U.S. patent application number 10/374733 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for method and apparatus for generating an interactive radio program.
Invention is credited to Shusman, Chad W..
Application Number | 20040166798 10/374733 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32868927 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040166798 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shusman, Chad W. |
August 26, 2004 |
Method and apparatus for generating an interactive radio
program
Abstract
A method and system for the creation of interactive radio
programming. A moderator of an interactive radio program uses a
moderator client to digitize and transmit a radio program with
enhanced content to a moderator server through a wide area network.
The moderator server uses the digitized radio program and the
enhanced content to generate an interactive radio program for
transmission to participants in the interactive radio program. The
complete interactive radio program is transmitted to participant
clients over the wide area network. An audio portion of the
interactive radio program may be transmitted over a conventional
radio network as well.
Inventors: |
Shusman, Chad W.; (West
Conshohocken, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP
PO BOX 7068
PASADENA
CA
91109-7068
US
|
Family ID: |
32868927 |
Appl. No.: |
10/374733 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/2.01 ;
455/416; 455/518 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04H 20/38 20130101;
H04H 40/90 20130101; H04H 60/33 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/002.01 ;
455/518; 455/416 |
International
Class: |
H04H 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of creating and transmitting an interactive radio
program, comprising: operably coupling a moderator server to a
communications network; operably coupling a moderator client to the
moderator server through the communications network; operably
coupling a plurality of participant clients to the moderator server
through the communications network; receiving participant comments
by the moderator server through the communications network from the
plurality of participant clients; transmitting by the moderator
server through the communications network to the moderator client
the participant comments; receiving a digitized audio source by the
moderator server through the communications network from the
moderator client; generating an interactive radio program by the
moderator server using the participant comments and the digitized
audio source; and transmitting by the moderator server through the
communications network to the plurality of participant clients the
interactive radio program.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating an interactive radio
program further includes: receiving enhanced content by the
moderator server from the moderator client through the
communications network; and generating by the moderator server the
interactive radio program using the enhanced content, participant
comments, and the digitized audio source.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the interactive radio program
further includes an audio portion, the method further comprising
transmitting by the moderator server the audio portion through a
radio network.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the participant comments further
include an interactive radio program audience approval rating.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving by the
moderator server a participant exclusion signal corresponding to a
specific participant client from the plurality of participant
clients; and generating by the moderator server the interactive
radio program using the participant exclusion signal to exclude
participant comments received from the specific participant
client.
6. A method of creating and transmitting an interactive radio
program over a wide area network, comprising: operably coupling a
moderator server to the wide area network; operably coupling a
moderator Web browser to the moderator server through the wide area
network; operably coupling a plurality of participant Web browsers
to the moderator server through the wide area network; and
iteratively repeating the following: receiving by the moderator
server through the wide area network from the moderator Web browser
a digitized audio source; generating by the moderator server an
interactive radio program using the digitized audio source;
transmitting by the moderator server through the wide area network
to the plurality of participant Web browsers the interactive radio
program; receiving by the moderator server through the wide area
network from the plurality of participant Web browsers a plurality
of participant comments responsive to the interactive radio
program; and transmitting by the moderator server through the wide
area network to the moderator Web browser the plurality of
participant comments.
7. A user interface for a moderator of an interactive radio
program, comprising: a participant comments portion for display of
comments made by participants in the interactive radio program; and
a question display portion for display of questions asked by
participants in the interactive radio program wherein the user
interface permits a moderator to select a participant question to
answer while viewing the participant comments.
8. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the question display
portion further includes: a plurality of question fields, each
question field including: a participant name subfield; a question
text subfield; an answer selection icon; and a delete selection
icon.
9. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the participant comment
portion further includes: a plurality of participant comment
records, each participant comment record including: a participant
name field; and a participant comment field.
10. The user interface of claim 7, further comprising an audience
approval rating display portion wherein the user interface permits
a moderator to view an audience approval rating submitted by the
participants in the interactive radio program.
