Customized perishable media content based on user-specified preference for static or variable location

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10356147-B2
Application number	US-201715617700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2017
Priority date	Aug 24, 2007
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

Media consumers can elect to have local news, weather, traffic, or other perishable content inserted into customized media streams. The perishable content is inserted into the media stream as an add-in block containing items associated with a particular locale that matches a user location source preference. The user can specify a static location source preference, or a follow-me, or roaming preference, in which the user's current location is used. The perishable content is selected for inclusion in an add-in block by matching a user's location preference to a locale associated with the perishable content.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of customizing a consumer-media content station, the method comprising:
receiving, at a server device configured to implement a media delivery service providing customized media stations to users, a user request for transmission of a customized media station to a user device;
determining, by the media delivery service, a user-specified location preference indicating a user choice between static and roaming perishable content, wherein a user-specified location preference for static perishable content indicates a user choice for perishable content associated with a specified static location, and a user-specified location preference for roaming perishable content indicates a user choice for perishable content associated with a dynamic user location;
inserting, by the media delivery service, different perishable content into the customized media station based on a result of determining the user-specified location preference, wherein:
in response to determining that the user-specified location preference indicates a user choice for static perishable content, inserting into the customized media station, perishable content selected based on the specified static location;
in response to determining that the user-specified location preference indicates a user choice for roaming perishable content:
obtaining a current user location based on a location of the user device;
inserting, into the customized media station, perishable content selected based on the current user location; and

transmitting the customized media station, including inserted perishable content, from the media delivery service to the user device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the current user location comprises:
transmitting a current-location request from the media delivery service to the user device; and
determining the current user location based on information included in a response to the current-location request.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
the response to the current-location request including information indicating that location services on the user device are blocked; and
in response to receiving the response, inserting perishable content associated with a fallback static location.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a particular user has previously specified a plurality of user-specified location preferences for a plurality of different media station types, and the customized media station is a particular type of customized media station, the method further comprising:
determining, by the media delivery service, a user-specified location preference associated with the particular type of customized media station; and
inserting, by the media delivery service, the different perishable content into the customized media station based on the user-specified location preference associated with the particular type of customized media station.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user-specified location preference is a global preference applicable to a plurality of user devices and a plurality of custom media stations, the method further comprising:
applying the global preference based, at least in part, on location settings imposed by each of the plurality of user devices.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the current user location at or near a time when the user request for transmission of the customized media station is received from the user device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the current user location at or near a time the perishable content is to be inserted in the customized media station.

8. A method of customizing a consumer-media content station, the method comprising:
receiving, at a server device configured to implement a media delivery service providing customized media stations to users, a user request for a customized media station to be synchronized to a media player executing on a user device;
determining, by the media delivery service, a user-specified location preference indicating a user choice between static and roaming perishable content, wherein a user-specified location preference for static perishable content indicates a user choice for perishable content associated with a specified static location, and a user-specified location preference for roaming perishable content indicates a user choice for perishable content associated with a dynamic user location;
determining, by the media delivery service, different perishable content to be included in the customized media station based on a result of determining the user-specified location preference, wherein determining different perishable content includes:
where the user-specified location preference indicates a user choice for static perishable content, selecting perishable content associated with the specified static location;
where the user-specified location preference indicates a user choice for roaming perishable content, selecting perishable content associated with a current user location;

generating a schedule of media items, including the different perishable content, to be included in the customized media station; and
synchronizing the customized media station to the media player by transmitting the schedule of media station items from the media delivery service to the user device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
periodically determining an updated current user location by transmitting a current-location request from the media delivery service to the user device; and
determining the updated current user location based on information included in a response to the current-location request.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
the response to the current-location request including information indicating that location services on the user device are blocked; and
in response to receiving the response, scheduling perishable content associated with a fallback static location.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
periodically determining an updated current user location; and
generating an additional schedule of media items to be included in the customized media station to replace already played media items, wherein the additional schedule of media items includes perishable content selected based on the updated current user location.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein a particular user has previously specified a plurality of user-specified location preferences for a plurality of different media station types, and the customized media station is a particular type of customized media station, the method further comprising:
determining, by the media delivery service, a user-specified location preference associated with the particular type of customized media station; and
scheduling, by the media delivery service, the different perishable content in the customized media station based on the user-specified location preference associated with the particular type of customized media station.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the user-specified location preference is a global preference applicable to a plurality of user devices and a plurality of custom media stations, the method further comprising:
applying the global preference based, at least in part, on location settings imposed by each of the plurality of user devices.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the current user location comprises:
determining the current user location at or near a time when the user request for the customized media station is received from the user device.

15. A server device implementin

Assignees

• Iheartmedia Man Services Inc

Inventors

• Drapeau Thomas
• Hamre Lasse
• Calamera Pablo
• Lockhart Kevin R
• Wooden Richard D
• Zigler Jeffrey D
• Lockhart Jacqueline J

Classifications

• G06F16/68

  Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually · CPC title

• G06Q30/0207 Primary

  Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates · CPC title

• H04L51/10

  Multimedia information · CPC title

• G06F16/639

  using playlists · CPC title

• G06F16/635

  Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles · CPC title