Data structure used to automate generation of broadcast schedules

An automated media scheduling system comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled to the processor;
• and
• a program of instructions configured to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, the program of instructions including
• at least on instruction to display a graphical user interface of the automated media scheduling system,
• at least one instruction to receive user input from the graphical user interface, the user input including pass order information specifying an order in which groups of media items are included in a broadcast media schedule, group information specifying a particular group of the groups of media items, and scheduling information specifying whether media items included in the groups of media items are included in the broadcast media schedule in a forward chronological order or a reverse chronological order, and
• at least one instruction to store the pass order information, the group information, and the scheduling information in a data structure of the automated media scheduling system, wherein each of the media items has a respective multimedia content identifier including a category field specifying the group information, a multimedia content link field, and a multimedia parameter field, wherein the multimedia content identifiers are included as part of an Internet Protocol address packet or in a payload packet associated with a stream of data, and wherein the multimedia content link field includes an address that is accessed locally within the automated media scheduling system or accessed external to the automated media scheduling system.

A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions to be executed by a processor of a data processing system, the program of instructions comprising:

• at least on instruction to display a graphical user interface of the data processing system,
• at least one instruction to receive user input from the graphical user interface, the user input including pass order information specifying an order in which groups of media items are included in a broadcast media schedule, group information specifying a particular group of the groups of media items, and scheduling information specifying whether media items included in the groups of media items are included in the broadcast media schedule in a forward chronological order or a reverse chronological order;
• and
• at least one instruction to store the pass order information, the group information, and the scheduling information in a data structure of the data processing system, wherein each of the media items has a respective multimedia content identifier including a category field specifying the group information, a multimedia content link field, and a multimedia parameter field, wherein the multimedia content identifiers are included as part of an Internet Protocol address packet or in a payload packet associated with a stream of data, and wherein the multimedia content link field includes an address that is accessed locally within the data processing system or accessed external to the data processing system.