# US 8,782,712 B2 · Method and system for creating a media playlist > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,782,712 B2 - Document ID: US8782712B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/342,960 - Filed: 2008-12-23 - Published: 2010-06-24 - Granted: 2014-07-15 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-23 - Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. - Applicants: Japan A. Mehta; Enrique Ruiz-Velasco; Shafiq Kassam; Laxmi M. Patel - Inventors: Japan A. Mehta; Enrique Ruiz-Velasco; Shafiq Kassam; Laxmi M. Patel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8782712B2 ## CPC - H04N 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests} - H04N 21/4227: {Providing} Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work - H04N 21/4583: {Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programmes in the same time slot} - H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)} - H04N 21/4788: communicating with other users, e.g. chatting {(arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104)} - H04N 21/4825: {using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An approach is provided for the creation of a media playlist for managing and scheduling content from a variety of media sources including broadcast and online sources. The playlist creation process facilitates efficient resolution of media scheduling conflicts by automatically identifying conflicts and generating alternate playlists to overcome them. The approach also enables a user to share the media playlist seamlessly with other devices and users. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving at a playlist manger platform, selection information regarding media content for a media playlist, wherein the media playlist covers a plurality of different time periods and the media content for the media playlist is retrieved from a plurality of content sources; after receiving all selection information at the playlist manager platform for the media playlist covering the plurality of different time periods, determining at the playlist manger platform, whether a scheduling conflict exists for any of the media content of the media playlist; creating at the playlist manger platform, the media playlist for a user based on all the selection information and a determination made as to whether the scheduling conflict exists; and synchronizing the media playlist among a set of devices, each of which processes audio-video signals for presentation to the user, by transmitting the media playlist to each device in the set of devices, wherein the playlist manger platform resides on a network side, remote from the set of devices, the media playlist comprises a list of media content that is to be played or viewed in a designated time period, the media playlist has a standard mode and an away mode, and in the standard mode, a first portion of the media content of the media playlist is a broadcast media content that the user plays or views at a time that the media content is broadcast by a content source of the media content, and a second portion of the media content of the media playlist is a broadcast media content that the user plays or views at a time that is different from when the media content is broadcast by the content source of the media content, progress through the playlist by the user is tracked and synchronized among the set of devices, and the set of devices that the media playlist is synchronized among are devices of the user for which the media playlist is created and include devices by which the user plays or views the broadcast media of the media playlist at the time that the media content is broadcast by the content source of the media content. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, further comprising: alerting the user of the scheduling conflict for any of the media content of the media playlist; and suggesting one or more alternate media playlists to overcome the scheduling. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, wherein the media content includes broadcast content, on-demand content, digital video recorder (DVR) content, pay-per-view content, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) content, Internet-based content, audio content, and image content. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, further comprising: presenting the media content, to the user via a device, according to the media playlist, wherein the device includes at least one of a computing device, a mobile device, and a set-top box. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, further comprising: scheduling a recording of conflicting media content for later viewing; scheduling an alternate viewing time for the conflicting media content; or suggesting an alternate viewing medium for the conflicting media content. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring the user's progress through the media playlist on a first one of the devices; and continuing the media playlist on a second one of the devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving input from the user for designating the media playlist in the away mode to record any broadcast media content included in the media playlist. ### Claim 8 An apparatus comprising: an input interface configured to receive selection information regarding media content for a media playlist, wherein the media playlist covers a plurality of different time periods and the media content for the media playlist is retrieved from a plurality of content sources; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: after receiving all selection information for the media playlist covering the plurality of different time periods, determine whether a scheduling conflict exists for any of the media content of the media playlist; create the media playlist for a user based on the selection information and a determination made as to whether the scheduling conflict exists; and synchronize the media playlist among a set of devices, each of which processes audio-video signals for presentation to the user, by transmitting the media playlist to each device in the set of devices, wherein the apparatus resides on a network side, remote from the set of devices, the media playlist comprises a list of media content that is to be played or viewed in a designated time period, the media playlist has a standard mode and an away mode, and in the standard mode, a first portion of the media content of the media playlist is a broadcast media content that the user plays or views at a time that the media content is broadcast by a content source of the media content, and a second portion of the media content of the media playlist is a broadcast media content that the user plays or views at a time that is different from when the media content is broadcast by the content source of the media content, progress through the playlist by the user is tracked and synchronized among the set of devices, and the set of devices that the media playlist is synchronized among are devices of the user for which the media playlist is created and include devices by which the user plays or views the broadcast media of the media playlist at the time that the media content is broadcast by the content source of the media content. