IP Library Granted Patent US 11,812,102
Granted Patent B2
US 11,812,102 · App. 16/718,087 · Granted Nov 7, 2023

Generation of media station previews using a reference database

Inventors: Pat D. Fearn (Albuquerque, NM); Suresh Jeyachandran (Alameda, CA); Damon P. Fasching (San Francisco, CA); Mark W. Sherman (San Leandro, CA)
Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
H04N21/44016H04N21/2387H04N21/278H04N21/439H04N21/4524H04N21/47217H04N21/812
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,812,102
App. No.
16/718,087
Granted
Nov 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, an example method includes (i) while a media playback device of a vehicle is playing back content received on a first channel, sending, by the media playback device to a server, a preview request, the preview request identifying a second channel that is different from the first channel; (ii) receiving, by the media playback device from the server, a response to the preview request, the response including identifying information corresponding to content being provided on the second channel; and (iii) while the media playback device is playing back the content received on the first channel, providing, by the media playback device for display, at least a portion of the identifying information corresponding to content being provided on the second channel.

Claims (53)

1. A method comprising:

while a media playback device of a vehicle is playing back content broadcast by a first broadcast station on a first channel:

determining, by the media playback device, that the first channel is associated with a first genre,

determining, by the media playback device, that a second channel is associated with the first genre and has a frequency within a threshold frequency range from the first channel,

in response to determining that the first channel is associated with the first genre, selecting, by the media playback device, from a plurality of channels different from the first channel, the second channel based on the second channel being associated with the first genre of the first channel and the second channel having a frequency within the threshold frequency range from the first channel, and

in response to selecting the second channel based on the second channel being associated with the first genre of the first channel, sending, by the media playback device to a server, a preview request identifying a call sign of a second broadcast station that broadcasts content on the second channel;

receiving, by the media playback device from the server, a response to the preview request, wherein the response includes identifying information corresponding to content being broadcast on the second channel; and

while the media playback device is playing back the content broadcast on the first channel, providing, by the media playback device for display, at least a portion of the identifying information corresponding to content being broadcast on the second channel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content broadcast on the first channel is audio content.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content broadcast on the first channel is video content.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preview request comprises a frequency of the second channel and a geographic location of the media playback device.

5. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the preview request identifies a set of second channels that includes the second channel, and

wherein the response includes respective identifying information corresponding to respective content being broadcast on each channel of the set of second channels.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising selecting channels of the set of second channels based on the channels being programmed as presets of the media playback device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying information corresponding to the content being broadcast on the second channel comprises a media unique identifier.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying information corresponding to the content being broadcast on the second channel comprises a track title, album title, and artist name.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying information corresponding to the content being broadcast on the second channel comprises a program identifier.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying information corresponding to the content being broadcast on the second channel comprises a link to an image.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the at least a portion of the identifying information for display comprises providing the at least a portion of the identifying information for display on a user interface of the media playback device.

12. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the server maintains a database mapping a plurality of channels to identifying information corresponding to content being broadcast on the plurality of channels, and

wherein the identifying information corresponding to the content being broadcast on the second channel is retrieved from the database.

13. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the response includes an advertisement, and

wherein the method further comprises providing, by the media playback device for display, the advertisement.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the media playback device, that the second channel has a channel indicator within a threshold channel indicator range from the first channel,

wherein selecting the second channel is further based on the second channel having a channel indicator within the threshold channel indicator range from the first channel.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that upon execution by a processor, cause performance of a set of acts comprising:

while a media playback device of a vehicle is playing back content broadcast by a first broadcast station on a first channel:

determining that the first channel is associated with a first genre,

determining that a second channel is associated with the first genre and has a frequency within a threshold frequency range from the first channel,

in response to determining that the first channel is associated with the first genre, selecting, from a plurality of channels different from the first channel, the second channel based on the second channel being associated with the first genre of the first channel and the second channel having a frequency within the threshold frequency range from the first channel, and

in response to selecting the second channel based on the second channel being associated with the first genre of the first channel, sending, to a server, a preview request identifying a call sign of a second broadcast station that broadcasts content on the second channel;

receiving, from the server, a response to the preview request, wherein the response includes identifying information corresponding to content being broadcast on the second channel; and

while the media playback device is playing back the content broadcast on the first channel, providing for display at least a portion of the identifying information corresponding to content being broadcast on the second channel.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the preview request comprises a frequency of the second channel and a geographic location of the media playback device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 :

wherein the preview request identifies a set of second channels that includes the second channel,

wherein the response includes respective identifying information corresponding to respective content being broadcast on each channel of the set of second channels, and

wherein the set of acts further comprises selecting channels of the second set of channels based on the channels being programmed as presets of the media playback device.

18. A computing system configured for performing a set of acts comprising:

while a media playback device of a vehicle is playing back content broadcast by a first broadcast station on a first channel:

determining that the first channel is associated with a first genre,

determining that a second channel is associated with the first genre and has a frequency within a threshold frequency range from the first channel,

in response to determining that the first channel is associated with the first genre, selecting, from a plurality of channels different from the first channel, the second channel based on the second channel being associated with the first genre of the first channel and the second channel having a frequency within the threshold frequency range from the first channel, and

in response to selecting the second channel based on the second channel being associated with the first genre of the first channel, sending, to a server, a preview request identifying a call sign of a second broadcast station that broadcasts content on the second channel;

receiving, from the server, a response to the preview request, wherein the response includes identifying information corresponding to content being broadcast on the second channel; and

while the media playback device is playing back the content broadcast on the first channel, providing for display at least a portion of the identifying information corresponding to content being broadcast on the second channel.

19. The computing system of claim 18 :

wherein the content broadcast on the first channel is audio content, and

wherein the preview request comprises a frequency of the second channel and a geographic location of the media playback device.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2019
From: FEARN, PAT D.; JEYACHANDRAN, SURESH; FASCHING, DAMON P.; SHERMAN, MARK W.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.
Reel/Frame 051310/0953 →