Abstract: A first traffic-flow prediction associated with a roadway segment and a particular time is obtained by a verification module. The first traffic-flow prediction generated as an output of a prediction module implemented using a processor and associated memory, the prediction module operating on input including first traffic-related information obtained from a first plurality of traffic probe devices. A verification module obtains second traffic-related information from a recorded dataset. The recorded dataset includes information obtained from a second plurality of traffic probe devices. Information obtained from particular traffic probe devices is selected, and an estimated actual traffic-flow is generated based on that information. The verification module determines at least one quality measure based on a relationship between the first traffic-flow prediction and the estimated actual traffic-flow.

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 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 media balancer can assist in selecting replacement media items to be used in generating one or more target schedules from a single master schedule. The media balancer can receive option parameters indicating preferences related to generation of the target schedule. Based on these option parameters, the media balancer can select one of multiple different media schedulers to assist in evaluating potential replacement media items. The media balancer can transmit to the media scheduler selected, information associated with the option parameters, and a request to perform an evaluation of potential replacement media items based on those option parameters. The media balancer can receive the results of the evaluation performed by the selected media scheduler, and use those results to generate target schedules by replacing at least one original media item included in the master schedule with a replacement media item.

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: Travel-related-information messages (TRIMS) are received from one or more information sources, and information included in the messages is separated into a first (e.g. TPEG™) or second (e.g. TPEG+) group. A broadcast area to which the information included in the TRIMs is to be broadcast is determined. A further determination indicates that a subset of information assigned to the first group is to be reassigned to the second group. The subset of information is reassigned from the first group to the second group based on parameters associated with the broadcast area. The information included in the first group and the second group is delivered to one or more processing modules that generate a first TRIM reporting message using information included in the first group and a second TRIM reporting message using information included in the second group.

Abstract: Control of a single spot break (or all spot breaks within a predefined time period) can be dynamically split between different ad management servers, and between universal and targeted advertisements. Put another way, the particular type of process used to deliver advertisements (e.g. one-to-many or one-to-one) can be varied within a single spot break. Each portion of a split spot break can be dynamically adjusted in near-real time. If run time of advertisements inserted by an ad management server is either too long or not long enough, control can be passed to the next ad server late, or early, as appropriate. A single spot break (or group of spot breaks) can be split different ways for different stations, or for different tiers of spot breaks. Different spot breaks on the same station can be split differently.

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 media scheduling system includes a national scheduling service and subscribing stations. The scheduling service receives a local broadcast log generated by a local subscribing station. The local broadcast log includes media item identifiers. The local broadcast log is verified and approved by the scheduling service. Verification includes checking the local broadcast log for compliance with digital rights management (DRM) requirements. Approval is based, at least in part, on a trust level associated with the local subscribing station. A national log is generated, based on the local broadcast log, by generating a national clock including clock positions to be filled by items in the local broadcast log, and populating the clock positions in the national log using the media items identifiers included in the local broadcast log. Default editing restrictions for the national log are set, and the national log is transmitted to other local stations for broadcast.

Abstract: Travel-related-information messages (TRIMS) are received from one or more information sources, and information included in the messages is placed into a first (e.g. TPEG™) or second (e.g. TPEG+) group. A determination is made that a first TRIM reporting message including information from the first group will exceed a permissible size, so excess information is removed from the first group and added to the second group, thereby decreasing the size of the first TRIM reporting message to the permissible message size or less. Some or all of the excess information removed from the first group is added to the second group. First and second TRIM reporting messages are generated from information included in the first and second groups. The first and second TRIM reporting messages are transmitted to end-user devices using different service ports.

Abstract: Digital content can be broadcast in a sideband of an analog broadcast channel using multiple digital in-band on-channel (IBOC) transceivers connected in a mesh configuration to form an IBOC mesh network. The digital IBOC transceivers are positioned at various geographic locations, so that unlike traditional “HD” radio broadcasts, the IBOC broadcast transmission is spread out over a wide area, using multiple low power digital IBOC transceivers rather than being broadcast from the same location as the analog signal. An edge transceiver can limit IBOC transmission power of the IBOC transceivers to a desired portion of the power used to broadcast the analog signal. The edge server can make this determination based on measurements taken at the geographically distributed digital IBOC transceivers. The IBOC mesh network provides bi-directional communication between a mesh transceiver and a user device, and can be used to deliver user feedback.

