System and method for providing a real-time content distribution network

A content provider server device comprising:

• a computer storage device for storing playlists and audio media files, the playlists including a list of audio media files, the audio media files including audio content and attributes, and the attributes including a content type and play instructions.
• a network interface for communicating with a plurality of player devices at host locations, each of the host locations including a single player device identified by a media access control (MAC) address;
• and
• a computer processor in communication with the computer storage device and the network interface, the computer processor including instructions for facilitating:
• receiving an audio content and a play instruction from a client, the play instruction specifying one or more of the host locations;
• approving the audio content, the approving performed by a content manager via a user device;
• generating an audio media file from the approved audio content and the play instruction;
• storing the audio media file in the computer storage device;
• receiving a request for updated information from one of the host locations specified in the play instruction, the receiving a request for the updated information via the network interface;
• transmitting the audio media file to the requesting host location via the network interface;
• and
• receiving broadcast time reporting data from the one or more host locations on a periodic basis via the network interface.

A method for providing a content distribution computer network, the method comprising:

• transmitting a playlist specifying one or more audio media files and host locations to one or more player devices at the host locations, the transmitting in response to a request from the one or more player devices for an updated playlist, the audio media files including audio content and attributes, the attributes including a content type and play instructions, each of the player devices at a different host location, each player device identified by a MAC address, wherein the playlist and audio media files are utilized by the player device along with local play sequence rules to build a play queue for broadcast at the host location;
• transmitting one of the audio media files to one of the player devices in response to a request from the player device for the audio media file;
• creating an audio media file including music audio content from an independent musician client, the creating including:
• receiving the music audio content;
• approving the music audio content;
• editing the approved music audio content to include data about the musician;
• generating a new audio media file from the edited approved music audio content;
• adding the new audio media file to the playlist;
• and
• transmitting the playlist and the new audio media file to one or more of the player devices in response to the musician selecting the host locations associated with the player devices and to a request from the player devices for the new audio media file;
• receiving broadcast time reporting data for the audio media files in the playlist on a periodic basis;
• transmitting the broadcast time reporting data to clients associated with the audio media files in the playlist;
• and
• generating an alert for a player device in response to not receiving the broadcast reporting data within the periodic basis, the alert indicating that the player device may not be operational.

A method for distributing media content from a media server to a plurality of player devices located at remote host locations, the method comprising:

• providing player devices at the remote host locations and connecting the provided player devices to the media server via a packet-switched network;
• creating a media file including music content from a musician client, the creating including:
• receiving the music content, approving the music content and editing the approved music content to include information about the content type and play instructions;
• prompting the independent musician client to select one or more remote host locations for distribution of the music content and receiving client selection of one or more host locations;
• creating a media file including advertising content from an independent advertiser client, the creating including:
• receiving the advertising content, approving the content, and editing the approved content to include information about the content type and play instructions,
• prompting the independent advertiser client to select one or more remote host locations for distribution of the advertising content and receiving client selection of one or more host locations;
• generating a playlist for each host location selected by the musician and advertiser clients, the playlist includes listing of media files to be distributed at the selected host locations;
• transmitting the playlist specifying the plurality of media files to the player devices at the selected host locations, wherein the player devices utilizes the playlist and a local play sequence rules to build a play queue for broadcast of the media files at the host locations;
• transmitting one of the media files to one of the player devices in response to a request from the player device for the media file, the transmitted media files include one or more of the music content and advertising content;
• receiving from the player devices broadcast time reporting data for the media files in the playlists on a predetermined basis;
• transmitting the broadcast time reporting data to the musician and advertisement clients associated with the media files in the playlist;
• and
• receiving payments from the musician and advertisement clients for content distribution.

A method for distributing audio content from a media server to a plurality of player devices located at remote host locations, the method comprising:

• providing one or more player devices at the remote host locations and connecting the provided player devices to the media server via a packet-switched network;
• providing a first Web interface for musicians to submit music content and to select one or more host locations for distribution of the music content;
• providing a second Web interface for advertisers to submit advertising content and to select one or more host locations for distribution of the advertising content;
• creating one or more media files including one or more of music and advertising content, the creating includes:
• receiving the content via Web interface, approving the content, and editing the approved content to include information about the content type and play instructions;
• storing the one or more media files on the media server;
• generating a playlist for each host location selected by the musician and advertiser, the playlist includes listing of media files to be distributed at the selected host locations;
• transmitting the playlist specifying the plurality of media files to the player devices at the selected host locations, wherein the player devices utilize the playlist and local play sequence rules to build a play queue for broadcast of the media files at the host locations;
• transmitting one of the media files to one of the player devices in response to a request from the player device for the media file, the transmitted media files include one or more of the music content and advertising content;
• receiving from the player devices broadcast time reporting data for the media files in the playlists on a predetermined basis;
• troubleshooting the player device in the event of not receiving time reporting data from the player device on time.

A method for distributing audio content, the method comprising:

• entering into a contract with one or more host location owners for distribution of the audio content at one or more host locations;
• entering into a contract with one or more musician clients, whereby a musician agrees to provide music content for distribution at one or more host locations;
• entering into a contract with one or more advertisers, whereby an advertiser agrees to provide advertising content for distribution at one or more host locations;
• providing a Web interface for the musicians and advertisers to provide music and advertising content and to select one or more host locations for distribution of the content;
• creating one or more media files including one or more of music and advertising content, the creating includes:
• receiving the content via the Web interface, approving the content, and editing the approved content to include information about the content type and play instructions;
• generating a playlist for each host location selected by the musician and advertiser, the playlist includes listing of media files to be distributed at the selected host locations;
• transmitting the playlist specifying the plurality of media files to the player devices at the selected host locations, wherein the player devices utilize the playlist and local play sequence rules to build a play queue for broadcast of the media files at the host locations;
• transmitting one of the media files to one of the player devices in response to a request from the player device for the media file, the transmitted media files include one or more of the music content and advertising content;
• receiving from the player devices broadcast time reporting data for the media files in the playlists on a predetermined basis;
• transmitting the broadcast time reporting data to the musicians and advertisers associated with the media files in the playlist;
• receiving payments from the musicians and advertisers for content distribution;
• and
• disbursing a portion of the received payment to the host location owner for content distribution.

A system for distributing media content, the system comprising:

• a plurality of media players configured to play media content at remote host locations;
• a media database configured to store the media content;
• a Web interface accessible to musicians and advertisers to provide music and advertising content and to select host locations for distribution of the provided content;
• a media server connected to the plurality of media player, the media database and the Web interface, the media server configured to
• create one or more media files including one or more of the music and advertising content, the creating includes:
• receiving the content via the Web interface, approving the content, and editing the approved content to include information about the content type and play instructions;
• store the one or more media files in the media database;
• generate a playlist for each host location selected by the musician and advertiser, the playlist includes listing of media files to be distributed at the selected host locations;
• transmit the playlist specifying the plurality of media files to the player devices at the selected host locations, wherein the player devices utilize the playlist and local play sequence rules to build a play queue for broadcast of the media files at the host locations;
• transmit one of the media files to one of the player devices in response to a request from the player device for the media file, the transmitted media files include one or more of the music content and advertising content;
• receive from the player devices broadcast time reporting data for the media files in the playlists on a predetermined basis;
• transmit the broadcast time reporting data to the musicians and advertisers associated with the media files in the playlist.