Patents Assigned to iHeartMedia Management Service, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12230127
    Abstract: A traffic-prediction validation module includes memory storing a program of computer instructions, and at least a first processor. The at least a first processor is configured to execute the program of instructions to obtain first traffic related information gathered from a plurality of traffic probe devices, receive a traffic-flow prediction, determine a selected subset of the plurality of traffic probe devices based on characteristics of the plurality of traffic probe devices, generate a ground truth based on a subset of the first traffic related information, wherein the subset of the first traffic related information is obtained from the selected subset of the plurality of traffic probe devices, and determine whether the traffic-flow prediction is valid based on the ground truth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn
  • Patent number: 12211071
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, from a requesting device, a broadcast station identifier associated with an over-the-air broadcast station. In response to receiving the station identifier, returning to the requesting device an address of a streaming station corresponding to the over-the-air broadcast station. A determination is made regarding whether the requesting device will insert advertisements locally. In response to determining that the requesting will insert advertisements locally, custom advertisements are transmitted to the requesting device for insertion into the streaming station corresponding to the over-the-air broadcast station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn
  • Patent number: 12003553
    Abstract: A voice track (VT) device obtains a talent-to-master schedule and a station-to-master schedule. A master broadcast log, which includes an empty master VT associated with a user, is identified based on the talent-to-master schedule. The master broadcast log is displayed in a GUI on the VT recording device. User input selecting the empty master VT is received. Subscribing stations that use the identified master broadcast log as a basis for generating station broadcast logs are identified based on the station-to-master schedule, and obtained from the stations. For each station broadcast log that includes a station VT corresponding to the empty master VT, a match status is determined. The match status indicates whether media items scheduled for broadcast in slots adjacent to the station VT differ from media items scheduled for broadcast in slots adjacent to the empty master VT. Match statuses of station VTs corresponding to the empty master VT are displayed on a child window of the GUI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Jellison, Jr., Darren Grant Davis, Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn
  • Patent number: 12003557
    Abstract: A method for use in a processing system includes receiving information regarding a work, where the information does not include a valid unified numbering system identifier that identifies a particular work of a plurality of works, and where the information includes one or more received attributes associated with the work. The method further includes obtaining a plurality of sets of attributes from one or more databases, which include a set of attributes associated with each work of the plurality of works. The method further includes determining whether a threshold number for a set of attributes of the plurality of sets of attributes matches corresponding ones of the one or more received attributes. When the threshold number does not match, the method further includes assigning a new unified numbering system identifier associated with the work and storing the new unified numbering system identifier in a database of the processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Littlejohn, Bobbi Denise Schuster, Keyin Hsu, Jennifer L. Smith
  • Patent number: 12001477
    Abstract: A computing system includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with an external media resource, a memory that stores operational instructions and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, such that the processing module, when operable within the computing system based on the operational instructions, is configured to is configured to perform various operations. The computing system receives an audio fingerprint from the external medial resource, divides the audio file segment into a plurality of portions and compares the audio file segment with a plurality of stored audio segments. The computing system then determines whether a threshold number of the plurality of portions of a stored audio segment compare favorably with a threshold number of the plurality of portions of the audio file segment and based thereon determines whether the audio file segment and the stored audio segment correspond to alternate versions of a same song.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Dyon Anniballi
  • Patent number: 12001473
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Nigel Attwell, Chris Bean
  • Patent number: 11997615
    Abstract: A mesh network includes multiple in-band on-channel (IBOC) transceivers, connected in a mesh configuration. A first IBOC transceiver receives first broadcast content for IBOC transmission, and transmits the first broadcast content to a second IBOC transceiver, which broadcasts the first broadcast content within a first IBOC broadcast area. the second IBOC transceiver receives feedback related to the first broadcast content from a user device within the first IBOC broadcast area, and transmits the feedback to an edge transceiver via a communication path including the first IBOC transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn
  • Patent number: 11995689