11. The user interface of claim 10, wherein the audience approval
rating display portion further includes: a color coded meter for
display of the interactive radio program's current audience
approval rating; and a time graph for display of the interactive
radio program's audience approval rating as a function of time.
12. The user interface of claim 7, further comprising a status
indicator portion indicating the status of the interactive radio
program wherein the user interface permits a moderator to view
statistics about the interactive radio program.
13. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the status indicator
portion further includes: a number field for displaying a sequence
number associated with the interactive radio program; a name field
for display of a name associated with the interactive radio
program; and an online audience display field for display of the
number of participants currently participating in the interactive
radio program.
14. The user interface of claim 7, further comprising a participant
poll display portion for display of poll results received from
participants wherein the user interface permits a moderator to view
a poll question along with responses by participants in the
interactive radio program.
15. A data processing system for creating and transmitting an
interactive radio program, the data processing system comprising: a
processor; and a memory operably coupled to the processor and
having program instructions stored therein, the processor being
operable to execute the program instructions, the program
instructions including: receiving participant comments through a
communications network from a plurality of participant clients;
transmitting through the communications network to a moderator
client the participant comments; receiving a digitized audio source
through the communications network from the moderator client;
generating an interactive radio program using the participant
comments and the digitized audio source; and transmitting through
the communications network to the plurality of participant clients
the interactive radio program.
16. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the program
instructions for generating an interactive radio program further
include: receiving enhanced content from the moderator client
through the communications network; and generating the interactive
radio program using the enhanced content, participant comments, and
the digitized audio source.
17. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the interactive
radio program further includes an audio portion, the program
instructions further comprising transmitting the audio portion
through a radio network.
18. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the participant
comments further include an interactive radio program audience
approval rating.
19. The data processing system of claim 15, the program
instructions further including: receiving a participant exclusion
signal corresponding to a specific participant client from the
plurality of participant clients; and generating the interactive
radio program using the participant exclusion signal to exclude
participant comments received from the specific participant
client.
20. A data processing system for creating and transmitting an
interactive radio program over a wide area network, the data
processing system comprising: a processor; and a memory operably
coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored
therein, the processor being operable to execute the program
instructions, the program instructions including: receiving a first
digitized audio source through the wide area network from a
moderator Web browser; generating a first interactive radio program
using the first digitized audio source; transmitting the first
interactive radio program through the wide area network to a
plurality of participant Web browsers; receiving a plurality of
participant comments responsive to the first interactive radio
program through the wide area network from the plurality of
participant Web browsers; transmitting the plurality of participant
comments through the wide area network to the moderator Web
browser; receiving a second digitized audio source through the wide
area network from the moderator Web browser; generating a second
interactive radio program using the second digitized audio source;
and transmitting the second interactive radio program through the
wide area network to the plurality of participant Web browsers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention pertains generally to the field of
interactive programming and more specifically to creating
interactive programming for transmission over a radio and computer
network.
[0002] Radio has traditionally been a serial process where a radio
program is broadcast to a listener in an audience with limited
opportunities, such as calling in over a phone line to talk to a
talk show host, for the listener to participate in the radio
program. The evolution to a more interactive form of radio, or
radio where the listener is allowed to participate, has been slow
given the lack of bidirectional communication channels between the
listener and the radio program broadcaster. When bidirectional
communication channels were created, they tend to be of
insufficient bandwidth for communication of complex listener
interactions with the radio program.
[0003] Development of a nearly ubiquitous communications network,
namely the Internet, has greatly expanded the use of interactive
radio. However, listener participation has so far been limited to
choosing radio content, responding to advertising messages, and
answering viewer questionnaires or polls. This is primarily because
most interactive radio programming follows a conventional radio
paradigm wherein the radio programming is wrapped in
advertisements; and the only responses needed from an audience are
to listen to linear pre-recorded programs and to buy advertised
items or services. Little has been done to fully involve the
audience in a rich participatory experience where the audience has
as much control and influence over the content of an interactive
program as the originator of the interactive program. This is in
contrast to the expectations of some listeners who want a richer
and more satisfying participatory experience within the context of
an interactive program.
