U.S. patent application number 14/564048 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-11 for systems and methods for delivering relevant media content stream based on location.
The applicant listed for this patent is HearHere Radio, Inc.. Invention is credited to Narayanan Alwar, Boris Geissler, John Macleod, Charles Meyerson, Cynthia Paulauskas, April Anne Starr, Thomas Stat, Vivekanandan Sundararaman.
Application Number | 20150163636 14/564048 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53272242 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150163636 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Macleod; John ; et
al. |
June 11, 2015 |
Systems and Methods for Delivering Relevant Media Content Stream
Based on Location
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a system for delivering
contextually relevant streaming media content embodied in a mobile
device, wherein the media stream includes one or more media content
segments content selected from a plurality of media content
segments content based on the current location of the mobile
device.
Inventors: |
Macleod; John; (Kenilworth,
IL) ; Paulauskas; Cynthia; (Chicago, IL) ;
Alwar; Narayanan; (South Barrington, IL) ;
Sundararaman; Vivekanandan; (Aurora, IL) ; Stat;
Thomas; (Northbrook, IL) ; Geissler; Boris;
(Chicago, IL) ; Starr; April Anne; (Riverside,
IL) ; Meyerson; Charles; (Oak Park, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HearHere Radio, Inc. |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53272242 |
Appl. No.: |
14/564048 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61913229 |
Dec 6, 2013 |
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61913231 |
Dec 6, 2013 |
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61913239 |
Dec 6, 2013 |
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61936264 |
Feb 5, 2014 |
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61915504 |
Dec 12, 2013 |
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61915507 |
Dec 12, 2013 |
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61936251 |
Feb 5, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/414.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/025 20130101;
H04W 4/06 20130101; H04H 60/46 20130101; H04H 60/51 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/02 20060101
H04W004/02; H04W 4/06 20060101 H04W004/06 |
Claims
1. A system for delivering contextually relevant streaming media
content embodied in a mobile device comprising: a controller; a
user input-output subsystem; a communication subsystem; a location
subsystem controlled by the controller; a media output subsystem
controlled by the controller; a memory coupled to the controller,
wherein the memory is configured to store program instructions
executable by the controller; wherein in response to executing the
program instructions, the controller is configured to: receive, via
the user input-output subsystem, a user command to receive
streaming media content from a media server; receive, via the
location subsystem, a current location of the mobile device;
provide, via the communication subsystem, the current location of
the mobile device to the media server; and in response to providing
the current location of the mobile device to the media server,
receive, via the communication subsystem, a contextually relevant
media stream, wherein the contextually relevant media stream
includes one or more media content segments selected from a
plurality of media content segments based on the current location
of the mobile device.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the selected media content segment
includes traffic information.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the selected media content segment
includes regional specific news.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the selected media content segment
includes regional sports news.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the selection of the media content
segment is further based on a temporal relevance tag associated
with the media content segment, wherein the temporal relevance tag
indicates an expiration time associated with the selected media
content segment.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of media content
segments are stored in a database, wherein the database includes a
location tag associated with each of the plurality of media content
segments, wherein the contextually relevant media stream includes
one or more media content segments associated with the location tag
that matches the current location of the mobile device.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to
assign a plurality of regions to a geographical area, wherein the
contextually relevant media stream includes one or more media
content segments associated with the region associated with the
current location of the mobile device.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the selected media content segment
includes traffic information, wherein the selected media content
segment is delivered to the mobile device when the current location
of the mobile device matches a reference point location.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the reference point location is
associated with a geographical landmark.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to
receive a commute route including a plurality of locations from the
mobile device, wherein the selected media content segment includes
traffic information relevant to the plurality of locations
associated with the received commute route.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application incorporates by reference and claims the
benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/913,229
filed on Dec. 6, 2013, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/913,231
filed on Dec. 6, 2013, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/913,239
filed on Dec. 6, 2013, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/936,264
filed on Feb. 5, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/915,507
filed on Dec. 12, 2013, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/915,504
filed on Dec. 12, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/936,251 filed on Feb. 5, 2014.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Traditional radio stations broadcast a single broadcast
stream providing identical content to everyone listening to the
radio, regardless of its relevance to the individual listeners.
This "one size fits all" approach delivers the same information to
everyone listening, irrespective of his or her interest, needs, or
location. Moreover, broadcast radio is unable to determine when
individual listeners tune in and tune out. As a result, the
conventional broadcast repeats a shallow depth of generic
information in an attempt to deliver all of the information to all
of the listeners. While such generic content may be the best
compromise to broadcasting to a large group of people, individual
listeners may be interested in only a portion of the general
content that is relevant to their location, neighborhood,
interests, and lifestyle.
[0003] Lack of personalization is a problem with all types of
broadcast media, but it is particularly relevant to news radio. In
news radio, information that is specific to one geographic area may
be completely irrelevant to people listening in other geographic
areas. Yet, radio stations in large metro areas cover hundreds of
miles and report the same content to each of the different regions
contained within the metro area. For example, a listener may become
disinterested or even frustrated when listening to long traffic
reports for areas in which she is not driving, sports updates for
teams she does not follow, or events in neighborhoods she does not
live or visit. In response, a listener must switch to different
radio stations to find the information she likes or to avoid
listening to information in which she has no interest.
[0004] Using traffic information as an example to illustrate the
problems with generic broadcasts, in many regions, consumers rely
heavily on the traffic information provided by radio stations to
determine their expected time of arrival to their destination.
