Abstract: Information related to a request to generate a new media creative (NMC), which includes new user-specified attributes (NUSAs), is obtained. Historical user-specified attributes (HUSAs) associated with historical creatives (HCs) are obtained from a data structure linking the HUSAs, historical creative parameters (HCPs), and acceptance statuses to the HCs. The HUSAs are associated with HCPs specifying historical content characteristics of the HCs, which are in turn associated with acceptance statuses. Particular HCs having HUSAs that match the NUSAs are selected. Accepted HCs (AHCs) are identified based on acceptance statuses, and HCPs associated with the AHCs are identified. A set of HCPs most frequently associated with the AHCs is selected based on associations among the HUSAs, the HCPs, and the acceptance statuses. A set of new creative parameters (NCPs) specifying new content characteristics of the NMC is selected based on the set of HCPs.

Abstract: A script creation system obtains both current user-specified attributes to be used in generating a new media creative, and historical data including historical user-specified attributes associated with previously generated media creatives. The script creation system generates a set of creative parameters specifying content characteristics of the new media creative based on the user-specified attributes and the historical data. The set of creative parameters are transmitted from the script creation system to a media creative generation system. The script creation system receives the new media creative generated by the media creative generation system, and provides the new media creative to an end user system associated with an end user. The script creation system receives feedback associated with the new media creative, and stores the feedback, the set of creative parameters, and the current user-specified attributes as historical data.

Abstract: A streaming server generates a media stream, and delivers it to an end user. The streaming server receives media items and an item schedule, and assembles the media items into the media stream based on timing relationships specified by the item schedule. The media stream includes an advertising spot block including advertising media content, and an adjacent spot block including other media content. The streaming server inserts a contextual marker into the advertising spot block. The contextual marker includes information identifying the other media content in the adjacent spot bloc. The streaming server transmits the media stream to an end-user media player, which is configured to process the contextual marker.

Abstract: A traffic-and-billing system imports a chronological schedule from a media automation system. The schedule includes media and advertisement spots allocated in accordance with a content allocation prediction, which allocates a portion of the advertisement spots to general content and a portion to local content. The traffic-and-billing system stores information associated with general advertisement content and generates a content listing based on the content allocation prediction. A general advertisement system receives, an update request that indicates at least one item of the general advertisement content is to be removed from the content listing. The general advertisement system plays out general advertisement content items included in the general advertisement content listing in response to receiving a playout request from the media automation system.

Abstract: First account information associated with a media delivery platform account is associated with second account information associated a third-party service provider account. Both the media delivery platform account and the third-party service provider account are associated with a particular consumer, and the first account information includes information indicating whether insertion of converted text-based notifications are enabled for a particular broadcast media stream. A text-based notification, which originates from the third-party service provider account and is directed to the particular consumer, is received. In response to determining, based on the first account information, that insertion of converted text-based notifications is enabled for the particular broadcast media stream: 1) the text-based notification into a converted text-based notification including personalized audio content; and 2) the converted-text-based notification is inserted into the particular broadcast media stream.

Abstract: A log file including prediction information specifying a local advertisement content allocation amount and a general advertisement content allocation amount over a predetermined duration of time is received. A chronological schedule designating media content spots and advertising spots for the predetermined duration of time is also received. It is determined that a sold amount of local advertisement content during a particular time period, which is less than the predetermined duration of time, is insufficient to fill the local allocation during that time period, A portion of the local allocation is reallocated to the general allocation for the particular time period, while leaving the local and general allocation amounts unchanged over the predetermined duration of time. A program log is generated in accordance with the prediction information and the reallocating.

Abstract: A media stream includes multiple spot blocks representing portions of time assigned to particular media content, where some of the plurality of spot blocks include primary media content, and others include advertising content. The media stream also includes a contextual marker embedded in at least one of the spot blocks. The contextual marker includes information used by a media player to transmit a tracking call in response to reading the contextual marker.

Abstract: A first server controls insertion of media content into a media stream, and transmits the media stream from the first server to a media player. The first server also transmits, to a second server, information linking a particular consumer to both a third-party service and to the media player. Control of inserting media content into the media stream is passed from the first server to the second server. The second server receives consumer-specific content associated with the particular consumer from the third-party service, and maps the consumer-specific content to the media player based, at least in part, on the information linking the particular consumer to both the third-party service and to the media player. The second server then inserts the consumer-specific content into the media stream during a time period the second server is in control of inserting media content into the media stream.

Abstract: A log file including prediction information specifying a local advertisement content allocation amount and a general advertisement content allocation amount over a predetermined duration of time is received. A chronological schedule designating media content spots and advertising spots for the predetermined duration of time is also received. It is determined that a sold amount of local advertisement content during a particular time period, which is less than the predetermined duration of time, is insufficient to fill the local allocation during that time period, A portion of the local allocation is reallocated to the general allocation for the particular time period, while leaving the local and general allocation amounts unchanged over the predetermined duration of time. A program log is generated in accordance with the prediction information and the reallocating.

Abstract: A script creation system obtains both current user-specified attributes to be used in generating a new media creative, and historical data including historical user-specified attributes associated with previously generated media creatives. The script creation system generates a set of creative parameters specifying content characteristics of the new media creative based on the user-specified attributes and the historical data. The set of creative parameters are transmitted from the script creation system to a media creative generation system. The script creation system receives the new media creative generated by the media creative generation system, and provides the new media creative to an end user system associated with an end user. The script creation system receives feedback associated with the new media creative, and stores the feedback, the set of creative parameters, and the current user-specified attributes as historical data.