[0004] Some interactive radio formats also have a disadvantage in
that, although they may use the Internet as a bidirectional
communication channel, the interactive radio format is dependent
upon set-top-boxes and middleware that a listener either purchases
or leases from a broadcaster such as a cable operator. While these
devices may have a variety of functional features, they may require
an additional expenditure that a listener or a Multiple Systems
Operator (MSO) may not want to incur, especially if the listener
already has an Internet-enabled device such as a home computer.
This makes most existing interactive radio programming "heavy" in
the sense that specialized hardware is needed to take advantage of
the interactive content embedded in an interactive programming
signal. Additionally, the combination of a required set-top-box and
specialized interactive radio formats make interactive programming
distributed over an interactive radio network difficult to
integrate with conventional Web content such as Web pages available
from a Web site.
[0005] Therefore, a need exists for a light-weight interactive
programming system allowing for rich listener participation which
is easily integrated with existing Web content. The present
invention meets such need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A method and system for the creation of interactive radio
programming is provided. A moderator of an interactive radio
program uses a moderator client to digitize and transmit a radio
program with enhanced content to a moderator server through a wide
area network. The moderator server uses the digitized radio program
and the enhanced content to generate an interactive radio program
for transmission to participants in the interactive radio program.
The complete interactive radio program is transmitted to
participant clients over the wide area network. An audio portion of
the interactive radio program may be transmitted over a
conventional radio network as well.
[0007] In one aspect of the invention, a method of creating and
transmitting an interactive radio program includes operably
coupling a moderator server to a moderator client and a plurality
of participant clients through a communications network. The
moderator server receives participant comments from the plurality
of participant clients and transmits the participant comments to
the moderator client. The moderator server also receives a
digitized audio source from the moderator client. The moderator
server uses the participant comments and the digitized audio source
to generate an interactive radio program and transmits the
interactive radio program to the plurality of participant clients
the interactive radio program.
[0008] In another aspect of the invention, generating an
interactive radio program further includes receiving enhanced
content by the moderator server from the moderator client through
the communications network and generating by the moderator server
the interactive radio program using the enhanced content,
participant comments, and the digitized audio source.
[0009] In another aspect of the invention, the interactive radio
program further includes an audio portion which is transmitted by
the moderator server through a radio network by the moderator
server.
[0010] In another aspect of the invention, the participant comments
further include an interactive radio program audience approval
rating.
[0011] In another aspect of the invention, the moderator server
receives from the moderator client a participant exclusion signal
corresponding to a specific participant client from the plurality
of participant clients and generates the interactive radio program
using the participant exclusion signal in order to exclude
participant comments received from the specific participant
client.
[0012] In another aspect of the invention, a moderator is provided
with a user interface permitting the moderator to select a
participant question to answer while viewing participant comments.
The user interface includes a participant comments portion for
display of comments made by participants in the interactive radio
program and a question display portion for display of questions
asked by participants in the interactive radio program.
[0013] In another aspect of the invention, the question display
portion of the user interface further includes a plurality of
question fields, with each question field including a participant
name subfield a question text subfield an answer selection icon,
and a delete question icon.
[0014] In another aspect of the invention, the participant comment
portion of the user interface further includes a plurality of
participant comment records, with each participant comment record
including a participant name field, and a participant comment
field.
[0015] In another aspect of the invention, the user interface of
further includes an audience approval rating display portion
permitting a moderator to view an audience approval rating
submitted by the participants in the interactive radio program. The
audience approval rating display portion has a color coded meter
for display of the interactive radio program's current audience
approval rating and a time graph for display of the interactive
radio program's audience approval rating as a function of time.
[0016] In another aspect of the invention, the user interface
further includes a status indicator portion indicating the status
of the interactive radio program. The status indicator portion has
a number field for displaying a sequence number associated with the
interactive radio program, a name field for display of a name
associated with the interactive radio program, and an online
audience display field for display of the number of participants
currently participating in the interactive radio program.
