IP Library Granted Patent US 12,556,593
Granted Patent B1
US 12,556,593 · App. 18/640,744 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Editable clock positions in local clock incorporating national content

Inventors: David C. Jellison, Jr. (Austin, TX); Darren Grant Davis (Dallas, TX); Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn (Cincinnati, OH)
Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
H04L65/40H04H20/06H04H40/09H04H60/06
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,556,593
App. No.
18/640,744
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A computing device includes a communications interface, memory storing a program of instructions, and processor coupled to the communications interface and the memory. The processor is configured to execute the program of instructions to receive a national log via the communications interface, wherein the national log specifies national media items scheduled for broadcast on a plurality of local media stations, and timing information associated with the national media items; incorporate the national media items into local clock positions of a local clock used to generate a local broadcast log, wherein the national media items are incorporated into the local clock based on the timing information associated with the national media items; determine whether one or more clock positions of the local clock are editable clock positions; display at least a portion of the local clock including incorporated national media items; and display indicators denoting the editable clock positions.

Claims (69)

1 . A computing device comprising:

a communications interface;

memory storing a program of instructions; and

a processor coupled to the communications interface and the memory, the processor configured to execute the program of instructions to

receive a national log via the communications interface, wherein the national log specifies national media items scheduled for broadcast on a plurality of local media stations, and timing information associated with the national media items,

incorporate the national media items into local clock positions of a local clock used to generate a local broadcast log, wherein the national media items are incorporated into the local clock based on the timing information associated with the national media items,

determine whether one or more clock positions of the local clock are editable clock positions, wherein an editable clock position permits at least one of editing a duration of the editable clock position or replacing a national media item already inserted into the editable clock position,

display at least a portion of the local clock including incorporated national media items, and

display indicators denoting the editable clock positions.

2 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

determine that a particular clock position of the local clock is editable, and

change a time allotted to the particular clock position in response to determining that the particular clock position is editable.

3 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

determine whether a particular clock position of the local clock is editable based on information included in the national log, the information included in the national log specifying which of the one or more clock positions of the local clock are editable clock positions.

4 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

send a request for edit lock instructions to a source of the national log,

receive a response to the request for edit lock instructions, and

determine whether a particular clock position of the local clock is editable based on the response to the request for edit lock instructions.

5 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

display content eligible for insertion into the editable clock positions.

6 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

obtain information from the national log indicating a data source of approved replacement content.

7 . The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

obtain a list of replacement items from the data source.

8 . A method comprising:

receiving, at a processing device, a national log, wherein the national log specifies national media items scheduled for broadcast on a plurality of local media stations, and timing information associated with the national media items;

incorporating the national media items into local clock positions of a local clock used to generate a local broadcast log, wherein the national media items are incorporated into the local clock based on the timing information associated with the national media items;

determining editable clock positions of the local clock, wherein an editable clock position permits at least one of editing a duration of the editable clock position or substituting a national media item already inserted into the editable clock position;

displaying at least a portion of the local clock including incorporated national media items, and

displaying indicators denoting the editable clock positions.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining that a particular clock position of the local clock is editable, and

changing a time allotted to the particular clock position in response to determining that the particular clock position is editable.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining whether a particular clock position of the local clock is editable based on information included in the national log, the information included in the national log specifying which of the local clock positions are editable clock positions.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

sending a request for edit lock instructions to a source of the national log;

receiving a response to the request for edit lock instructions; and

determining whether a particular clock position of the local clock is editable based on the response to the request for edit lock instructions.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

displaying content eligible for insertion into the editable clock positions.

13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

obtaining information from the national log indicating a data source of approved replacement content.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

obtaining a list of replacement items from the data source.

15 . A local scheduling system including:

a communications interface;

memory storing a program of instructions; and

a processor coupled to the communications interface and the memory, the processor configured to execute the program of instructions to

receive a national log via the communications interface, wherein the national log specifies national media items scheduled for broadcast on a plurality of local media stations, and timing information associated with the national media items,

incorporate the national media items into local clock positions of a local clock used to generate a local broadcast log, wherein the national media items are incorporated into the local clock based on the timing information associated with the national media items,

determine whether one or more clock positions of the local clock are editable clock positions, wherein an editable clock position permits at least one of editing a duration of the editable clock position or replacing a national media item already inserted into the editable clock position,

display at least a portion of the local clock including incorporated national media items,

display indicators denoting the editable clock positions, and

receive user input indicating edits to at least one editable clock position.

16 . The local scheduling system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

determine that a particular clock position of the local clock is editable, and

change a time allotted to the particular clock position in response to determining that the particular clock position is editable.

17 . The local scheduling system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

determine whether a particular clock position of the local clock is editable based on information included in the national log, the information included in the national log specifying which of the one or more clock positions of the local clock are editable clock positions.

18 . The local scheduling system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

send a request for edit lock instructions to a source of the national log,

receive a response to the request for edit lock instructions, and

determine whether a particular clock position of the local clock is editable based on the response to the request for edit lock instructions.

19 . The local scheduling system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

display content eligible for insertion into the editable clock positions.

20 . The local scheduling system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program of instructions to

obtain information from the national log indicating a data source of approved replacement content, and

obtain a list of replacement items from the data source.

Assignments (6)
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 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17985986 · Nov 14, 2022
Continuation 17036069 · Sep 29, 2020
Continuation 15995306 · Jun 1, 2018
Continuation 14231833 · Apr 1, 2014
Continuation In Part 13478476 · May 23, 2012
References Cited (12)
US 6223210B1 · Hickey · 2001 [cited by examiner]
US 7055166B1 · Logan et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20010003846A1 · Rowe et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20030079223A1 · Galloway · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20060212444A1 · Handman et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20090259734A1 · Morikawa · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20110083074A1 · Jellison, Jr. et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110087796A1 · Littlejohn et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110099250A1 · Littlejohn · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20120066038A1 · Issa et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120308209A1 · Zaletel · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130007043A1 · Phillips et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]