    Abstract: A transfer time, at which control of automatically inserting advertisements into a broadcast is to be passed from a first advertisement management system to a second advertisement management system, is scheduled to occur within a spot break. During a first portion of the spot break controlled by the first advertisement management system, a determination is made that playout of a final advertisement scheduled for broadcast during the first portion of the spot break cannot be completed prior to the transfer time. A run-last-spot parameter indicating whether the first advertisement management system is permitted to pass control of automatically inserting advertisements into the broadcast prior to the transfer time is obtained. Control of automatically inserting advertisements into the broadcast is conditionally passed from the first advertisement management system to the second advertisement management system based on the run-last-spot parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Jeffrey James Bengel, David C. Jellison, Jr., Daniel N. MacTiernan
  • Patent number: 11979445
    Abstract: A media distribution device receives media content including media items to be broadcast. the media items include common media items to be delivered to end users by each of multiple different media delivery devices. “Common” refers to the fact that the same media items are delivered by the media delivery devices, and does not mean “ordinary.” The common media items are processed into first chunks and second chunks. The sizes of the first chunks the second chunks are different, with the size of the first chunks determined based at least in part on a first media delivery schedule associated with a first media delivery device and the size of the second chunks determined based at least in part on a second media delivery schedule associated with a second media delivery device. The first chunks are transmitted to the first media delivery device, and the second chunks are delivered to the second media delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Jellison, Jr., Martin Blazek
  • Patent number: 11966946
    Abstract: An analytics module included in a processing system receives performance feedback related to a broadcast media item. The performance feedback includes metadata associated with the feedback. Based on the metadata, the analytics module distinguishes between first performance feedback provided by automated programs and second performance feedback provided by valid users. The second performance feedback is transmitted to a media proposal server, but the first performance feedback is not. The media proposal server determines, based on the second performance feedback, that the broadcast media item is to be replaced by a replacement broadcast media item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark R. Allen, Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn
  • Publication number: 20240129573
    Abstract: A processing system receives a user-generated media recording, and metadata associated with the user-generated feedback, from a first device. The user-generated media recording is a recording of the public end-user captured during a live media broadcast using a public-user interface on the first device. The metadata includes information linking the user-generated media recording to the live media broadcast. The system stores the user-generated media recording and the first metadata in one or more storage devices, and transmits a version of the user-generated media recording and at least a portion of the first metadata to a private-user interface on a second device. The private-user interface is configured to receive input from a private end-user selecting the version of the user-generated media recording for broadcast during the same live media broadcast during which the user-generated media recording was created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Curtis Mitchell, Michael Scott Woodruff, Adam Michael Roberts, Steven Douglas Wight, Siu Leung Chan, Jacob Earl Bolton, Stephen William Bain, Qian Chang, Davis Scott Harlan
  • Patent number: 11943504
    Abstract: An application programming interface (API) receives broadcast-related information from media automation applications. A traffic log is received from a first media automation application configured to generate a traffic log associated with a media station, and spot information associated with spots included in the traffic log is received from at least a second media automation application. The API stores the broadcast-related information, including the traffic log and the spot information, in one or more databases. The API also receives, from a media playout system, at least one request for the stored broadcast-related information. The media playout system is configured to insert media content into a media broadcast associated with the media station. The API provides the requested broadcast-related information to the media playout system, which inserts the media content into the media broadcast associated with the media station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Mills, Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, David C. Jellison, Jr., Vijay Jayakumar, Riad Edelbi, Adam Zastawski, José Antonio Carbajal Orozco
  • Patent number: 11943312
    Abstract: A resource host transmits a payload to a client device. The payload includes a first asset hosted by the resource host, and the first asset is associated with a first reference tag indicating a versioning status of the first asset. The resource host receives an Add Ref Instruction, wherein the Add Ref Instruction, which includes a custom reference tag indicating a user-selected versioning status of the first asset. The resource host associates a second reference tag with the first asset based on the custom reference tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Long, III, Travis D. Terry, Thomas Dacre Drapeau
  • Patent number: 11941647
