# US 12,222,927 B2 · Data structure used to automate generation of broadcast schedules > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,927 B2 - Document ID: US12222927B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/476,575 - Filed: 2023-09-28 - Published: 2024-01-18 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-16 - Assignees: iHeart Media Management Services, Inc. - Applicants: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. - Inventors: Nigel Attwell; William Wallace Webber, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222927B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/2365: {Ensuring data consistency and integrity} - G06F 16/4387: {by the use of playlists} - G06F 16/639: {using playlists} - H04H 60/06: Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services - H04L 65/612: for unicast - H04L 65/613: for the control of the source by the destination (control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637) - H04H 60/47: for recognising genres - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method for use in a data processing system includes storing pass order information in a first data structure, wherein the pass order information stores settings associated with an order in which media items are to be scheduled for inclusion in a broadcast media schedule, and automatically generating the broadcast media schedule in accordance with the settings stored in the first data structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method executed by a data processing system which includes: displaying a graphical user interface of the data processing system; receiving 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 storing 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the address included in the multimedia content link field includes link-local address data or universal resource locator data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the multimedia parameter field includes at least one of a genre data, artist data, album data, or author data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the user input further includes slot data, timing data, stacking data, depth data, and research data associated with each of the groups of media items. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: storing the slot data, timing data, stacking data, depth data, and research data associated with each of the groups of media items in the data structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving further user input from the graphical user interface indicating a selection of media items to be scheduled in certain slots of the broadcast media schedule in either the reverse chronological order or the forward chronological order. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein storing the scheduling information in the first data structure further includes: altering a bit field of the first data structure. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The automated media scheduling system of claim 8, wherein the address included in the multimedia content link field includes link-local address data or universal resource locator data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The automated media scheduling system of claim 9, wherein the multimedia parameter field includes at least one of a genre data, artist data, album data, or author data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The automated media scheduling system of claim 8, wherein the user input further includes slot data, timing data, stacking data, depth data, and research data associated with each of the groups of media items. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The automated media scheduling system of claim 11, wherein the program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to store the slot data, timing data, stacking data, depth data, and research data associated with each of the groups of media items in the data structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The automated media scheduling system of claim 8, wherein the program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to receive further user input from the graphical user interface indicating a selection of media items to be scheduled in certain slots of the broadcast media schedule in either the reverse chronological order or the forward chronological order. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The automated media scheduling system of claim 13, wherein the at least one instruction to store the scheduling information in the data structure further includes: at least one instruction to alter a bit field of the first data structure. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the address included in the multimedia content link field includes link-local address data or universal resource locator data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the multimedia parameter field includes at least one of a genre data, artist data, album data, or author data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the user input further includes slot data, timing data, stacking data, depth data, and research data associated with each of the groups of media items. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to store the slot data, timing data, stacking data, depth data, and research data associated with each of the groups of media items in the data structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to receive further user input from the graphical user interface indicating a selection of media items to be scheduled in certain slots of the broadcast media schedule in either the reverse chronological order or the forward chronological order.