IP Library Granted Patent US 12,001,473
Granted Patent B2
US 12,001,473 · App. 17/588,419 · Granted Jun 4, 2024

Selecting shots for scheduling

Inventors: Nigel Attwell (Goldens Bridge, NY); Chris Bean (Alexandria, AU)
Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
G06F16/41G06F16/2228G06F16/24578G06F16/4387G06Q10/1093H04H60/06H04N21/26258H04N21/84H04H60/47
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,001,473
App. No.
17/588,419
Granted
Jun 4, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for use in an automated media scheduling system includes generating a shots representing potential playlists of media items. Each of the shots includes multiple shot positions. A shot-position-dependent score of a current content item being considered for insertion into a particular shot position of a particular shot is generated, and indicates how closely the current content item conforms to a predetermined set of factors associated with the particular shot position of the particular shot. The current content item is inserted into the particular shot position of the particular shot based, at least in part on a comparison of the shot-position-dependent score of the current content item with shot-position-dependent scores of other content items, and the shot positions of each of the shots are populated with eligible content items. One of the shots is selected for scheduling based on aggregate scores of eligible content associated with each individual shot.

Claims (65)

1. A method for use in an automated media scheduling system including a processor and associated memory, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of shots representing potential playlists of media items, wherein, each of the plurality of shots includes a plurality of shot positions;

generating a shot-position-dependent score of a current content item being considered for insertion into a particular shot position of a particular shot, wherein:

the shot-position-dependent score of the current content item indicates how closely the current content item conforms to a predetermined set of factors associated with the particular shot position of the particular shot;

inserting the current content item into the particular shot position of the particular shot based, at least in part on a comparison of the shot-position-dependent score of the current content item with shot-position-dependent scores of other content items;

populating the plurality of shot positions of each of the plurality of shots with eligible content items; and

selecting one of the plurality of shots based on aggregate scores of eligible content associated with each individual shot.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying content items eligible for insertion into the particular shot position based, at least in part, on an index value associated with the particular shot position.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying content items eligible for insertion into the particular shot position further includes:

determining that a relative rank of the current content item with respect to other content items being considered for placement in the particular shot position satisfies the index value associated with the particular shot position.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

scoring the eligible content items relative to other content items eligible for insertion into the particular shot position; and

associating content index values to the eligible content items.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning position index values to individual shot positions, wherein position index values assigned to positions in particular shots form a unique sequences of index values.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

aggregating shot-position-dependent scores of eligible content items placed in shot positions associated with each individual shot to generate composite shot scores.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

generating a shot-score comparison; and

generating a broadcast schedule based on the shot-score comparison.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodying a program of computer executable instructions including:

at least one instruction to generate a plurality of shots representing potential playlists of media items, wherein, each of the plurality of shots includes a plurality of shot positions;

at least one instruction to generate a shot-position-dependent score of a current content item being considered for insertion into a particular shot position of a particular shot, wherein:

the shot-position-dependent score of the current content item indicates how closely the current content item conforms to a predetermined set of factors associated with the particular shot position of the particular shot;

at least one instruction to insert the current content item into the particular shot position of the particular shot based, at least in part on a comparison of the shot-position-dependent score of the current content item with shot-position-dependent scores of other content items;

at least one instruction to populate the plurality of shot positions of each of the plurality of shots with eligible content items; and

at least one instruction to select one of the plurality of shots based on aggregate scores of eligible content associated with each individual shot.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising:

at least one instruction to identify content items eligible for insertion into the particular shot position based, at least in part, on an index value associated with the particular shot position.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein identifying content items eligible for insertion into the particular shot position further includes:

at least one instruction to determine that a relative rank of the current content item with respect to other content items being considered for placement in the particular shot position satisfies the index value associated with the particular shot position.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising:

at least one instruction to score the eligible content items relative to other content items eligible for insertion into the particular shot position; and

at least one instruction to associate content index values to the eligible content items.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising:

at least one instruction to assign position index values to individual shot positions, wherein position index values assigned to positions in particular shots form a unique sequences of index values.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising:

at least one instruction to aggregate shot-position-dependent scores of eligible content items placed in shot positions associated with each individual shot to generate composite shot scores.

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

at least one instruction to generate a shot-score comparison; and

at least one instruction to generate a broadcast schedule based on the shot-score comparison.

15. A processing system comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor;

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

at least one instruction to generate a plurality of shots representing potential playlists of media items, wherein, each of the plurality of shots includes a plurality of shot positions;

at least one instruction to generate a shot-position-dependent score of a current content item being considered for insertion into a particular shot position of a particular shot, wherein:

the shot-position-dependent score of the current content item indicates how closely the current content item conforms to a predetermined set of factors associated with the particular shot position of the particular shot;

at least one instruction to insert the current content item into the particular shot position of the particular shot based, at least in part on a comparison of the shot-position-dependent score of the current content item with shot-position-dependent scores of other content items;

at least one instruction to populate the plurality of shot positions of each of the plurality of shots with eligible content items; and

at least one instruction to select one of the plurality of shots based on aggregate scores of eligible content associated with each individual shot.

16. The processing system of claim 15 , further comprising:

at least one instruction to identify content items eligible for insertion into the particular shot position based, at least in part, on an index value associated with the particular shot position.

17. The processing system of claim 16 , wherein identifying content items eligible for insertion into the particular shot position further includes:

at least one instruction to determine that a relative rank of the current content item with respect to other content items being considered for placement in the particular shot position satisfies the index value associated with the particular shot position.

18. The processing system of claim 16 , further comprising:

at least one instruction to score the eligible content items relative to other content items eligible for insertion into the particular shot position; and

at least one instruction to associate content index values to the eligible content items.

19. The processing system of claim 15 , further comprising:

at least one instruction to assign position index values to individual shot positions, wherein position index values assigned to positions in particular shots form a unique sequences of index values.

20. The processing system of claim 15 , further comprising:

at least one instruction to aggregate shot-position-dependent scores of eligible content items placed in shot positions associated with each individual shot to generate composite shot scores;

at least one instruction to generate a shot-score comparison; and

at least one instruction to generate a broadcast schedule based on the shot-score comparison.

Assignments (8)
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 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 22, 2024
From: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 069752/0941 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2022
From: ATTWELL, NIGEL; BEAN, CHRIS
To: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058842/0218 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2022
From: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058920/0496 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16654110 · Oct 16, 2019
Continuation 15272794 · Sep 22, 2016
Continuation 14267022 · May 1, 2014
Continuation 13268267 · Oct 7, 2011
Related Publication 20220156306A1 · May 19, 2022