# US 12,225,065 B2 · Primary and secondary media queues > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,225,065 B2 - Document ID: US12225065B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/994,264 - Filed: 2022-11-25 - Published: 2023-04-20 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-26 - Assignees: iHeart Media Management Services, Inc. - Applicants: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc. - Inventors: David C. Jellison, Jr.; Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225065B2 ## CPC - H04L 65/60: Network streaming of media packets - G06F 17/00: Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00) - H04H 20/103: {Transmitter-side switching} - H04L 65/61: for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - 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) ## Abstract A method includes beginning to broadcast primary media content at a primary media server. Concurrently with beginning to broadcast the primary media content, beginning to stream the primary media content into a primary media queue at a secondary media server. At the secondary media server, broadcasting secondary media content from a secondary media queue until the primary media queue includes sufficient content to satisfy a fill threshold. In response to determining that the fill threshold has been satisfied, switching from broadcasting the secondary media content from the secondary media queue to broadcasting the primary media content from the primary media queue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: at a primary media server: beginning to broadcast primary media content; concurrently with beginning to broadcast the primary media content from a primary playlist, beginning to stream the primary media content into a buffer at a secondary media server; at the secondary media server: broadcasting secondary media content from a secondary playlist until the buffer includes sufficient content to satisfy a fill threshold; and in response to determining that the fill threshold has been satisfied, switching from broadcasting the secondary media content from the secondary playlist to broadcasting the primary media content from the buffer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: subsequent to switching from broadcasting the secondary media content from the secondary playlist to broadcasting the primary media content from the buffer, refilling the buffer with additional secondary media content. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: skipping playout of at least a first primary content media item stored in the buffer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising: playing out at least a subsequent primary content media item stored in the buffer in place of the at least a first primary media content item. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: in response to determining that skipping playout of the at least a first primary content media item causes the buffer to fall below a minimum fill level: switching back to broadcasting secondary media content from the secondary playlist until the buffer includes enough content to satisfy the fill threshold; and in response to determining that the fill threshold has been satisfied, switching from broadcasting the secondary media content from the secondary playlist to broadcasting the primary media content from the buffer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising: playing out a first subsequent primary content media item stored in the buffer without stretching; and playing out at least a second subsequent primary content media item stored in the buffer with stretching. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: receiving, at the secondary media server, user input specifying an excluded media type, wherein the excluded media type indicates a type of media content not to be played out by the secondary media server; and if a particular media item in the buffer is of the excluded media type, skipping playout of the particular media item by the secondary media server. ### Claim 8 A system comprising: a primary media server computer including: a processor; memory coupled to the processor; a first program of instructions configured to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, wherein the first program of instructions includes: at least one instruction to begin broadcasting primary media content; at least one instruction to begin streaming the primary media content into a buffer at a secondary media server computer concurrently with beginning broadcasting of the primary media content; the secondary media server computer including: a processor; memory coupled to the processor; a second program of instructions configured to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, wherein the second program of instructions includes: at least one instruction to broadcast secondary media content from a secondary playlist until the buffer includes sufficient content to satisfy a fill threshold; and at least one instruction to switch from broadcasting the secondary media content from the secondary playlist to broadcasting the primary media content from the buffer in response to determining that the fill threshold has been satisfied. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the second program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to refill the buffer with additional secondary media content subsequent to switching from broadcasting the secondary media content from the secondary playlist to broadcasting the primary media content from the buffer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the second program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to skip playout of at least a first primary content media item stored in the buffer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the second program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to playout at least a subsequent primary content media item stored in the buffer in place of the at least a first primary media content item. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the second program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to be executed in response to determining that skipping playout of the at least a first primary content media item causes the buffer to fall below a minimum fill level, the at least one instruction including: at least one instruction to switch back to broadcasting secondary media content from the secondary playlist until the buffer includes enough content to satisfy the fill threshold; and at least one instruction to switch from broadcasting the secondary media content from the secondary playlist to broadcasting the primary media content from the buffer in response to determining that the fill threshold has been satisfied. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the second program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to playout a first subsequent primary content media item stored in the buffer without stretching; and at least one instruction to playout at least a second subsequent primary content media item stored in the buffer with stretching. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the second program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to receive user input specifying an excluded media type, wherein the excluded media type indicates a type of media content not to be played out by the secondary media server computer; and at least one instruction to skip playout of a particular media item by the secondary media server computer if the particular media item in the buffer is of the excluded media type. ### Claim 15 A media server computer comprising: a processor; memory coupled to the processor; a program of instructions configured to be stored in the memory and executed by the processor, wherein the program of instructions includes: at least one instruction to begin receiving primary media content as the primary media content is being broadcast by a different media server computer; at least one instruction to begin storing the primary media content into a buffer as the primary media content is being received; at least one instruction to broadcast secondary media content from a secondary playlist until the buffer includes sufficient content to satisfy a fill threshold; and at least one instruction to switch from broadcasting the secondary media content from the secondary playlist to broadcasting the primary media content from the buffer in response to determining that the fill threshold has been satisfied. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The media server computer of claim 15, wherein the program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to refill the buffer with additional secondary media content subsequent to switching from broadcasting the secondary media content from the secondary playlist to broadcasting the primary media content from the buffer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The media server computer of claim 15, wherein the program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to skip playout of at least a first primary content media item stored in the buffer; and at least one instruction to playout at least a subsequent primary content media item stored in the buffer in place of the at least a first primary media content item. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The media server computer of claim 17, wherein the program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to be executed in response to determining that skipping playout of the at least a first primary content media item causes the buffer to fall below a minimum fill level, the at least one instruction including: at least one instruction to switch back to broadcasting secondary media content from the secondary playlist until the buffer includes enough content to satisfy the fill threshold; and at least one instruction to switch from broadcasting the secondary media content from the secondary playlist to broadcasting the primary media content from the buffer in response to determining that the fill threshold has been satisfied. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The media server computer of claim 17, wherein the program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to playout a first subsequent primary content media item stored in the buffer without stretching; and at least one instruction to playout at least a second subsequent primary content media item stored in the buffer with stretching. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The media server computer of claim 15, wherein the program of instructions further includes: at least one instruction to receive user input specifying an excluded media type, wherein the excluded media type indicates a type of media content not to be played out; and at least one instruction to skip playout of a particular media item if the particular media item in the buffer is of the excluded media type.