Audio Broadcast Channel Remapping via Segment Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current broadcast media systems lack the ability to offer tiered subscription services based on different levels of commercial content and fail to create rebranded channels with altered advertising and station identification, limiting flexibility in targeting specific audiences and geographic areas.

Innovation Solution

A method for generating an audio stream with commercial insertion by locating and extracting specific segments from a first audio stream to create a second stream with different commercial content, channel identification, and disk jockey segments, allowing for tiered subscription services and targeted advertising.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single broadcast channel provides commercial-free programming, then subscription revenue can be maximized, but the system lacks flexibility to target different audience segments and geographic areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to target different audience segmentsVSAvoidsystem complexity for channel remapping

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The broadcast channel is segmented into program segments and non-program segments (commercials, station identification, disk jockey segments). This segmentation allows selective replacement of non-program segments with targeted advertising content for different audience segments while preserving the core program content, enabling adaptability without requiring complete channel redesign

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A server acts as an intermediary that receives original broadcast channels, performs remapping by replacing non-program segments with targeted content, and delivers remapped channels to receivers. This intermediary handles the complexity of channel remapping centrally, allowing individual receivers to access customized content without complex local processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If commercial content is inserted into broadcast streams, then revenue from targeted advertising increases, but the quality and consistency of the broadcast stream deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverevenue generation capabilityVSAvoidbroadcast stream quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Non-program segments (commercials, station identification, disk jockey segments) are extracted from the original broadcast stream. This extraction allows replacement with targeted advertising content while maintaining program segment integrity, enabling revenue generation without compromising program quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Different non-program segments are replaced with different targeted content based on receiver characteristics (geographic location, demographic profile). Program segments remain unchanged across all receivers, ensuring consistent quality while allowing localized advertising customization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple channels are created to serve different audience segments, then market coverage and revenue increase, but the operational complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarket coverage capabilityVSAvoidoperational complexity for channel management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single original broadcast channel serves multiple functions by being remapped into multiple virtual channels for different audience segments. The same program content is reused across multiple remapped channels with different non-program segment content, reducing the need for duplicate content creation and lowering operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If receivers process and store multiple versions of broadcast content, then customized content delivery improves, but the receiver complexity and memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery customizationVSAvoidreceiver complexity for content processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Channel remapping and content customization are performed in advance by the server before delivery to receivers. The server prepares remapped channels with targeted non-program segments based on receiver profiles, so receivers receive ready-to-play customized content without needing complex local processing or storage of multiple content versions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7822381B2System for audio broadcast channel remapping and rebranding using content insertion

Publication Date: 2010.10.26 SIRIUS XM RADIO INC

AI summary

A system is provided for generating a remapped audio stream at digital audio broadcast radios from a first audio stream using content insertion to allow tiered subscription services. A remapped audio stream is rebranded by extracting segments from the first audio stream relating to channel identification segments and disk jockey talking segments and replacing them with stored audio items (e.g., commercials, different channel identification segments and different disk jockey talking segments). Stored audio items for insertion are broadcast to the radios with messages for controlling the scheduling of insertion at the radios, and the storage and deletion of these audio segments at the radios. Stored audio items and messages can be sent using a different, localized broadcast system from that used to transmit the source audio stream to permit market-specific commercial insertion. Group file format for delivery permits intermittently used radios to receive the stored audio items and messages.