Abstract: An automated planning system obtains media advertising order specifications associated with media placement orders, wherein the media advertising order specifications include flexibility attributes associated with media items referenced in the media placement orders. The planning system generates an orders table including order information associated with individual orders, an inventory table including inventory information associated with individual inventory items, and an association table including association scores indicating levels of association between the individual inventory items and the individual orders, wherein the association scores are based on the flexibility attributes. The media placement orders are booked into a plan lineup based, at least in part, on the association scores.

Abstract: An advertisement proxy obtains a playlist associated with a destination platform. The playlist includes information identifying media items scheduled for delivery to the destination platform, an empty spot block, and metadata associated with the empty spot block. A playback manifest is generated based on the playlist, and includes the information identifying the media items scheduled for delivery to the destination platform, and spot information identifying an additional media item selected for inclusion in the empty spot block based on the metadata, format information identifying a media format associated with the destination platform, and location information specifying locations from which the media items and the additional media item can be obtained.

Abstract: Total advertising inventory of a broadcast station can be dynamically allocated between local, or station-sold, inventory and general, or network, inventory. The portion of total inventory allocated to local inventory or network inventory can be adjusted based on feedback from an advertising service, and a broadcast log can be generated based on the adjusted allocation. The broadcast log can be delivered to a media automation system associated with a media station which plays out local inventory in accordance with the broadcast log. When the broadcast log indicates that general/network inventory is to be broadcast, the media automation system stops playing-out local inventory, and allows the advertisement system to broadcast network inventory for a period of time indicated by the broadcast log. Broadcast of local inventory can be resumed early, before the time period indicated in the broadcast log has expired.

Abstract: A planning system obtains an order attribute table associating media advertising orders with flexibility attribute values that indicate scheduling flexibility, and generates an inventory table having cells representing station-daypart combinations. The cells of the inventory table are assigned flexibility attribute values corresponding to the flexibility attribute values of orders booked into corresponding station-daypart combinations. The planning system makes a comparison between a first flexibility attribute associated with an un-booked order and a second flexibility attribute associated with a booked order already booked in a particular station-daypart combination, where the comparison shows that the un-booked order has less scheduling flexibility than the booked order. In response to the comparison, an association between the booked order and the particular station-daypart combination is replaced with an association between the un-booked order and the particular station-daypart combination.

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.

Abstract: An ad proxy generates a playback manifest for delivery to a destination platform via a content distribution network (CDN). The playback manifest provided to the destination device includes hosted locations, such as network addresses, of both primary media files and advertising content. The playback manifest can also include tracking-calls. The destination platform receives normalized media files associated with the network addresses included in the playback manifest, and plays out those normalized media files during execution of the playback manifest. Tracking-calls can be fired, in accordance with the playback manifest, when part or all of a normalized media file has been played out. The tracking-calls can be used to facilitate calculation of impressions. The destination device need not be capable of differentiating between primary media content and advertising content, thus allowing even limited capability platforms, e.g. integrated automotive platforms, to provide targeted advertising.

Abstract: A processing system receives device registration information from a registered user of a website. The device registration information includes a registered telephone number assigned to a mobile communications device. The processing system receives a request for a homepage of the website from a requesting mobile communications device coupled to the processing system via a mobile carrier communications system. The Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the request is obtained, and the processing system obtains a telephone number currently associated with the IP address from a mobile carrier communications system. The processing system attempts to automatically login the requesting mobile communications device to the website by matching the telephone number currently associated with the IP address to the registered telephone number, and conditionally transmits different versions of the homepage based on whether the requesting mobile communications device has been automatically logged in to the website.

Abstract: A first advertisement management system assumes control of inserting advertisements into a spot break for a first, pre-allocated portion of the spot break, which has a duration and a scheduled conclusion. The first advertisement management system makes a first determination, based at least in part on a number of advertisements available for insertion into the first pre-allocated portion of the spot break by the first advertisement management system. The first determination indicates whether control of inserting advertisements into the spot break is to be passed to a second advertisement management system at the scheduled conclusion of the first pre-allocated portion of the spot break, prior to the scheduled conclusion of the first pre-allocated portion of the spot break, or later than the scheduled conclusion of the first pre-allocated portion of the spot break. The first advertisement management system passes control to the second advertisement management system in accordance with the first determination.

Abstract: A first server controls insertion of media content into a media stream, and transmits the media stream from the first server to a media player. The first server also transmits, to a second server, information linking a particular consumer to both a third-party service and to the media player. Control of inserting media content into the media stream is passed from the first server to the second server. The second server receives consumer-specific content associated with the particular consumer from the third-party service, and maps the consumer-specific content to the media player based, at least in part, on the information linking the particular consumer to both the third-party service and to the media player. The second server then inserts the consumer-specific content into the media stream during a time period the second server is in control of inserting media content into the media stream.

Abstract: A media stream includes multiple spot blocks representing portions of time assigned to particular media content, where some of the plurality of spot blocks include primary media content, and others include advertising content. The media stream also includes a contextual marker embedded in at least one of the spot blocks. The contextual marker includes information used by a media player to transmit a tracking call in response to reading the contextual marker.