[0017] In another aspect of the invention, the user interface has a
participant poll display portion for display of poll results
received from participants.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system for creating an
interactive program incorporating participant interactions in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a system for
distribution of interactive radio programming in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram depicting transmission of
interactive radio programming within a system for distribution of
interactive radio programming in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram of an interactive radio
program generation process in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting a process for receiving
participant reactions to an interactive program and calculating an
audience approval system rating for the interactive program in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a moderator's user interface
for creation of an interactive program for distribution using radio
wave transmissions in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a screen capture of a participant's interface used
to view and interact with an interactive program in accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a hardware architecture diagram of a computing
device suitable for use as a moderator server host in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a hardware architecture diagram of a computing
device suitable for use as a moderator client host in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a software architecture diagram of distributed
software modules within a system for distribution of interactive
radio programming in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Interactive radio programs are a subset of interactive
programs in general. For example, interactive programs may be
created for transmission as a television signal, or may be
distributed over a wide area network such as the Internet. In one
system for creating interactive programming incorporating
participant interactions in accordance with an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, the interactive programs are talk shows
hosted by independent moderators and delivered to an audience via
the Internet. This system allows a moderator to be recognized as an
expert or respected voice in a particular field while building a
community of listener participants interested in that particular
field. The system allows the moderator to create a controlled and
moderated environment where the moderator directs the flow of
information and has complete control over the medium. The system is
cost-effective because no special hardware or training is needed to
operate the system. The system features a customizable Web-based
interface for moderators and participants to use in creating
customized collaborative interactive radio programs. The system is
described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/123,618
the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if
fully stated herein.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system for creating an
interactive radio program incorporating participant interactions in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A
moderator 100 hosts an interactive radio program, such as a
broadcast program with a talk show format, that is transmitted to
an audience having a plurality of listeners 102. The interactive
radio program takes place on a virtual stage 104 where the
moderator generates interactive radio programming for transmission
to the listeners. The moderator transmits the interactive radio
program 106 to the listeners. The listeners may passively listen to
the interactive radio program or may become active participants by
generating their own comments 108 that are transmitted back to the
moderator. The moderator edits or filters the participant comments
and retransmits the edited participant comments as part of the
interactive radio program. The listeners may communicate with each
other during the interactive radio program by exchanging audience
messages 110 between themselves.
[0030] The moderator controls the content of the interactive radio
program in a variety of ways. The moderator introduces the initial
topic or content for audience interaction. For example, the
moderator may introduce a topical event such as a news story and
then ask for participant comments. The moderator may also use
previously prepared content such as a non-interactive radio program
that is transmitted to the audience in order to elicit audience
member responses and engage listeners. The moderator can invite
virtual guests 112 from the audience onto the virtual stage. While
on the virtual stage, the virtual guests exchange interactive
messages directly with the moderator rather than with other
audience members or participants. The moderator may also exclude a
participant or listener from the audience. Additionally, the
moderator may generate additional interactive radio programming for
use by the audience such as polls so that the audience can
participate in the interactive radio program by selecting responses
to a question from a list of answers. The results of the
participant responses are aggregated for inclusion in the
interactive radio program.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a system for
distribution of interactive programming using radio wave
transmissions in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. A moderator 100 may use the system to distribute
an interactive radio program to a plurality of participants, such
as participant 200. The interactive radio program can include an
audio portion, such as a moderator's spoken views on a particular
subject, and include an interactive portion, such as participant
comments on either the show or on the topic of the show. As the
interactive radio program can include an audio portion that is
separable from the interactive portion, the audio portion of the
interactive radio program may be delivered as part of a media
stream separate from the interactive portion. For example, the
participant may receive audio portions of the radio program via a
radio receiver 202 or satellite radio receiver 218 and interact
with interactive components of the interactive radio program using
a participant client 206, such as a Web browser, hosted by a
participant client host 205.
