Iheartmedia Management Services, Inc.

Clear Channel Management Services, Inc.

Jeff Littlejohn

Bobbi Denise Schuster

Keyin Hsu

Jennifer L Smith

Amit Deshpande

Alan W Jurison

Abineshraj Rajagopal

Jennifer Perez

Charles E Kirkendall, Iii

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.

Determining a unified numbering system identifier for a work

A server stores an association between a unique identifier and a first media work in a database, and stores an association between a media type indicator and the unique identifier. The media type indicator has a first value when the first media work is a first type of media work, and a second value when the first media work is a second type of media work. A message including information identifying a broadcast media work is received from a broadcast station. Based on information included in the message, the server determines whether the broadcast media work is an instance of the first media work. If so, the server determines that the broadcast media work is associated with the unique identifier, and further determines, based on the media type indicator, what type of media work the broadcast media work is. The unique identifier is stored in a data structure based on the type of media work.

Selectively storing identifiers based on media type indicator

A server receives, from a broadcast station, a message including a station identifier and a list of media-works scheduled for broadcast. The media-works are identified by identifying attributes. The server attempts a first-level match between identifying attributes associated with a first media-work and unique identifiers included in a database. The unique identifiers link content attributes of different media-works to different unique identifiers. The first-level match includes comparing the identifying attributes to the unique identifiers to determine whether an identifying attribute matches any of the unique identifiers stored in the database. If not, a second-level match compares the identifying attributes to content attributes of different media-works to identify content attributes that match the identifying attributes. If the second-level match identifies matching content attributes that link the media-work to a unique identifiers in the database, enhanced content is selected based on that unique identifier, and is delivered to the broadcast station.

Multi-level matching facilitating delivery of enhanced content

A server receives a message from a subscriber. The message includes a subscriber identifier and one or more one or more first identifying attributes associated with a first media-work played-out by the subscriber. The server performs a first-level match between the first identifying attributes and unique identifiers included in a database. In response to the first-level match indicating that the first identifying attributes do not include any of unique identifiers, the server performs a second-level match, which compares the first identifying attributes to content attributes of different media-works linked to the unique identifiers. In response to the second-level match identifying one or more matching first identifying attributes to the content attributes that are linked to a particular unique identifier included in the database, the server selects enhanced content based on the particular unique identifier, and delivers that enhanced content to the subscriber.

A system includes a processor configured to determine that transmission data indicates that first data was transmitted via a digital radio channel and that reception data indicates that second data was received via the digital radio channel. The first data is transmitted concurrently with transmission of an analog signal. The processor is configured to detect an error in transmission of the first data based on a comparison of adjacent portions of the first data to non-adjacent portions of the second data. The processor is configured to, in response to detecting the error, initiate display of a default image concurrently with output of an audio signal that is based on the analog signal and to initiate retransmission of the first data to cause second particular data to be output subsequent to the output of the default image. The second particular data corresponds to the retransmitted first data.

Digital radio channel error detection

A processing system, which including a processor and associated memory, provides broadcast content to a broadcaster via a communications network. The broadcast content includes multiple broadcast media items. Subsequent to the broadcast content being broadcast, the processing system receives, via the communications network, an information transfer initiated by an end-user device. The information transfer includes tag information indicating a selected broadcast media item previously marked by a user of the end-user device during a period of time the end-user device was disconnected from the processing system. In response to the information transfer, the processing system identifies content related to the selected broadcast media item based on the tag information, and uploads the identified content to the end-user device via the communications network.

Delivery of broadcast-related content tagged by offline device

A method includes determining, at a device, that transmission data indicates that first data was transmitted via a digital radio channel. The method also includes determining, at the device, that reception data indicates that second data was received via the digital radio channel. The first data has a first size that is less than a second size of the second data. The method also includes determining, at the device, whether an error occurred in transmission of the first data based on determining whether each of a plurality of portions of the first data is included at least once in the second data. Other aspects are also disclosed.

A processing system provides works associated with a unified number system (UNS) identifier, and the UNS identifier itself, for broadcast. The system receives a request for content associated with a broadcast work, where the request includes the UNS identifier included in the broadcast. In response to the request, the system obtains the requested content using the UNS identifier included in the request, and delivers the requested content to an end user associated with the end-user device. The type of requested content can be identified based on previously obtained user preferences, so that even if two user-devices send requests including the same UNS identifier, the content provided to each end user or end-user device can be different.

Delivery of content associated with a broadcast work

A system includes a first source interface, a second source interface, a content mixer, a first communication interface (CI), and a second CI. The first source interface and the second source interface are configured to receive a first audio signal (FS) and a second audio signal (SS), respectively. The content mixer is configured to generate a portion of a terrestrial broadcast stream (TBS portion) that includes the FS and the SS. A first segment of the FS overlaps a second segment of the SS. The content mixer is configured to generate a portion of an internet radio stream (IR portion) corresponding to the TBS portion. The IR portion includes the first segment and omits the SS. The first CI is configured to send the TBS portion to a terrestrial radio station. The second CI is configured to send the IR portion to a content replacer. Other aspects are also disclosed.

Internet radio stream generation

A preference related to the broadcast of a work, for example a song, advertisement, or enhanced content associated with the work can be obtained from an end user. The work is associated with one of a plurality of unique identifiers, such as a unified numbering system (UNS) identifier, and the UNS identifier can be used to associate enhanced content associated with the work. The UNS identifier and the user's preference for enhanced content can be used to select and deliver appropriate enhanced content to end users or other subscribers. A system can notify a broadcaster users request particular enhanced content, and the broadcaster can request the system to provide additional enhanced content for broadcast in response to that notification.

Delivery of enhanced content related to a broadcast work

A preference related to the broadcast of a work, for example a song, advertisement, or enhanced content associated with the work can be obtained from an end user. The work is associated with one of a plurality of unique identifiers, such as a unified numbering system (UNS) identifier, and the UNS identifier can be used to associate enhanced content associated with the work. The UNS identifier and the user's preference for enhanced content can be used to select and deliver appropriate enhanced content to end users or other subscribers. The enhanced content can be delivered to an end user's device to coincide with the broadcast of the work.

A preference related to the broadcast of a work, for example a song or advertisement, is obtained from a subscriber. The work is associated with one of a plurality of unique identifiers, and the particular identifier with which the work is associated can be identified in some instances by using information included with the subscriber preference. In response to determining which unique identifier is associated with the work, content associated with that identifier can be delivered to the subscriber according to his preference.

Delivering content associated with a unique identifier

Multiple attempts can be made to match received information associated with a work and one of multiple identifiers stored in a database. Each of the identifiers in the database is uniquely associated with one of a plurality of specific works. A first search can be made to determine if an identifier in the received information includes an identifier that matches one of identifiers stored in the database. If the identifier in the received information does not match any of the identifiers in the database, a second matching attempt can be made to determine if the received attributes match attributes of a work associated with one of the identifiers in the database. Based on the results of the matching, various actions can be taken to associate or assign one of the unique identifiers with the work related to the received information.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Jeff Littlejohn