Consumers also use the traffic information in order to decide if
they should take an alternate route to reach their destination in
light of the reported traffic or automobile accident. Accordingly,
timeliness and relevancy of traffic information is important to
these listeners. However, traditional radio stations provide
general traffic information to cover the entire broadcast region
and typically only report the traffic on a predetermined schedule,
e.g., once every ten minutes. As a result, the listeners at one end
of the city are provided the same information as those listeners at
the other and the length of the traffic report is necessarily
extended to provide comprehensive information. This is not an ideal
solution for each listener (or really for any listener). Although
traffic news is the example used, these problems are typical for
any media broadcast.
[0005] Further to that point, media content is often
time-sensitive. As examples, weather reports and traffic reports
are often only valid for a short window of time before they become
irrelevant. In addition, there are important times to receive
weather and traffic reports, such as when preparing to leave the
house. However, because traditional media content is broadcast and
consumed in real-time, media content both may become stale and may
not be delivered at the opportune moment. For example, a listener
may leave the house, get into the car, and turn on the radio. If
the listener has just missed the traffic report, he or she may need
to wait another 10 minutes (or more) before the traffic report is
repeated. By that time, the listener may have already gotten deep
enough into the commute that the report will no longer be as useful
because the listener is either at his or her destination or in the
midst of the traffic.
[0006] A further problem with conventional media broadcasts,
particularly radio news and talk shows is that certain media
stories will be broadcast without regard to age-sensitive material.
For example, the news may include topics related to a murder case
or a bank robbery, sexual assault, marijuana being legal, poverty
in Africa, or a devastation of a tsunami in Japan. However, such
material may be inappropriate for children, or other sensitive
listeners, to hear. When a listener is confronted with
inappropriate content while listening with sensitive listeners (for
example, a parent driving a car with young children), the listener
must turn off the radio or hastily switch to a different station to
avoid the content. The inability for traditional media broadcasts
to enable a user to personally choose how to filter inappropriate
content is a problem.
[0007] In summary, the problems with broadcast media include an
overload of generalized information, providing information that is
not relevant to the listeners based on the listener's preferences
and/or location, and providing information that is not delivered at
an optimal time, and a lack of filtering of broadcast media.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To meet the needs described above and others, the present
disclosure provides a system for delivering contextually relevant
streaming media content wherein the selection of the audio content
is customized to the user based on the listener's preferences
and/or location. In doing so, the system provides a unique media
stream to each listener composed of media content segments chosen
by the system and delivered in a continuous media stream. For
example, each media content segment may be stored in a database and
associated with various tags, such as preference tags, location
tags, time tags, etc., such that only media content that correspond
to a specific user's preferences and/or location are delivered to
the specific listener. The primary examples used throughout this
description are related to streaming radio media content,
particularly streaming radio media content delivered via Internet
radio to a mobile application embodied in a mobile device. However,
it is understood that the inventions taught herein are applicable
in a wide range of content stream delivery systems, including
various audio and visual media and various audio and visual media
playback systems and devices.
[0009] In an embodiment, the system is embodied in an audio content
platform including a media server in communication with a mobile
device through the Internet. The media server may include a
controller, memory, and database. The controller may communicate
with a mobile device (such as a mobile device or vehicle dashboard
computer) or an application running on the mobile device (such as a
mobile application, or vehicle dashboard computer application) to
play a media content segment, which may be an individual media
content segment or a consecutive stream of a plurality of media
content segments. The media server may customize a contextually
relevant media stream to the mobile device based on the local time,
the listener's location, habits, and preferences, demographics, and
other personal and demographic information of the listener
associated with the mobile device.
[0010] For example, when in use by a listener, the controller, via
a location service subsystem, may determine a region that the
mobile device is currently located, and deliver a relevant media
content segment based on the received current location of the
listener. For example, the listeners in New York area will hear New
York news, sports, and traffic information, and not hear local
Chicago stories. In another example, the media server may assemble
an individualized stream of media based on user preferences, a
user's current location, and further based on the current time. For
example, a user may want to hear sports from LA because that is
where the listener grew up, but wants to hear weather and traffic
in Chicago because that is the listener's current location, and he
wants to hear financial news from NY because his business is based
in NY. In another example, the listener's current location, such as
driving past a landmark, may trigger a traffic report delivery
pertaining to the area surrounding the landmark. The customized
media stream may also be based on the current time, such that only
media that has not expired is delivered to the listener.
[0011] For example, each media content segment may be associated
with a content category. Each content category may comprise various
sub-categories representing more particular information about each
media content segment. A particular media content segment may be
associated with one or more categories and sub-categories.
[0012] Listener's preferences may include various general topics or
categories and sub-categories. Listener preferences may also
include specific topics (e.g., comic books) the listener may submit
and/or audio programs that they like to follow (e.g., specific
podcasts or radio programs). In addition, listeners may allow the
system to associate the listener preferences with a social
networking account, such that the system is configured to access
the social network account of the listener to automatically
determine topics and/or categories of content that the listener
would be interested in based on the information within the social
network. The people, places, and things with which the user
associates through social media may be the basis for automatically
assigning specific and generalized preferences. For example, the
system receives information that a user "Likes" the Chicago Bulls
on Facebook and associates the user's preferences with the Chicago
Bulls, specifically, and NBA basketball, generally. While this is
an example of a simple association, it is contemplated that more
complex associations and preferences may be determined by assessing
associations across a greater number of dimensions (e.g., assessing
associations with various entertainment categories and news
preference may prompt a preference assignment of a specific
retailer or retail category).
