Abstract: An attention marker can be transmitted to a radio receiver using an out-of-band transmission. One or more watermarks can be inserted in an over-the-air broadcast. A radio can include a tuner for receiving the over-the-air broadcast; an out-of-band receiver to receive substitute media content and the attention marker; memory to store the substitute media content; a user interface to play out media content to a user; and processing circuitry implementing multiple modules such as a marker detection module, a watermark detection module, and a local playout control module. The marker detection module can detect the out-of-band attention marker, and in response to detection of the attention marker trigger or schedule activation/deactivation of the watermark detection module. If the watermark detection module detects a watermark, the substitute content stored in the memory can be played out in place of the broadcast content.

Abstract: A subscription server generates, at a clock generation module, a clock template including a plurality of slots, each slot associated with at least one content type, and wherein the clock template includes information indicating timing relationships of the plurality of slots relative to one another. The subscription server determines that a media log is to be generated from the clock template for one or more subscribers, and obtains, from a subscription verification module implemented by the processor and associated memory, trust parameters associated with the one or more subscribers. A log generation module implemented by the processor and associated memory, generates a media log including at least one slot assigned a restriction level determined based on the trust parameters. The media log, including information indicating the restriction level, is transmitted to at least one of the one or more subscribers.

Abstract: The same sequence of media items is pre-distributed to storage devices at multiple locations. A local program component, including content not in the pre-distributed sequence of media items, is obtained at a first media mixer at a first location. A control signal associated with playout of the pre-distributed media items is obtained at a first processing device co-located with the first media mixer. The local program component is transmitted to a second media mixer located at a second location. Separately from the local program component, the control signal is transmitted from the first processing device to a second processing device, co-located with the second media mixer. The control signal is synchronized to the local program component at the second location to generate a synchronized media program control. The pre-distributed sequence of media items is mixed with the local program component as directed by the synchronized media program control.

Abstract: A streaming media server inserts contextual markers into a media stream being delivered to an end user device for play out to an end user. The contextual markers can be inserted in-band into spot blocks, and can be used to identify media items included in the spot block. When the contextual markers trigger the end-user device to send a message identifying the media content, e.g. a particular show, included in the spot block to a data management platform (DMP). The DMP uses the messages triggered by the contextual markers to attribute the end user to the media content. If a threshold number of attributions is received, and if the attributions are sufficiently recent, the end user can be a associated with an audience segment. The attribution and association information can be delivered to an ad server, which uses that information to select targeted advertisements to air during the show.

Abstract: An automotive radio receiver includes an over-the-air radio tuner and a network interface. When a broadcast is received at the radio receiver, it includes embedded information that can be used to identify the radio station providing the broadcast. The radio receiver uses the embedded information to identify a streaming station that corresponds to the broadcast station. The radio receiver transmits information associated with the streaming station to a web service, which returns an address at which the radio receiver can access the streaming station. The address of the streaming station is stored in a memory accessible to the radio receiver for later use. The next time the radio receiver is tuned to the same broadcast station, the radio receiver instead connects to the streaming station at the stored address.

Abstract: Local stations can generate their station broadcast logs based on a master broadcast log. In some cases, local stations are allowed to edit some positions, or slots, in their local logs, so that the local logs do not match the master log. This can create complexity when voice tracks for empty voice track slots are provided to the local stations, because voice tracks often reference the media in slots on either side of the empty voice track slots. An improved voice track editor indicates whether media items adjacent to an empty voice track slot in a master log match corresponding items in a station log.

Abstract: Performance feedback related to media presented to a user is received at a processing system including an analytics module. The performance feedback includes metadata identifying the user. The analytics module determines, based on the metadata included in the performance feedback, whether the performance feedback is related to a valid user. In response to determining that the performance feedback is related to a valid user, the analytics module strips the metadata identifying the user from the performance feedback, and transmits the performance feedback from the processing system to a media proposal server.