[0032] In slightly more detail, the moderator creates a radio
program by generating an audio signal using a microphone and audio
mixing board 208 or the like. The output of the audio mixing board
is then used as an audio source that is transmitted to a radio
transmitter 210 and broadcast to the radio receiver. The audio
source is also transmitted to a moderator client 211, such as a Web
browser, hosted by a moderator client host 209 that is coupled to a
moderator server host 213 hosting a moderator server 212 via a
communications network such as the Internet. The moderator client
digitizes the audio source using an Analog to Digital Converter
(ADC) and transmits the digitized audio source to the moderator
server through the communications network. The moderator may also
use the moderator client to transmit enhanced content that is
created by the moderator to add interactive components to the audio
source. For example, the moderator may add advertising links to an
interactive radio program for use by the participant. The moderator
server uses the received digitized audio source and the received
enhanced content to generate an interactive radio program that may
be transmitted to the participant in a variety of ways.
[0033] In one system for distribution of an interactive radio
program in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the moderator server uses a satellite radio network 216
to transmit the audio portions of the interactive radio program to
the participant's satellite radio receiver 218. The participant may
then listen to the audio portions of the interactive radio program
using the satellite radio receiver and interact with the
interactive portion of the interactive radio program using the
participant client.
[0034] In another system for distribution of interactive
programming using radio wave transmissions in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the moderator server
generates an interactive radio program that may be distributed to
the participant over the communications network. In this system,
the audio portions of the interactive radio program and the
enhanced content are transmitted through the communications network
to the participant client. A participant uses the participant
client to listen to and interact with the interactive radio
program.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram depicting transmission of an
interactive radio program in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention. An audio source transmits an
audio signal 300 to a radio transmitter 210 for transmission as a
radio signal 302 to a radio receiver 202. The audio signal includes
an audio portion or an interactive radio program. A participant may
then listen to the audio portion of the interactive radio program
using the radio receiver but may not be able to access any
interactive portions of an interactive radio program.
[0036] The audio signal is also transmitted to a moderator client
204 that digitizes (304) the audio signal and transmits the
digitized audio signal 306 to a moderator server 210. The moderator
client also transmits enhanced content 307 to the moderator server.
The moderator server also receives participant comments 308 from a
participant client 206. The participant comments include questions
asked by a participant of a moderator, participant responses to
questions asked by the moderator of the participant, such as polls,
participant messages intended for display to other participants,
and audience approval ratings.
[0037] The moderator server uses the digitized audio signal as an
audio portion of an interactive radio program, combines the audio
portion of an interactive radio program with the enhanced content
and the participant comments to generate (310) a moderator
interactive program including a moderator user interface 311 that
is transmitted to the moderator client 211. The moderator server
also generates (312) an interactive radio program 313 including an
audio portion and an interactive portion using the digitized audio
signal, the enhanced content, and the participant comments. The
moderator server then transmits the interactive radio program to
the participant client.
[0038] In one system for distribution of interactive programming
using radio wave transmissions in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, the moderator server uses a
satellite radio network to transmit audio portions 314 of an
interactive radio program to the participant's satellite radio
receiver 218 The participant may then listen to the audio portions
of the interactive radio program using the satellite radio
receiver.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram of an interactive radio
program generation process in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention. A moderator server receives
(400) a digitized audio source and enhanced content 401 from a
moderator client and places the digitized audio source and enhanced
content in a temporary data store 402. The moderator server also
receives (403) participant comments 404 from participants in an
audience of the interactive radio program and places the
participant comments in a temporary data store 405. The moderator
server uses the participant comments, the digitized audio source,
and enhanced content to generate (406) a participant interactive
radio program 408 for transmission to participants in the audience.
The moderator server also uses the participant comments to generate
(410) a moderator interactive program 412 for transmission to the
moderator. The moderator server then transmits (414) the moderator
interactive program to the moderator client and the participant
interactive radio program to the participants in the audience. The
process is repeated 416 indefinitely to generate an ongoing
interactive radio program.