[0013] In addition, the listener preference may include a selection
of a "safe mode" such that the system filters the audio stories and
delivers only kid-friendly subject matter. From another
perspective, the listener preference could be a combination of
factors that indicate when "safe mode" may be exited or, even more
directly, a listener preference may indicate specific times or
locations in which media that would be otherwise be filtered out by
a "safe mode" should proactively be delivered. For example, a user
may be able to indicate within the system via user preferences a
known range of times and/or locations in which the user will be
known to be alone in his or her vehicle and the system may
intentionally deliver media content segments that would at other
times and locations be filtered by a safe mode.
[0014] In an example of delivering contextually relevant streaming
media content based on user preferences, the system may determine
the current time and create a contextually relevant media stream
based on the listener's time and content preferences. For example,
if a listener has indicated a preference for weather news in the
morning, the system may deliver to the listening device media
content segments related to the weather at the beginning of the day
but suppress such content when the user listens to content in the
afternoon. In addition to delivering media content segments based
on the listener's stated preferences, the system may deliver media
content segments based on the listener's past listening/viewing
behavior, the user's current location, among others.
[0015] Similarly, contextually relevant streaming media content may
be delivered based on location. Each media content segment may also
be associated to regions where the media content segment is
relevant. These regions can vary from global, national, local, to
hyper local regions within a metro area. Each region may be
composed of smaller regions. For example, a state region may be
composed of multiple sub-regions represent various local areas and
cities. Likewise, a metropolitan area may be composed of
neighborhood or subdivision sub-regions.
[0016] Regions may be organized based on local knowledge and the
relevancy of different content type. Regions may be comprised of
sub-regions that are disjointed, i.e., not overlapping. In one
example, a region may be composed of a plurality of geographies
that are non-contiguous yet all a part of a single region. In
another example, sub-regions related to school districts may be
separated at the boundaries of the districts and therefore not
overlap. Regions may also be comprised of sub-regions that do
overlap. For example, sub-regions related to the popularity of
various local sports teams may overlap. Content types may have
associated regional representations that reflect the variation in
interest in the content from place-to-place.
[0017] In one example of location-based contextually relevant
streaming media content, the present invention solves the above
mentioned problems by delivering traffic reports that are relevant
to listeners based on their current geographic location. The media
content segment presented to the listener at a given time pertains
to the region the listener is currently located and/or the
listener's path of travel. In other words, in an example, the
present system ensures that the traffic report is customized to the
listener based on the listener's location.
[0018] Specifically, the present system provides traffic
information that is relevant to the listeners and eliminates the
cluttered broadcast to which they have traditionally been
subjected. In addition, the system provides the relevant traffic
information as soon as it is made available. Further, the system
may provide traffic information as an aerial view traffic report to
deliver a more detailed traffic report for the key roads and public
transport around the listener's destinations.
[0019] The present system delivers the traffic information as part
of the audio news platform, wherein the information is relevant and
timely. When new traffic reports become available for the region
pertaining to the listener, the information is immediately
presented to the listener as the next audio report, so that the
relevancy of the report is maintained.
[0020] In an embodiment, the disclosure provides a system for
delivering contextually relevant streaming media content embodied
in a mobile device comprising a controller, a user input-output
subsystem, a communication subsystem, a location subsystem
controlled by the controller, a media output subsystem controlled
by the controller, and a memory coupled to the controller. The
memory is configured to store program instructions executable by
the controller, wherein in response to executing the program
instructions, the controller is configured to receive, via the user
input-output subsystem, a user command to receive streaming media
content from a media server. The controller is also configured to
receive, via the location subsystem, a current location of the
mobile device, and provide, via the communication subsystem, the
current location of the mobile device to the media server. In
response to providing the current location of the mobile device to
the media server, receive, via the communication subsystem, a
contextually relevant media stream, wherein the contextually
relevant media stream includes one or more media content segments
selected from a plurality of media content segments based on the
current location of the mobile device.
[0021] In an example, the selected media content segment includes
traffic information, regional specific news, and/or regional sports
news.
[0022] The selection of the media content segment may be further
based on a temporal relevance tag associated with the media content
segment, wherein the temporal relevance tag indicates an expiration
time associated with the selected media content segment.
[0023] The plurality of media content segments may be stored in a
database, wherein the database includes a location tag associated
with each of the plurality of media content segments, wherein the
contextually relevant media stream includes one or more media
content segments associated with the location tag that matches the
current location of the mobile device.
[0024] The controller may also be configured to assign a plurality
of regions to a geographical area, wherein the contextually
relevant media stream includes one or more media content segments
associated with the region associated with the current location of
the mobile device.
[0025] In an example, the selected media content segment includes
traffic information, wherein the selected media content segment is
delivered to the mobile device when the current location of the
mobile device matches a reference point location. The reference
point location may be associated with a geographical landmark.
[0026] In addition, the controller may be configured to receive a
commute route including a plurality of locations from the mobile
device, wherein the selected media content segment includes traffic
information relevant to the plurality of locations associated with
the received commute route.
[0027] An advantage of the current system is providing listeners
with the information that is customized to the listener's
preferences and location, thereby avoiding the presentation of
unnecessary and irrelevant information.
[0028] Another advantage of the invention is to allow advertisers
to be reassured listeners will not skip out of stories because they
are deemed as clutter: the stories and content the listeners hears
will be exactly the ones he or she wants.
[0029] Another object of the invention is to associate different
types of content to different time periods chosen by the listener
so that the listener is not constrained by the traditional "one
size fits all" streams of audio stories and news.
[0030] Another object of the invention is to associate different
types of content to different regions so that listeners are not
constrained by the traditional geo-fencing models.