Abstract: A traffic information system generates a traffic information frame for selected roads within a broadcast area by receiving traffic information from a traffic data source, obtaining road vector definitions for one or more roads identified in the traffic information, associating the road vector definitions with longitude and latitude to link the traffic information to particular roads, creating a Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) traffic message, including the traffic information and the one or more roads associated with the traffic information, obtaining bounding area definitions of bounding areas associated with the particular traffic incident, combining cached TPEG messages into a composite TPEG frame using the bounding area definitions and broadcasting the TPEG frame to at least a primary bounding area.

Abstract: A replacement engine, which includes a processor and associated memory, receives replacement event information from a downstream playout system. The replacement event information includes a request to select a new media item to replace another media item. In response to receiving the replacement event information from the downstream playout system, the replacement engine initiates a search for the another media item in a media schedule. In response to a result of the search indicating that the another media item is not included in the media schedule, the replacement engine transmits, to the downstream playout system, a media item selection result indicating that no replacement media item has been selected.

Abstract: An automotive radio receiver includes an over-the-air radio tuner and a network interface. When a broadcast received at the radio receiver, it includes embedded information that can be used to identify the radio station providing the broadcast. The radio receiver uses the embedded information to identify a streaming station that corresponds to the broadcast station. The radio receiver transmits information associated with the streaming station to a web service, which returns an address at which the radio receiver can access the streaming station. The address of the streaming station is stored in a memory accessible to the radio receiver for later use. The next time the radio receiver is tuned to the same broadcast station, the radio receiver instead connects to the streaming station at the stored address.

Abstract: A traffic information system includes a server-based media automation system configured to access a traffic system to provide mobile user access to traffic through the server-based media automation system. The system further includes a traffic data source configured to provide traffic data to the server-based media automation system and a traffic message server receiving traffic messages from the traffic data source, combining the traffic messages into a traffic frame using bounding area information. The system further includes a station importer receiving the traffic frame and creating separate streams for a plurality of high definition channels packaged and multiplexed with media data into high definition radio signals for transmission by a broadcast system and wherein the traffic frame excludes traffic messages associated with a primary bounding area and at least one sub-bounding area located within the primary bounding area based on road classifications.

Abstract: A mesh network includes multiple in-band on-channel (IBOC) transceivers, connected in a mesh configuration. A first IBOC transceiver communicates directly with a second IBOC transceiver, and an edge transceiver communicates directly with the second IBOC transceiver, but indirectly with the first IBOC transceiver via the second IBOC transceiver. The first IBOC transceiver includes a first network interface, an IBOC radio frequency (RF) transmitter, and a wireless network interface. The first network interface receives broadcast content for IBOC transmission from the edge transceiver. The IBOC RF transmitter transmits the broadcast content within an IBOC broadcast area. The wireless network interface receives feedback, related to the broadcast content, from an IBOC user device within the IBOC broadcast area, and transmits the feedback indirectly to the edge transceiver.

Abstract: A subscription server generates, at a clock generation module, a clock template including a plurality of slots, each slot associated with at least one content type, and wherein the clock template includes information indicating timing relationships of the plurality of slots relative to one another. The subscription server determines that a media log is to be generated from the clock template for one or more subscribers, and obtains, from a subscription verification module implemented by the processor and associated memory, trust parameters associated with the one or more subscribers. A log generation module implemented by the processor and associated memory, generates a media log including at least one slot assigned a restriction level determined based on the trust parameters. The media log, including information indicating the restriction level, is transmitted to at least one of the one or more subscribers.

Abstract: A media playout system receives a broadcast log transmitted from a media scheduling system. The broadcast log includes a restricted show, and the media playout system makes a first determination a blackout period assigned to the restricted show. The blackout period indicates a period of time associated with the restricted show during which at least one media item is prohibited from being scheduled. The media player also determines that the broadcast log indicates that the at least one media item has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period. In response to determining that the at least one media item has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period, the media playout system transmits, to the media scheduling system, a message requesting a replacement media item to replace the at least one media item that has been improperly scheduled during the blackout period.