[0040] FIG. 10 is a software architecture diagram of distributed
software modules for generation and display of interactive radio
programming within a system for distribution of interactive radio
programming in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. A moderator client 211 includes an audio input
software module 1000 for receiving an audio source input from a
moderator, digitizing the audio source, and transmitting the
digitized audio source through a communications network 214 to a
moderator server 212. The moderator server includes an audio
encoding module 1002 that receives the digitized audio source from
the moderator client and encodes the digitized audio source for
transmission through the communications network to a participant
client 206. The participant client includes an audio codec 1004. A
codec is a software module for compressing and decompressing data,
such as a codec that can decode audio data encoded using the well
known MPEG-3 standard for audio. The participant client receives
the encoded digitized audio source and uses the audio codec to
decode the encoded digitized audio source for presentation to the
participant.
[0041] The moderator client also includes a user input module for
receiving user inputs from the moderator, such as textual inputs
from a keyboard, and transmission of the moderator user inputs
through the communications network to the moderator server. The
moderator server includes a participant electronic document
generator software module 1008 that receives the moderator user
inputs from the moderator client and uses the moderator user inputs
to generate an electronic document that is transmitted through the
communications network to the participant client. The participant
client receives the electronic document and uses an electronic
document display module 1010 to display the electronic document to
the participant.
[0042] The participant client further includes a user input module
1012 for receiving user inputs from the participant, such as
textual inputs from a keyboard, and transmission of the participant
user inputs through the communications network to the moderator
server. The moderator server includes a moderator electronic
document generator software module 1013 that receives the
participant user inputs from the participant client and uses the
participant user inputs to generate an electronic document that is
transmitted through the communications network to the moderator
client. The moderator client receives the electronic document and
uses an electronic document display module 1014 to display the
electronic document to the moderator.
[0043] In one system for distribution of interactive radio
programming in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, the moderator client and participant clients are
Web browsers, the communications network is the Internet, and the
Web browsers communicate with the moderator server by requesting
and receiving electronic documents written in a document markup
language such as Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). The audio input
module 1000 of the moderator client and audio codec module 1004 of
the participant client are both plugins for their respective Web
browsers. The electronic document generators of the moderator
server are server scripts or servlets that generate HTML documents
for serving to their respective Web browsers. The user input
modules of the participant client and the moderator client are
applets running within the clients that manage encoding user inputs
into appropriate requests for transmission to the moderator
server.
[0044] Referring now to FIG. 5 a diagram depicting a process for
receiving participant reactions to the interactive program and
calculating an audience approval system rating for an interactive
program in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention is shown. A moderator 100 generates an interactive radio
program and transmits the interactive radio program to an audience
102 as previously described. The audience includes a plurality of
participants, as exemplified by participants 600, 602 and 603. Each
participant may have a different opinion of the quality of the
interactive radio program; therefore, each participant is provided
with an individual audience approval system button, such as the
audience approval rating radio buttons, 524, 526, and 528 of FIG.
7, as exemplified by audience approval system buttons 606, 608, and
610. Each participant selects an audience approval system rating
button corresponding to the participant's subjective rating of the
interactive program. The selection of an audience approval system
button transmits a corresponding audience approval system signal to
the moderator server (not shown) thus creating a plurality of
audience approval system signals for evaluation by the moderator
server. The moderator server receives the plurality of audience
approval system signals and uses them to generate a single audience
approval system rating signal and transmits the audience approval
system rating signal for display on the moderator's interface (not
shown).
[0045] In an audience approval system in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an audience approval
system signal can take on three states, 612, 614, and 616, with
each state representing a participant's subjective opinion of the
interactive program. In this embodiment, the three states are
mapped to the corresponding numeric values of "100", "50", and "0",
with "100" representing a participant's complete satisfaction with
the interactive program, "50" representing the participant's
partial satisfaction with the interactive program, and "0"
representing the participant's complete dissatisfaction with the
interactive program. Each of the plurality of audience approval
system signals are mapped to one of these numeric values. These
numeric values are used to generate an arithmetic mean representing
the audience approval system rating of the interactive program. In
the illustrated example of FIG. 6, participant 600 rates the
interactive program at "100", participant 602 rates the interactive
program at "50", and participant 604 rates the interactive program
at "100". These values are used by the moderator server to generate
(618) an arithmetic mean 624 of the plurality of mapped
participants' audience approval system signals. The arithmetic mean
is presented to the moderator as the audience approval system
rating of the moderator's interactive program. In one audience
approval system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, the audience approval system rating is mapped to
a color, with the numeric value of "100" being represented in
green, the numeric value of "50" being represented in yellow, and
the numeric value of "0" being represented in red.