[0031] An object of this invention is to ensure that listeners are
provided with up-to-date, relevant content and not presented with
stale, expired content.
[0032] An advantage of the audio content created is that it is
customized for the listener. For example, traffic reports delivered
are based on the region of the listeners, and/or a specific commute
route, either inbound or outbound. In other words, different types
of traffic reports are delivered to listeners in different
regions.
[0033] In addition, the shelf life of the traffic report is set
based on the relevance and type of traffic report (e.g. based on
variations in traffic times, reports are created dynamically, as
opposed to a conventional traffic report once every 10 minutes). In
addition, the traffic report may always be made available to the
listener irrespective of the time at which they start listening
(i.e., no need to wait for a specific time to listen to traffic
report).
[0034] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the
examples will be set forth in part in the description which
follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the
art upon examination of the following description and the
accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation
of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be
realized and attained by means of the methodologies,
instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in
accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by
way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer
to the same or similar elements.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system for
delivering contextually relevant streaming media content.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a media server in
the system shown in FIG. 1.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a mobile device in
the system shown in FIG. 1.
[0039] FIGS. 4A-4E are graphical top views of examples of various
regions of geographical areas.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a graphical top view of an example of a disjointed
region.
[0041] FIG. 6 is a flow chart representing a method of combining
selected media content segments to provide a contextually relevant
stream of media content based on geographic regions relevant to the
user, the location of the user, temporal triggers, and additional
user preferences.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0042] The present disclosure provides systems and methods for
delivering contextually relevant streaming media content.
[0043] The present disclosure provides a system 10 wherein the
selection of the media content is customized to the listener based
on the listener's preferences and/or location. As shown in FIG. 1,
the system 10 includes a media server 11 in communication with a
mobile device 20.
[0044] The media server 11 is configured to create and deliver
media content segments 26 that correspond to a specific listener's
preferences and/or location. The media server, as shown in FIG. 2,
includes a controller 12 in communication with both a memory 14 and
a database 18. The memory 14 is configured to store program
instructions executable by the controller 12.
[0045] The database 18 may include a plurality of media content
segments 26, wherein each media content segment 26 is associated
with various tags, as described further herein. The media content
segments 26 may be original content, licensed content, user
content, etc. In use, the media content segments 26 are assembled
together into a contextually relevant media stream 28 that is
delivered to a mobile device 20, as described further herein.
[0046] The media server 11, via the controller 12, may communicate
with the mobile device 20 (such as a mobile phone, tablet computer,
portable media receiver, in-vehicle media receiver, vehicle
dashboard computer, etc.) or an application running on the mobile
device 20 (such as a mobile application, or vehicle dashboard
computer application) to play a contextually relevant media stream
28. The contextually relevant media stream 28 may be based on the
local time, the listener's location, habits, and preferences,
demographics, and other personal and demographic information of the
listener associated with the mobile device 20. As such, each
listener may be provided with a unique contextually relevant media
stream 28, though it is understood that depending on the degree of
customization and the scope of media content segments 26 available,
not each contextually relevant media stream 28 will be unique.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile device 20 may include a
processor 104, a user input-output subsystem 15 that may include a
user interface 16 (such as a touch screen), a communication
subsystem 17, a location services subsystem 21, and a media output
subsystem 23 controlled by the controller 12. The user input
subsystem 15 may include a touch screen, keypad, or any other
suitable mechanism of receiving user input. The mobile device 20 is
described in greater details below with respect to FIG. 3.
[0048] For example, in response to executing the program
instructions, the media server 11, via the controller 12, is
configured to receive, via the user input-output subsystem 15, a
user command to receive a contextually relevant media stream 28
from the media server 11.
[0049] The controller 12 is further configured to receive, via the
location services subsystem 21, a current location 50 of the mobile
device 20. The location services subsystem 21 within the mobile
device 20 may include a positioning sensor such as a GPS receiver,
WiFi positioning system, a radio signal multilateration subsystem,
and/or any other suitable location mechanism.
[0050] The location services subsystem 21 includes a locating
device 22 (e.g., GPS, cellular triangulation methods, etc.)
configured to locate the current position of the listener. The
precise location may not be necessary, it is believed that in some
circumstances the advantages described herein may be accomplished
knowing the listener's location within 1-5 km. In other
circumstances, the advantages described herein may be accomplished
knowing the listener's location within a much narrower range, such
as within approximately 10 m.
[0051] For example, when in use by a listener, the location
services subsystem 21 determines a current location 50 associated
with the mobile device 20. In an example, the location services
subsystem 21 or the controller 12 may determine a region 24 that
the current location 50 of the mobile device 20 is currently
located. The controller 12 receives the current location 50 of the
mobile device and accesses the database 18 to retrieve and assemble
one or more media content segments 26 associated with the current
location 50 of the listener.
[0052] The controller 12 delivers, via the communication subsystem
17, a contextually relevant media stream 28 to the media output
system 23 of the mobile device 20. In an example, the media output
system 23 includes audio output, video output, speakers, and video
display, among others. In addition, the media output system 23 may
be coupled to a microphone to facilitate voice-enabled functions,
such as voice recognition, voice replication, digital recording,
and telephony functions.
[0053] Each media content segment 26 may be associated to a
plurality of regions 24. These regions 24 can vary from global,
national, local, to hyper local regions 24 within a metro area.
Each region 24 may be composed of smaller regions. For example, a
state region may be composed of multiple sub-regions represent
various local areas and cities. Likewise, a metropolitan area may
be composed of neighborhood or subdivision sub-regions.