Abstract: Traffic probe devices, for validating traffic flow information, are selected by determining if a traffic probe device has a driver associated therewith traveling on an entire roadway segment of interest and whether the traffic probe device travelled continuously on the entire roadway segment of interest. The method continues by adding the traffic probe device to a list of traffic probe devices. The method continues by receiving measurements, during a particular time, from one or more of the traffic probe devices on the list of traffic probe devices, validating traffic-flow information for the roadway segment of interest, the traffic-flow information associated with the one or more of the traffic probe devices on the list of traffic probe devices and the particular time, and disseminating traffic messages including at least the validated traffic-flow prediction to users.

Abstract: When a downstream stream player is streaming content being played on a main radio station, the streaming content can be altered to substitute a different song than the one being played on the main radio station, even if there is a significant difference between the length of the song being played on the main radio station and the substituted song being played on the downstream stream player. After the substituted song has been played, the downstream stream player can resume streaming content from the main radio station. Substitution of the song on the downstream stream player can be performed by using a variable buffer delay, which essentially allows the downstream stream player to substitute different length songs by increasing or decreasing a delay between the play-out of the main station and the play-out of the downstream station.

Abstract: Digital content can be broadcast in a sideband of a radio signal transmitted by a broadcast transmitter using digital in-band on-channel (IBOC) transceivers located remotely from the broadcast transmitter. A remotely located IBOC transceiver includes a variable-power IBOC transmitter, a radio receiver, power measurement circuitry and a processor and associated memory. The processor and memory use a measurement taken by the power measurement circuitry to determine the signal strength of the radio signal, and based on that signal strength determine an IBOC transmit power level that will produce a first IBOC signal having an IBOC power not exceeding a predetermined portion of the signal strength of the radio signal. The variable-power IBOC transmitter transmits the first IBOC signal at the IBOC transmit power level, as determined by the processor and memory.

Abstract: A streaming media player receives a media stream from a first broadcast chain. Streaming performance feedback originating from the streaming media player is received at a processing system including an analytics module. The feedback includes identifying information sufficient to verify that a user of the media player is a valid user. In response to verifying that the feedback is from a valid user, identifying information is stripped out, and the feedback is transmitted to a media proposal server. The media proposal server determines, based on the streaming feedback, that media items scheduled for broadcast on a second, different broadcast chain, are to be replaced. Replacement media items, which have been identified, based at least in part, on feedback from the first broadcast chain, are transmitted to the second broadcast chain via a media distribution server.

Abstract: A media balancer obtains a master schedule to be used as a basis for generating target schedules, user input specifying one or more target stations for which the one or more target schedules are to be generated, and a duration delta indicating a maximum difference between runtimes of the replacement media items and the one or more scheduled media items. The media balancer selects a media scheduler to identify replacement media items to be substituted for one or more scheduled media items identified in the master schedule and transmits information associated with the duration delta to the media scheduler. The media balancer receives a list of identified replacement media items selected by the media scheduler, and generates the target schedules by replacing scheduled media items with particular replacement media items taken from the list of identified replacement media items.

Abstract: A media automation system controls the ability of local stations to automatically replace certain scheduled items. A show is identified as a restricted show, with respect to exclusion of content associated with at least one advertiser. Restriction rules, which are configured to prevent content associated with the at least one advertiser from being scheduled during the restricted show are obtained, and a master broadcast log is generated based on a broadcast schedule and the restriction rules. The local stations are prevented from successfully performing automated replacement of content during the restricted show by inserting a flag into metadata associated with the master broadcast log, the flag specifying a blackout attribute. Buffers can be established around restricted shows, so that spot breaks near restricted shows can also be restricted. A playout system can perform validation checks to ensure that advertisements from advertisers included in the list are not improperly scheduled.