[0046] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a moderator's user interface
for creation of an interactive radio program for distribution using
radio wave transmissions in accordance with an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention. A moderator user interface 5400 includes
a question display portion 5402 for display of questions received
by a moderator from participants. The question display portion
includes fields for displaying a plurality of questions, such as
questions 5404 and 5406. Each question field includes a participant
name subfield, such as participant name subfield 5407, and a
question text subfield, such as question text subfield 5408. Each
question field further includes an "Answer" selection icon, such as
answer selection icon 5409, and a "Delete" selection icon, such as
delete selection icon 5410. If a moderator selects an answer
selection icon associated with a question, the question is included
in a list of questions that the moderator will answer during the
course of generating the interactive radio program. If a moderator
selects a delete selection icon associated with a question, the
question is deleted from the question portion and the commentator
never answers the question.
[0047] The moderator user interface further includes a participant
comments portion 5412 for display of comments received from
participants in the interactive radio program. Comments are
displayed in a plurality of participant comment records, such as
participant comment record 5413. Each participant comment record
includes a participant name field, such as participant name field
5416, for display of a participant's identifier associated with a
participant's comment, and a participant comment field, such as
participant comment field 5418 for display of a participant's
comment.
[0048] The moderator user interface further includes an audience
approval rating display portion 5420 for display of audience
approval rating information received from the participants as
previously described. The audience approval rating display portion
includes a color coded meter 5422 for display of an interactive
radio program's current audience approval rating and a time graph
5424 for display of an interactive radio program's audience
approval rating as a function of time.
[0049] The moderator user interface further includes a status
indicator portion 5424 used to indicate the status of the
interactive radio program to the moderator. The status indicator
portion includes a "Number" field 5426 for displaying a sequence
number associated with an interactive radio program that is
currently being generated. The status indicator portion further
includes a "Name" field 5428 for display of a name associated with
the current interactive radio program and a "Time Elapsed" field
5430 for display of the elapsed time that the current interactive
radio program has been generated. Finally, the status indicator
portion includes an "Online Audience" display field 5432 for
display of the number of audience members currently participating
in the interactive radio program. A moderator may select a "List"
selection icon 5432 to display a list of the audience members.
[0050] The moderator user interface further includes a poll display
portion 5434 for display of poll results received from the audience
members. The poll display portion includes a poll question field
5436 for display of a poll question, a poll result field 5438 for
display of poll results in graphical and numerical formats, a
"Prev" selection icon 5440 for selecting a previous poll in a list
of polls to view, a "Next" selection icon 5442 for selection of a
next poll in a list of polls to view, and a "New Poll" selection
icon 5444. A moderator selects the "New Poll" selection icon to
enter a new poll question in a list of polls.
[0051] In one system for distribution of interactive programming
using radio wave transmissions in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, the moderator user interface
is an electronic document such as a Web page distributed the
moderator over the Internet. The Web page is displayed by a browser
to the moderator and the moderator interacts with the Web page in
order to generate an interactive radio program.
[0052] FIG. 7 is a screen capture of a participant interface used
to view and interact with an interactive radio program in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
The participant interface 500 includes an interactive radio program
identifier field 502 for display of the name of the interactive
radio program being listened to by the participant. A participant
interactive message section 506 is included for display of
participant messages that the participants are exchanging amongst
themselves. An interactive message entry field 508 is used by the
participant to enter interactive messages for display in the
participant message section and to interact with the moderator when
the moderator invites the participant onto the virtual stage.
