IP Library Granted Patent US 9,762,941
Granted Patent B1
US 9,762,941 · App. 15/135,868 · Granted Sep 12, 2017

Media-broadcasting system with broadcast schedule simulation feature

Inventors: Scott Allan Propst (Noblesville, IN); Dana A. Lasher (Morgan Hill, CA)
Assignee: Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC
H04N21/26258H04H20/10H04N21/233H04N21/2407H04N21/812H04N21/8106H04N21/8133H04N21/8456
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,762,941
App. No.
15/135,868
Granted
Sep 12, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

In one aspect, an example method includes (i) accessing, by a computing system, a broadcast schedule, which indicates that a broadcast of a first media content item is scheduled to be followed by a broadcast of a second media content item, wherein the computing system can operate in a schedule mode or a breakout mode; (ii) switching from operating in the schedule mode to operating in the breakout mode; and (iii) while operating in the breakout mode: (a) simulating a broadcast of the first media content item; (b) making a determination that a particular signal is embedded in the first media content item; (c) responsive to making the determination, simulating a switch from broadcasting the first media content item to broadcasting the second media content item; (d) based on the simulated broadcast of the first and second media content items, generating a simulation log; and (e) presenting the generated log.

Claims (52)

1. A method comprising:

accessing, by a computing system, a broadcast schedule, which indicates that a broadcast of a first media content item is scheduled to be followed by a broadcast of a second media content item, wherein the computing system is configured for operating in a schedule mode or a breakout mode, wherein when operating in the schedule mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item scheduled in the broadcast schedule, and wherein when operating in the breakout mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item that is not scheduled in the broadcast schedule;

switching, by the computing system, from operating in the schedule mode to operating in the breakout mode; and

while the computing system operates in the breakout mode:

simulating, by the computing system, a broadcast of the first media content item;

making, by the computing system, a determination that a particular signal is embedded in the first media content item;

responsive to making the determination, simulating, by the computing system, a switch from broadcasting the first media content item to broadcasting the second media content item;

based on the simulated broadcast of the first and second media content items, generating, by the computing system, a simulation log; and

presenting, by the computing system, the generated simulation log.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing system is a sequencing system component of a media-broadcasting system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second media content item is a commercial, and wherein the particular signal is a commercial roll signal.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the commercial roll signal is an audio tone.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the broadcast schedule indicates that the commercial is associated with a manual start-time type.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generated simulation log identifies the first and second media content items.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein presenting the generated simulation log comprises displaying the generated simulation log.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting, by the computing system, an item in the presented simulation log; and

while the computing system operates in the breakout mode:

performing, by the computing system, an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item associated with the selected item.

9. 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:

accessing, by a computing system, a broadcast schedule, which indicates that a broadcast of a first media content item is scheduled to be followed by a broadcast of a second media content item, wherein the computing system is configured for operating in a schedule mode or a breakout mode, wherein when operating in the schedule mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item scheduled in the broadcast schedule, and wherein when operating in the breakout mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item that is not scheduled in the broadcast schedule;

switching, by the computing system, from operating in the schedule mode to operating in the breakout mode; and

while the computing system operates in the breakout mode:

simulating, by the computing system, a broadcast of the first media content item;

making, by the computing system, a determination that a particular signal is embedded in the first media content item;

responsive to making the determination, simulating, by the computing system, a switch from broadcasting the first media content item to broadcasting the second media content item;

based on the simulated broadcast of the first and second media content items, generating, by the computing system, a simulation log; and

presenting, by the computing system, the generated simulation log.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the computing system is a sequencing system component of a media-broadcasting system.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the second media content item is a commercial, and wherein the particular signal is a commercial roll signal.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the commercial roll signal is an audio tone.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the broadcast schedule indicates that the commercial is associated with a manual start-time type.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the generated simulation log identifies the first and second media content items.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein presenting the generated simulation log comprises displaying the generated simulation log.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , the set of acts further comprising:

selecting, by the computing system, an item in the presented simulation log; and

while the computing system operates in the breakout mode:

performing, by the computing system, an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item associated with the selected item.

17. A computing system comprising:

a processor, and

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

accessing, by the computing system, a broadcast schedule, which indicates that a broadcast of a first media content item is scheduled to be followed by a broadcast of a second media content item, wherein the computing system is configured for operating in a schedule mode or a breakout mode, wherein when operating in the schedule mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item scheduled in the broadcast schedule, and wherein when operating in the breakout mode, the computing system performs an act that facilitates broadcasting a media content item that is not scheduled in the broadcast schedule;

switching, by the computing system, from operating in the schedule mode to operating in the breakout mode; and

while the computing system operates in the breakout mode:

simulating, by the computing system, a broadcast of the first media content item;

making, by the computing system, a determination that a particular signal is embedded in the first media content item;

responsive to making the determination, simulating, by the computing system, a switch from broadcasting the first media content item to broadcasting the second media content item;

based on the simulated broadcast of the first and second media content items, generating, by the computing system, a simulation log; and

presenting, by the computing system, the generated simulation log.

18. The computing system of claim 17 , wherein the second media content item is a commercial, and wherein the particular signal is a commercial roll signal.

19. The computing system of claim 18 , wherein the commercial roll signal is an audio tone.

20. The computing system of claim 18 , wherein the broadcast schedule indicates that the commercial is associated with a manual start-time type.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE - REEL/FRAME 045506/0033 Recorded Sep 24, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 050473/0901 →
PARTIAL RELEASE - REEL/FRAME 038679/0458 Recorded Sep 24, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE MEDIA COMPANY
Reel/Frame 050474/0918 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 19, 2019
From: CHICAGOLAND TELEVISION NEWS, INC.; KPLR, INC.; KSTU, LLC; KSWB, LLC; KTLA, LLC; KTVI, LLC; KWGN, LLC; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING DENVER, LLC; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING FORT SMITH, LLC; TRIBUNE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE MEDIA COMPANY; TRIBUNE TELEVISION NEW ORLEANS, INC.; WDAF LICENSE, INC.; WDCW, LLC; WGHP, LLC; WGN CONTINENTAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; WHNT, LLC; WJW TELEVISION, LLC; WNEP, LLC; WPIX, LLC; WQAD, LLC; WREG, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050438/0004 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2018
From: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 045506/0033 →
NOTICE AND CONFIRMATION OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 11, 2016
From: GRACENOTE, INC.; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE MEDIA COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038679/0458 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2016
From: PROPST, SCOTT ALLAN; LASHER, DANA A.
To: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 038355/0420 →