[0054] Regions 24 may be comprised of sub-regions that are
disjointed, i.e., not overlapping. In one example, a region may be
composed of a plurality of geographies that are non-contiguous yet
all a part of a single region 24. In another example, sub-regions
related to school districts may be separated at the boundaries of
the districts and therefore not overlap. Regions 24 may also be
comprised of sub-regions that do overlap. For example, sub-regions
related to the popularity of various local sports teams may
overlap. Content types may have associated regional representations
that reflect the variation in interest in the content from
place-to-place.
[0055] The system 10 may be used to select geographic regions 24
for each media content segment 26, assign the media content segment
26 to one or more regions 24, create regional media content
segments 26, and deliver the media content segments 26 to a mobile
device 20 associated with the listener based on the listener's
current location 50.
[0056] In an example, the present system 10 is configured to
deliver a customized traffic report media content segment 26 to a
mobile device 20. The system 10 include creation of geographical
regions 24 relevant for specialized traffic audio stories 26,
assigning and mapping roads and public transportation (as well as
rail and water lines) to those regions 24, creating audio stories
24 for each of region 24, and delivering customized audio stories
26 to listeners, based on the location of the listener's mobile
device 20.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile device 20 may include a
device memory 102, one or more data processors 104, image
processors and/or central processors 104, and a peripherals
interface 106. Although the example shown in FIG. 3 is easily
understood to embody a smartphone embodiment, the hardware
illustrated in FIG. 3 may be embodied in various mobile devices,
including tablet computer, in-dash media receivers, etc. The memory
interface 102, the one or more processors 104 and/or the
peripherals interface 106 can be separate components or can be
integrated in one or more integrated circuits. The various
components in the mobile device 20 can be coupled by one or more
communication buses or signal lines, as will be recognized by those
skilled in the art.
[0058] Communication functions can be facilitated through one or
more communication subsystems 17 (preferably a wireless
communication subsystem), which can include radio frequency
receivers and transmitters and/or optical (e.g., infrared)
receivers and transmitters. The specific design and implementation
of the communication subsystem 17 can depend on the communication
network(s) over which the mobile device 20 is intended to operate.
For example, the mobile device 20 can include communication
subsystems 17 designed to operate over a GSM network, a GPRS
network, an EDGE network, a Wi-Fi or WiMax network, and a
Bluetooth.TM. network. In particular, the wireless communication
subsystems 17 may include hosting protocols such that the mobile
device 20 may be configured as a base station for other wireless
devices.
[0059] The user input-output subsystem 15 can include a touch
screen controller and/or other input controller(s). The
touch-screen controller can be coupled to a touch screen 16. The
touch screen 16 and touch screen controller can, for example,
detect contact and movement, or break thereof, using any of a
plurality of touch sensitivity technologies, including but not
limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic
wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or
other elements for determining one or more points of contact with
the touch screen 16. The other input controller(s) can be coupled
to other input/control devices, such as one or more buttons, rocker
switches, thumb-wheel, infrared port, USB port, and/or a pointer
device such as a stylus. The one or more buttons (not shown) can
include an up/down button for volume control of the speaker and/or
the microphone.
[0060] The memory interface 102 can be coupled to memory 108. The
memory 108 can include high-speed random access memory and/or
non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage
devices, one or more optical storage devices, and/or flash memory
(e.g., NAND, NOR). The memory 108 can store operating system
instructions 140, such as Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, iOS,
WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks. The
operating system instructions may include instructions for handling
basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks.
In some implementations, the operating system instructions can be a
kernel (e.g., UNIX kernel).
[0061] The memory 108 may also store communication instructions to
facilitate communicating with one or more additional devices, one
or more computers and/or one or more servers, such as the media
server 11. The memory 108 may include graphical user interface
instructions to facilitate graphic user interface processing;
sensor processing instructions to facilitate sensor-related
processing and functions; phone instructions to facilitate
phone-related processes and functions; electronic messaging
instructions to facilitate electronic-messaging related processes
and functions; web browsing instructions to facilitate web
browsing-related processes and functions; media processing
instructions to facilitate media processing-related processes and
functions; GPS/Navigation instructions to facilitate GPS and
navigation-related processes and instructions; camera instructions
to facilitate camera-related processes and functions; and/or other
software instructions to facilitate other processes and functions
(e.g., access control management functions, etc.). The memory 14
may also store other software instructions (not shown) controlling
other processes and functions of the mobile device 20 as will be
recognized by those skilled in the art. In some implementations,
the media processing instructions are divided into audio processing
instructions and video processing instructions to facilitate audio
processing-related processes and functions and video
processing-related processes and functions, respectively. An
activation record and International Mobile Equipment Identity
(IMEI) or similar hardware identifier can also be stored in memory
14.
[0062] As described above, the system 10 may be configured to
create a plurality of regions 24 for a given metro area. The
regions 24 may be defined based on local knowledge and the
relevance of these regions 24 in that metro area. The selection of
regions 24 may be derived directly from crowd-sourced data received
from listeners. The regions 24 are chosen such a way that the
regions 24 are not too large to be irrelevant and not too small to
be an overwhelming effort for content creation. Once the regions 24
are defined, a geo-spatial polygon is created using a standard
mapping tool. A region 24 may be defined as one contiguous polygon
25 or as a collection of multiple disjoint, smaller polygons 25. A
region 24 may be defined as being composed of multiple sub-regions.
For example, the Chicago metro area may be divided into 5 different
regions 24: Chicago City, North, South and Southeast, Northwest and
West, as shown in FIGS. 4A-4E.
