# US 11,444,993 B2 · Media asset distribution > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,993 B2 - Document ID: US11444993B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/538,960 - Filed: 2019-08-13 - Published: 2019-11-28 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-25 - Assignees: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. - Applicants: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. - Inventors: David C. Jellison, Jr.; Martin Blazek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444993B2 ## CPC - H04L 65/60: Network streaming of media packets - H04L 65/611: for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) - H04L 65/762: {at the source (reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355)} - H04N 21/26241: {involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children programme} - H04N 21/26258: {for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list (retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40)} - H04N 21/6587: Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection - H04N 21/8456: {by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments} - H04L 65/612: for unicast - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Multiple media delivery subsystems are connected via a communications network, and are configured to transfer broadcast content among themselves. A media distribution device communicates with the media delivery subsystems via the communications network. The media delivery subsystems transmit temporal priority messages to the media distribution device. A temporal priority message is used to indicate a temporal priority of a media item from the perspective of the media delivery subsystem associated with the message. The media distribution device manages transfers of broadcast content from one media delivery subsystem to another media delivery subsystem in accordance with the temporal priority messages. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a plurality of media delivery subsystems coupled to each other via a communications network, the plurality of media delivery subsystems configured to transfer broadcast content among themselves, wherein the plurality of media delivery subsystems including a first media delivery subsystem and a second media delivery subsystem, and wherein the broadcast content includes at least one media item; a media distribution device coupled to the plurality of media delivery subsystems via the communications network, and configured to transfer the broadcast content from the media distribution device to the first media delivery subsystem; the second media delivery subsystem is configured to transmit a temporal priority message to the media distribution device, wherein the temporal priority message indicates a temporal priority of the at least one media item from a perspective of the second media delivery subsystem, wherein a particular temporal priority indicates a time-related priority for transmitting a particular media item to a particular media delivery subsystem; and the media distribution device further configured to manage transmission of broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem in accordance with the temporal priority. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: in response to receiving the at least one media item at the first media delivery subsystem, automatically populating the at least one media item into a broadcast playlist. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the media distribution device is further configured to transfer, to the first media delivery subsystem, metadata associated with the broadcast content, the metadata configured to limit redistribution of the broadcast content. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the first media delivery subsystem is configured to transfer broadcast content to the second media delivery subsystem by copying a data file including a media asset to a mapped network address corresponding to the second media delivery subsystem. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: the first media delivery subsystem is configured to transfer broadcast content to a second media delivery subsystem in accordance with the temporal priority message. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: managing transmission of broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes managing transfers of chunks of data including media items and associated metadata. ### Claim 7 A method comprising: transferring broadcast content from a media distribution device to a first media delivery subsystem, wherein the broadcast content includes a media item; receiving, at the media distribution device, a temporal priority message from a second media delivery subsystem, wherein the temporal priority message indicates a temporal priority of the media item from a perspective of the second media delivery subsystem, and wherein a particular temporal priority indicates a time-related priority for transmitting a particular media item to the second media delivery subsystem; and managing, by the media distribution device, transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem in accordance with the temporal priority message. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein: transferring broadcast content to the first media delivery subsystem includes transferring metadata associated with the broadcast content, the metadata configured to limit redistribution of the broadcast content. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein: transmitting the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes copying a data file including a media asset to a mapped network address corresponding to the second media delivery subsystem. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein: managing transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes managing transfers of chunks of data including media items and associated metadata. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: transmitting the media items in at least a first chunk of data; and transmitting the associated metadata in at least a second chunk of data different from the at least a first chunk of data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: a size of the at least a first chunk of data is based on a broadcast schedule. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein: managing transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes managing an order in which the broadcast content is transmitted. ### Claim 14 A media distribution device comprising: a processor; memory associated with the processor; a program of instructions to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, the program of instructions including instructions to: transfer broadcast content from the media distribution device to a first media delivery subsystem, wherein the broadcast content includes a media item; receive, at the media distribution device, a temporal priority message from a second media delivery subsystem, wherein the temporal priority message indicates a temporal priority of the media item from a perspective of the second media delivery subsystem, and wherein a particular temporal priority indicates a time-related priority for transmitting a particular media item to the second media delivery subsystem; and manage transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem in accordance with the temporal priority message. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The media distribution device of claim 14, wherein transferring broadcast content from a media distribution device to a first media delivery subsystem includes: at least one instruction to transfer metadata associated with the broadcast content, the metadata configured to limit redistribution of the broadcast content. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The media distribution device of claim 14, wherein: transmitting the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes copying a data file including a media asset to a mapped network address corresponding to the second media delivery subsystem. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The media distribution device of claim 14, wherein: managing transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes managing transfers of chunks of data including media items and associated metadata. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The media distribution device of claim 17, wherein: transmitting the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes: transmitting the media items in at least a first chunk of data; and transmitting the associated metadata in at least a second chunk of data different from the at least a first chunk of data. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The media distribution device of claim 14, wherein: managing transmission of the broadcast content from the first media delivery subsystem to the second media delivery subsystem includes managing an order in which the broadcast content is transmitted.