Patents by Inventor Michael Lincoln Albl

Michael Lincoln Albl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200286128
    Abstract: An automated media scheduling system maintains information associating multiple different content triggers with multiple different content adjustment parameters. The content adjustment parameters include a first content trigger associated with a first adjustment parameter specifying a first media channel to be used to deliver first triggered content associated with the first content trigger. The media scheduling system monitors media delivered via a second media channel, different than the first media channel, to determine whether the first content trigger was delivered via the second media channel. In response to determining that the first content trigger was delivered via the second media channel, the media schedule of the first media channel is automatically adjusted in accordance with content adjustment parameters associated with the first content trigger, wherein automatically adjusting includes altering the media schedule of the first media channel to include the first triggered content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Lincoln Albl, David C. Jellison, JR., Nigel Attwell
  • Publication number: 20180206077
    Abstract: A method includes a media services system maintaining user preference data, including historical listening patterns associated with situational parameters user preference data from a first wireless receiver in memory. The method continues with the media service system receiving current situational parameters from a second wireless receiver and comparing the situation parameters to the historical listening patterns with situation parameters from the first wireless receiver. The method continues by selecting media selection data for the second wireless receiver and then transmitting the media selection data to the second wireless receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Michael Lincoln Albl, Jeffrey D. Zigler, Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jacqueline J. Lockhart, Theodore N. Myers, Evan A. Hill, Tanya R. Jellison
  • Patent number: 9918200
    Abstract: A history of user listening patterns associating geographic locations with media stations is stored and used to aid in selecting a media station. If a media station associated with a current geographical location is available, that station can be automatically tuned by a wireless media receiver. If a media station associated with the current location is not available, an alternate media station that is available at the current geographical location can be selected, and the receiver tuned to the alternate station. The alternate station can be an over-the-air (OTA) station or an Internet Protocol (IP) station. A user can be allowed to select between alternate stations having comparable content, or the user can designate a default alternate station. User listening patterns can be used to determine whether a media station is associated a particular geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Mangement Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Michael Lincoln Albl, Jeffrey D. Zigler, Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jacqueline J. Lockhart, Theodore N. Myers, Evan A. Hill, Tanya R. Jellison
  • Publication number: 20170039596
    Abstract: An automated media scheduling system maintains information associating multiple different content triggers with multiple different content adjustment parameters. The media scheduling system monitors media content across multiple media platforms for a content trigger. In response to detecting a particular content trigger, the media scheduling system adjusts playout of scheduled media content based on a content adjustment parameter associated with the detected content trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Lincoln Albl, David C. Jellison, JR., Nigel Attwell
  • Publication number: 20170039595
    Abstract: A media programming log is evaluated, and a determination is made that the media programming log includes an ad song scheduled for broadcast within a proximity threshold of a commercial set. The ad song is associated with an advertiser. An evaluation of spot inventory associated with the commercial set is performed, and a determination is made that at least one spot in the commercial set can be used for insertion of an ad-song advertisement. The ad-song advertisement contains at least a portion of a version of the ad song. The ad-song advertisement can then be inserted into at least one spot of a broadcast log, which can be delivered to an audio server for broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Lincoln Albl, David C. Jellison, JR., Nigel Attwell
  • Patent number: 9549293
    Abstract: A media receiver identifies attributes of a media station to which the media receiver is currently tuned. The media receiver monitors the signal quality of the media station. If the signal quality of the media station drops below a quality threshold, the receiver chooses an alternate station having similar content, and then tunes to the alternate station until the signal quality of the original station improves. When the signal quality of the original station rises above a re-tune threshold, the receiver can switch back to the original station. The receiver can monitor and record user listening patterns, station-switching patterns, and situational parameters, to identify times or locations at which station switches occur. This information can be used to select appropriate alternative stations, to perform pre-emptive station switches, and to determine when a station's content will be buffered with the expectation that a station's signal will drop below the quality threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Michael Lincoln Albl, Jeffrey D. Zigler, Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jacqueline J. Lockhart, Theodore N. Myers, Evan A. Hill, Tanya R. Jellison
  • Publication number: 20160157061