[0053] A poll section 510 displays a poll question 511 asked by the
moderator of the participants. The poll section includes a
plurality of response buttons, exemplified by response buttons 512
and 514, selectable by the participant to indicate the
participant's response to the poll. The participant selects an
answer to the poll question by selecting one of the response
buttons and then selects the "Vote!" button 516 to register the
participant's poll answer with the moderator server. The
participant interface further includes sections for banner
advertising 518 and for placement of a trademark or service mark
520 to identify the operator of the moderator server. By allowing
banner adds, the moderator server allows a moderator to collect
revenue from t-commerce interactions with the moderator's hosted
interactive radio program.
[0054] In another embodiment of an interactive radio program
creation system in accordance with the present invention, a poll is
created using a plurality of participant questions for selection by
participants. The participant question from the plurality of
participant questions receiving the most participant selections is
selected for submission to the moderator.
[0055] An audience approval system rating entry field 522 is
provided for entry of a participants' rating of an interactive
program. The audience approval system rating entry field includes a
plurality of radio buttons, 524, 526, and 528, for entry of the
participants' rating. Selecting a first radio button rates the
interactive radio program as highly entertaining, selecting a
second radio button rates the interactive radio program as
moderately entertaining, and selecting a third radio button rates
the interactive radio program as only mildly entertaining.
[0056] In one system for distribution of interactive programming
using radio wave transmissions in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, the participant user interface
is an electronic document such as a Web page distributed to
participants over the Internet. The Web page is displayed by a
browser to the participant and the participant interacts with the
Web page in order to interact with the interactive radio
program.
[0057] FIG. 8 is a hardware architecture diagram of a data
processing system suitable for use as a moderator server host in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A
data processing system includes a processor 2600, including a
Central Processing Unit (CPU) 2610, a memory cache 2620, and a bus
interface 2630, is operatively coupled via a system bus 2635 to a
main memory 2640 and an I/O control unit 2645. The I/O interface
control unit is operatively coupled via an I/O local bus 2650 to a
disk storage controller 2695, and a network communications
controller 2680. A communications device 2696 is operatively
coupled to the network communications controller and is adapted to
allow software objects hosted by the data processing system to
communicate via a network with other software objects.
[0058] The disk storage controller is operatively coupled to a disk
storage device 2655. Computer program instructions 2697
implementing a moderator server are stored on the disk storage
device until the processor retrieves the computer program
instructions and stores them in the main memory. The processor then
executes the computer program instructions stored in the main
memory to implement the moderator server.
[0059] FIG. 9 is a hardware architecture diagram of a data
processing system suitable for use as either a moderator client
host or a participant client host in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention. A data processing system has a
processor 900, including a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 910, a
memory cache 920, and a bus interface 930, is operatively coupled
via a system bus 935 to a main memory 940 and an I/O control unit
945. The I/O interface control unit is operatively coupled via an
I/O local bus 950 to a disk storage controller 995, and a network
communications controller 980. A communications device 996 is
operatively coupled to the network communications controller and is
adapted to allow software objects hosted by the data processing
system to communicate through a network with other software
objects.
[0060] An input controller 1000 is operably coupled to the I/O
local bus and a keyboard 1002 or other user input devices. A
moderator or a participant uses the keyboard or other user input
devices to input information into the data processing system.
[0061] A display controller 1008 operably coupled to the I/O local
bus is also operably coupled to a user display 1006 such as a CRT
screen. The data processing system uses the display to display to
the moderator previously described moderator user interface or to
display to a participant a previously described participant user
interface.
[0062] A device controller 1012 operably coupled to the I/O local
bus is also operably coupled to an ADC 1010. The data processing
system uses the ADC to receive and digitize a previously described
audio source so that the digitized audio source may be transmitted
to a previously described moderator server.
[0063] The disk storage controller is operatively coupled to a disk
storage device 955. Computer program instructions 997 implementing
a previously described moderator client are stored on the disk
storage device until the processor retrieves the computer program
instructions and stores them in the main memory. The processor then
executes the computer program instructions stored in the main
memory to implement the moderator client or the participant
client.
[0064] Although this invention has been described in certain
specific embodiments, many additional modifications and variations
would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to
be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than
as specifically described. Thus, the present embodiments of the
invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and
not restrictive, the scope of the invention to be determined by any
claims supportable by this application and the claims'
equivalents.
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