[0063] In an example, listeners may provide a commuting route 30 to
the media server 11 via the communication subsystem 17. The media
server 11 may receive the commuting route 30 from multiple
listeners and, through the use of statistical analysis and/or one
or more machine learning algorithms, the media server 11 can derive
relevant geographic regions 24 (as well as related roads and public
transit) based on the listener data. The controller 12 may then
create and deliver the appropriate traffic report media content
segment 26 to match the derived geographic regions 24, direction of
travel, time of day, etc.
[0064] In an example, transportation channels 32, such as roads,
rail, bus, and water line transportation services, are identified
and assigned to the respective regions 24 each individual
transportation channel 32 is located. Based on the location of the
regions 24 and the relevance of the transportation channels 32,
these services can be assigned to specific direction of interest
for different regions 24. For example, listeners in the suburbs of
Chicago are more concerned about the travel times to the city and
are less concerned about the travel times from the city. Similarly,
the listeners in the north suburbs are more concerned about the
road and rail network in the north and northwest suburbs compared
to the south and west suburbs. Because each direction of each
transportation channel 32 is mapped, the system 10 may provide both
inbound and outbound information to listeners.
[0065] In addition to traffic, a variety of content may be regional
specific. For example, the regions 24 may be mapped according to
different local news regions 24 defining a metropolitan area and
nearby areas. As a specific example, the local news region 24 of
Chicago may include Illinois, and parts of Indiana, Michigan, and
Missouri. As another example, national news content may include
regions 24 defining the fifty U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and other
U.S. territories.
[0066] As yet another example, weather regions 24 may include
regions 24 defined based on specific weather conditions, such a
regions 24 impacted by a particular storm or weather front.
Changing weather conditions may result in the realignment of given
weather regions 24 to map as an area expected to be affected by a
given weather event. This is a good example of how the regions 24
may be either dynamic or static. Likewise, it is contemplated that
regions 24 may be defined for events, political news, business
news, technology, arts and entertainment, cultural news, etc.,
again, statically or dynamically.
[0067] Once the regions 24 are defined, a multi-layered
hierarchical map may be used to filter different news content. As
an example, a political map may select Russian politics news to be
delivered to a Russian political region that covers disjoint
neighborhoods in different cities. In other words, the regions do
not necessarily cover adjacent geographical areas. Instead, the
region may cover a plurality of disjointed sub-regions, as shown in
FIG. 5.
[0068] As another example, an event map may define specific points
of interest that may be associated for listeners in an area. For
example, places in Chicago such as the United Center, the Rosemont
Horizon, Navy Pier, McCormick Place, Lyric Opera Theater, and the
All State arena can all be associated for event news for Chicago
listeners. Similarly, places in the northwestern Chicago suburbs
such as the Sears Theater, Milwaukee Museum, All State area,
Schaumburg convention center, and the Rosemont Horizon can all be
associated for event news for Northwest suburb listeners. As a
further example, a school district map may be defined for various
school district regions to deliver school news to households in
that region. Additionally, regional maps, such as Chicago and
neighborhood area listeners may be defined while the broader
Illinois residents may be placed in a non-Chicago news region.
[0069] In an example, once the regions 24 are defined and the
various transportation channels 32 are mapped to the regions 24,
media content may be received from media sources, wherein the
streaming media content includes media that describes the traffic,
news, sports, events, among other content in each of the regions 24
in a meaningful way. The streaming media content may be received
from any suitable media source including audio media sources and
video media sources and each media content segment 26 may be stored
in the database 18.
[0070] In an example, the present system 10 may operate by
permitting the media source to define various content tags 38
and/or location tags 36 for each media content segment 26. In
another example, the system 10 may be configured to assign content
tags 38 and/or location tags 36 to the received media content
segments 26 based on the content of the media content segment 26.
The content tags 38 may then be selected by the controller 12 for
inclusion in a contextually relevant media stream 28 and delivered
to the mobile device 20 via the communication subsystem 17, wherein
the contextually relevant media stream 28 is based on the
preferences of the listener and/or the location of the
listener.
[0071] In addition, the content tag 38 may indicate whether the
subject matter of the media content segment 26 is kid-friendly. For
example, the media content segment 26 may include metadata
including key words and/or content tags 38 that may describe the
subject matter of the media content segment 26. The system 10 may
filter the media content segments 26 such that the delivered media
content segments 26 are free from mature subject matter. For
example, the content tags 38 may indicate that a media content
segment 26 may include violence, adult situations, drug use, foul
language, among others. The content tags 38 may also include an age
appropriate indication. For example, the content tags 38 may
indicate the subject matter is or is not suitable for children over
5 years old, for children over 10 years old, for children over 15
years old, among others.
[0072] Each media content segment 26 may be assigned to specific
regions 24 using metadata for each story. For example, each media
content segment 26 may be associated with a location tag 36 and/or
topic tag 38 and stored in the database 18. The tags correspond
with categorized metadata (i.e., keywords) from which the system 10
may search and provide the relevant media content segment 26 to
each specific listener.
[0073] For example, the traffic report media content segment 26 may
include metadata related to directional relevance for each of the
transportation channels 32 for specific regions 24. For example,
the traffic media content segment 26 for northern region 24 may
include metadata related to inbound traffic to Chicago. The
metadata may be related to travel times to O'Hare even though it
may be outside the region 24 and describe travel times to the
intersection I-294 to the Kennedy expressway.
