is received prior to receipt of a first content segment indicating one or more of: an imminent transfer of content segments associated with the content item, instructions for accepting a transfer connection, instruction to create data file entries in databases for the content segments and metadata, or instructions to flag the data file entries as in-production.

Assignments (10)