Customizing perishable content of a media channel

Abstract

A user can specify particular news weather, traffic, or other perishable content received on a particular Internet radio station or other media channel. The user can customize the station so that wherever the user is currently located, he can receive perishable content related to a preferred geographic location or other category. In some embodiments, a user can specify that a customized station plays local news from one city at the top of the hour, traffic from another city at 10 minutes past the hour, and music or other content at other times. The user can also customize the station to select the perishable content, or other original content, from the personal libraries of specified users. Thus, a user can customize not only the genre of content or select a particular local station, but can also modify the perishable content provided by the customized station.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing a customized media station to a user, the method comprising:
 obtaining a list including a plurality of media stations from a station server configured to receive perishable media content from the plurality of media stations included in the list, wherein the plurality of media stations are associated with different geographic locations;   transmitting a web-page to a user device, the web page configured to present to the user an option to add, to the customized station, selected perishable media content associated with one or more of the plurality of media stations included in the list;   receiving, from the user device, user preferences indicating:
 a particular media station of the plurality of media stations included in the list, the particular media station associated with the selected perishable media content; 
 on-demand options related to playout of the selected perishable media content; 
   obtaining the selected perishable media content from the station server;   including the selected perishable media content in the customized media station in accordance with the user preferences; and   providing the customized media station to the user via an electronic communications network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the different geographic locations include different cities within the United States. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the on-demand options include an option for expedited delivery of some or all of the perishable media content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the on-demand options include an option for designating how often the selected perishable media content is to be played on the customized station. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the on-demand options include an option allowing the user to override a default number of perishable-content-repeat setting. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user preferences further include a user-selected level of access, wherein the user-selected level of access determines a quantity of advertising presented in the customized station. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user preferences include:
 a first selection indicating a first type of perishable content from a first media station; and   a second selection indicating a second type of perishable content from a second media station.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a central server;   a station server coupled to the central server and to a plurality of media stations associated with different geographic locations, the station server configured to receive perishable media content from the plurality of media stations;   the central server configured to:
 transmit a web-page to a user device, the web page presenting to a user an option to add selected perishable media content associated with one or more of the plurality of media stations; 
 receive, from the user device, user preferences indicating:
 a particular media station associated with the selected perishable media content; 
 on-demand options related to playout of the selected perishable media content; and 
 
 insert the selected perishable media content into a customized media station provided to the user in accordance with the user preferences. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the station server aggregates perishable media content from media stations serving different cities. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of media stations includes a plurality of over-the-air broadcast radio stations. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the on-demand options include an option for designating time ranges during which the selected perishable media content is to be presented to the user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the on-demand options include an option allowing the user to override a default perishable-content setting. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the user preferences further include a user selected level of access, the user-selected level of access determining a quantity of advertising presented in the customized media station. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the user preferences include:
 selections indicating multiple sources of a particular type of perishable media content.   
     
     
         15 . A server device comprising:
 at least one network interface coupled to a station server and a user device via a communication network;   the station server coupled, via the communication network, to a plurality of media broadcast stations broadcasting media content to different geographic locations, the station server configured to obtain perishable media content from the plurality of media broadcast stations;   the at least one network interface further configured to:
 transmit a web-page to the user device, the web page presenting to a user an option to add selected perishable media content associated with one or more of the plurality of media stations; 
 receive, from the user device, user preferences indicating on-demand options related to selection and playout of the selected perishable media content; and 
   processing circuitry configured to insert the selected perishable media content into a customized media station provided to the user in accordance with the user preferences.   
     
     
         16 . The server device of  claim 15 , wherein the user preferences further indicate one or more specific media stations as a source of the perishable media content. 
     
     
         17 . The server device of  claim 15 , wherein the different geographic locations include different cities. 
     
     
         18 . The server device of  claim 15 , wherein the on-demand options include an option for designating how often the selected perishable media content is to be played on the customized station. 
     
     
         19 . The server device of  claim 15 , wherein the on-demand options include an option allowing the user to override a default number of perishable-content-repeat setting. 
     
     
         20 . The server device of  claim 15 , wherein the user preferences further include a user selected level of access, wherein the user-selected level of access determines a quantity of advertising presented in the customized station.