Limiting candidate playlists in multi-shot scheduling system

A device implementing an automated media scheduling system, the device comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• memory operably associated with the processing circuitry, the processing circuitry and memory operable to:
• determine:
• a number of positions to be included in a candidate playlist;
• a maximum index value specified by a restriction rule, wherein the maximum index value indicates a maximum relative ranking of a media item permitted to be assigned to a position, and wherein a relative ranking of the media item is determined based on a score of the media item relative to scores of other media items;
• generate a specific number of candidate playlists, the specific number of candidate playlists based on the number of positions and the maximum index value;
• determine, for each of the specific number of candidate playlists, aggregate scores of media items assigned to each of the number of positions;
• and
• selecting a candidate playlist for broadcast based on the aggregate scores.

A method for use in an automated media scheduling system, the method comprising:

• determining, by a processing device:
• a number of positions to be included in each of a plurality of candidate playlists;
• a maximum index value specified by a restriction rule, wherein the maximum index value indicates a maximum ranking of a media item permitted to be assigned to each position in each of the plurality of candidate playlists;
• a specific number of candidate playlists to be generated based on the number of positions and the maximum index value;
• generating, by the processing device, the specific number of candidate playlists, by assigning media items to each of the number of positions to be included in each of the specific number of candidate playlists;
• determining, by the processing device for each of the specific number of candidate playlists, aggregate scores of the media items;
• and
• scheduling, by the processing device, a best-scoring candidate playlist for transmission to a broadcast device based on the aggregate scores.