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: alert the user of the scheduling conflict for any of the media content of the media playlist, and suggest one or more alternate media playlists to overcome the scheduling conflict. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the media content includes broadcast content, on-demand content, digital video recorder (DVR) content, pay-per-view content, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) content, Internet-based content, audio content, and image content. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: present the media content, to the user via a device, according to the media playlist, wherein the device includes at least one of a computing device, a mobile device, and a set-top box. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) An apparatus of claim 8, wherein to determine whether a scheduling conflict exists includes to schedule a recording of the conflicting media content for later viewing, schedule an alternate viewing time for the conflicting media content, or suggest an alternate viewing medium for the conflicting media content. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: monitor the user's progress through the media playlist on a first one of the devices, and continue the media playlist on a second one of the devices. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: receive input from the user for designating the media playlist in the away mode to record any broadcast media content included in the media playlist. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: a nontransitory playlist manager configured to: receive selection information regarding media content for a media playlist, wherein the media playlist covers a plurality of different time periods and the media content for the media playlist is retrieved from a plurality of content sources; after receiving all selection information at the playlist manager for the media playlist covering the plurality of different time periods, determine whether a scheduling conflict exists for any of the media content of the media playlist; create the media playlist for a user based on the selection information and a determination made as to whether the scheduling conflict exists; and synchronize the media playlist among a set of devices, each of which processes audio-video signals for presentation to the user, by transmitting the media playlist to each device in the set of devices, wherein the nontransitory playlist manager resides on a network side, remote from the set of devices, the media playlist comprises a list of media content that is to be played or viewed in a designated time period, the media playlist has a standard mode and an away mode, and in the standard mode, a first portion of the media content of the media playlist is a broadcast media content that the user plays or views at a time that the media content is broadcast by a content source of the media content, and a second portion of the media content of the media playlist is a broadcast media content that the user plays or views at a time that is different from when the media content is broadcast by the content source of the media content, progress through the playlist by the user is tracked and synchronized among the set of devices, and the set of devices that the media playlist is synchronized among are devices of the user for which the media playlist is created and include devices by which the user plays or views the broadcast media of the media playlist at the time that the media content is broadcast by the content source of the media content. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A system of claim 15, wherein the playlist manager is further configured to: alert the user of the scheduling conflict for any of the media content of the media playlist, and suggest one or more alternate media playlists to overcome the scheduling conflict. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A system of claim 15, wherein the media content includes broadcast content, on-demand content, digital video recorder (DVR) content, pay-per-view content, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) content, Internet-based content, audio content, and image content. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A system of claim 15, wherein the playlist manager is further configured to present the media content, to the user via a device, according to the media playlist, wherein the device includes at least one of a computing device, a mobile device, and a set-top box. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A system of claim 15, wherein the playlist manager is further configured to monitor the user's progress through the media playlist on a first one of the devices, and to continue the media playlist on a second one of the devices. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A system of claim 15, wherein the playlist manager is further configured to receive input from the user for designating the media playlist in the away mode to record any broadcast media content included in the media playlist. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting the media playlist to one or more other users with common interests. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A method of claim 21, wherein the users exchange information among each other regarding the media playlist. ### Claim 23 (depends on 8) An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: transmit the media playlist to one or more other users with common interests. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) An apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: exchange information among the users regarding the media playlist. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) A system of claim 15, wherein the playlist manager is further configured to transmit the media playlist to one or more other users and exchange information among the users regarding the media playlist.