    Abstract: A history of user listening patterns associating geographic locations with media stations is stored and used to aid in selecting a media station. If a media station associated with a current geographical location is available, that station can be automatically tuned by a wireless media receiver. If a media station associated with the current location is not available, an alternate media station that is available at the current geographical location can be selected, and the receiver tuned to the alternate station. The alternate station can be an over-the-air (OTA) station or an Internet Protocol (IP) station. A user can be allowed to select between alternate stations having comparable content, or the user can designate a default alternate station. User listening patterns can be used to determine whether a media station is associated a particular geographic location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Michael Lincoln Albl, Jeffrey D. Zigler, Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jacqueline J. Lockhart, Theodore N. Myers, Evan A. Hill, Tanya R. Jellison
  • Publication number: 20160044370
    Abstract: A media receiver identifies attributes of a media station to which the media receiver is currently tuned. The media receiver monitors the signal quality of the media station. If the signal quality of the media station drops below a quality threshold, the receiver chooses an alternate station having similar content, and then tunes to the alternate station until the signal quality of the original station improves. When the signal quality of the original station rises above a re-tune threshold, the receiver can switch back to the original station. The receiver can monitor and record user listening patterns, station-switching patterns, and situational parameters, to identify times or locations at which station switches occur. This information can be used to select appropriate alternative stations, to perform pre-emptive station switches, and to determine when a station's content will be buffered with the expectation that a station's signal will drop below the quality threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Michael Lincoln Albl, Jeffrey D. Zigler, Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jacqueline J. Lockhart, Theodore N. Myers, Evan A. Hill, Tanya R. Jellison
  • Publication number: 20160043747
    Abstract: A media receiver identifies attributes of a media station to which the media receiver is currently tuned. The media receiver monitors the signal quality of the media station. If the signal quality of the media station drops below a quality threshold, the receiver chooses an alternate station having similar content, and then tunes to the alternate station until the signal quality of the original station improves. When the signal quality of the original station rises above a re-tune threshold, the receiver can switch back to the original station. The receiver can monitor and record user listening patterns, station-switching patterns, and situational parameters, to identify times or locations at which station switches occur. This information can be used to select appropriate alternative stations, to perform pre-emptive station switches, and to determine when a station's content will be buffered with the expectation that a station's signal will drop below the quality threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Michael Lincoln Albl, Jeffrey D. Zigler, Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jacqueline J. Lockhart, Theodore N. Myers, Evan A. Hill, Tanya R. Jellison
  • Publication number: 20160005081
    Abstract: Triggered content can be broadcast, streamed, displayed, or otherwise presented to consumers in response to identifying triggering content in a media programming log, or through analysis of content that is currently being, or has recently been, broadcast to identify topics or events of interest to an advertiser or broadcaster. Triggered content, which is related to the triggering content, can be provided to consumers via one or more different media platforms. Insertion points for the triggered content can be determined, at least in part, based on a proximity of the triggering content to an available insertion point, such as a commercial set. Previously scheduled content can be bumped in favor of triggered content, such as an ad-song advertisement that includes at least part of an ad song. A traffic system is notified if previously scheduled spots are bumped in favor of triggered content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Lincoln Albl, David C. Jellison, JR., Nigel Attwell
  • Patent number: 9203445
    Abstract: A media receiver identifies attributes of a media station to which the media receiver is currently tuned. The media receiver monitors the signal quality of the media station. If the signal quality of the media station drops below a quality threshold, the receiver chooses an alternate station having similar content, and then tunes to the alternate station until the signal quality of the original station improves. When the signal quality of the original station rises above a re-tune threshold, the receiver can switch back to the original station. The receiver can monitor and record user listening patterns, station-switching patterns, and situational parameters, to identify times or locations at which station switches occur. This information can be used to select appropriate alternative stations, to perform pre-emptive station switches, and to determine when a station's content will be buffered with the expectation that a station's signal will drop below the quality threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Michael Lincoln Albl, Jeffrey D. Zigler, Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jacqueline J. Lockhart, Theodore N. Myers, Evan A. Hill, Tanya R. Jellison
  • Publication number: 20150019465
    Abstract: A media receiver identifies attributes of a media station to which the media receiver is currently tuned. The media receiver monitors the signal quality of the media station. If the signal quality of the media station drops below a quality threshold, the receiver chooses an alternate station having similar content, and then tunes to the alternate station until the signal quality of the original station improves. When the signal quality of the original station rises above a re-tune threshold, the receiver can switch back to the original station. The receiver can monitor and record user listening patterns, station-switching patterns, and situational parameters, to identify times or locations at which station switches occur. This information can be used to select appropriate alternative stations, to perform pre-emptive station switches, and to determine when a station's content will be buffered with the expectation that a station's signal will drop below the quality threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Michael Lincoln Albl, Jeffrey D. Zigler, Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jacqueline J. Lockhart, Theodore N. Myers, Evan A. Hill, Tanya R. Jellison