Abstract: A hybrid media device includes an over-the-air radio tuner, processing circuitry that includes an extraction module and an association module, and a network interface. the media device is tuned to an initial station, which provides providing a broadcast having embedded information. The embedded information is extracted, and used to identify a streaming media station corresponding to the broadcast station. The hybrid media device receives and stores the network address of the corresponding streaming media station, so the next time the device is instructed to tune to the initial broadcast station, the device 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 include traffic message with a primary bounding area and at least one sub-bounding area located within the primary bounding area based on road classifications.

Abstract: A media scheduling system includes a national scheduling service and subscribing stations. The scheduling service receives a local broadcast log generated by a local subscribing station. The local broadcast log includes media item identifiers. The local broadcast log is verified and approved by the scheduling service. Verification includes checking the local broadcast log for compliance with digital rights management (DRM) requirements. Approval is based, at least in part, on a trust level associated with the local subscribing station. A national log is generated, based on the local broadcast log, by generating a national clock including clock positions to be filled by items in the local broadcast log, and populating the clock positions in the national log using the media items identifiers included in the local broadcast log. Default editing restrictions for the national log are set, and the national log is transmitted to other local stations for broadcast.

Abstract: Travel-related-information messages (TRIMS) are received from one or more information sources, and information included in the messages is placed into a first (e.g. TPEG™) or second (e.g. TPEG+) group. A determination is made that a first TRIM reporting message including information from the first group will exceed a permissible size, so excess information is removed from the first group and added to the second group, thereby decreasing the size of the first TRIM reporting message to the permissible message size or less. Some or all of the excess information removed from the first group is added to the second group. First and second TRIM reporting messages are generated from information included in the first and second groups. The first and second TRIM reporting messages are transmitted to end-user devices using different service ports.

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 include traffic message with a primary bounding area and at least one sub-bounding area located within the primary bounding area based on road classifications.

Abstract: A processing system obtains first subscriber preferences associated with a first subscriber. Those preferences specify first additional content preferences associated with a particular media item. The processing system obtains second subscriber preferences associated with a second subscriber, and specifying second additional content preferences associated with the same media item. A broadcast status of the media item is determined, and in response to the broadcast status indicating that the media item is currently being broadcast, the processing system delivers first additional content to the first subscriber, and delivering second additional content, different from the first additional content, to the second subscriber.

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.

Abstract: A subscription system includes a national subscription server capable of tracking which local stations subscribe to particular radio station music formats, for example AC middays, Top 40 afternoons, morning programs, or overnight Contemporary AC. A local music scheduler can query the subscription server for a log of nationally scheduled content to fill one or more dayparts of a local broadcast schedule. The subscription system can determine where to obtain the requested log, and provide the log to the local scheduler for insertion into a particular daypart of the local clock, while leaving the remaining dayparts free for local scheduling. Trusted subscribers can also be permitted to alter portions of log of nationally scheduled items. Inserting the log of nationally scheduled items into the local clock provides local awareness of both local and national media items scheduled for broadcast.

Abstract: In a media automation system, a database server transmits a request to a traffic and billing system to identify both an advertisement for potential inclusion in a content block, and a first primary programming item to be scheduled adjacent to the advertisement in a broadcast log, i.e. a paired advertisement and primary programming item, and receives a message identifying the advertisement and the first primary programming item from the traffic and billing system in response to that request. The database server responds to the message from the traffic and billing system by inserting the advertisement into the broadcast log adjacent to the first primary programming item, transmitting a signal notifying the traffic and billing system that the advertisement and the first primary programming item have been inserted into the broadcast log, and delivering the broadcast log to a media server.