[0074] In addition, the metadata may include a timestamp such as a
temporal relevance tag 40 indicating the time that the media
content segment 26 was recorded. The metadata of time sensitive
media content segment 26 may include a content tag 38 indicating
the type of media content segment 26, such as traffic media,
weather media, accident report media, etc. The system 10 may then
limit the delivery of particular media content segment 26 to
certain time period after the media content segment 26 was recorded
based on the temporal relevance tag 40. For example, traffic
reports may be limited to playback only during the twenty-minute
window after the traffic report media content segment 26 was
recorded.
[0075] In yet another example, a weather media content segment 26
may include a one-hour temporal relevance tag 40 such that the
system 10 will discontinue its delivery to a mobile device 20
one-hour after the weather media content segment 26 was recorded.
Additionally, some audio stories 26 may need to be delayed before
being delivered to a mobile device 20, thus, the metadata may also
include a temporal relevance tag 40 relating to a time to deliver
the media content segment 26. In such examples, the system 10 may
include an internal clock from which the temporal relevance tag 40
may be compared to the present time in order to determine whether
the media content segment 26 has expired or is valid for
delivery.
[0076] Further, some media content segments 26 may include tags
that indicate the expiration of previous media content segments 26.
For example, a news brief on a breaking media content segment 26
may be set to expire upon the availability of a more fully
developed story. Such dependent expiration may be accomplished by
tagging the news brief media content segment 26 with a tag that
indicates to the system 10 check for a more fully developed story
before playback of the news brief media content segment 26.
[0077] In order for the system 10 to determine the lifespan of a
media content segment 26, a director may determine the time of
validity of each story that is created. Alternatively, the audio
content platform system 10 may automatically determine the length
of time the media content segment 26 is valid. This determination
may be made according to broader guidelines that indicate a
pre-defined validity. For example, all traffic media content
segments 26 may be made valid only for 20 minutes after they are
created. However, other news media content segments 26 may be made
valid for longer time depending on what else happens on that topic.
The system 10 may include software tools and processes to let
assign or override the validity of each media content segment 26.
For example, if a media content segment 26 initially includes a
1-hour expiration, but is replaced before the end of the hour, the
system 10 may override the 1-hour expiration and cause the media
content segment 26 to expire immediately.
[0078] During playback, the system 10 may make use of the current
validity of the stories in creating a contextually relevant media
stream 28 that uses the latest valid stories. It is contemplated
that, if the listener chooses, all the media content segments 26,
even if they are no longer valid, may be searched and added to the
customized contextually relevant media stream 28 by the
listeners.
[0079] The media server 11 may store listener preferences 42 in the
database 18, such as particular topics or content that the listener
is interested in. The system 10 may select media content segments
26 associated with content tags 38 that match the preferences of
the listener, and deliver such media content segments 26 to the
mobile device 14 associated with the listener. For example, if the
listener preference is for news and sports, the system 10 delivers
audio stories 26 associated with content tags 38 that indicate
sports and news audio stories 26.
[0080] The media server 11 may receive, via the communication
subsystem 17, listener preferences 42 through the user interface 16
associated with the mobile device 20. The media server 11 may
present various categories for the listener to choose from in order
to determine which media content segments 26 should be included in
the listener's contextually relevant media stream 28. For example,
the categories may include news, government, politics, business,
weather, traffic, sports, among others. Sub-categories may include
individual sports teams, types of news, regions of government,
etc.
[0081] For example, the listener may indicate which categories and
sub-categories of audio content the listener is interested in. The
listener may indicate by selecting a box adjacent to the various
categories and sub-categories that the listener is interested in.
In some embodiments, the listener may rank the categories to
indicate priority and/or order of the media content segments 26
within the contextually relevant media stream 28. In other words,
the listener preference 42 may include an order of priority with
respect to other media content segments 26 (e.g., the current
relevant traffic audio story 28 may be programed to play first,
then the local sports news story 26 may play, followed by the local
weather news audio story 26, etc.).
[0082] Listener preferences 42 may include a time of day that the
listener would like to hear a selected category of media content
segments 26. The listener may indicate that he or she would like to
hear the category at more than one time, for example, both in the
morning and evening. The listener may also select the exact time or
time intervals to hear the selected category.
[0083] The listener preference 42 may include a kid-friendly mode.
For example, when the listener selects the kid-friendly mode, the
media content segments 26 delivered to the mobile device 20 are
those having content tags 38 that indicate kid-friendly subject
matter. Similarly, the listener preference 42 may include a
specific age of a child, such that the system 10 only delivers
media content segments 26 having content tags 38 indicating the
subject matter is suitable for children over a certain age. The
listener preference 42 may also include an adult mode wherein media
content segments 26 having content tags 38 indicating children
subject matter is excluded from the contextually relevant media
stream 28. A listener preference 42 may be used to indicate when
media content segments 26 that would have been screened by a
kid-friendly mode may be played without screening. For example, a
listener preference 42 may indicate that when the listener is both:
(1) traveling eastbound on 1-90; and (2) the time is between 8 am-9
am (the combination relating to the listener's morning commute to
work), there should be no content filter on the media content
segments 26. This is merely one example of a multi-dimensional
filter. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the
various listener preferences 42 and data collected by the mobile
device 20 may be used in combination to implement complex
multi-dimensional filters.
[0084] The content segments 26 delivered to the mobile device 20 in
the contextually relevant media stream 28 may be selected in a
priority order dictated by a complex set of multi-dimensional
variables. For example, combinations of the day of the week, the
time of day, the weather conditions, the direction of travel (if in
a moving vehicle), etc. may dictate that when the listener turns on
the application, which of the content segments 26 are delivered to
the mobile device 20 in the contextually relevant media stream 28.
