Mapping user notifications to specific media streams

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10909577-B2
Application number	US-201815986142-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2018
Priority date	Aug 24, 2007
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A media automation system generates multiple instances of a media broadcast stream, which includes core content common to each of the instances of the media broadcast stream, and multiple spot blocks interspersed within the media broadcast stream. Each stream instance is associated with a particular media playout device. A user notification is received and a packaged user notification is generated for inclusion in a particular instance of the media broadcast stream. Packaging the user notification includes obtaining first account information associated with a media delivery platform account of a user associated with a particular media playout device, and second account information associated with a consumer notification service account of the user. The user notification is mapped to the particular media playout device based on the first and second account information, and the packaged user notification is inserted into a first available spot block of the particular instance of the media broadcast stream.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for use in a media automation system, the method comprising:
generating, at a media automation system including a processor and associated memory, a plurality of instances of a media broadcast stream for transmission to a plurality of media playout devices, wherein the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream are associated with particular media playout devices, and wherein the media broadcast stream includes core content common to each of the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, and a plurality of spot blocks interspersed within the media broadcast stream;
obtaining mapping information at the media automation system, wherein obtaining the mapping information includes:
obtaining, by the media automation system, media delivery platform account information associating a user of a particular media playout device with a media delivery platform account;
obtaining, by the media automation system, consumer notification service account information associating the user with a consumer notification service account associated with a consumer notification service;

transmitting, from the media automation system to an advertisement server separate from the media automation system, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map a user notification, received at the advertisement server from the consumer notification service, to a particular user, wherein the user notification is selected by the consumer notification service; and
facilitating insertion of the user notification into at least one instance of the media broadcast stream by passing control of inserting content into the at least one instance of the media broadcast stream from the media automation system to the advertisement server during a period of time when core content is not being presented to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inserting, into the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map notifications received from third party sources to the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting to the advertisement server, separate from the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to map notifications received from third party sources to the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media delivery platform account information includes:
user account information linking the user with a streaming radio service.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the consumer notification service account information includes login information for the consumer notification service account.

6. A media automation system comprising:
a first processor and associated first memory configured to implement a media server, the media server coupled to a media delivery platform;
a second processor and associated second memory configured to implement an advertisement server, the advertisement server coupled to the media server, the media delivery platform, and a consumer notification service;
the media server configured to:
generate a plurality of instances of a media broadcast stream for transmission to a plurality of media playout devices, wherein the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream are associated with particular media playout devices, and wherein the media broadcast stream includes core content common to each of the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, and a plurality of spot blocks interspersed within the media broadcast stream;
obtain media delivery platform account information associating a user of a particular media playout device with a media delivery platform account associated with the media delivery platform;
obtain consumer notification service account information associating the user with a consumer notification service account associated with the consumer notification service;
transmit, to the advertisement server, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map a user notification, received at the advertisement server from the consumer notification service, to a particular user, wherein the user notification is selected by the consumer notification service; and
facilitate insertion of the user notification into at least one instance of the media broadcast stream by passing control of inserting content into the at least one instance of the media broadcast stream from the media automation system to the advertisement server during a period of time when core content is not being presented to the user.

7. The media automation system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
insert, into the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map notifications received from third party sources to the user.

8. The media automation system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
transmit to the advertisement server, separate from the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to map notifications received from third party sources to the user.

9. The media automation system of claim 6 , wherein the media delivery platform account information includes:
user account information linking the user with a streaming radio service.

10. The media automation system of claim 6 , wherein the consumer notification service account information includes login information for the consumer notification service account.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions configured to be stored in a memory and executed by a processor, the program of instructions configured to implement a method comprising:
generating, at a media automation system including a processor and associated memory, a plurality of instances of a media broadcast stream for transmission to a plurality of media playout devices, wherein the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream are associated with particular media playout devices, and wherein the media broadcast stream includes core content common to each of the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, and a plurality of spot blocks interspersed within the media;
obtaining mapping information at the media automation system, wherein obtaining the mapping information includes:
obtaining, by the media automation system, media delivery platform account information associating a user of a particular media playout device with a media delivery platform account o;
obtaining, by the media automation system, consumer notification service account information associating the user with a consumer notification service account associated with a consumer notification service;

transmitting, from the media automation system to an advertisement server separate from the media automation system, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server to map a user notification, received at the advertisement server from the consumer notification service, to a particular user, wherein the user notification is selected by the consumer notification service; and
facilitating insertion of the user notification into at least one instance of the media broadcast stream by passing control of inserting content into the at least one instance of the media broadcast stream from the media automation system to the advertisement server during a period of time when core content is not being presented to the user.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising:
inserting, into the plurality of instances of the media broadcast stream, information sufficient to allow the advertisement server

Assignees

• Iheartmedia Man Services Inc

Inventors

• Mactiernan Daniel N
• 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

• H04L65/611

  for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) · CPC title

• H04L51/52

  for supporting social networking services · CPC title

• H04L12/18

  for broadcast or conference {, e.g. multicast} · CPC title

• H04L12/1895

  for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates · CPC title