    Abstract: A data processing system includes a processor and associated memory implementing an enterprise data management (EDM) module configured to interact with an enterprise management system. A storage device coupled to the processor, implements an enterprise data management (EDM) database, which stores priority rules used to determine priority scores associated with a plurality of different entities associated with entity records. A communications interface coupled to the processor, transmits the priority rules, to an enterprise management system, and receives priority scores of individual entities, determined based on the priority rules, from the enterprise management system. The priority scores of the individual entities are stored in the EDM database in association with the priority rules, and the EDM module matches the entity records to entities based, at least in part, on the priority scores of the individual entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Kohinoor Basu, Angel Barnachea Chua, Matthew M. Ferry, Scott Arthur Roberts
  • Patent number: 11930061
    Abstract: An edge device operates in an online mode of operation during a first period of time, wherein during the online mode of operation, the edge device obtains broadcast-related information originating from media automation applications. The edge device operates in a local mode of operation during a second period of time, wherein during the local mode of operation the edge device obtains locally stored broadcast-related information, and emulates services provided by the media automation applications. The edge device operates in a disaster recovery mode of operation during recovery from the local mode of operation, wherein during the disaster recovery mode of operation the edge device obtains stored broadcast-related information from a content recovery database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Mills, Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, David C. Jellison, Jr., Vijay Jayakumar, Riad Edelbi, Adam Zastawski, José Antonio Carbajal Orozco
  • Publication number: 20240020294
    Abstract: A method for use in a data processing system includes storing pass order information in a first data structure, wherein the pass order information stores settings associated with an order in which media items are to be scheduled for inclusion in a broadcast media schedule, and automatically generating the broadcast media schedule in accordance with the settings stored in the first data structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Nigel Attwell, William Wallace Webber, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11877223
    Abstract: An importer-exporter includes at least a first interface that receives channel packets and a stream of emergency action signal (EAS) packets. The channel packets include channel content for multiple media channels, and the stream of EAS packets include first EAS notification content from a first EAS encoder. The first EAS notification content is associated with one or more particular media channels. A processor and associated memory are configured to implement a switching module that includes a login module and a multiplexer. The login module monitors the stream of EAS packets, and selects either channel content or first notification content for inclusion in broadcasts of each of the media channels based on the monitored stream of EAS packets. Thea multiplexer transmits the content selected by the login module for inclusion in the broadcasts of each of the plurality of media channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Alan W. Jurison
  • Patent number: 11876792
    Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a wireless local Access Network (WLAN) module, a personal area network (PAN) module, a timing module, a memory, an authentication module operably coupled to the WLAN module, the PAN module, the timing module and the memory and a processing module operably coupled to the authentication module. The WLAN module is configured to transmit a licensing request message to an authentication server and receive a licensing request response from the authentication server, while the personal area network (PAN) module is configured to receive a time limited licensing request message from a client computer and transmit a licensing request response to the client computer. The processing module is configured to control at least a portion of an authentication process executed on the authentication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Jellison, Jr., Philippe Generali
  • Publication number: 20230401953
    Abstract: One or more traffic-data sets including traffic probes, which include one or more identifiable items of information obtained from one or more traffic probe devices, are obtained. A traffic flow prediction to be validated is selected. The selected traffic flow prediction is associated with a road segment and a time period. A list of traffic probes to be used in validating the traffic flow prediction is generated. The list of traffic probes includes information obtained from traffic probe devices that travelled an entire length of the road segment during the time period. Travel times of the traffic probe devices that travelled an entire length of the road segment during the time period are ordered, and outliers are removed from the list of traffic probes. A validated traffic-flow prediction is generated based on traffic probes remaining in the list of traffic probes, and the validated traffic-flow prediction is transmitted to an end-user processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn
  • Publication number: 20230396524
    Abstract: A stream monitor device includes at least one processor configured to implement a get stream module, which obtains, from a streaming server, stream records associated with media streams to be monitored. The at least one processor is further configured to implement a stream monitor module configured to perform event-driven monitoring of monitored media streams. The at least one processor is further configured to implement a graphical user interface (GUI) module that generates displays related to a status of the monitored media streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Curtis Viers