Method and apparatus for managing allocations of media content in electronic segments

A method, comprising:

• obtaining, by a processing system comprising a processor, a plurality of descriptors, each of the plurality of descriptors differing from each other, each of the plurality of descriptors being associated with a subset of locations of a network of locations, each location in the network of locations corresponding to an electronic segment in one of a plurality of electronic canvases for presentation of media content suppliable by one of a plurality of media content sources;
• receiving, by the processing system, a new descriptor, the new descriptor differing from the plurality of descriptors, and the new descriptor being associated with a new subset of locations of the network of locations for presentation of media content;
• identifying, by the processing system, one or more affected descriptors of the plurality of descriptors having one or more overlapping subsets and one or more non-overlapping subsets of locations of the network of locations;
• obtaining, by the processing system, data associated with the one or more affected descriptors;
• determining, by the processing system according to at least a portion of the data, a forecast of allocated locations in each of the one or more affected descriptors for presentation of media content in the one or more overlapping subsets of locations and the one or more non-overlapping subsets of locations;
• identifying, by the processing system according to the forecast of the allocated locations, at least a portion of allocated locations in the one or more overlapping subsets of locations that are displaceable to generate a number of displaceable allocations;
• and
• determining, by the processing system according to the number of displaceable allocations, a forecast of available unallocated locations with displacement, the forecast of available unallocated locations with displacement identifying available locations in the new subset of locations of the new descriptor for presentation of media content.

A device, comprising:

• a processing system including a processor;
• and
• a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
• receiving a forecast request for a new descriptor, the new descriptor differing from a plurality of preexisting descriptors, each of the plurality of preexisting descriptors being associated with a subset of locations of a network of locations, each location in the network of locations corresponding to an electronic segment in one of a plurality of electronic canvases for presentation of media content, and the new descriptor being associated with a new subset of locations of the network of locations;
• identifying one or more affected descriptors of the plurality of preexisting descriptors having one or more overlapping subsets of locations of the network of locations and one or more non-overlapping subsets of locations of the network of locations;
• determining a forecast of allocated locations in each of the one or more affected descriptors for presentation of media content in the one or more overlapping subsets of locations and the one or more non-overlapping subsets of locations;
• identifying, according to the forecast of the allocated locations, at least a portion of allocated locations in the one or more overlapping subsets of locations that are displaceable resulting in a number of displaceable allocations;
• and
• determining, according to the number of displaceable allocations, a forecast of available unallocated locations with displacement, the forecast of available unallocated locations with displacement identifying first available locations in the new subset of locations of the new descriptor for presentation of media content.