During commuting times, the traffic may be first. During the time
in the morning the listener is getting ready to leave the house,
the weather may be first. In the evening, the business news may be
first. These are simple examples to illustrate the point, it is
understood that the multi-dimensional variable analysis can be used
to generate highly complex and highly customized contextually
relevant media streams 28 for each user.
[0085] In addition, the media server 11 may track the listening
habits of the listener to customize preferences for certain time
periods. For example, if a listener listens during her commute and
thus tends to have a morning listening period and an afternoon
listening period, the media server 11 may permit the listener to
specify different preferences for the morning period and the
evening period. Since listener's behavior is likely to vary from
day-to-day, the system 10 may include a predictive model to predict
the listener's likely preferences given the listener's indicated
preferences 42 and past behavior. The predictive model may also
incorporate location information to further refine the system 10
model of the behavior of the listener. Moreover, the system may
track the listener's listing behavior, such as skips,
fast-forwards, selections of media content segments 26 to listen to
immediately, etc., to determine a time-based listening profile
based on categories listened to at various times of day.
[0086] In another example, based on the listener's location of his
or her listening device 20, the system 10 may select media content
segments 26 associated with a location tag 36 that matches the
location of the listener. It is also contemplated that the listener
may be search and add media content segments 26 to the contextually
relevant media stream 28 by the listeners.
[0087] In addition, the listener may select a listener preference
42 may include a preferred time of day to hear certain media
content segments 26. For example, a listener may prefer business
media content segments 26 in the morning on the way to work, but
sports media content segments 26 in the evening on the way home
from work.
[0088] In yet another example, if the listener begins his or her
commute at 5 p.m., the listener may indicate a time preference at 5
p.m. to receive a traffic media content segments 26 that is
relevant to a listener commuting route 30. For example, the
listener may input his or her commuting route 30 into the system 10
such that the system may return traffic media content segments 26
associated with location tags 36 that match the regions 24
associated with the commuting route 30.
[0089] Alternatively, the predefined time preference may be when
the listener (indicated by the location of the listener device 20)
reaches a predefined location. For example, through the user
interface 16, a listener may indicate that he or she would like to
receive the current traffic media content segments 26 when the
listener device 20 passes a certain geographic position. For
example, the system may deliver the media content segments 26 when
the listener reaches the preselected location preference (or time
preference, etc.) by simply triggering the system 10 based on a
marker (e.g., geographic marker, time market, etc.) through the
interface 16 as the listener reaches the location, time, or similar
marker.
[0090] This may be beneficial if the listener knows that he or she
will need to make a decision as to which route to take on a commute
at a certain location. The system 10 is configured to deliver the
current traffic media content segments 26 automatically to the
listener at the precise time necessary to make the decision. For
example, the listener device 20 may receive a two minute long
traffic media content segments 26 at a location approximately three
minutes ahead of the decision point in the commute or receiving the
traffic media content segments 26 precisely at the time the
listener begins the daily commute.
[0091] In response to the media server 11 receiving the current
location 50 of the mobile device 20, the controller 12 is
configured to create and deliver, via the communication subsystem
17, a contextually relevant media stream 28. The contextually
relevant media stream 26 includes one or more media content
segments 26, wherein the selected media content segments 26 are
selected based on the current location 50 of the mobile device 20.
The selected media content segment 26 may include regional specific
news, regional specific weather, regional specific sports news, and
regional specific traffic information.
[0092] With respect to traffic audio stories 26, once the media
content segments 26 for traffic reports are generated for each of
these regions 24, the system 10 may automatically indicate to the
mobile devices 20 in the various regions 24 that the time sensitive
traffic media content segment 26 are available for that region 24.
The location device 22 within the mobile device 20 indicates the
region that the mobile device 20 is located and delivers the
traffic media content segment 26 of that region 24 to the mobile
device 20 as the next media content segment 26.
[0093] In alternative embodiments, the listener may indicate a
delivery preference (through listener controls provided through the
user interface 16 on the mobile device 20) for when the traffic
media content segments 26 are to be delivered. For example, the
predefined time may be when the listener (indicated by the location
of the mobile device 20) reaches a predefined location. The
delivery preference may include an order of priority with respect
to other media content segments 26 (e.g., play the traffic media
content segment 28 may be programed first, then play local sports
news media content segment 26, followed by the local weather news
media content segment 26, etc.).
[0094] For example, through the user interface 16, a listener may
indicate that he or she would like to receive the current traffic
media content segment 26 when the mobile device 20 passes a certain
geographic position. This may be beneficial if the listener knows
that he or she will need to make a decision as to which route to
take on a commute at a certain location. The system 10 is
configured to deliver the current traffic media content segment 26
automatically to the listener at the precise time necessary to make
the decision. For example, the mobile device 20 may receive a two
minute long traffic media content segment 26 at a location
approximately three minutes ahead of the decision point in the
commute or receiving the traffic media content segment 26 precisely
at the time the listener begins the daily commute.
[0095] In one contemplated embodiment, the listener interface 16
accepts a listener selection of a listener preference (e.g.,
location, time, etc.) at which a traffic media content segment 26
is to be played anytime the listener reaches the preselected
location preference (or time preference, etc.) by simply triggering
the system 10 based on a marker (e.g., geographic marker, time
market, etc.) through the interface 16 as the listener reaches the
location, time, or similar marker.
[0096] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to
the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention and without diminishing its
attendant advantages.
[0097] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to
the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled
in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and
without diminishing its attendant advantages. For example, various
embodiments of the systems and methods may be provided based on
various combinations of the features and functions from the subject
matter provided herein.
* * * * *