Media Schedule Buffering for Restricted Advertisement Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for substituting commercial content in broadcast schedules are inadequate for non-commercial content with varying lengths, often requiring complete blackout or no streaming, which are less than optimal.

Innovation Solution

An integrated media automation system that uses a buffer to skip and stretch media events, supplemented by a secondary playlist, to maintain synchronized broadcasting while avoiding placement of prohibited advertisements during restricted shows.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional methods are used to substitute commercial content in broadcast schedules, then content substitution is possible, but the methods are inadequate for non-commercial content with varying lengths and require complete blackout or no streaming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent substitution flexibilityVSAvoidbroadcast continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates replacement content segments and stores them in a buffer before they are needed. When content substitution is required, the pre-prepared replacement content is immediately available, eliminating the need for complete blackout and maintaining broadcast continuity while enabling flexible substitution of non-commercial content with varying lengths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If advertisement placement is restricted during certain shows, then advertiser preferences are satisfied, but scheduling flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvertiser restriction complianceVSAvoidscheduling flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The broadcast schedule is segmented into restricted and non-restricted time periods. The system automatically identifies restricted periods based on advertiser preferences and applies different scheduling rules to each segment. This allows advertisement placement to be prohibited during restricted shows while maintaining full scheduling flexibility during non-restricted periods, satisfying both advertiser requirements and operational needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If synchronized broadcasting is maintained while substituting media items, then broadcast coordination is preserved, but substitution flexibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroadcast synchronizationVSAvoidmedia item substitution flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A buffer system acts as an intermediary between the original broadcast schedule and the substituted content. The buffer absorbs timing variations and length differences between original and replacement media items, allowing flexible substitution of content while maintaining synchronized broadcasting output. The buffer decouples the substitution process from the timing constraints, enabling both goals to be achieved simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12368522B2Automatically restricting placement of media items within a media schedule

Publication Date: 2025.07.22 IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES INC

AI summary

A broadcast order placed by a requestor is received at a first processing device configured to implement an automated media scheduling system. The broadcast order includes a request to prohibit placement of at least one media item within a threshold proximity of a restricted media show. In response to receiving the broadcast order, the automated media scheduling system modifies at least one record associated with the requestor to indicate the request. During automated schedule generation, the automated media scheduling system prevents the at least one media item from being scheduled within the threshold proximity of the restricted media show.